Located along the River
Main, Frankfurt is a major financial hub for the European Central Bank. Though
much of the city was damaged during WWII and later rebuilt, the reconstructed
Alstadt (Old Town) has some lovely squares and beautiful architecture. The rest
of Frankfurt is a bustling, modern metropolis, and, as I came to find out, the
home of the richest and most diverse culinary scene in all of Germany.
Though you might think of German food as featuring mainly dishes
that are heavy with meat and potatoes, and perhaps images of pretzels and beer
come to mind. Though I did find this to be true in many other cities across
Germany, Frankfurt proved a stand out offering a wide array of food choices
from many cultures and appealing to many diets. Below, I have listed a few of
my faves.
Proper Meals
The anchor restaurant of the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera Hotel (a
fabulous hotel - and where we stayed while in Frankfurt), Schoenemann and the
nearby bar adjacent to the lobby, Lili's, are not your average hotel eateries.
Shoenemann works with local farms to create a menu that is always in season.
Ryan craved the weinerschnitzel, which he enjoyed twice, and I opted for a
lovely pumpkin soup and a green salad with tofu, avocado, citrus fruit, and a
ginger-sesame vinaigrette. I was surprised by the number of vegan offerings for
both brunch and dinner, and the restaurant was more than happy to cater to my
dietary restrictions. Lili's Bar, down the hall, is full of plush chairs and
cozy benches with a bit of a Parisian vibe. The bar features a number of
signature cocktails as well as some fine champagnes, and they deliver
complimentary bites to nibble on while you enjoy your libations. We received
excellent service at both Schoenemann and Lili's, and we will definitely be
back!
This was a lucky find. Though we conducted quite a bit of research
ahead of our trip, Goc Pho did not come up on our search. We happened to come
across Goc Pho on our way back from a shopping excursion. Intrigued by the line
that snaked out the door and around the corner at 5 pm (an hour far too early
to draw most European diners), we popped inside only to find that they were
booked up and were not taking any reservations for the entire week. Deciding to
push our luck, we cancelled our plans for dinner that evening and returned to
Goc Pho at 7:30 pm. Though we still waited a half hour for a table, it proved
worth the wait. Touting traditional Vietnamese street food, Goc Pho is a hidden
gem in Frankfurt. We found their menu to be comprised of simple dishes with
clean ingredients, with a surprising number of plant-based offerings. We opted
for the summer rolls with tofu and vegan pho. Though my pho needed a
significant amount of hot sauce, the tofu was fried to perfection, the broth
was piping hot, and the rice noodles were exactly al dente. It was just the
meal we needed on a cold night after a busy day of sightseeing.
Dean & David is a chain across Germany, with several locations
in Frankfurt. The one we visited was located in a place called Foodtopia, which
is on the top floor of the My Ziel mall in the center of Frankfurt. Offering a
variety of culinary experiences (including sit down, fast casual, and takeaway
options), Foodtopia also offers a skyline view of Frankfurt. Dean & David
offers many vegan dishes, including soup, wraps, bowls, and salads. I enjoyed a
large salad with a surprising amount of tasty falafel. The falafel was actually
bite sized (as opposed to the giant pieces I often find require multiple
bites), perfectly seasoned, and wonderfully crispy. We enjoyed Dean & David
as a casual break to several weeks of dining out at high end restaurants, and
it was a welcome change of pace. Adding to the enjoyment was the people
watching in My Ziel!
Snacks and Sweets
Bunca came as a recommendation from some helpful workers at
Lululemon. This hole-in-the-wall cafe was a great find and we enjoyed the
respite from the cold, windy weather outside. The barista was knowledgeable and
our oat milk lattes were skillfully made. We even found that Bunca offers
several vegan baked goods, including a wonderful apple cake that we shared with
our coffees.
This cute chocolatier-meets-cafe reminded me of an upscale
Serendipity III, the famous New York cafe known for their frozen hot
chocolates. Since 2003, Bitter & Zart is a mecca for chocolate lovers in
Frankfurt. Offering over 100 types of chocolates from Germany, Belguim,
Denmark, England, France, Austria, Spain, South America, Asia, and Africa,
Bitter and Zart knows their chocolate. Run by two women, Bitter & Zart is
both a high-end confectionary store as well as a cafe. On the shop side, you
can pick from a wide array of truffles, bars, and other chocolatey delights.
They will plate or bag your picks, depending on whether you want them for now
or later, delivering them to your table once you're seated in the salon. Be
prepared, you'll likely have to wait! But, I can easily say that my sweet tooth
was satisfied beyond belief and that every minute we spent waiting was more
than worth it. Don't plan on visiting Frankfurt any time soon? Not to worry...
they have an online shop! Bitter & Zart is a must for any foodie's trip to
Frankfurt. Cheers!
This is the Chelsea Market and Pike Place of Frankfurt. A large food hall with a number of vendors, including cafes, bistros, grocers, and florists, this is a great spot for people who want a taste of Frankfurt on the cheap. If we had stayed in town longer, we would have stocked up on snacks for our hotel room here. We also noted a wide selection of local wines. Yum!
