THE BEST RESTAURANTS TO EAT AND DRINK IN THE BLACK FOREST
Famous for Michelin-star dining and café culture, Germany’s cultural and elite travel destination, Baden-Baden, has it all when it comes to restaurant options.
1. RIZZI
GREAT FOR: CHAMPAGNE DRINKING AND PEOPLE WATCHING
Rizzi Wine Bistro and Restaurant is great for many reasons: its eye-popping modern art, its whimsical menu that combines sushi and schnitzel (milk-fed veal is a staple), its endless party schedule…But it’s most famous for two things: an incredible location and an even more incredible wine list. Let’s start with its location: city centre – check, a park – check, an enormous outdoor terrace – check. Rizzi’s 240 square metre terrace is a place to be for trendy locals. It’s a great spot for Sunday lunch, normally washed down with a bottle of champagne or two. Rizzi is hugely popular with wine buffs and collectors of “liquid gold”. Sommeliers gave local winemakers a chance to showcase their best bottles alongside wonderful finds from the New World and best European vineyards, including Château Haut Brion (1974) and Château Cheval Blanc (1966). Rizzi is famous for high-quality meat cuts and excellent German dishes; it probably serves the best burger in town too.
Address: Augustaplatz 1,76530, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 25 838
Email: info@rizzi-baden-baden.de
2. MORIKI
GREAT FOR: DRESSING UP, COCKTAILS AND PARTYING
Do you like music? Do you like to party? Then it’s Moriki time. It is definitely one of the most fun restaurants in the Black Forest. Set inside Baden-Baden’s hip and trendy Roomers hotel, it’s famous for great cocktails, a dressy crowd and lots of secrets (but what happens in Roomers stays in Roomers). Food is Japanese fusion, music is hip, the design is sleek with an arty twist and the mood is “forever young jet-set”. The food comes out of an open kitchen and includes delicious sushi and sashimi, as well as a great selection of innovative Pan-Asian dishes such as chicken mango salad with cashew nuts, grilled duck breast with orange teriyaki, or beef tenderloin with mushrooms and teriyaki-sesame sauce. Moriki is an excellent place to try Japanese sake and yuzu (sweet plum wine), as well as freshly made lemonades and probiotic drinks. The restaurant is a Michelin selection and has been awarded two black crossed knife-and-fork symbols – known as couvert – which refers to a good level of comfort, decor and service.
Address: Lange Strasse 100,76530, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 90 19 3901
Email: hello@moriki-badenbaden.com
3. FRITZ & FELIX
GREAT FOR: GLAMOROUS GROUP GATHERINGS AND SHARING DISHES
If you believe is the Swedish proverb that a shared joy is a double joy, you are going to like Fritz & Felix’ sharing menu concept. A dinner here is a perfect fit for a group of people with an insatiable appetite and appreciation of creative cuisine. Fritz & Felix has an impeccable reputation of an upscale yet fun restaurant. It is located at Brenners Park Hotel – the best hotel in Baden-Baden, favoured by royals, aristocracy and business elite. Its interior design by Robert Angell is contemporary, modern and fun, drawing inspiration from nature of The Black Forest and the hotel’s long association with classic cars. The restaurant is open throughout the year but the best time to enjoy it is during long summer evenings, when the glass doors open up, leading out onto a beautiful terrace. Dining al fresco is very popular in Baden-Baden with being an epicentre of social dining. In winter, the best place to sit is indoors by the designer grill which is from La Coruna in Spain. It’s a real masterpiece. As for the menu. It’s adapted to any taste and preference – vegan, vegetarian, dairy and gluten-free. It was created by Farid Fazel with a green ethos in mind, including the use of local produce and high standards of animal welfare.
