Financial distress strikes cult-affiliated local restaurant in Munich's city center: Bankruptcy announced - "I'm extremely disheartened"
The iconic Balkan specialties restaurant, Opatija, located in Munich, Germany, has filed for insolvency as of August 1st, 2023. This long-standing establishment, a fixture in Munich's restaurant landscape since 1960, has been a popular meeting place for celebrities and artists in the 70s and 80s.
The restaurant, named after the glamorous seaside resort in the Kvarner Bay in the northeastern part of the Istrian peninsula, is known for its lavish Balkan fusion cuisine. It has two operations in the city centre - one in the valley, one at the Viktualienmarkt.
Jochen Zaremba has been appointed as the insolvency administrator for Opatija. The 30 employees of Opatija will be paid from the insolvency assets until the end of September, ensuring some stability during this challenging time.
Ralf Faltermeier, the brother of composer Harold Faltermeyer, had previously operated Opatija for over 40 years before retiring at the age of 68 and passing the restaurant to Maximilian Oberbigler and Dominic Graf von Matuschka. However, difficulties piled up for Opatija, possibly due to an unexpectedly extensive kitchen renovation. In the spring of 2025, Oberbigler and Graf von Matuschka ended their cooperation.
Despite the insolvency, operations at both Opatija locations in Munich will continue until at least the end of September. The new innkeepers, who fulfilled a "childhood dream" with the Opatija, as they stated at the time of taking over, are working tirelessly to navigate this challenging period.
The amount of debt for Opatija is currently unknown. Without direct data, it is likely that any updates about this restaurant’s insolvency and future plans would be found in local Munich business registries, insolvency courts, or local news sources rather than widely indexed international resources.
For those seeking specific, up-to-date details about this restaurant, consulting German insolvency records (Insolvenzbekanntmachungen) or Munich local business news might provide more precise information.
The insolvency of Opatija, a Balkan fusion restaurant in Munich, Germany, has led to the appointment of Jochen Zaremba as the insolvency administrator. The ongoing business operations at both Opatija locations will continue until at least the end of September, with the new innkeepers hoping to navigate this challenging period informed by their personal dream of running the restaurant.
