Restaurant Scala

Seems to be a well prepared place but we were surprised to hear from the waiter that we had to order a certain number of portions at minimum. Certainly, this pressure was unexpected. The waiter kindly accepted us ordering less than he required, but it did take a little discussion and "only as an exception". Anyway, the desserts were great quality and apart from this strange pressure to generate turnover, we had a good experience. The place was almost empty, comfortably quiet, and we enjoyed the view.

We visited Scala Jena to celebrate our anniversary and chose the vegetarian five-course menu — and from the very first bite, it was an experience to remember. The second course was an absolute standout: the Banyuls Karotten Sashimi was simply fantastic, and the Basilikum Artischocke mit Trüffel was a true delight — I still can’t forget those flavors. Even the butter with the fresh bread brought back memories of my grandmother’s cooking. That moment felt both nostalgic and refined — truly amazing. There was a small mix-up during the third course, which briefly affected the mood. But the way the team handled it made all the difference. The chef personally came to apologize, and the staff were sincere, attentive, and kind throughout. What began with a little hiccup turned into a truly lovely anniversary dinner — thanks to the thoughtful hospitality and exceptional flavors. A night we’ll remember, with warmth and laughter.

I had lunch in this top floor restaurant of the Jena tower a Monday early August of 2024 on the recommendation by my wine merchant in town. I had an Asian inspired halibut that is one of the very best versions of this delicate fish that I have ever tasted including in Iceland. The restaurant features a very good wine list and the Spätburgunder by the glass I drank was of excellent quality. Overall a great lunch with top value for money incuding the view over the city.

The best restaurant in Jena! They offer a choice of tasting menu- vegetarian or non vegetarian. They focus on quality of ingredients as well as maximizing their vitamins and health benefits. Our waiter was very professional and patient, the menu was in German (no English option) but it’s quite easy since u have only 2 menu options. He explained all the dishes to us. The wait between each course was a bit long, so the dinner took quite a awhile - but it’s definitely worth it! Definitely a must - for foodies and gourmet food lovers.

Very nice restaurant with an amazing 360 degrees view of Jena, which you cannot find anywhere else. Breakfast was also nice. My only negative feedback is that one staff (a red haired lady) was not kind at all with a negative attitude. I think she has to be much more careful towards the customers. Other than this, everything was top.

I haven't seen a waitress/hostess (the blonde one) that arrogant, imprudent and cocky in a looooong time. There was literally noone else besides me, yet she looked super annoyed that she had to "deal with me". So sad that the lovely view and this restaurant's reputation was completely ruined by a random service member.

I was looking forward to stay in Scala, however greatly disappointed: in the morning, there was no running water in shower and bathroom available. When I notified the clerk, even she was surprised. The information, that this happens more often and that it is not their fault, did not comfort me. I had to pay the bill fully and was left off like that. Even the restaurant did not have water supply, so no breakfast either..

Jena has a notorious shortage of upmarket hotels, so on our recent visit picked the four star Scala mainly because of the promised view from Jen Tower. |The hotel is marketed as Germany‘s second highest hotel and indeed the view over the picturesque old university town is spectacular day and night. However, the hotel was a big disappointment. We booked a suite which would be better described as large room. Cold industrial design resembled cheap airport hotels. Worst was the shower and toilet barely separated from the bedroom by a glass door. Maybe ok for single travelers but certainly not much privacy when traveling together. Breakfast on the other side was very nice, very good boutique hotel style. Good selection and great service. In fact, the service was probably the one thing which really stood out. All staff we encountered was very friendly, welcoming and helpful. To sum up, the great view at night and from the restaurant at breakfast make the stay a special experience but for the hotel’s standard it’s totally overpriced.