Top Hidden Gems in Germany

Haus Toller ★ 4.8 · Cologne

suedstadt · Weyerstrasse 96, 50676 Köln

Haus Töller on Weyerstrasse in Cologne occupies one of the oldest buildings in the city; cash only, no website, evening-only Rhenish classics in a historic.

Gabelspiel ★ 4.8 · Munich

au-giesing · Zehentbauernstrasse 20, 81539 München

Gabelspiel is sabrina and florian berger's one-star room in giesing seats 20 on a quiet residential street; tourists never make the trip from marienplatz.

Tip: Book six weeks ahead for the six-course tasting; the kitchen runs at its most personal Wednesday evenings.

Lommerzheim ★ 4.7 · Cologne

deutz · Siegesstr. 18, 50679 Koln

Lommerzheim in Cologne-Deutz has served the city's most argued-over pork chop since 1959; cash only, closed Sundays, unchanged since Mick Jagger ate there.

Barra ★ 4.6 · Berlin

neukoelln · Okerstrasse 2, 12049 Berlin

Barra in Neukoelln's Schillerkiez, on the edge of Tempelhofer Feld, cooks ever-changing shared plates built on local produce with a natural-wine list.

Tip: Book at least two weeks ahead via the website; Tuesday and Wednesday are the easier tables.

Tibet Momo ★ 4.6 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Aachener Str. 11, 50674 Koln

Tibet Momo at Aachener Strasse 11 in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel has 12 seats, no signage and no reservations; handmade Tibetan dumplings at a hidden.

Wen Cheng Hand-Pulled Noodles ★ 4.6 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Flandrische Str. 2, 50674 Koln

Wen Cheng on Flandrische Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel serves hand-pulled lanzhou noodles in the window; a full bowl with sides under twelve euros.

Glorie at 100/200 ★ 4.6 · Hamburg

hammerbrook · Brandshofer Deich 68, 20539 Hamburg

Glorie is the a la carte sister room of the two-Michelin-star 100/200 Kitchen on Brandshofer Deich in Hamburg, same chef and team in the warehouse downstairs.

Tip: Walk-ups possible weekdays. Dinner Tue to Sat from 18:30; lunch Fri and Sat from 12:00; same kitchen team as the tasting room.

Showroom ★ 4.6 · Munich

au-giesing · Lilienstrasse 6, 81669 München

Showroom in Munich: Munich's smallest Michelin-starred restaurant, 20 seats in the Au district; the room is hard to spot from Lilienstrasse.

Tip: Surprise menu rotates every two weeks; book Monday or Tuesday for the easier reservation.

Cielo ★ 4.5 · Berlin

friedrichshain · Lenbachstrasse 7, 10245 Berlin

Cielo on Berlin's Lenbachstrasse in Friedrichshain pairs Mediterranean sharing plates with a natural-wine list chosen by Yannick Kern; ex-Kink chef Ivano.

Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Walk-ups for the counter seats from 18:00 Tuesdays; tables need a booking a week ahead.

Essers Gasthaus ★ 4.5 · Cologne

ehrenfeld · Ottostrasse 72, 50823 Koln

Essers Gasthaus on Ottostrasse in Cologne's Ehrenfeld is a quietly acclaimed Austrian-wine gasthaus; the award-winning wine list attracts serious wine lovers.

Standl 20 ★ 4.5 · Munich

schwabing · Elisabethplatz, 80796 München

Standl 20 in Munich: A small coffee stall inside Munich's Elisabethmarkt with no advertising; locals queue at the wooden hatch in the morning.

Tip: Closed Sundays; arrive before 11:00 for the cinnamon-bun pick of the day.

Henne ★ 4.4 · Berlin

kreuzberg · Leuschnerdamm 25, 10999 Berlin

Henne Alt-Berliner Wirtshaus on Leuschnerdamm in Kreuzberg has served one dish for over a century: a half-roasted milk-fed chicken with kraut salad and rye.

Tip: Phone reservations only: +49 30 614 7730. Ask for the original 1907 room when booking; the annex is less atmospheric.

Big Stuff Smoked BBQ ★ 4.4 · Berlin

kreuzberg · Eisenbahnstrasse 42-43, 10997 Berlin

Big Stuff Smoked BBQ inside Berlin's Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg pulls brisket and pork off an 80-kilo Texas-style smoker; the counter runs Wednesday.

Tip: Brisket sells out by 14:00 Thursdays during Street Food Thursday; arrive before 13:00 or accept the pulled pork.

Ottenthal ★ 4.4 · Berlin

charlottenburg · Kantstrasse 153, 10623 Berlin

Ottenthal on Berlin's Kantstrasse in Charlottenburg has cooked a Vienna-style Austrian menu since 1996; the wine list runs 400 Austrian bottles.

Tip: Closed Sundays. Lunch from 12:00 weekdays is the easier seating; the candle-lit window tables need a booking two weeks ahead.

Sattgrün ★ 4.4 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Friesenwall 29, 50672 Koln

Sattgrün on Friesenwall in Cologne is the city's leading vegan restaurant; a daily-changing menu that is one of Germany's most impressive plant-based.

