478 Best Restaurants in Germany

For over 80 years, this rustic corner tavern, in the shadow of the lovely St. Gereon's church, has served solid German comfort food to a mostly local crowd. There’s fresh Kölsch on tap, and the service is remarkably friendly.

In a town rich with cozy taverns and hearty local food, the appearance of this Mediterranean restaurant, with its terra-cotta-and-blue color scheme, arty chandeliers, and light, airy spaces, stands out as much as its cuisine. Right in the middle of Göttingen's historic Börner Viertel, the restaurant is a favorite with staff from the university and its food and excellent service are worth the extra cost.

Gebert's smart yet traditional wine tavern serves refined versions of regional favorites and modern European cuisine using fresh, seasonal ingredients. The geeister Kaffee (coffee ice cream and a chocolate praline in a cup of coffee) uses delicious, handmade chocolate pralines.

The eclectic mix of oddly matched couches, chairs, and tables in this tiny space create a cozy setting for enjoying excellent coffee and pastries. The latte art and the "godshot" logo on the coffee cups make for some Instagram-worthy photos, too. If you're interested in learning about the tools and practices of the barista trade, brewing and latte art workshops are offered. While these are normally given in German, instructors can accommodate English-speaking students, or you can book a private class in English.

This much-hyped burger joint near the Kottbusser Bridge—helmed by two former three-Michelin-star chefs—has a short but spot-on menu: smashburgers (also in veggie and vegan versions) with various toppings and fries. There’s limited seating, so make your way over to the nearby riverside to enjoy your meal.

This bustling restaurant is a great place for potato-lovers, who will be pleased with the house specialty \"bratkartoffeln\" cooked with onions and available with all manner of meaty accompaniments, including pork medallions, fried eggs (with or without speck), bratwurst, and schnitzel. You may also want to try the specially brewed potato beer.

In 1893 Augustiner, the oldest brewery in Munich, built this sturdy Wirtshaus to sustain travelers on the 12-km (7-mile) trek from Munich to the castles at Schleissheim. Today, it's as much a forum for good eating and drinking as it was more than 100 years ago—a place where you can enjoy hearty Bavarian food in a dining room festooned with antlers, in the cozy, quiet bibliothek (library), or out on the terrace.

Although far from Alsatian France and the Mosel and Saar regions of Germany's southwest that inspire the hearty fare here, a visit to this busy but homey Kollwitzplatz restaurant will leave you pleasantly surprised at the authenticity of the food. The raclette is the best you're likely to get this side of the Rhine, and classic choucroute comes with Blutwurst (blood sausage); though the menu is meat-centric, vegetarians will also find some tempting choices.

On the lake's northern shore, this self-sustaining restaurant has been created from a series of farm buildings dating back to the 19th century. There's a strong focus on meat-heavy regional delicacies here, from Bavarian veal steak tartare to medallions of venison loin, with a particular focus on beef dishes utilizing meat from the restaurant's own cattle. A large terrace and walls of windows provide phenomenal views of the lake, and a kid-friendly beer garden keeps young visitors happy until dusk.

One of the best dining choices in the region has held a Michelin star for more than twenty years. Located in an old manor house (now a luxurious Relais & Chateaux hotel), the gourmet restaurant is open for dinner and offers a prix-fixe menu with international dishes. In summer, outdoor dining on the patio is a great way to relax. 

Under the arches of the S-bahn tracks connecting Friedrichstrasse with Hauptbahnhof, Habel am Reichstag seems unassuming from outside, but inside you'll find old Berlin elegance melded with industrial chic: leather banquettes, crystal chandeliers dangling from the arched brick ceilings, and rumbling trains overhead. The no-nonsense waiters serve local classics, like lamb, Wiener schnitzel, weisser Spargel (asparagus), and Knödel (dumplings) with mushrooms and ham. There's a huge wine selection.

This beautiful, wood-paneled restaurant is spacious but almost always crowded; it's located right in the middle of the action at bustling Hackesche Höfe, and a solid place to eat German food while doing some excellent people-watching. The clientele is a fun mix of tourists and locals, which gives the place a vibrant, lively atmosphere; when the weather is good there are tables outside in the courtyard, too.

Shaded by magnificent old trees, this brewery's enormous beer garden (which can seat more than 1,000) is a popular stop for sipping a summertime Hacklberger beer, while tucking into a plate of sausages or the pumpkin-seed breaded roast chicken.

Enjoy eclectic cooking—including Italian, Bavarian, and Swabian fare—on the terrace at this warm-weather spot on the harbor. Sit outside and watch the busy harbor traffic, or enjoy the beer garden with a sandbox for children and a big TV screen for watching sports. The restaurant frequently presents sporting, culinary, and live-music events. If you're in town on Ash Wednesday at the end of the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht (carnival) celebrations, try to get a spot at Hafenhalle's annual fish-and-snails dining event, which marks the reopening of the restaurant after a period of winter closure.