Address: Schillerstraße 4-6,76530, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 900 999
Email: restaurant@fritzxfelix.com
4. CLUBHOUSE AT THE BADEN-BADEN GOLF CLUB
BEST FOR: CHIC COUNTRY CLUB LUNCH
You don’t need to be a member of Baden-Baden’s oldest golf-club to book a meal at the Clubhouse. Take full advantage of this rule and rub shoulders with Europe’s elite set from the Black Forest. The family-run restaurant is favoured by those with old money. The scene is understated and relaxed with spectacular views of nature’s rolling hills. It’s particularly ideal for al fresco dining in the summer months and it’s a popular spot over the weekends. The lunch service is always livelier than dinner and the best spot to dine is under the old chestnut trees on the terrace. During cooler months the intimate dining venue seats 50 people and we suggest sitting by the open fireplace. Uli Krause, Sascha Zeiger and their team prepare the best of local and international dishes using fresh products, mainly sourced from the Baden-Baden and the Ortenau region. Don’t miss out on their special duck and goose dinners.
Address: Fremersbergerstr. 127 76530, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 (0) 7221 23579
5. MAMMA LINA
GREAT FOR: OLD-SCHOOL ITALIAN
It’s simple: Mamma Lina is the best Italian restaurant in Baden-Baden. The charming family-run business, managed by Angelo and Roberto, uses refined authentic Neapolitan recipes that their grandfather bought from Naples to Baden-Baden. The restaurant runs like a well-oiled machine serving perfect pizzas and pastas, including gluten-free and vegetarian options. Try their delicious fresh pasta stirred in a large wheel of parmesan cheese then covered with slices of white or black truffles. The pizzas are generous and filled out, cooked in a wood fired oven. There’s a huge selection of fresh delicious toppings that are locally sourced to choose from. We also recommend the Nutella pizza for those with a sweet tooth. Mamma Lina is a true Italian gem. Popular amongst locals, it can get rather full during the evening, which is always a great sign of a much-loved local joint.
Address: Lange Straße 83,76530, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 29796
Email: info@mammalina.de
6. RIVAZZA
GREAT FOR: SATISFYING YOUR PIZZA CRAVINGS
Run by the same owners as Mamma Lina, Rivazzi is no ordinary pizzeria. It offers pizza with every possible topping, including caviar. The traditional recipes are tasty. Pizza Rivazza has a topping of crème fraiche and Perle Imperial caviar, or opt for their pizza with truffle, which is also a popular choice. The restaurant has a contemporary and casual look and feel. It’s set next to the Caracalla Terme – a modern bathhouse, popular with tourists and locals. After a day of taking in the waters, Rivazza is a great casual place to fill-up your stomach with delicious carbs. You only live once!
Address: Gernsbacher Str. 21, 76530, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 3784752
Email: kontakt@rivazzabadenbaden.de
7. NAMASKAAR
GREAT FOR: AN EXOTIC INDIAN EXPERIENCE WITH FRIENDS
This restaurant has been open for some time, earning an outstanding reputation among locals, who value quality and service. Namaskaar is a small, family-run affair – owners are there to serve and take pride in every dish delivered to your table. Inspired by North Indian cuisine, the rich culinary delights have its own twist. Try their chicken tikka, lamb tikka masala, and mango lassi, which are among their most popular dishes. There is a choice of hot, medium hot or mild dishes and vegan and vegetarian options are also abundant. They’ve also got a great selection of wines – Riesling, Burgundy, Chablis or Cabernet Sauvignon – whatever your heart desires. With only a handful of tables and a tiny bar, Namaskaar has to operate a strict booking policy and you must plan in advance. Once you try it you will continue to come back time after time.
Address: Kreuzstrasse 1, 76539, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 246 81
Email: info@namaskaar.de
8. NIGRUM
GREAT FOR: HIGH-END EUROPEAN CUISINE
There are restaurants and there are culinary experiences. Nigrum is the latter. It’s an oasis of calm and chic that successfully mixes classics and avant-garde in both décor and food. Its opulent black and gold interior is enlivened by bold flower prints and polka-dot patterns. The dishes are contemporary and international, inspired by the first Italian Michelin-star chef Rino Casati in Germany. The menu changes weekly. Enjoy a standard three-course meal or an adventurous eight-course tasting menu. To make your dinner even more memorable opt for excellent wine pairings.
