• Beim Sedlmayr, Munich: Take a seat at one of the communal tables and enjoy hearty, authentic Bavarian cuisine at this long-established institution in Munich’s Altstadt. It’s a favorite of locals—for good reason.
  • Curry 36, Berlin: Who says a local neighborhood currywurst stand can’t be considered a great restaurant? Berlin’s favorite street food is not haute cuisine, but it sure is good—as the lines here will attest.
  • Fischereihafen Restaurant, Altona, near Hamburg: Hamburgers come here for what many claim is the city’s freshest fish and seafood, most of it right from the market stalls. In fact, from a window seat, you can spot the boats that hauled in your sole, eel, turbot, herring, or flounder from the seas that day.
  • Früh am Dom, Cologne: Cologne is loaded with tavern-restaurants where patrons wash down big portions of hearty Rhineland fare with rather dainty glasses of Kölsch, Cologne’s delicious beer. Früh, near the cathedral, has been around forever and is still the best spot to sample Kölsch and regional cooking.
  • Noblehart & Schmutzig, Berlin: In a city that revels in eccentricity, this might be its most odd—and exciting—dining experience. Guests sit around an open kitchen and watch as chefs prepare a meal entirely from foods found in a 155-mile radius of the city, items as varied as ground ivy and grapeseed oil cream.
  • Romantik Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg, Heidelberg: Lovely old dining rooms on the ground floor of a landmark hotel set the gold standard for old-world cooking and service. Even liver dumplings seem fit for a prince when served by a uniformed waiter on starched linens beneath paneled ceilings and frescoes.
  • Tantris, Munich: When a restaurant receives a Michelin star for something like 25 years, you can safely assume that it’s a great place to eat. Tantris’s Hans Haas is one of Germany’s top chefs, and his restaurant serves the most innovative food in Bavaria.
  • Tigerpalast Gourmet Restaurant, Frankfurt: Part of a long-running cabaret/revue, the Tigerpalast lets you combine exceptional dining with wonderful entertainment in an environment that you won’t find anywhere else.
  • Weinhaus Zum Stachel, Würzburg: The oldest (ca. 1413) wine house in a town loaded with them. The food’s good, the portion’s copious, the wine flows, and everyone has a wonderful time. Old-time Germany at its most appealing.
  • Albrecht Dürer Stube, Nürnberg: An evocative, low-ceilinged room hung with historic prints is the perfect place to try the cuisine of Franconia. Make reservations early, as this restaurant is popular among the locals.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.