baden-baden
Dec 15th, 2003, 09:56 AM
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Hi Jay,
We just got back from Baden-Baden last night (and we're going again in mid-January). Re the spas, the two main ones are the Friedrichs Bad Roman/Irish spa and the Caracalla spa. The Friedrichsbad spa is the traditional spa--and note, it's a primarily a NUDE spa, so hope you don't mind being naked with strangers of the same *and* opposite sex--with beautiful baths, mosaics, etc. Men and women bathe separately on Mondays and Thursdays, but it's mixed bathing the rest of the week. Prices are 21 euros for 3 hours; or 29 euros for 3 hours if you want a soap and brush massage. Towels, bathing shoes, etc., provided and included in the price.
Caracalla is the new spa just off the Sophienstrasse. Very modern, but also beautiful. You can wear your bathing suit for that one (and it can be regular American bathing trunks, not Speedos). Prices are lower--14 euros for 3 hours. We brought our own towels, but I think you can get them there as well. Massages, etc., available at extra charge. Has a large outdoor spa pool as well--great for "schwimbadding" under the stars. I'm hoping for snow when we go in January (this week-end was rainy and not that cold). Snow is possible, but not all that likely.
Baden-Baden also has a casino and there are usually plays, art exhibits, concerts, etc., so plenty to do. Some favorite restaurants:
the Kurhaus, off the casino, which has a game menu at the moment--venison, wild guinea fowl consomme, boar with wild mushrooms, etc.--quite good.
Namaskaar--we ate there Saturday night and it has to be the BEST, hands down, no contest, Indian restaurant we've ever eaten at. Small, but elegant, reservations absolutely required (virtually no chance of a table without them). Both Namaskaar and the Kurhaus are in the moderate price range (our dinner at Namaskaar came to 64 euros, which included aperitifs, appetizers, wine, main course, after dinner chai)
Gockelstub--across the street from Namaskaar (and a little farther down). True German home cooking, mostly chicken. Terrific homemade chicken soup, home made fried chicken (your choice of mild or spicy batter), good beer (try the Bock or the Ulmer pils), good homemade bread. Inexpensive.
We also ate at an inexpensive little Italian spot behind our hotel (the Quellenhof) that had great risotto al funghi.
While you're in "Baba", be sure to try the local wines as well as the beer. We drank a lot of excellent spatburgunder.
Cafe Beeg has delicious pastries, including the famous Black Forest Kirsch torte.
We just got back from Baden-Baden last night (and we're going again in mid-January). Re the spas, the two main ones are the Friedrichs Bad Roman/Irish spa and the Caracalla spa. The Friedrichsbad spa is the traditional spa--and note, it's a primarily a NUDE spa, so hope you don't mind being naked with strangers of the same *and* opposite sex--with beautiful baths, mosaics, etc. Men and women bathe separately on Mondays and Thursdays, but it's mixed bathing the rest of the week. Prices are 21 euros for 3 hours; or 29 euros for 3 hours if you want a soap and brush massage. Towels, bathing shoes, etc., provided and included in the price.
Caracalla is the new spa just off the Sophienstrasse. Very modern, but also beautiful. You can wear your bathing suit for that one (and it can be regular American bathing trunks, not Speedos). Prices are lower--14 euros for 3 hours. We brought our own towels, but I think you can get them there as well. Massages, etc., available at extra charge. Has a large outdoor spa pool as well--great for "schwimbadding" under the stars. I'm hoping for snow when we go in January (this week-end was rainy and not that cold). Snow is possible, but not all that likely.
Baden-Baden also has a casino and there are usually plays, art exhibits, concerts, etc., so plenty to do. Some favorite restaurants:
the Kurhaus, off the casino, which has a game menu at the moment--venison, wild guinea fowl consomme, boar with wild mushrooms, etc.--quite good.
