Must-see restaurants in Central Germany

  • Renthof

    Fairy-Tale Road

    The classy in-house restaurant of the stylish Renthof hotel (single/double €7/115) manages the balancing act of satisfying both those seeking something…

  • Ginkgo

    Erfurt

    Behind an unassuming storefront down a side street off Domplatz, you'll find this purveyor of authentic Japanese sushi, run by the engaging Mr and Mrs…

  • Zum Wenigemarkt 13

    Erfurt

    This upbeat restaurant in a delightful spot serves traditional and updated takes on Thuringian cuisine, starring regionally hunted and gathered…

  • Pho Vang

    Fairy-Tale Road

    Spotless Pho Vang is a great alternative to heavy German fare, delivering authentic Vietnamese pho (noodle soup) and other traditional dishes that aren't…

  • Schnitzelwirtin

    Central Germany

    If you're a fan of the breaded cutlets you must hurry to this fabulous schnitzel-haus which fries up more versions of the humble schnitzel than you can…

  • Braunschweiger Hof

    Harz Mountains

    You'll find Bad Harzburg's fanciest feed in the Braunschweiger Hof hotel. A diverse menu of beautifully presented German and modern European cuisine and…

  • Kornhaus

    Central Germany

    This striking Bauhaus riverside beer-and-dance hall was designed by Carl Flieger, an assistant to the school's founder, Walter Gropius. Apart from being a…

  • Café Barfuss

    Fairy-Tale Road

    A local institution, humble Barfuss is a no-fuss, offbeat place with walls covered in coffee sacks and an eclectic clientele of students, elderly couples…

  • Immergrün

    Central Germany

    Clever, creatively prepared seasonal fish, poultry and meat dishes are served from a small menu that changes monthly and usually features a 'green' theme…

  • Qilin

    Central Germany

    Magdeburg’s culinary scene won’t blow you out of the Elbe, but this small, sleek pan-Asian eatery is excellent – it serves soups, sushi variations, fried…

  • Rattenfängerhaus

    Fairy-Tale Road

    One of Hamelin's finest ornamental Weser Renaissance–style buildings, the Rattenfängerhaus (Pied Piper House) has a facade dating to 1602, with older…

  • Faustfood

    Erfurt

    Despite its casual, student-y vibe, this rambunctious grill house is a great place for traditional Thuringian grills (Rostbrätel and bratwurst), plus more…

  • Zum Goldenen Schwan

    Erfurt

    This authentic inn serves all the usual Thuringian classics, but if you’re up to mounting your own Man vs Food challenge, try something called…

  • Wirtshaus Schwarzer Hahn

    Fairy-Tale Road

    The walls of 'Black Hen Tavern' are plastered with photographs of local and family history and ring to the chatter of happy locals; it's a great spot to…

  • El Erni

    Fairy-Tale Road

    Satisfying the locals' cravings for quality modern Spanish cuisine in an upmarket setting since 1994, this refined restaurant forces you to choose between…

  • Cron & Lanz

    Fairy-Tale Road

    This ornate Viennese-style cafe is Göttingen’s dignified haunt for connoisseurs of Sahnetorten (cream cakes), Obsttorten (fruit tarts) and other calorie…

  • Mexcal

    Fairy-Tale Road

    You don't expect to find delicious Tex-Mex food in a cellar on Hamelin's historic Osterstrasse, but this bustling brick-vaulted restaurant is a winner…

  • Kleiner Ratskeller

    Fairy-Tale Road

    The bulging, uneven walls and weathered half-timbering of this historic inn signal its venerable status, even before you learn that it's been serving food…

  • Bückingsgarten

    Fairy-Tale Road

    Choose from two separate menus at this venerable restaurant, opened by G Dietrich Bücking in 1807 and now offering German standards alongside lesser…

  • Osteria da Salvatore

    Central Germany

    This osteria on the corner of Bergstrasse is the local favourite among the several Italian places along the Kleine Ulrichstrasse main restaurant strip…

