Undoubtedly, something we won’t take for granted after COVID-19 is the privilege and pleasure of dining out!  Of course, like a seasonal menu, the palette is subject to change and therefore, so too are the best restaurants in Frankfurt.  However, we have tried to put together as a varied a list of restaurants so as to ensure that hopefully everyone will find something to tickle their fancy!

To make it a little easier, we’ve subdivided the list by region/cuisine.

SUSHI

Walk up to Moriki, and you find two giant stone lions guarding the door and the Deutsche Bank towers rise up above you like giant mirrors.  In addition to this, the interiors are understated but no less impressive.  Lunch times are often packed as bankers and business colleagues hash over whatever needs hashing whilst indulging in sublimely fresh sushi and other Japanese dishes!

Finally, Ruinart is the ‘by the glass’ choice of champagne!  So, regardless of the time of day there is always occasion for a glass of bubbles even if only the one glass!

With a slightly misleading name as they serve neither burgers nor street food in a traditional sense.  Without a doubt though, they are a small space that make a big statement!  The sushi passing across from the kitchen is sublime and the restaurant does a phenomenal job with the traditional and fusion mix.  Undoubtedly too, their sushi platters are taken to the next level as puffs of liquid nitrogen magnify the wow factor exponentially!  Admittedly, lunch time can be busy and crowed so get there early!

Shisan is family run and incredibly welcoming!  As well as that they have a fairly extensive menu and chef who is always open to special requests!

ITALIAN

Friday night is pizza night in our house and when we not making it at home, cosy Friday nights at Papanova’s is one of our go tos!  Relaxed and very family friend means parents get a chance to go out without leaving the kids at home!

Super Bro’s serve SUPER PIZZA 😜. No no, in all seriousness this guys absolutely know what they are doing!!  Without a doubt serving up the best authentic Napoli style pizzas this side of Napoli!  Now, making pizza is one thing making exceptional pizza is quite another!

So how do they do it?  For one thing, the dough is the foundation that everything rests on! With this in mind it is allowed to ferment for 24 to 48 hours. After that, the best fresh ingredients.  And finally it’s up to the oven! Stefano Ferrara is where it’s at, it’s heated to almost 500 degrees, and the pizza is ready in just 60 to 90 seconds.

Last but not least, it’s worth mentioning, the decor is on point!

GERMAN

If old fashioned love stories and glorious views of the the Frankfurt skyline along with great food are your thing then a stop at Gerbermühle are a must!  Said to be the site where fabled German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe met his Marianne and gave her his heart.  Set along the south side of the main river it offers a different view of the skyline that you might be used to.

Along with the history and skyline they offer both casual and formal dining options!

Restaurant

In case a more formal setting and menu is what you after, the Gerbermühle restaurant and terrace is where it’s at.  Jörg Ludwig and his team will delight you with sensational creations mixing traditional values with modern taste.  Also, popular German and Frankfurt specialities will be found on the menus

Private Dining

There is something for everyone at Gerbermühle including a private dining experience for those wanting the ultimate intimate setting.

STEAKHOUSE

Just off Kaiserhofstraße down a side alley you find Buffalo, an Argentinian Steak house!  Now this, is what we call a steak house! Where your knife almost slices through like butter, it’s perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection!  Also, unless you order sides you get only a steak on your plate! LOVE!!  They truly know their business and how to hero their key ingredient…the beef!

Service is wonderfully quick (thank goodness as we had two little terrors in tow!). Also, if you want to avoid disappointment booking is essential! We went on a Saturday at lunch and there was not a table to be had!

One final note, they do a great value kids meal of steak and chips

If you looking for a little atmosphere and a great steak on a Friday night VAIVAI is where it’s at!

Of course they serve great steak any day of the week but Friday’s tend to be particularly festive (booking is advisable!) – get there a little early and enjoy a drink at the bar!

The staff are superb and incredibly friendly with great recommendations, the cocktails aren’t half bad either (the pornstar martini heavenly in fact!)

In their own words.  “Steaks and fish from the grill, antipasti, pasta and a fine selection of wines in a modern ambience with urban-industrial decor, lounge area for groups, meetings, celebrations, events, kick-offs, trade fairs, event locations, bar and DJ.”

