Staying Heidelburg, March 23 to 26, need to know good restaurants inexpensive to moderate,and are the stores/shoppes open on weekend?

Karen - <BR> <BR>If you check out e-heidelberg.com (this is not a commercial recommendation - I just frequent the site a lot) they have a great list of places. Vetter's is great for true German fare. The Biermuseum on the Hauptstrasse is good - they have a beer lister longer than most wine lists. The food there is fantastic as well. If you're into Thai food - the place near the Altebrucke (the old bridge) is good and very inexpensive - especially for lunch. Sean Ogs - an Irish pub also on the Hauptst. makes the best fish and chips I've ever had. Cafe Journal is a great place to relax, have a coffee and watch the locals. There's an ice cream 'stand' at the back of the church at the Kornmarkt - great chocolate ice cream. <BR>Just about everything is closed on Sundays except for serious tourist shops. There is one store can't remember the name - but there's a big Nutcracker standing out side - has a wonderful selection of Christmas ornaments. Make sure you go downstairs. <BR>Shops on Saturday close at either 2 or 4, can't recall exactly. For more info - please feel free to email me directly. It's one of my favorite places.

Also....FYI, some of the boutique shopkeepers are very casual about their hours. The sign may SAY they are open from (for example) 10-5 daily, but they'll get there when they wake up & feel like it, and close early if they feel like it. <BR> <BR>Don't forget to visit the castle!

Karen, could not help but comment to your inquiry. This past summer while visiting daughter stationed in Heidelberg we went to restaurant Die Kartoffel in Landenburg just a few minutes drive away. Speciality was "steak vom heissen stein" or steak on a hot rock. Your steak is brought to the table on a very hot stone and you complete the cooking process. The meal was great--giant baked potato. Place is small and the price was not out of line. Can not recall the hours of operations nor day. Hey, enjoy the city. We have been there twice and like the place. Visit the castle and the museum (apotecary) inside. <BR>Saturday mornings the farmers market was interesting and enjoyabe (we were there in June). <BR>As a previous posted noted, some store hours are not strictly adhered to. But, walking the Hauptstrasse was always interesting.

Heidelburg is divine.