World City Guide

Restaurants

The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

Some restaurants might not accept credit cards and visitors should check before getting a table. Prices usually include 16% VAT. Normally, a tip of 5-10% is expected for good service.

The restaurants below have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over ¬60)
$$$ (¬40 to ¬60)
$$ (¬20 to ¬40)
$ (up to ¬20)
The above prices are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they include VAT but not a tip.

Gastronomic

Aubergine
Padrone Paolo Vargiu, a book-keeper turned restaurateur from Sardinia, created Aubergine – a stylish gourmet restaurant serving Italian and French cuisine, with a wonderful wine list to match. Its rich and colourful setting is accentuated by tables laid entirely with Versace – tablecloths, plates and glasses.

Alte Gasse 14
Tel: (069) 920 0780.
Website: www.aubergine-frankfurt.de
Price: $$$

Erno’s Bistro
Despite the name, this place is actually a fine gourmet restaurant serving French-Mediterranean cuisine. With its relaxed ambience and comfortable, timeless style, incorporating red-checked tablecloths, it might even look like a bistro but the excellent service, exquisite wine list and innovative menu prove it a first-class establishment.

Liebigstrasse 15, Westend
Tel: (069) 721 997.
Website: www.ernosbistro.de
Price: $$$$

Gargantua
Initially, Klaus Trebes, Gargantua’s chef, was determined to cook only one dish a day – like an original family-run kitchen. But popular demand soon forced him to turn Gargantua into a ‘normal’ restaurant. And as such, with its elegant setting, antique furniture, German ingredients-meet-international recipes and a big wine list, it has been extraordinarily successful.

Liebigstrasse 47, Westend
Tel: (069) 720 718.
Website: www.gargantua.com
Price: $$$-$$$$

Business

Brückenkeller
Located in the Altstadt, the old part of the city, this is a historic venue – wine has been sold in these atmospheric vaults for over 350 years and food has been served for more than 70. Once a plain restaurant with entertainment from local musicians, it is now the best address in town for imaginative, German cuisine and fine wine. These unusual but distinctive cellars have become a regular for the food and wine connoisseur.

Schützenstrasse 6
Tel: (069) 298 0070.
Website: www.brueckenkeller.de
Price: $$$-$$$$

Exedra
This Greek restaurant, with its simple decor consisting of wooden tables, white walls and Delphi carafes, is much more than a typical Greek tavern serving up creative dishes and old favourites in ample portions. The business lunch (available between 1200 and 1400) is highly recommended, as are its various fish and lamb specialities. There is also an excellent wine list with many Hellenic varieties.

Heiligkreuzgasse 29
Tel: (069) 287 397.
Price: $$$

Knoblauch
There is no need to be afraid of Knoblauch, even though its name translates as ‘garlic’. This small but charming venue is hard to define as it lies somewhere between a bar and restaurant, with a bit of an art gallery thrown in. The Westend meets French flair, resulting in a casual bright ambience. Sweatshirts are as welcome as ties and the kitchen is as versatile and imaginative as the dress code.

Staufenstrasse 39, Westend
Tel: (069) 722 828.
Price: $$$

Trendy

Die Leiter
‘The Ladder’ remains a fashionable eating place for the young, stylish and beautiful people. Mediterranean flair and bold French cuisine blended with an edgy, contemporary décor make this a top trendy spot in the city. Meanwhile, a great selection of European wines and digestifs makes it even enjoyable for the true connoisseur too.

Kaiserhofstrasse 11
Tel: (069) 292 121.
Website: www.dieleiter.de
Price: $$-$$$

Sushi Circle
One of a chain of restaurants, this centrally located sushi bar, near the Alter Oper and Fressgass, serves these speciality fresh fish dishes on a conveyor belt. Appealing to businesspeople and shoppers, as there is no waiting involved, it is great for a healthy lunchtime treat with green tea. However, it is equally enjoyable with sake rice wine in the evening.

Neue Mainzer Strasse 84
Tel: (069) 9139 9302.
Website: www.sushi-circle.de
Price: $$-$$$

Zum Gemalten Haus
This down-to-earth German, pub-style restaurant has been a Frankfurt institution for centuries. Founded in 1880, it has not changed much over the years. Guests still mingle together on long benches and enjoy the traditional apple wine and good company. The lovely backyard presents a nice shady place in summer, ideal for cooling down and unwinding from the hectic city life. The menu is well suited to a pub and is certainly not one for vegetarians.

Schweizer Strasse 67
Tel: (069) 614 559.
Website: www.zumgemaltenhaus.de
Price: $-$$

Budget

Andalucia
Situated in the quarter of Bockenheim, Andalucia is one of those very rare places that serve traditional Spanish home cooking at its best. Its comfortable atmosphere and affordable prices attract students but also a wide range of clientele, from Spaniards and big families to businesspeople. Within its atmospheric interior of wooden tables and landscape paintings, Andalucia serves traditional tapas and à la carte dishes.

Konrad-Brosswitz-Strasse 41, Bockenheim
Tel: (069) 773 730.
Website: www.restaurante-andalucia.de
Price: $

Chicago Meatpackers
The interior decor is eclectic industrial meets 1930s Chicago, with the focus on all things railway – two electric trains run around tracks on the ceiling, sounding alarmingly like rain. And everything else is very American, including the playful menu, filled with burgers, barbecues and brownies. An all-American experience in the middle of Frankfurt. Open until 0100 Sunday-Thursday and until 0200 on Friday and Saturday.

Untermainanlage 8
Tel: (069) 231 659.
Website: www.chicago-meatpackers.de
Price: $

Romanella
This cosy Italian place treats every guest like family. And most of the regulars might as well be, they come back so often. If there is no space to sit down inside or in the little garden outside, they just take their favourite food home.

Wolfsgangstrasse 84
Tel: (069) 596 1117.
Price: $$

Personal Recommendations

Edelweiss
Hidden in the quarter of Sachsenhausen, this Austrian restaurant is not overloaded with Alpine kitsch but decorated in a genuine country-house style. As one might suspect, Wiener Schnitzel is served in this authentic Austrian ‘Gasthaus’, but there are also a few typical traditional dishes with a twist. The menu is not short of Austrian wines or its famous strong Schnapps.

Schweizer Strasse 96
Tel: (069) 619 696.
Website: www.edelweiss-ffm.de
Price: $$

Jasper’s
Despite its modest location hidden at the rear of a building, Jasper’s has conquered a well-deserved place in the ranks of Frankfurt’s top restaurants – primarily through imagination and quality. The bistro setting, with its dark leather seats, Art Nouveau flair and colourful pictures, is in harmony with its French menu and is ideal for a romantic occasion or for a more lively evening.

Schifferstrasse 8
Tel: (069) 614 117.
Price: $$

Living Bar-Restaurant XXL
As proudly advertised in the ‘Extra Extra Large’ of the name, this is one of the biggest bar-restaurants in Europe. The location speaks for itself. In a theatrical, almost Hollywood setting under an impressive glass ceiling, Living offers a lot of warm light, big-screen TVs for sports events, exciting themed parties for singles in the bar and an international cuisine with Californian, Italian and Asian influences. Dining out here is truly an XXL experience.

Willy-Brandt-Platz
Tel: (069) 242 9370.
Website: www.livingxxl.de
Price: $$