APT has offered an official first look at its new dining experience aboard the new-generation river ships, APT Solara and APT Ostara. The Grüner Bar & Dining is no ordinary onboard venue, whereby the entire restaurant physically raises via a custom-built hydraulic system.

The Grüner Bar & Dining captures the elegance and charm of a European wine bar – think poured-to-order Grüner Veltliner, seasonal share plates, and views that rise with you. Designed to feel personal and local, it’s a relaxed space that opens up a new kind of dining culture on Europe’s rivers.

Subscribe to LATTE Cruise’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury cruise space.

The venue uses a hydraulic lift system to elevate the entire venue. Rising vertically from the Upper Deck (Deck 3) to the Sun Deck, the Grüner Bar & Dining enables diners to enjoy panoramic views of Europe’s rivers from an elevated perspective. The operation is smooth and seamless, taking around two minutes from bottom to top.

“I love this atmosphere, I love that it’s a boutique experience,” says Lou Tandy, APT Co-Owner and Director. “I love that we have lots of tables for two. The experience we’ve created here is all about dining with shared plates.”

A Wine Bar Reimagined for the Water

The space was envisioned by Fellow Hospitality’s Monique Lane as a relaxed, local-feeling wine bar — complete with share plates, in-house pickles and fresh baked focaccia, and a rotating selection of regional wines, starting with a focus on Austria. Being the first venue of its kind on a European river cruise ship, it challenges the expectations of river cruise dining.

“I really wanted a space that broke away from the traditional catering and I think a lot of our venues do break that mould in different ways,” explains Monique Lane, Fellow Hospitality Culinary Director and Founder. “But for me, a wine bar is the ultimate hospitality experience.”Created by award-winning Australian design studio Hecker Guthrie, the venue nods to minimalist European hospitality, with warm timber panelling, soft lighting and textures, and intimate booth and bar seating. When the hydraulic platform rises, the view elevates until the guest dines well and truly above the rest.

“I’ve got to say, I was excited by the idea of it,” said Paul Hecker, Hecker Guthrie Co-Founder and Architect. “I didn’t realise how excited I was going to be until last night (first night onboard), we had a great evening. We sat up on the top deck, sitting around the bar. Drinks were being presented…It was so special.”