Effenberger Vollkornbaeckerei ★ 4.4 · Hamburg

st-pauli · Neuer Kamp 31, 20359 Hamburg

Effenberger Vollkornbaeckerei has milled its own grain and held a stoneground-only line since 1986, with six Hamburg branches and the Rindermarkthalle stall.

Tip: Closed Sundays. The wholegrain Roggenvollkornbrot sells fast on Saturday mornings.

Hadley's Cafe Bar ★ 4.4 · Hamburg

eimsbuettel · Beim Schlump 84a, 20144 Hamburg

Hadley's Cafe Bar on Beim Schlump in Hamburg-Eimsbuettel runs a cafe and bar in a former hospital building, with strong vegan and vegetarian breakfast plates.

Tip: Three levels including a mezzanine and solarium; outdoor garden seating in summer. Open until midnight Mon to Sat.

Strandperle ★ 4.4 · Hamburg

oevelgoenne · Oevelgoenne 60, 22605 Hamburg

Strandperle on the Elbe sand beach at Oevelgoenne in Hamburg has poured pilsner, coffee and Fischbroetchen on the sand since 1979, with deck chairs in summer.

Tip: Open Apr to Oct; bus 112 from Neumuehlen drops you a 10-minute walk away.

Engelbecken ★ 4.3 · Berlin

charlottenburg · Witzlebenstrasse 31, 14057 Berlin

Engelbecken in Berlin Charlottenburg has cooked Bavarian-Austrian classics with a vegetarian-leaning menu since 1999; the corner room on Witzlebenstrasse.

Tip: The lake-side terrace in summer is the seating to book; phone two weeks ahead for a Friday or Saturday table.

Vagabund Brauerei ★ 4.3 · Berlin

wedding · Oudenarder Strasse 16-20, 13347 Berlin

Vagabund Brauerei in Wedding's former boiler house brews American-influenced craft ales and a proper Berliner Weisse from a building most Berliners have not.

Tip: The taproom runs live events most Fridays; check the calendar before showing up mid-week.

Bar Rix Natural Wine ★ 4.3 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Friesenwall 58, 50672 Koln

Bar Rix on Friesenwall in Cologne hosts free natural wine tastings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; a low-key room for discovering small European producers.

Broeding ★ 4.3 · Munich

neuhausen · Schulstrasse 9, 80634 München

Broeding is unassuming residential exterior in neuhausen; michelin plate inside, with a working organic wine cellar attached to the dining room.

Tip: Dinner Monday to Saturday from 18:00 only; the daily tasting rotates with the cellar.

Epicerie Boucherie ★ 4.2 · Cologne

neustadt-sued · Elsassstr. 3, 50678 Koln

Epicerie Boucherie on Elsassstrasse in Cologne's Südstadt is a French wine shop and bar serving vin naturel alongside charcuterie; a hidden find in a quiet.

Brauerei Paeffgen Beer Garden ★ 4.2 · Cologne

agnesviertel · Friesenstrasse 64-66, 50670 Koln

Brauerei Paeffgen's chestnut-tree beer garden on Friesenstrasse is Cologne's most evocative summer drinking spot; hand-brewed Kölsch under the trees.

Deichgraf ★ 4.2 · Hamburg

neustadt · Deichstrasse 23, 20459 Hamburg

Deichgraf on the historic Deichstrasse in Hamburg cooks classical Hanseatic dishes on the city's oldest canal-side street, with a single beam.

Tip: Window tables face the Nikolaifleet canal. Ask for the Labskaus with the original Rollmops topping.

Weinhaus Neuner ★ 4.2 · Munich

altstadt-lehel · Herzogspitalstrasse 8, 80331 München

Munich's oldest wine house on Herzogspitalstrasse in Altstadt, classical and modern German cooking, wiener schnitzel, beef tartare, Kaiserschmarrn for two.

Tip: Closed Sundays; game season (October to January) is when the kitchen is at its strongest.

Zur Letzten Instanz ★ 4.1 · Berlin

mitte · Waisenstrasse 14-16, 10179 Berlin

Zur Letzten Instanz in Berlin's Nikolaiviertel has cooked Eisbein and Sauerbraten in the same 1621 tavern room since Berlin itself was young.

Tip: Book the small low-ceilinged room rather than the larger hall; it is the original 17th-century space.

Toddy Tapper ★ 4.1 · Cologne

agnesviertel · Schillingstr. 27, 50670 Koln

Toddy Tapper on Schillingstrasse in Cologne's Agnesviertel is a South Asian cocktail bar mixing drinks with coconut toddy; small, skilled and off the map.

Oberhafen-Kantine ★ 4.1 · Hamburg

hafencity · Stockmeyerstrasse 39, 20457 Hamburg

Oberhafen-Kantine on Stockmeyerstrasse in Hamburg's Oberhafen serves tavern food in a 1925 timber harbour-worker building that leans visibly 8.7 degrees.

Tip: Closed Mondays; Sunday lunch service. The leaning floor takes a moment to register at the door.

Mandalay Burmese ★ 4.0 · Cologne

belgisches-viertel · Brusseler Str. 53, 50674 Koln

Mandalay on Brüsseler Strasse 53 in the Belgisches Viertel is one of Germany's very few Burmese restaurants; evening-only, small room, Cologne Gastro Award.