The Ratskeller in Dresden (1903) This drawing by Emil Limmer (1854-1931) shows the Dresden Ratskeller, the tavern located in the cellar [Keller] of the Dresden city hall [Rathaus]. Besides serving as the seat of municipal government, city halls in Germany also played host to restaurants and taverns. The use of city halls as both administrative and gastronomic locales dates back to the 13th century. The affluent, fashionably dressed patrons in Limmer's drawing enjoy glasses of wine.