The Golden Lions (St. Gallen)

 restaurant, brewpub, historical building, 17th century construction, historic house, German cuisine

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Original translation: Zum Goldenen Leuen
Other names: National, Golden Lions, Goldener Leuen, Naz

Under the golden lion head on our house facade are two year numbers to read: 1603 and 1670.

In 1603, the house was built and owned by the trading family Zollikofer, whose company was also referred to as the "society of the lion's head." Therefore, the house was decorated with a gilded lion head.

In 1670, another part was added to the existing house, which can still be seen very beautiful from the monastery.

Since the second half of the 17th century the house houses the lions - pharmacy. Around 1861 pharmacist Friedrich Sahnisch, the proprietor of the house, and the pharmacy also began to run a café. Because of the location opposite the National Bank, he called the local Café National. From 1875 it was no longer in its possession and was only run as Café National - without a pharmacy.

To this day, we did not know that the "NAZ," as the St. Gallen and St. Galler lovingly call it, had such a "bitter" past, which then continued with the huus-braui in modern times.

From this time, this porcelain head comes from a hanger. The former operators operated the general representation of the Bavaria beers for the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell, Graubünden and Glarus. The brewery Bavaria was on the Landstrasse to Speicher.

This rare document, the beer trade also with German beers and wines in the national around 1894. For this purpose, especially the German beer pumps were equipped with Swiss calibration, so they could be used in the beer halls!

From 1920 the "Café National" was hosted by Johann Babtist Giger. In 1932 his son Placidus Giger took over the place. After his death in 1945, his daughter Martha continued with her mother until she took over the place in 1963 on her own account. 1969 the ugly green plaster was removed at the outer facade, in order to restore the original beautiful bar. Now the lion's head was also freshly gilded and the sign of the host's house "attached to the golden feast."

In 1992, painter Wili Kostgeld acquired the "Golden Lions," which he renovated and renovated on the occasion of my takeover in summer 2000. This also led us to receive the special award from the Icomos jury in 2006 - for the careful care and imaginative operation of the historic beerhouse in the old town of St. Gallen.

In 2002, the "bullish" circle of the National was closed. With the opening of our huus-braui in Roggwil TG, after more than a hundred years, our own beers are again served at the NAZ.

The St. Galleri and St. Galler have different names for beer culture in its original form and always mean the Naz of Walter Tobler. He describes himself as a beer farmer and, as a trained biersommelier, emphasizes the beer culture, which has been at home since the monastery plan of the 9th century in St. Gallen.

According to the monastic plan Walter Tobler has his own brewery: the "huus-braui." In nearby Roggwil brewed, here as well as cultivated. He is proud of the beers bright, dark and gold, always accompanied by a seasonal special beer. There is also a "filtrato," a filtered beer from a friendly small brewery or an alcohol-free draft beer.

The brewery culture has its entrance into the menu: pretzels, radishes, white sausages... the already legendary "Chäschüechli in the National" can not be missing. "En Brogge Fleisch" comes fresh from the oven every day, from which it has, as long as it has. Everyone can make their own meal out of the elements of the menu. Walter Tobler therefore characterizes them as "patchwork meals."

Various groups cultivate the beer culture with the beer sommelier Walter Tobler. The Naz was and is one of the most popular tables for clubs, groups and colleagues. The oldest table of a main table is in the Naz and dates from the 18th century.

30 Schmied Alley
9000 St. Gallen
Tel: 071 222 02 62
Fax: 071 230 34 64
Web: www.gastwirte.ch/national

Hours
Sun: Closed
Mon-Thurs: 9am-12am
Fri: 9am-1am
Sat: 9am-6pm

External links
www.gastrojournal.ch/it/novita/detail/wissen-wofuer-man... (about the current owner)
www.rogerbechtiger.ch/
roaminjuliet.com/2015/11/27/beautiful-st-gallen/

Foursquare
foursquare.com/v/restaurant-zum-goldenen-leuen--nationa...