Frankfurt City Guide: Much more than Europe’s financial hub
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Charming neighbourhoods with cobblestone avenues home to cosy cafés, independent shops and plenty of green spaces: Frankfurt is much more than Europe’s financial hub filled with suits and skyscrapers. During three days in late summer, I explored the city on foot—below you will find my favourite gems in a Frankfurt city guide.
ESPRESSO, ESPRESSO
Coffee & wine bar | City centre
With just enough space to enjoy a small break by the counter, locals come to Espresso, Espresso for coffee and sweet treats during the day (the Portuguese speciality pastel de nata was served when I visited), and for a glass of natural wine and aperotivos in the evening. Located in the city centre, this combined coffee shop and wine bar has the prettiest classic facade and a small serving window revealing a tiny but beautifully designed room.
Braubachstraße 28
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PALMENGARTEN
Botanical garden | West-end
One of three botanical gardens in Frankfurt, the Palmengarten covers an area of 22 hectares filled with lakes, green houses, a restaurant and a large area for kids. I visited on a warm and sunny afternoon, and locals were joyfully making use of the park—from people in lounge chairs reading their books to parents and kids hopping on and off the small train traversing the park and couples sailing around the lake in small boats. Definitely worth the trip to the Western part of town.
Siesmayerstraße 61
Frankfurt-tourismus.de
MARGARETE
Restaurant | City centre
Restaurant Margarete is a lively and stylish restaurant in the city centre taking pride in their modern and seasonal dishes made from local ingredients. Serving only a couple of starters and mains per day, everything is freshly made and cared for. Examples of the seasonal summer menu are tomatoes and basil with dumpling made from truffle and cream cheese, and crispy cubes of Shiitake and black beans and trout caviar, smoky potatoes and kale.
Braubachstraße 18-22
Margarete-restaurant.de
O.T.B.T
Boutique | Nordend-Ost
In the Northern part of town, the area around Friedberger Landstraße and Bergerstraße offer a number of cosy coffee shops, small boutiques and charming restaurants. Hoppenworth & Ploch Rösterei is a popular neighbourhood coffee shop , Lucille Kaffeehaus just a few buildings down the street is a great stop for a tasty lunch, and just across the street you’ll find a small boutique O.T.B.T Off the Beaten Track with a curated selection of interior pieces, vintage clothes and ceramics from local designers.
Wielandstraße 2
Otbt-frankfurt.de
HOLY CROSS BREWERY
Cofee shop | City centre
Frankfurt’s third-wave coffee scene is growing, making a good brew easy to come by. A place that came up a lot in my research was Holy Cross Brewery, located just a stone’s throw from the old city centre. The café has that nice and sort of busy vibe characteristic of a roastery, and there’s plenty of outdoor seating. They also offer smaller servings for lunch as well as cakes and pastries that looked utterly delicious—unfortunately, I was too full from lunch and dessert to try. Next time.
Fahrgasse 7
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FRANKFURT CITY GUIDE
Eat + Drink
Margarete Restaurant | Lunch and evening restaurant in the city centre serving down-to-earth but up to date dishes from local ingredients. The space is beautiful, the vibe is relaxed and food is delicious.
Oheim | Cosy café in the charming Sachsenhausen neighbourhood with a nice little terrace.
Espresso, Espresso | Tiny but beautiful coffee shop / wine bar in the city centre.
J’epoca Saka Bar | Cute sake bar and Japanese restaurant in the Sachsenhausen neighbourhood.
Kleinmarkthalle | Large covered food hall ideal for fresh grocery shopping or a take-away lunch.
Mehlwassersalz | Museum café inside the MMK serving lunch, cakes and home-baked bread.
Lucille Kaffeehaus | Cosy neighbourhood restaurant, serving simple but tasty dishes.
Bizziice Ice Cream | Vegan ice cream in the Sachsenhausen neighborhood.
Bathasar Ress Weinbar & Vinothek | Wine bar in the city centre with a classic Frankfurt vibe.
The Holy Cross Brewing Society | Third-wave coffee in the city centre.
Hoppenworth & Ploch Rösterei | Cosy coffee shop in the Northern part of town.
Visit + Neighbourhoods
Palmengarten | Beautiful botanical garden, one of three in Frankfurt.
MMK Museum of Modern Art | Modern museum with two outposts in the city.
Sachsenhausen | Charming area south of the river with plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants.
Nordend-Ost | More residential area but with a smaller selection of shops and restaurants.
Stay
Innside Frankfurt Ostend | Minimal hotel in the heart of Frankfurt’s East End.
