Museumsinsel & Alexanderplatz
Prices are hard to beat at this cheery cafeteria – German-French-Asian-peppered mains top out at €4.90. It drowns in office drones at lunchtime, but is a…
Must-see restaurants in Germany
Kreuzberg
At the Jewish Museum, Café Schmus offers modern takes on traditional Jewish cuisine. Dishes are not kosher, although they do eschew pork and shellfish. On…
Harz Mountains
There's something about humble Albert's that just beckons you enter; you'll be greeted warmly and can relax while sipping on a hot drink or cold beer and…
Bremen City
Crisp tablecloths and good service are hallmarks of this formal but relaxed Italian restaurant serving a range of seafood and grilled meats, such as…
Bonn
This spare and stylish place is often mobbed, especially during the after-work cocktail happy hour. The menu revolves around salad, pizza and pasta…
Kreuzberg
Long before vegan and vegetarian went mainstream, there was Seerose serving a completely animal-free buffet against a backdrop of classical music. Put…
Thuringian Forest & the Saale Valley
The name says it all: get ready for schnitzels galore. This popular downtown joint serves up more variations of the humble cutlet than you can begin to…
Restaurant & Biergarten Zenner
Berlin
This traditional restaurant in a neoclassical building from 1822 (although rebuilt after WWII) is still a popular destination for cold beers and German…
Historic Mitte
For quick feeds, this tourist-geared, self-service cafeteria on the edge of Tiergarten comes in rather handy for breakfast, salad and cake buffets, and…
Munich
Munich's obsession with putting a bit of fried meat between two buns is celebrated at this Schwabing joint, where the burgers are 100% Bavarian beef –…
Berlin
At this upbeat German chain, high-quality beef, chicken and vegetarian 'better' burgers come wedged between a choice of buns (sourdough, brioche or…
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
For a quick, no-nonsense goulash, schnitzel or roast pork, lug your weary legs to this locally adored, family-run inn in a former brewery. In summer two…
Berlin
Matteo Thun’s jazzy decor is a great foil for the tasty Italian fare at this successful German self-service chain. Mix-and-match pastas, creative salads…
Harz Mountains
The name says it all: if you're craving a burger without the fast-food feel, this cute little hole-in-the-wall will likely satisfy. It's sweet and squeaky…
Harz Mountains
There's nothing mind-blowing about this Chinese restaurant, but it's not disappointing either. Meals are tasty and good value, with lots of vegetarian…
Heidelberg Region
Just south of the Hauptbahnhof, sociable TE (‘Trans Europa’) has communal tables within a huge building. It's a student favourite for its different…
Historic Mitte
Even if history leaves you cold, this cafe inside the German Historical Museum is a lovely spot for breakfast, cakes, a snack or a full meal, especially…
Hamburg
A perfect place of refuge from the fried-fish-clutching mobs of the port area, this cafe lives up to its name with a cheery disposition, even on a cloudy…
Northern Germany
Frilly and cute, Anna's has fabulous baked goods, including some alluring cakes. Breakfasts are served with verve while lunch is a mix of fresh salads,…
Central Germany
There's not a lot of bitter but a whole lot of sweet to this handsome, family-run cafe-by-day (serving delicious cakes, waffles, coffee and ice cream) and…
Central Germany
This fun, friendly, lively brewhouse serves excellent modern and traditional German food, including all the staples and, of course, a wide range of house…
Dresden
The folks in the kitchen here sure know how to coax maximum flavour out of even the simplest ingredients, and to turn them into super-tasty Mediterranean…
Erfurt
This upbeat bistro makes a great daytime pit stop for freshly made sandwiches with fillings that change weekly. Or there are crisp salads and interesting…
Nuremberg
This fragrantly spicy lunch stop has a weekly changing menu, outdoor seating and a choice of nonliquid mains (sandwiches, salads) if you don't fancy one…
Frankfurt am Main
High atop the Galeria Kaufhof department store, this upmarket food court with an outdoor terrace serves everything from coffee and baked goods to freshly…
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
If you find yourself in the mood for an Alpine take on la dolce vita, with mountain views and a bit of faux Roman archaeology thrown in, this much-lauded…
Berlin
Fill up quickly on quirkily named Thai and Indonesian dishes at this casual tunnel-shaped restaurant with its colourful paper lanterns. The small sizes…
Lower Saxony & Bremen
The inside may look more like a medieval German pub but it's actually the oldest Greek restaurant in Hildesheim, which has been serving up favourites like…
Nuremberg
Take a pew in this 21st-century sugar cube to watch the sushi chef deftly craft your order. When the mercury climbs high, enjoy your nigiri, sashimi and…
Berlin
This tourist-geared burger kitchen gets busy from the early evening onwards, when aspiring night owls drop by to fortify themselves with big burgers …
Harz Mountains
There are two reasons you'll want to dine at Bad Harzburg's best Chinese joint: the gorgeously retro, shabby-chic decor and the can't-be-beat, all-you-can…
Mannheim
Dark and rustic, and opening to a terrace in warm weather, this welcoming place rustles up salads, steaks, schnitzel and other pub favourites. Great-value…
Munich
Swagat fills every nook of an intimate cellar space with Indian fabrics, cavorting Hindu gods and snow-white tablecloths. The curry is as hot as Bavarians…
Historic Mitte
Never mind the ho-hum exterior: this well-established meat-free restaurant does a fine job of feeding grazers with Asian dishes that are triumphs of…
Würzburg
Order healthy organic sandwiches, quiche, pizza, soup, cakes and other snacks at this self-service bistro then feel all those nutrients being absorbed as…
Munich
Anytime is a good time to be at charismatic CADU. Enjoy breakfast (served until a hangover-friendly 10pm!), a cuppa Java or a Helles in the lovely garden…
Frankfurt am Main
With smoke-stained walls and ancient floorboards, this cornerstone of the neighbourhood is as old-school as they come. Don't miss its hallmark…
Munich
This funky decade-old lunch halt serves cheap-as-chips Belgian-style fries made from organic potatoes, 30-odd finger-licking dips to dunk them in, pulled…
Wiesbaden
Feast on Anatolian breads, börek (savoury pastries) and mains such as an adana kebap (spicy kebab) or pide (Turkish pizza) at this popular sit-down…
Harz Mountains
Locally sourced organic and biodynamic fruit and vegetables are used to create the hearty and delicious vegan and vegetarian soups, salads and pastas at…