BURGERS

No mess no fuss and they have a fantastic kids option!  Quality meat and homemade sauces are two attributes that they pride themselves on!  Also, they have two premises one on Oeder Weg which is the perfect spot for a burger before or after a movie and one in Bahnhofsviertel.  Minimalistic decor and friendly staff round off der Fette Bulle experience.

Why not just combine a park with a restaurant?  This was the beginning and the inspiration for what we now know as Jamy’s Burgers!  Of course, a burger is only as good as it’s ingredients and thus the quality of meat, vegetables and the all important bread is fundamental to the burger that gets placed in front of you!  So expect, fresh from the market daily, free of additives and seasonal and made onsite daily!  Furthermore, the Angus beef comes exclusively from the Landmetzgerei Mehl.

Importantly too for anyone with vegans in their party Jamy’s has options.  Not only the fries (Classic Fries or Sweet Potato Fries) but they also have a falafel guacamole burger.

American BBQ

Nothing screams red, white and blue cuisine quite like American BBQ!  Namely, meat slathered in spices and slow cooked over a log fire! With American BBQ on offer, expect nothing less than relaxed Southern Charm.  Animal clad waiters cruise around the room serving trays laden with meat so tender it can’t help but fall from the bone.  To complete the look and feel drinks are served in chilled marbelesque beer mugs.

Also, do yourself a favour and stop by for the Chicago Williams boozy brunch.

FINE DINING

Atop the new old Henninger Turm sits the spectacular panoramic view restaurant FranziskaWith floor to ceiling windows it is hard not be hypnotised by the twinkling lights that head out far into the distance.

Defining themselves as serving ’Progressive German Vintage Cuisine’ inspired by the recipes of the great-aunt of Christian Mook, founder of the Mook Group.  These inspired dishes come to life in their incredible show kitchen and you welcome to watch if you can pull your eyes away from the view.

Barrel Bar

Without a doubt you bound to be impressed by the bar team and their creations!  And with centrifuges, dehydrators, sous-vide cookers, liquid nitrogen and special maceration processes to produce their own aromatic foams, syrups, dried fruit and flavour infusions in the specially equipped bar laboratory it should come as no surprise!

Oben Restaurant and Skybar gives you a perfect view of Frankfurt’s unique and beautiful skyline as it sits perfectly nestled high up amongst the soaring rooftops.  With undeniably breathtaking views over the city and the vibrant Mediterranean colours and flavour it makes for a visual feast both on an off the plate.

Also, Oben Restaurant and Skybar is the brainchild of the incredible and very well know Spanish chef, Iñigo Urrechu.  Furthermore it  marks Urrechu’s first venture outside of Spain!

ASIAN

In the Innerstadt, a stones throw away from Goetheplatz lies Madame Mei where they serve Cantonese food at its best.

The name Madame Mei literally conjures up images in my mind of a bygone era of prohibition & mystery! And, my imagination continues to be indulged as we pull back a heavy set of red curtains to enter a ‘little space in Shanghai’, as we walk in glorious aromas assault my senses and I am instantly starving!

The decor is tastefully done adding to the feel and ambience of the restaurant, whilst we were here only for lunch I can imagine this being wonderful for an intimate dinner!

Starting with Wanton soup was the perfect way to warm up after coming in from the cold, we followed this up with a variety of dim sum which were fresh and flavour filled, the spices coming through beautifully in each mouthful! We washed it all down with a cup of their Oolong tea….yum (and as an added bonus our waiter happily topped up our tea cups for round 2)

The name “Thong” means “gold” so there is no guessing why they went with this for their name.  An institution in  Frankfurt, for fifteen years Thong Thai has been delivering fresh Thai food!

Along with the speed of preparation you can be delighted with the live cooking i.e. the opportunity to watch the food being prepared.

Finally they have 4 properties to choose from so you bound to find one near you!

Sonamu “Casual Korean Dining”

Wood clad from floor to ceiling with pops of red punctuating the space in the form of chairs and napkins!  Often describe by some to not be authentic enough the owners are as authentic as they come. The menu includes classic Korean dishes such as bulgogi and bibimbab in various variations

PERUVIAN

PASSION!  Undoubtedly this is what drives through everything you find at La Cevi!  Without a doubt they also have one of the most unique stories to go along with it.