Namaskaar--we ate there Saturday night and it has to be the BEST, hands down, no contest, Indian restaurant we've ever eaten at. Small, but elegant, reservations absolutely required (virtually no chance of a table without them). Both Namaskaar and the Kurhaus are in the moderate price range (our dinner at Namaskaar came to 64 euros, which included aperitifs, appetizers, wine, main course, after dinner chai)
Gockelstub--across the street from Namaskaar (and a little farther down). True German home cooking, mostly chicken. Terrific homemade chicken soup, home made fried chicken (your choice of mild or spicy batter), good beer (try the Bock or the Ulmer pils), good homemade bread. Inexpensive.
We also ate at an inexpensive little Italian spot behind our hotel (the Quellenhof) that had great risotto al funghi.
While you're in "Baba", be sure to try the local wines as well as the beer. We drank a lot of excellent spatburgunder.
Cafe Beeg has delicious pastries, including the famous Black Forest Kirsch torte.
Dec 15th, 2003, 10:10 AM
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Other things to do...take a walk in the parks, hike up to the Alte Schloss (should take the better part of an afternoon, or you could take a cab or bus up there). The castle is in ruins, but still impressive and the views are excellent. Walking paths around the castle (if it's a dry day, you may find rock climbers testing their skills on the cliffs about .5 kilometers from the castle). The castle also has a cafe.
Note, some of the hotels have their own spas. We plan to stay at the Dorint next time, which is a new(ish) 5 star hotel offering some good rates for Internet bookings (we got a double with breakfast for 163 euros by booking on their web site). The spa/fitness facilities are included in that price; massages, facials, etc., are extra. the upstairs Kaminbar has live piano music most evenings (happy hour from 5 to 7 pm with drinks at half price). Try an Absinth--the waiter serves it in a unique fashion.
Finally, the casino--the slots, video poker and so forth are on the lower level. You pay 1 euro admission. Casual dress. The dressier main casino is upstairs with a slightly higher admission fee (and you must show your passport to enter the main casino). My husband doesn't think the main casino is all that impressive; I've only been to the lower, "common" part.
Shopping--the Baden-Baden Tchibo store sells some of the best, freshest coffee in Europe. Get a kilo of the Elegant Blend. The Bremen tea company Handelskontor (www.thk-bremen.de) has a store in Baden-Baden selling VERY high quality tea (we'd say it's the German equivalent of the renowned Mariage Freres tea company). It also sells its own beautiful tea services.
Baden-Baden is a town designed and built for pleasure. You will find no end of ways to relax, dine, drink, shop, or simply loll in a spa...
Hope this helps!
Note, some of the hotels have their own spas. We plan to stay at the Dorint next time, which is a new(ish) 5 star hotel offering some good rates for Internet bookings (we got a double with breakfast for 163 euros by booking on their web site). The spa/fitness facilities are included in that price; massages, facials, etc., are extra. the upstairs Kaminbar has live piano music most evenings (happy hour from 5 to 7 pm with drinks at half price). Try an Absinth--the waiter serves it in a unique fashion.
Finally, the casino--the slots, video poker and so forth are on the lower level. You pay 1 euro admission. Casual dress. The dressier main casino is upstairs with a slightly higher admission fee (and you must show your passport to enter the main casino). My husband doesn't think the main casino is all that impressive; I've only been to the lower, "common" part.
Shopping--the Baden-Baden Tchibo store sells some of the best, freshest coffee in Europe. Get a kilo of the Elegant Blend. The Bremen tea company Handelskontor (www.thk-bremen.de) has a store in Baden-Baden selling VERY high quality tea (we'd say it's the German equivalent of the renowned Mariage Freres tea company). It also sells its own beautiful tea services.
Baden-Baden is a town designed and built for pleasure. You will find no end of ways to relax, dine, drink, shop, or simply loll in a spa...
Hope this helps!
Apr 14th, 2004, 10:56 PM
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Topping for WhisterAl. By the way, if you decide to go for the Wine Witch Night Russ recommended (sounds like a fun thing to do), Baden-Baden makes a GREAT place to start your trip. A fairly short drive from Frankfurt and once there you can soak off all the kinks from a long flight in a spa, eat at one of the town's many good restaurants in all price ranges, walk around the pretty parks, and then go on with the rest of your trip completely relaxed and refreshed!
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