Rathskeller

n.

1.

Orig., in Germany, the cellar or basement of the city hall, usually rented for use as a restaurant where beer is sold; hence, a beer saloon of the German type below the street level, where, usually, drinks are served only at tables and simple food may also be had; - sometimes loosely used, in English, of what are essentially basement restaurants where liquors are served.

Noun

1.

rathskeller - a tavern below street level featuring beer; originally a German restaurant in the basement of city hall

alehouse, bar, barrel house, barroom, beer garden, beer parlor, bistro, blind tiger, cabaret, cafe, cocktail lounge, dive, dramshop, drinking saloon, gin mill, groggery, grogshop, honky-tonk, local, nightclub, pothouse, pub, public, public house, rumshop, saloon, saloon bar, speakeasy, taproom, tavern, wine shop