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Frankfurt, and the rest of Germany, no longer has the restrictive laws that once kept stores closed evenings and Saturday afternoons, the very times working people might want to shop. Stores now can stay open until 10 pm, but pretty much everything is still closed on Sunday except for restaurants and bakeries.
The tree-shaded pedestrian zone of the Zeil is said to be one of the richest shopping strips in Germany. The section between Hauptwache and Konstablerwache is famous for its incredible variety of department and specialty stores. But there's much more to downtown shopping. The subway station below the Hauptwache also doubles as a vast underground mall. West of the Hauptwache are two parallel streets highly regarded by shoppers. One is the luxurious Goethestrasse, lined with trendy boutiques, art galleries, jewelry stores, and antiques shops. The other is Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse, better known as the Fressgass ("Pig-Out Alley"), an extension of the Zeil that's lined with cafés, restaurants, and pricey food shops.
One gift that's typical of the city is the Apfelwein. You can get a bottle of it at any grocery store, but more enduring souvenirs would be the Bembel pottery pitchers and ribbed glasses that are an equal part of the Apfelwein tradition. Then there is the sausage. You can get the "original hot dog" in cans or vacuum-packed at any grocery store.
Find upscale designer day wear, evening wear, jeans, handbags, and other accessories for men, women, and kids, ranging from classic to trendy, at three adjoining Pfüller shops. Everything is displayed elegantly, and personal service is impeccable in this three-story shopping destination. Pfüller has separated its equally upscale children's collection to a separate multifloor store directly across the street, called Pfüller Kids.
The pastry shop at Café Laumer has local delicacies such as Bethmännchen und Brenten (marzipan cookies) and Frankfurter Kranz (a kind of creamy cake). It's open daily.
Sachsenhausen's weekend flea market is on Saturday from 9 to 2 on the riverbank between Dürerstrasse and the Eiserner Steg. Purveyors of the cheap have taken over, and there's lots of discussion as to whether it is a good use for the elegant, museum-lined riverbank.
Get there early for the bargains, as the better-quality stuff gets snapped up quickly.
Shopping success or no, the market can be fun for browsing.
One of Germany's biggest and most popular department stores, the Galeria Kaufhof carries clothing, jewelry, sports equipment, cosmetics, toys, and more. The Frankfurt branch has a food hall on the lower floor; the restaurant on the top floor has great city views.
One of Germany's biggest department store chains, Karstadt is known for both its upscale brand-name designer offerings, including popular German designers Betty Buckley and Gerry Weber (for women), and its splendid food and drink department, with plenty of opportunity to sample the offerings.
The large and airy Kleinmarkthalle is a treasure trove of stands selling spices, herbs, teas, exotic fruits, cut flowers, meats, live fish flown in from the Atlantic, and more varieties of Wurst and cheese than you can count. Plus, it offers all kinds of snacks in case you need a break while shopping.
At this huge branch of the clothing chain, men and women can find what they need for the office, gym, and nightclub. Prices range from easily affordable to sky-high for top designer labels. There's also a branch at the Skyline Plaza shopping mall near the Messe.
The Schillerpassage shopping area is lined with men's and women's fashion boutiques. There's also a large underground garage.
This multilevel shopping mall connected to the Messe (convention center) contains more than 170 shops, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories, and the biggest food court in Frankfurt. Unfortunately, it feels like an American mall, with all its familiar international food and fashion chains dominating the German brands. Head to the roof garden for a picture-postcard view of the skyline year-round, and for outdoor dining in season.
Weinhandlung Dr. Teufel has been renamed Weinteufel (wine devil), and continues to be known for its wide selection of regional wines, many priced under €10, plus rare vintages costing three figures or more. There are also chocolate and cigars, a complete line of glasses, carafes, corkscrews, and other accessories, and books on all aspects of viticulture. The store also has a location in the Westend.
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