Cologne
Spread over three historical row houses, the Schmitz empire is your one-stop shop for excellent food and drink. Greet the day with a lavish breakfast in…
Must-see restaurants in Cologne & Northern Rhineland
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Düsseldorf
Boisterous, packed and drenched with local colour, the ‘Little Fox’ in the Altstadt is all you expect a Rhenish beer hall to be. The kitchen is especially…
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Cologne & Northern Rhineland
The little sister of Osnabrück's triple Michelin-starred La Vie started out as a pop-up but the concept proved just too popular. In a meticulously…
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Düsseldorf
This legendary delicatessen has spawned a buzzy bistro serving some of Düsseldorf's best seasonal and locally sourced fare. Day after day the place hums…
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Münster
Münster’s oldest inn (since 1607) has painted tiles, oil paintings and copper etchings: a suitably rustic backdrop for hearty Westphalian and German fare…
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Bonn
This little bistro-deli is so fantastically French you’ll feel like donning a beret and affecting a silly accent. Dine on unfussy gourmet cuisine – paired…
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Cologne
Named for its long-time owner, who was still cooking almost to her last day at age 95 in 2009, this perennially booked, graffiti-covered restaurant serves…
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Aachen
This darling cafe just off the tourist trail is famous for its cakes, especially a wicked chocolate one called Krippekratz (local slang for 'devil') and…
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Münster
Münster's slow-food outpost has been raising the bar of inventive seasonal fare for almost 20 years. The menu reflects what's fresh, but there's usually a…
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Aachen
Hungry grazers have stopped by this traditional inn since 1698, and you too will have a fine time enjoying hearty German cuisine served amid a flea market…
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Düsseldorf
All you need to know about this hole-in-the-wall is that it's always packed elbow-to-elbow with Düsseldorf's expat Japanese community salivating over an…
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Cologne
A combination of farmers market and street-food fair, Meet & Eat draws locals of all ages to Rudolfplatz on Thursday evenings. Aside from fresh produce,…
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Cologne
This well-respected Zülpicher Viertel restaurant is an excellent pit stop at any time of the day. Come for extravagant breakfasts, light lunches and…
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Cologne
The best reason to wander east across the Hohenzollernbrücke railway bridge over the Rhine is this delightfully old-school pub serving some of the finest…
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Düsseldorf
Crammed with mirrors, tiles and other decorations from Lebanon, this cafe serves great kebabs, falafel and other Middle Eastern specialities. Its takeaway…
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Bonn
The unfiltered ale is a must at this congenial brewpub adorned with photographs of famous politicians great and failed, from Willy Brandt to, yes, Arnold…
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Aachen
Leather-covered walls, tiled stoves and antiques forge the yesteryear feel of this rambling cafe established in 1890 (the building goes back to 1655). It…
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Aachen
You won't feel the sharp end of the namesake golden unicorn at this main square restaurant that goes one better than most of its neighbours. The…
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Aachen
This restaurant-bar comes with a lovely hidden garden right near the centre of town. There's even a little stream running past garden tables where you can…
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Bonn
Walls lined with the colourful containers of the owner's favorite teas overlook mismatched but comfy chairs and tables at this neighbourhood favourite…
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Cologne
Dishes are prepared with the same attention to detail (yet lack of pretension) found throughout this casual fine-dining treasure. An excellent wine list,…
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Münster
This darling cafe gets plenty of eco-cred for using only organic and sustainably grown ingredients and turning them into a rotating menu of super-tasty…
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Düsseldorf
Georgia (the country, not the US state) is a cultural and geographical bridge between east and west, which is also reflected in its cuisine. It's meat…
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Düsseldorf
This locally adored cafe is especially lovely in summer when half the 'hood comes out to sip java and eat yummy cheesecake or carrot cake (both homemade…
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Münster
One of Germany's best small brewers, Pinkus Müller has a namesake pub and restaurant in the heart of the Kuhviertel nightlife zone. Nab an outdoor table…
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Düsseldorf
A former fruit and vegetable market has been transformed into a foodies' playground. Scores of cafes, artisanal food vendors, stand-up takeaways and…
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Münster
Stay on the sunny side at this feel-good cafe that's worth a stop no matter where the hands of the clock are. Highlights on the small but handmade menu …
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Düsseldorf
With a name like 'spoon bar' you'd think that this contemporary outfit was a soup joint. Which it is. Partly. Yes, the menu features bowls of cheese-leek…
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Cologne & Northern Rhineland
This charming cafe has plied loyal locals with freshly baked goods and gooey pastries and cakes for well over a century. Current owner Ulrich Läer,…
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Cologne
This cosy restaurant-pub is famous for its habit-forming crêpes, which come in 50 varieties – sweet or savoury, meat or vegetarian and vegan. Also popular…
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Düsseldorf
This Flingern classic caters to an easy-going local crowd who whoop it up on the terrace when the weather plays along. It's a great spot for breakfast, a…
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Aachen
This gorgeous bakery, where you can watch the bakers at work, is right across from the Dom. It has a stunning array of sandwiches and other goods ready to…
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Cologne & Northern Rhineland
Follow your nose to the source of the tempting java aroma at this upbeat, contemporary cafe-cum-roastery. It's good for just grabbing a quick cuppa but…
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Cologne & Northern Rhineland
Stepping inside the 'little parsley' (as the name translates) is like getting a hug from an old friend. An old piano and fresh flowers set the tone for…
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Münster
For a relaxed pint, steer to the Kuhviertel, the traditional student quarter north of the Dom. Cavete has been a late-night classic for generations. Find…
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Cologne
A wholewheat bun provides a solid framework for the moist patties made with beef from happy cows and drizzled with Freddy's homemade 'special' sauce. Pair…
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Bonn
On a hot Bonn day, there are few things better than the just-made ice cream (from organic milk, no less) doled out at this cone-sized artisanal lab where…
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Cologne & Northern Rhineland
Elegant without being stuffy, this restaurant in the eponymous hotel cooks up German food with a seasonal, contemporary kick. The menu changes often but…
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Münster
This locally beloved restaurant in a half-timbered house has been churning out top-notch earthy Westphalian fry-ups forever. Of course, the beer is Pinkus…
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Cologne & Northern Rhineland
Some things never go out of style, including this local gastro-stalwart. Run by a charming couple for around 30 years, the cosy, elegant space serves…
