STUDENT PRINCE CAFE & TAP ROOM

The Student Prince Cafe & The Fort Restaurant is a German restaurant and bar at 8 Fort Street in the Metro Center neighborhood of downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. Established on September 24, 1935, the restaurant has been described by The New York Times as a city landmark and was named one of 20 Legendary American Restaurants by Gourmet magazine in 2008. The venue displays a collection of over 1,000 steins and an extensive array of bottle openers and artwork.

Expect a historic dining hall atmosphere with German cuisine, an extensive beer and wine selection, and seasonal live music on the outdoor patio. The restaurant hosts annual Bockbierfest, Maifest, Oktoberfest, and Christmas caroling festivities and has served as a gathering place for politicians, reporters, and celebrities since its founding.

The restaurant was opened in 1935 by Paul Schoeder, a German immigrant from Spremberg, in the storefront of a former shoe store on the site of John Pynchon's 1660 estate. The Fort Dining Room was added on February 18, 1946, featuring commissioned stained glass by German artisans. After accumulating $800,000 in debt, the restaurant briefly closed in June 2014 before being purchased by Peter Picknelly of Peter Pan Bus Lines and reopening on November 26, 2014 following $750,000 in renovations.