11 Best Restaurants in The Romantic Road, Germany

“To Hell” is in a building dating back to AD 900—claimed to be the oldest in town. With an extensive selection of Franconian wine and a delicious house beer, you'll have a nice late evening experience. In summer be sure to reserve a table in advance, including for the outdoor Biergarten (beer garden).

For more than 350 years Forelle (Trout) has stood over the small, clear River Blau, which flows through a large trout basin right under the restaurant. In addition to the variations of trout, including smoked and tartare, there are pasta dishes and excellent venison in season. On a nice summer evening, try to get a table on the small terrace. You sit over the river, with a weeping willow on one side, half-timber houses around you, and the towering cathedral in the background.

Sample Frankish bratwurst cooked over a wood grill and other regional dishes in this converted mill alongside the Main River. Sit outside on the terrace above the river for the best views of the Alte Mainbrücke and the Festung Marienberg.

On a side street, this guest house restaurant serves standard local cuisine but attracts a crowd thanks to its evening steak menu. The interior is traditional Bavarian and the family-run establishment has friendly personnel.

More than 400 years of tradition are embedded in this old tavern, hidden away behind huge wooden doors on a back street. A surprisingly varied menu includes local favorites such as suckling pig and marinated pot roast, as well as good fish entrées, all at reasonable prices.

Have a seat in the ancient courtyard of the Stachel, which is shaded by a canopy of vine leaves and enclosed by tall, ivy-covered walls. The entrées are satisfyingly Franconian, from lightly baked onion cake to hearty roast pork served in a decidedly unstuffy atmosphere.

Giving a gastropub's twist to traditional Franconian fare, including Sauerbraten and wursts, this restaurant is a draw for its private-label wines. While sampling local game and fish specialties, you can buy a bottle of wine to take home directly from the waitstaff.

Kleibls has bright and modern decor in the heart of the historic Old Town, with an updated menu of traditional Bavarian and Swabian favorites. Everything is house-made, from the pastas to the ketchup. Operated by Thorsten and Andrea Kleibl, there's also a small shop where you can buy their sauces and spice mixes. 

This building is one of the oldest in Nördlingen, which is saying something for a city known for its medieval buildings. It opened in 1545 as a brewery and has been a restaurant since the early 1900s, serving in between as a guest house and museum. As you would expect in such a historic location, the menu is traditional, focusing on both Bavarian specialties such as Sauerbraten and Swabian dishes such as Maultaschen (meat-filled raviolis) and the schnitzels claimed by both. Main dishes include two sides, including house-made Spätzle (noodle dumplings), red cabbage or sauerkraut. There's also a children's menu.

A carnevore's dream, this traditional German steakhouse, set in an old half-timbered building with a large outdoor terrace, is deservedly famous for choice cuts of grade-A Angus beef grilled to perfection. The restaurant flaunts its modern side with an excellent steak tartare topped with a raw quail's egg or flavorful beef carpaccio with lemon and capers, along with lighter fare: fresh vegetable soup of the day, delicious salads, and plenty of veggie side dishes. An excellent wine list features German wines from all regions.

The sturdy half-timber Zunfthaus (Guildhall) has stood here for more than 500 years, first as a fishermen's pub and now as a charming tavern-restaurant. Ulm's fishermen had their guild headquarters here, and when the nearby Danube flooded, the fish swam right up to the door. Today they land on the menu, which also includes dry-aged steak as well as "Swabian oysters" (actually snails, drenched in garlic butter). The local beer makes an excellent accompaniment.