Address: Baldreitstrasse 1,76530,Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 3979008
Email: info@restaurant-nigrum.com
9. GEROLDSAUER MÜHLE INN
This huge restaurant is set in the beautiful countryside of Geroldsau, the gateway to Schwarzwald, only 1.9 miles from Baden-Baden. It is a part of a big complex that includes a charming country-style hotel and an indoor market, decorated with stylish German contemporary décor fused with rustic elegance. The restaurant sells products and crafts from the area, carefully selected and well-priced. Just like the clubhouse at Baden-Baden Golf Club, it’s a popular place for lunch during weekends, especially for big families and groups of friends. When the weather is warm, you can sit at the outdoor beer garden, enjoying simple hearty food, the peaceful bucolic landscape and a pint of German beer. The restaurant prides itself on serving regional and seasonal delicacies as well as local wines and beers.
Address: Geroldsauer Straße 54, 76534, Baden-Baden-Geroldsau
Phone: +49 7221 99 64 68 30
10. LEO'S
GREAT FOR: A CASUAL BISTRO VIBE WITH SPEEDY SERVICE
A popular legend says that the word bistro originates from Russian bee-stra or “quickly”. They say it was shouted by Russian soldiers during the occupation of Paris when Russia defeated Napoleon troops. They needed to be fed and they were not ready to wait. Nothing, even the truth should stand in the way of a good story, just like nothing should get in your way if you need a quick bite. Leo has a casual yet fun atmosphere and it’s the best bistro in Baden-Baden. The charming and cosy restaurant is famous for its international dishes with fish specialities that are a must-try, along with its selection of superb wines. It’s open early for breakfast, and by the evening Leo’s has a bit of a low-key party vibe, closing its doors at 2:00 am.
Address: Luisenstr. 8-10,76530, Baden-Baden
Phone +49 7221 38081
Email: welcome@leos-baden-baden.de
11. THE WINTERGARTEN
GREAT FOR: FORMAL DINING IN THE GARDEN
Wintergarten the lavish Brenners Park Hotel-Spa is everything that casual dining is not: it’s fancy, formal and expensive. Waiters in pressed suits might be too much to handle for millennials, but those who value old-school charm won’t find a better place in town. Service is slick and confident, with good attention to detail; food is Mediterranean but with dishes drawing on local ingredients, such as Black Forest trout. Chef de cuisine Alexander Mayer and Sous-Chef Fokke Mick celebrate with their brigade a creative kitchen style dishes based on classic French high cuisine with an international twist. The restaurant, with its huge floor to ceiling windows overlooking the gardens, remains that place you go to for that special occasion. In summer months, outside tables on the River Oos that runs through the hotel’s gardens are the best. To add to the already romantic atmosphere your elegant dining experience will be accompanied by piano music.
Address: Schillerstraße 4/6,76530, Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 900 890
Email: concierge.brenners@oetkercollection.com
www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/brenners-park-hotel-spa/restaurants-bars/wintergarten/
10. THE GRILL
GREAT FOR: GLITZ, GLAMOUR, SURF ‘N’ TURF
Baden-Baden found its fame as a casino town, as well as a spa town. One might argue that a stunning casino with its impressive ornate ceilings and gigantic chandeliers was a bigger attraction for the 19thcentury aristocracy than healing waters. The Grill, which is actually at the Casino, is among the most formal restaurants in the whole region. Men are required to wear jackets and women are encouraged to don stunning cocktail dresses and beautiful jewellery. The Grill is definitely an excellent place to be seen in your finest. As for the menu, try the sushi and the beef – you might struggle to make a choice, because the meat is excellent and sushi platters are a work of art.
Address: Kaiserallee 1, 76530 Baden-Baden
Phone: +49 7221 30 24 691
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