Zum Schwarzen Bären, Historic restaurant in Market Square, Weimar, Germany

The Zum Schwarzen Bären is a historic restaurant on Market Square in Weimar with a red-painted Renaissance arch made of local travertine and a bear symbol above the entrance. The name comes from this bear image that has marked the building since its founding.

Built in 1540, Zum Schwarzen Bären is the oldest still-operating restaurant in Weimar, ten years older than the Cranachhaus. In 1696 its innkeeper Andreas Barittig, the ducal cupbearer, founded the neighbouring Zum Elefanten inn. The building gained an extra storey in 1877. Bombing in 1945 halted the restaurant, which reopened in 1999.

The name Zum schwarzen Bären comes from the bear above the former gateway, inscribed 'Das Haus steht in Gottes Hand, zum schwartzen Beren es genant'. Below the bear, V.D.M.I.AE stands for 'Verbum Domini manet in aeternum'. Inside, a tiled stove in Renaissance style is probably a 19th-century addition.

The restaurant occupies the south side of Weimar's market square at Markt 20, with the entrance directly off the square. The building is a listed individual monument, and the whole market square is protected as an ensemble. The dining rooms are on the lower floors of a house that gained an extra storey in 1877.

The inscription over the former gateway reads 'Das Haus steht in Gottes Hand, zum schwartzen Beren es genant', and below the bear the letters V.D.M.I.AE stand for 'Verbum Domini manet in aeternum' (the word of the Lord endures forever). The wording is early modern German, not medieval.