Plank Bornheim
Plank Bornheim is the Bornheim location of the Plank bar group, which also operates a venue in the Bahnhofsviertel. The Bornheim branch is slightly smaller and considerably less complex in character than the Bahnhofsviertel original. It serves draft beers, Apfelwein, and standard drinks in a stripped-back room that doesn't try to be fashionable. The crowd is younger than at Bauernschänke or Bornheimer Ratskeller, skewing toward students and younger residents from the surrounding streets. Plank Bornheim is the kind of bar that fills up quickly on a Friday because it's cheap and on the right street, not because anyone is particularly excited about the venue itself. It's functional and honest about being so.
Where to stay near Plank Bornheim
Hotels close to Bornheim, Frankfurt.
What to Expect
A stripped-back bar that's primarily about being affordable and on the right street. Younger crowd, no frills, no pretension.
Lively and uncomplicated. People come here to drink with friends, not to be somewhere specific.
Pop, indie, and occasional hip-hop. Gets louder as the evening progresses.
Casual. Jeans and trainers are standard.
Budget-conscious drinkers, students, and anyone who wants a low-cost first stop on a Bornheim evening.
Cash and card accepted.
Price Range
Draft beer 0.4L 3.50-4 EUR, Apfelwein 2.20 EUR per 0.3L, spirits 4.50-7 EUR, soft drinks 2.50-3 EUR
Beer ~$3.80-4.35/~2.98-3.40 GBP, Apfelwein ~$2.40/~1.87 GBP
Hours
Mon-Thu 18:00-02:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-03:00, Sun 17:00-01:00
Insider Tip
Arrive early on Fridays if you want a seat; the bar fills from 20:00 onward. Plank is the right choice if you want a cheap drink on Berger Strasse before moving to a restaurant or a later venue. Don't expect cocktails or a craft beer selection; this is a basic bar at basic prices.
Full Review
Plank Bornheim is worth understanding clearly before you arrive: it's a cheap, reliable, no-frills bar in a good location. It's not a destination and it doesn't try to be. The Bahnhofsviertel original has more character, some art on the walls, and a slightly different social texture. The Bornheim branch is more straightforwardly functional.
The prices are the primary recommendation. In a neighborhood where cocktail bars charge EUR 11-13 and decent pubs charge EUR 4-5 per beer, Plank operates at EUR 3.50-4 per glass, which attracts the younger demographic that keeps Berger Strasse busy on Thursday through Saturday evenings. The Apfelwein is served at the standard Sachsenhausen price, which is the correct price regardless of neighborhood.
The room fills up on weekends faster than its square footage would suggest is comfortable, which either makes it feel energetic or claustrophobic depending on your preference. Groups who want to stand at the bar and drink quickly before dinner or a club fit the venue well. Groups who want to sit and talk for two hours should look at Eulenburg or Süden Bar instead.
Plank Bornheim functions best as part of a longer Berger Strasse evening: a quick stop for cheap beer before a restaurant booking or after, and then somewhere more considered for the later hours. Treating it as a destination leads to mild disappointment; treating it as one element of an evening works well.
The Neighborhood
On Berger Strasse in the northern section of the strip. Near Bauernschänke and walking distance from Yok Yok and Bornheimer Ratskeller. The U-Bahn station Bornheim Mitte is close by.
Getting There
U-Bahn U4 or U7 to Bornheim Mitte. Plank Bornheim is a 2-minute walk from the station exit on Berger Strasse. Coming from Konstablerwache, it's about 12 minutes walk north or one U-Bahn stop.
Address
Berger Str. 228, 60385 Frankfurt
Other Venues in Bornheim
Yok Yok
Cocktail bar on Berger Strasse with an inventive seasonal menu and a warm, low-lit interior. One of the more polished bars on the strip, drawing an after-dinner crowd most evenings.
Bornheimer Ratskeller
A neighborhood institution in the old Rathaus building, serving beer, wine, and simple food in a relaxed vaulted setting. Popular with locals who want an unpretentious evening out.
Eulenburg
Long-running Berger Strasse bar with a bohemian character, mismatched furniture, and a crowd that tends toward the artistic end of Frankfurt's social spectrum. Late license on weekends.
Bauernschänke
Traditional Frankfurt pub with a strong local following. Serves Apfelwein alongside conventional beers and straightforward pub food. Less touristy than the Sachsenhausen taverns.
Süden Bar
Relaxed neighborhood bar at the southern end of the Bornheim strip, with a mix of craft beers, natural wines, and a regular clientele that treats the place like a second living room.
Nachtleben
Mid-size club at the Konstablerwache end of the Bornheim axis with two floors and a program that rotates between hip-hop, electronic, and live band nights. One of the more enduring clubs in this part of Frankfurt.