  • Zur Sonne

    Fairy-Tale Road

    In the heart of the Markt you'll find 'To the Sun', a delightful restaurant that feels as though it's been serving meals to scholars and students since…

  • Dachsbau

    Fairy-Tale Road

    As atmospheric as it is welcoming, this upmarket and historic restaurant in Fulda's Altstadt also doesn't disappoint in the kitchen. Among the traditional…

  • Restaurant Weisser Hirsch

    Harz Mountains

    Crisp white tablecloths, glistening cutlery and wild hare on the menu underscore the traditional but enticing culinary approach at the ‘White Stag’. Four-…

  • Zum Szultenburger

    Fairy-Tale Road

    This traditional German pub does things to the humble schnitzel that will make your mouth water, while the Rindergulasch mit Spätzle (beef goulash with…

  • Die Butterhanne

    Harz Mountains

    The fare is traditional, the outdoor seating is nice and on the first Saturday of the month the tables are cleared and the place morphs into a throbbing…

  • Drogerie Bistro

    Erfurt

    If atmosphere is high on your list of priorities, you'll love this cosy little bistro in the Wenigemarkt, with its antique cash register, brass scales and…

  • Schnitzler

    Erfurt

    It might be difficult for any self-proclaimed schnitzel lover to pass by a restaurant that pays such unabashed homage to the crumbed cutlet. There's an…

  • Fellini

    Erfurt

    You can't beat the Fischmarkt location of this smart Italian affair, where local suits and casual tourists dine side by side. Expect traditional Italian…

  • Ratskeller

    Central Germany

    There's one in almost every town, a bar-restaurant located in the cellar of the town hall. This Ratskeller is uncharacteristically open and airy with…

  • Lohmann

    Fairy-Tale Road

    With roots that go back to 1888, this popular, family-run Kneipe (pub) has an old-style birch-and-maple-shaded beer garden with an outdoor grill, while…

  • Orchidea Huong

    Harz Mountains

    If you need a break from heavy German food, you'll find this interesting establishment, incorporating restaurants Lan (Vietnamese) and Hanazono (Japanese)…

  • Heilemann's FachwerQ

    Harz Mountains

    This awesome little bruschetta-ria (yes, there is such a thing) overlooking the Marktkirche St Benedikti doles out a clever selection of delicious…

  • Tante Emmas Bier- & Caféhaus

    Central Germany

    Take a step back to the ‘good old times’ in this German country kitchen, serving stodgy, traditional homestyle German fare...and beer! Servers wear frilly…

  • Brauhaus Lüdde

    Harz Mountains

    Decent food and good boutique beer (despite some rather flatulent names for the local drop) are the order of the day in this lively microbrewery. After…

  • Brauhaus Wittenberg

    Central Germany

    Wittenberg's brewhouse, with its cobbled courtyard, indoor brewery and shiny copper vats, thrums with the noise of people having a good time. The menu is…

  • Casa Vita

    Harz Mountains

    This bistro and bar has an attractive, spacious interior, a courtyard and a beer garden – all rounded off with a homely Mediterranean ambience. There's a…

  • Restaurant Aubergine

    Harz Mountains

    This neat little restaurant doesn't only serve dishes that include its namesake vegetable, but rather, artfully presented Mediterranean cuisine, in a…

  • Fellini

    Central Germany

    Friendly, efficient table service, a busy atmosphere, tasty authentic pizza and pasta (the carbonara is just right – not too creamy), reasonable prices…

  • Brauhaus

    Harz Mountains

    A newcomer to Goslar’s gastronomic and drinking scene, this gastropub brews four types of beer in its copper vats beyond the bar and serves meals focusing…

  • Matterhorn Stübli

    Fairy-Tale Road

    If you love cheese, fondue, schnitzel, or all three, hotfoot it to this quaint Swiss restaurant. If you like mushrooms as well, try the 'Original Züri…