Bar Review: Tiny Cup, Frankfurt, Germany — Liquid Thoughts

Last Visit: July 2023

The Tiny Cup in Frankfurt is an interesting concept and, once in a research frenzy after another visit, invites a few thoughts. There's a lot to read online, even though the bar is actually quite small; there isn't an article online that doesn't call it “perhaps the smallest bar in Germany”. What makes it also particularly intriguing: The Tiny Cup belongs to (see the logo) Seven Swans, a progressive vegan restaurant that can (as of 2024) call a Michelin star and the green Michelin star its own. However, this doesn't really shine through; during neither of my/our two visits in winter and summer did the menu stand with any particularly impressive culinary aspects compared to other high-class bars. Also you, unfortunately, can't order individual, small creations from upstairs, which would be a real highlight. Nevertheless, the combination in one small house with cool design is a nice bonus and invites you to visit both as part of the same trip.

The bar was founded in 2015 by Sven Riebel, at the time already known from the founding team of the well-known Gekkos (also in Frankfurt). The Lebensstern in Berlin, R.I.P., which I also liked very much, as well as the Victoria Bar. The Tiny Cup, as you can read in its Mixology magazine entry, is inspired by the micro bar scene in Tokyo, which fits the space and idea (also the restaurant directly above and so on). The whole thing was designed by Hidden Fortress, a design studio from Berlin that has worked on some cool projects, such as the Berlin Bar Zentral. And you can indeed see similarities in the colors and details, even if they leave an even bigger impression when focused in such a small space at Tiny Cup.

*Note the not entirely serious, critical look due to the seating outside ;)*

Just having arrived at the location and actually happy to be able to take a seat in a small, cozy bar after a busy and exhausting day with several brief downpours, we were unfortunately first “prevented” from entering, although with a very warm welcome. Until, believe it or not, October (i.e., around 3–4 months, every year), they will only be serving drinks outside, which is a bit of a shame and not entirely unproblematic when — as was the case that day — it was 20 degrees (Celsius) and almost constantly raining. But hey, let's work with what we got and trust in the good reputation of the institution. The service is very courteous, casually friendly and yet with a pleasant distance, even outside during the short interactions, which of course won't be as interactive as directly at a bar counter. There were 3 cushions on the step in front of the window and 3-4 small bar tables on the bollards on the sidewalk, but nicely made from trees.

The menu is more or less tongue-in-cheek under the title “Tiny Winey - Urbane Spritzeria - Mainkai am Meer 2023”, literally translating to “Tiny Winey — Urban Spritzeria — Main Waterfront at the Sea 2023” (Frankfurt, of course not near any ocean, but having the riverfront of the Main, at which the bar is located, no comment on that joke). It is divided into Spritz variants, with soda or various sparkling wines, “Cuban Weeks” (drinks in partnership with Eminente rum), additionally various other summer style long drinks and the Negroni category, which immediately caught our eye due to its exciting twists.

What we always liked here is that almost all ingredients are specifically named, with brand or bottling, etc. As someone with a little more knowledge, you immediately know what you're getting into and don't have to get bogged down in sometimes very annoying guesswork about extremely vague words such as “orange” (juice, liqueur, bitters…WHAT IS IT?!) etc.

Dryoni

You know what it's like, some drinks always appeal to you the first time you skim over them in a menu. A White Negroni, but with white port — my favorite type of fortified wine ever — and rum too, count me in. The perfectly balanced summer Negroni experience awaited us, with plenty of aromas. Floral, fresh and slightly sweet on the nose with sugar cane, grapes and apricot, as well as delicate herbs. Similarly, when tasting, in keeping with the name, you notice the important counterbalance of the dryness of the vermouth, as well as the great, bitter apéritif Gran Classico from Tempus Fugit in Switzerland. A brand that has yet to release a bad product. Complex and powerful, the apricot as a sweetening element, the white port rather discreet, an all-round successful Negroni, albeit one that is already quite a few steps removed from the classic formula.

Beete & Beere

Beetroot and Mezcal were featured quite often on menus in the last 2–3 years, but as a Negroni and then with Tawny Port, this riff also appealed to us immediately (as not the biggest fans of Campari). Thankfully, the latter also comes through very subtly, adding a little herbal bite, but the drink is dominated by the eponymous, fantastically balanced combination of red forest fruits and beetroot. The beetroot is also more fresh and fruity in its character than being particularly vegetal or earthy, unlike many other drinks with it. The Tawny Port seems to have been the ideal final piece to the puzzle here to really round off the drink, especially for the summer. The Mezcal is rather one of many notes, it's not really comparable to a more classic Mezcal Negroni, it just adds a subtle dimension here, with a hint of agave and the rather elegant smoke. Finest (Summer-)Negroni craftsmanship.

The small focaccia should also be mentioned, perfectly prepared, crispy, with small snacks on the side, matching the aperitivo and summer theme of the menu, even if, as we have mentioned above, it could have been elevated by matching the Seven Swan menu. As you can see in the photos, the ice cubes are also on par with the status of the bar, high class. The drinks are garnished in a rather minimalist style to match the theme and the weather, nicely decorated with some edible flowers.

The Tiny Cup has a lot to offer for such a small bar, both in terms of its pleasantly relaxed and friendly staff and its creative and casual style. From the artistically sophisticated Instagram profile to the casual menu, some of those elements are lacking in way bigger bar projects.

Even outside during the summer there is a real feel-good atmosphere. With the limited space and somewhat small selection of seating options, you hope all the more to be able to take a seat inside (when it's not summer season) and try out a more robust stirred drinks menu again — like on my other visit, two years ago. But some change is always a good thing, as we all know, and during this visit in summer the different approach also suited The Tiny Cup perfectly. If we hadn't been on a longer bar tour, we would certainly have loved to enjoy the evening exclusively here, with more Negroni riffs or some special made-to-order drinks.

The menu (Summer 2023)

(click to enlarge)

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