I opened Zum Schneider on August 19th 2000 on Avenue C and 7th Street in Alphabet City, where I was raising my two little boys Rory and Flynn. As a musician, it’s tough in New York City to make enough to feed a family, so I took my homesickness and cravings for authentic German/Bavarian beer, food and culture as reason enough to dive into the restaurant business, of which I knew nothing other than being on the customer side of the bar! Since opening, I’m glad to call Zum Schneider home to my extended family.
I am proud to offer German fare that is based on family recipes and is authentic and hearty, while also having been refined through years of development in our kitchen. I’m even prouder of our selection of fantastic German beers, with well-maintained lines and a steady flow, to ensure that they are always served fresh, as well as in the proper glass. As we ourselves exclusively import a large percentage of our selection, many of our beers are hard to find anywhere else in the United States.

As a musician, I want to make sure we bring as much culture, music and performing arts into my „home“, to entice our customers and to give them the feeling of being in Germany but in a New York style. We celebrate numerous German holidays, such as Advent, with carol singing and traditional drink and food specials, and Karneval, with a live Cabaret show involving staff and friends active in the performing arts. During the World and Euro Cups, we turn Zum Schneider into a „Fan-Zone“ for soccer fans of all nationalities and throughout the year our 150-member soccer club Zum Schneider FC plays in soccer leagues all over NYC. Every fall, I give my best to inspire our faithfull patrons to dance, clap and sing along with my own stomping Polka band „Moesl Franzi and the Jajajas“ at our Oktoberfest.
All these things are, in my opinion, essential for being a happy and healthy human being.

Let’s celebrate life together at Zum Schneider! Prost!
Sylvester Schneider