Located where St. Pauli meets Schanze, Hatari offers traditional southwestern German food in the far north. Sit at one of the long, rustic wooden tables and enjoy a plate of Käsespätzle or delicacies from the Rhineland at affordable prices. The folksy decoration gives the impression of a modest eatery frozen in time, but the clientele here is mostly made up of hip Schanze locals who flock to this restaurant for its unique vibe.

For atmospheric dining, this 14th-century monastery-turned-wine cellar is a must. In summer you can eat beneath chestnut trees; in winter seek out the warmth of the vaulted, dark-paneled dining rooms. The wines—made in Austria from grapes from the Spitalkirche Heiliger Geist vineyards—are excellent and suit all seasons.

Heiliggeist's modern, minimal decor is a striking contrast to the historic vaulted ceilings in this former almshouse and hospital church, which was built in 1236. This lively café-bistro-bar serves elaborate salad platters, creatively spiced fish and meat dishes, and the house specialty, Croustarte, an upscale version of pizza. It's a popular brunch spot on weekends.

Just around the corner from the Rathaus (Town Hall), this excellent little restaurant serves high-quality, down-to-earth German and Austrian cuisine; think sausages, schnitzels, and spinatknödel (spinach dumplings). For a real taste of Germany, try \"Oma's Sauerbraten,\" which is heavily marinated roast beef served with potato dumplings and red cabbage. Skip dessert here and instead head next door to Wesel Café for an after-dinner coffee and cake—both dining options are connected to the Das Wesel hotel.

A young crowd gathers here to do what people along the Rhine have done for centuries—talk, drink, and enjoy good company. There's a party every Friday and Saturday with a DJ. Consistently voted one of the best deals in town, this restaurant offers good German beer, tangy cocktails, and a creative mixture of German and French food.

This restaurant is regarded by many as the best burger spot in Frankfurt, famous for its beef ground 100% in-house, homemade sauces and toppings (including mayo and BBQ), relish, and guacamole. You can also get American-style french fries and chicken nuggets, German-style cucumber salad, and garlic knots. The atmosphere is decided casual, and it's usually crowded. There's kids’ menu, too.

The lines here are often long, but they move fast and the combination of seasoned, salty meat with crunchy salad and warm bread is unbeatable. Most people come here for a quick döner kebab, line up outside on the sidewalk, and order from the window; there's also a good choice of other Turkish specialties.

The Hofbräuhaus is the most famous beer hall not just in Munich but in the world—a kitschy multiroom space with a pounding oompah band and singing and shouting drinkers contributing to the festive atmosphere. The courtyard beer garden provides an escape from the noise in good weather, and there's also a quieter upstairs restaurant where the food is fine, although there are better places in Munich for Bavarian cuisine.

Tucked away off the street through an easy-to-miss entrance just inside the outer iron gate, this restaurant offers a leafy, decorated courtyard in which to sit and enjoy a glass of local wine, coffee, and house-made cake, or lunch or dinner from a short but varied international menu that includes Mediterranean antipasti, burgers, and salads. The Flammkuchen (Tarte flambée) are freshly made to order and cooked with your chosen toppings in a stone oven, and they're absolutely delicious.

In a city that's unfortunately full of mediocre pseudo-Asian restaurants that serve bland versions of curries, noodles, and rice dishes, Hot Spot stands out for its daring and authenticity. The menu features recipes from the provinces of Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Shanghai, and the freshest ingredients are guaranteed; mala dishes (numbing and spicy) are a specialty here, and the excellent selection of German wines—particularly Riesling—goes well with the spicy food.

Inside a small family-run hotel done up in Black Forest decor about 4 km (2.5 miles) southwest of Triberg, the Italian owners of Inselklause create an appealing mix of Tuscan and regional Baden cuisine. Try one of their delightful pizzas, opt for a well-prepared meat dish, or peer into their stream to see the Forelle (trout) caught fresh for your plate.

This family-owned and -operated restaurant in a historic building serves Italian favorites such as pasta and individual pizza alongside some traditional German favorites. Despite the white tablecloths, starched napkins, and elegent presentations, there is a casual, friendly vibe, perhaps because it's been here since the 1980s and there are lot of returning regulars. Save room for one of the excellent homemade desserts, such as tiramisu.

This Italian delicatessen doubles as a relaxed, friendly restaurant, which offers tables tucked behind the shelves that are stacked with fine Italian fare; in summer, tables also spill out onto Hamelin's pedestrian high street. The menu offers an impressive variety of pasta dishes, pizzas, main course salads, and house specialties, which change with the season. The creative cuisine and generous portions make it a popular spot with the locals.

Right on the Kieler Förde, with a great view of the bay, this new restaurant offers regional and international dishes in a relaxed and cozy atmosphere. There is a second branch in the city center ( Holstenbrücke 1), with a menu focusing on craft beer and meat.

This cozy, alpine lodge–style restaurant in a small street behind the Rathaus is a treat for those craving an old-world tavern, complete with live accordion playing and yodelers who perform most nights, telling jokes and poking fun at their adoring guests in unintelligible Bavarian slang. The food is traditional Bavarian and the tasty beer is from the Ayinger brewery.