New open-air café at the suspension railway: enjoyment despite the risk of forest fires!

New open-air café at the suspension railway: enjoyment despite the risk of forest fires!

In Dresden, a newly opened open-air café on the suspension railway is bringing a breath of fresh air, while at the same time a serious forest fire threat is gripping the region. When visiting Gohrischheide, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Elbe valley - briefly affected by a forest fire that broke out on Monday evening, July 1, 2025. This raged in the Dresdner Heide, one of the largest local recreation areas in the city, and sent a large cloud of smoke over the city, reports t-online.de.

The new open-air café is run by sisters Kara (28) and Awina (21) and has already attracted many visitors since it opened on April 2nd. The former ticket booth of the suspension railway now serves as a kitchen for homemade lemonade and cakes. The two sisters already have over five years of experience in the catering industry, as their parents run the well-known family restaurant Marienmühle in the Seifersdorfer Valley. In addition to cakes from the Scheinert bakery, the two also have a large selection of other delicacies on offer. Popular waffles had to be temporarily removed from the menu due to high demand, as business was extremely good in the first few weeks Sächsische.de reported.

Forest fire danger: alert level increased

But while the sisters run the café with a lot of passion, the city is faced with the alarming threat of forest fires. The persistent drought and high temperatures have led to the city administration and the fire department calling for caution. On Monday, the forest fire risk in the Dresden Heath was classified as "high", with over 110 firefighters deployed to contain the ground and treetop fire. Residents were asked to keep windows and doors closed. The fire did not remain completely extinguished until late in the evening, which is why the fire brigade set up a fire station overnight.
Loud meidresden.de Citizens are advised to avoid affected forest areas and there is a ban on taking water from rivers and lakes in the region.

Enjoyment and responsibility combined

As concerns about forest fires increase, the open-air café is focusing on enjoyment. Kara and Awina plan to introduce new offerings such as mulled wine and hearty soups in winter. The prices for their products are deliberately designed to be family-friendly: a piece of cake costs only 3.80 euros and the homemade lemonade costs 5.80 euros. The concept is a hit, not least because of the approximately 90% tourists who visit the suspension railway and the associated café.

However, it remains to be seen how the forest fire will affect the region in the long term and whether the sisters can continue to establish themselves as a centerpiece in this picturesque corner of Dresden despite the challenges.