The square in front of the stately four-storey building on Cordulaplatz was packed with guests from all over the Baden region when Paradies reopened at the beginning of September 2022. The new flag was emblazoned on the façade of the building. The old logo with a green treetop, black trunk and red snake had given way to a golden plant resembling a dove. The previous landlords André and Iris Klarmann had only handed back Gasthaus Paradies in February. Just over six months later, new life has been breathed into this time-honored establishment. Representatives of the Cordula guild also showed up in their beautiful traditional costumes and paid their respects at the opening weekend. There was a cannon shot - and paradise was reopened.
Brought back into the light
Niklas Schneider and Samuel Hauser have taken over the newly renovated Restaurant Paradies on Cordulaplatz. Schneider was previously managing director and head chef at "Grossen Alexander" in Untere Halde in Baden. The 28-year-old moved to Paradies with his entire team, including his right-hand man Daniel Streiff. Niklas Schneider did not necessarily perceive the new location as "paradisiacal" at first. "Paradise was already getting on in years," he says, describing the imposing four-storey building. There are also nicer places in Baden than Cordula-Platz. This somewhat sleepy square does not enjoy the best reputation in the spa town. As a result, many people have gradually lost sight of Paradise. Many people told me things like: "I've never been there" or "I've always walked past here". And yet, in his opinion, it is the most beautiful house in Baden.
But perhaps this place is just the right challenge for someone who said back in sixth grade that cooking was his career goal. He comes from a family where a love of food was always strong. He can list places like the "Steinhalle" in Bern, a season at "The Chedi" in Andermatt and the "Krone" in Regensberg on his career list. Today, he is the leading and creative head of Paradies.
House with an eventful history
Older residents of Baden have long been familiar with the house on Cordulaplatz, which is a national monument. And of course Jürg Schoop is too. He was able to buy the house, which had been owned by the Welti family from Baden since 1902, from his brother-in-law Marc Welti. "It is important to me that this house is given back its dignity. We started with the restaurant, now it's the bar's turn. I'm incredibly proud of what has been achieved here," he says in an interview with BAR NEWS in the Paradies Bar.
The house here has an eventful history: In 1616 and 1624, the Restaurant Paradies, as it is known today, consisted of two narrow late Gothic houses called "Barendiss" and "Hasen". These later became one large building. In 1714, one of the peace congresses to end the War of the Spanish Succession took place in Baden. High-ranking personalities were guests here. "At the invitation of the Schnorf family, Prince Eugene, a famous warlord at the time, came to Baden. He drove up here with an incredible 74 carriages and his entourage," says Jürg Schoop. The house has always had something to do with peace.
Just finished with the conversion
From April to September 2022, the Paradies was renovated with great care. All the wood paneling on the bar, on the ceilings and in the cigar lounge and also in the restaurant on the upper floor was left in its original condition. A new passageway was created at the bar so that Barkeeper Marcus Rosenburg can flit back and forth more quickly. The kitchen, furniture and seating niches as well as the bar and lamps are new. When the Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, there were temporary supply bottlenecks. In the end, however, the team received all the materials for the conversion.
The new bar, an affair of the heart
The Paradies Bar is now located where the restaurant used to be. "The bar is a matter close to my heart," says Niklas Schneider, who attended bartending school in Barcelona. He had long been of the opinion that Baden lacked a "mega-cool" bar. In addition to the bar, which is atmospherically lit by new lamps, a new cigar lounge has also been created.
He was encouraged by his business partner Samuel Hauser, organizer of the "Big Smoke", the largest cigar event in Switzerland. "Cool, I said to myself, let's make a cigar lounge here!" There is great demand for places where you can smoke a fine cigar in winter. Niklas Schneider sums up: "I'm amazed, because it's actually very popular in winter. We wanted to offer people added value to the restaurant. We've already succeeded in doing that." Everything is possible here, from an aperitif to dinner and a nightcap.
"The new bar is a matter close to my heart."
Niklas Schneider
Bringing the bar culture closer
One of the main focuses in the bar is on the signature drinks. They are completely changed every three months. Marcus Rosenburg is jointly responsible for this. Born in Berlin, he is Chef de Bar. He is in his element when it comes to shaking and mixes the most unusual cocktails, non-alcoholic mocktails and signature drinks. The jovial and fun-loving German exudes a cheerful atmosphere at all times, which is also transmitted to the guests in the bar. He and Niklas Schneider are keen to introduce people to cocktail culture. "We have five different beers and a wine cellar that "chlöpft und täscht". We also have a wide range of negronis," enthuses Niklas Schneider. Even in Baden, the hype surrounding the Italian cocktail is huge. A bacon negroni with a whisky and bacon infusion is currently popular.
"We try to use the synergies between Barkeeper and the kitchen."
Niklas Schneider and Marcus Rosenburg
Stately interior
While cocktails are being prepared downstairs in the bar, guests dine in the restaurant on the second floor. Niklas Schneider says of the restaurant: "We are very regional here. Ninety percent of the products come from Switzerland, many of them from the Baden region." The fruit for juices and syrups also comes from the region. Sustainability is also important. Very little food waste is produced.
Great Gatsby party in paradise
Everything Niklas Schneider tackles is well thought out and designed. His ideas are not meant to be quick fixes. Who does he want to welcome here? "Everyone is welcome, of course! My aim is to create an open house here and make all kinds of people feel at home. " Of course, he wants people who like to enjoy themselves. "Fineline culture upstairs and upscale, laid-back bar culture downstairs." The young Zurich native is also planning events at Paradies. However, he sees this place less as his venue for readings. He is thinking more of bar training courses and master classes. Niklas Schneider also has cooking classes in mind and, that would be the icing on the cake, "Great Catsby parties" in the style of the 1920s. Perhaps combined with a cigar event.
His goal: a new piazza feeling
Jürg Schoop hopes that the reopening of Paradies with its formidable bar will not only revitalize Cordulaplatz, but also Baden's Mittlere Gasse. Niklas Schneider wants to green up the square and has already planted two small apple trees as a first statement. "Together with the new tenant of the Bodega Bar, we want to create a piazza feeling here. We really want to revitalize this square."