As the story goes… owner Daniel Nawenstein waved goodbye to South America after spending a year there to find his culinary way around Peru and little did he know it would change the course of his life. Firstly he’d fallen in love with ceviche and secondly with a woman named Heidi. Three years later they were married and had the idea to bring Peruvian cuisine to Germany. As fate would have they met a chef by the name of Diego on a trip to Lima, from there, the three of them have created a Peruvian haven right in the middle of Frankfurt. So for an incredible experience and a taste of Peru we definitely recommend this little beauty.

INDIAN

Not more than a stones throw away from the towering Deutsche Bank buildings lies AMAN.  Serving up modern Indian cuisine in a refreshingly modern setting!  A large wooden bar, drop lighting and a mixture of seating arrangements makes for a potentially new experience each visit!  Particularly, if you sample something new from the menu each time.  I had a firm taste of nostalgia from my days living in India while eating the Palak paneer.   It was a real favourite of mine when I lived there!  Also, don’t miss out on the specialities that come out their Tandoor oven or the bottles that come out their ‘cellar’😉.  AMAN boasts a fairly extensive wine menu to accompany any dish that tickles your fancy!

MEXICAN

Undoubtedly a bit of a Mexican institution here in Frankfurt.  Unbelievably they have delighting their customers since 1983!!

Colour and flair are two things El Pacifico has no shortage of!!  Also portions are big so definitely go with armed with your appetite!

For all those tequila lovers out there, their menu is extensive allowing you to indulge all the the agave plant has to offer!  And of course what’s Mexican without a good Margherita!!

Authentic Mexican Taco’s!!  And when we say authentic we mean TAQUERIA “La Original” original Mexican flavours think nopales, tomatillos and a variety of peppers.  Moreover, their tortillas are freshly made and pressed in-house every day!  Also, they have two versions of tortilla, corn and wheat.  The tortilla that is chosen is more than a vehicle for transporting the filling to your mouth, but rather it is there to hero the fresh ingredients and filling!

For instance the corn tortilla has a distinctive flavour, is more corse and ‘durable’ (for want of a better word) than the wheat flour tortilla. And therefore pairs perfectly with the richly marinated chicken and brisket options.  Meaning the juices can sink in slowly and soften the tortilla without it completely disintegrating in your hand as you eat.  On the other hand, the crispy fish taco is served on the more subtle and softer wheat flour tortilla.

Without a doubt the Tequila and margaritas are another massive plus!!!  TAQUERIA “La Original” is home to the biggest Tequila collection in Frankfurt!  So, for the hungry and for the thirsty there is plenty to keep you smiling!!

EUROPEAN

Yaldy the brain child of Michele Heinrich and Andrei Lipan.  Overall their focus is on quality seasonal and local ingredients.  So, expect an ever changing menu which is always fresh and exciting.  In addition to the flare they add to their dishes  is the passion that they incorporate into the wine selection.  Andrei is the wine connoisseur and he is always to hand in ensure that you choose the right wine to accompany your meal.

Now if you still need convincing as to whether you should visit they have a final string to add to their bow, COCKTAILS.  Long before the dream of Yaldy began Michele was making a name for himself in the mixology world as a well know face in the renowned Kinley Bar team.  During the pandemic they also took to creating a new brand and concept, Ciccione, which was focussed on authentic Italian pizza…stay tuned!

Ask the two what Yaldy is about and they quoted as saying “It should be a bar for everyone!”

Margarete is gorgeous ‘little’ gem tucked away on Braubachstraße and only a hop skip and a jump from the Altstadt!  And in short it is cleverly divided into two spaces each perfected designed to accentuate their personality!  Walk in off Braubachstraße and you’ll find yourself in the bistro.  Laid back table settings an industrial washed concrete bar with honey coloured wooden worktop extending the length of the room!

If however you continue walking through to the back end you will find the restaurant.  And here you find a more refined dining experience with a patio that extends out into the quiet square behind.  Also, the space can be cleverly divided by large heavy linen curtains to create intimate locations for private events.

Finally Margarete is a household name when it comes to one of the best brunches in town!  Be sure however to make a reservation so that you don’t miss out !!

Best restaurants