Excellent food and beer in culinary Düsseldorf
The city has plenty to offer when it comes to going out, and you certainly won’t go hungry or thirsty. From fresh fish on Carlsplatz square to beer tasting in the Old Town and fine dining in Little Tokyo, the city will delight foodies, night owls and anyone who loves international and experimental cuisine.
The best places to eat out in Düsseldorf
- Little Tokyo is the heart of Germany’s largest Japanese community and home to an impressive array of Michelin-starred restaurants, authentic ramen bars and Japanese specialities.
- Tradition meets modern beer brewing and culinary culture in the Old Town. Here you’ll find an amazing range of artisan beers like nowhere else, from the famous local altbier in wooden barrels to the latest craft beer.
- Düsseldorf is home to ten Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Carlsplatz square hosts a market selling regional produce, poultry, cheese and delicatessen. It’s also the ideal place for a spot of lunch or to buy souvenirs such as spirits, local mustard and herbs from around the world.
- Düsseldorf is known as the ‘longest bar in the world’ thanks to its many pubs and bars.
Düsseldorf has it all – you can go shopping in a food market, enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine, and head to the Old Town for a drink after a visit to the theatre. Whatever you fancy, everything is close to hand and created by people who know their trade.
Beer rules in the Old Town
Anyone visiting Düsseldorf for the first time simply has to head to the Old Town. While the cafés, restaurants and bars turn the quarter into one giant food court, beer made using centuries-old recipes is maturing in the brewpubs’ cellars. Some of these brewhouses still use water from their own wells, others have secret recipes for the best roasted malts. You can often watch the brewers at work, or you might even meet them serving beer at the bar. But you don’t need to be a local to be part of the community in Düsseldorf, simply grab a seat and join in. Whatever you do, you simply have to try the local altbier, which was a craft beer long before the term was invented. But beware: the waiter will keep on bringing more beer if you don’t clearly indicate ‘stop’ by placing your beer mat on your empty glass!
The market on Carlsplatz square
Foodies will enjoy an experience for all the senses on Carlsplatz square. Exotic fruit, local vegetables, fresh fish, flavoursome cheeses and bread straight from the oven create a heady mix of colours and smells. The market also sells a range of ready-made dishes, from rustic local fare to Italian, Indian, French and Persian food.
Japanese cuisine in Düsseldorf’s Little Tokyo
Home to Germany’s largest Japanese community (and the third-largest in Europe), Düsseldorf is a hotspot for Japanese restaurants, ramen bars, sushi kitchens, bakeries and supermarkets. Some of the best Japanese restaurants in Europe can be found in and around Immermannstrasse. Lovers of authentic ramen noodles will discover their new favourite eatery here, while Michelin-starred NAGAYA fuses Japanese purism with high-end European cuisine.
Award-winning cuisine and elegant pastries
In addition to NAGAYA, there are nine further Michelin-starred restaurants in Düsseldorf, ranging from classic French and experimental world cuisine to casual fine dining. Here you can enjoy Breton monkfish, crispy suckling pig or feuilleté aux champignons served at elegant tables. Düsseldorf’s bakeries and patisseries sell a wonderful array of artfully decorated creations, presented on shining porcelain behind glass counters. Who can resist a slice of apple tart or brioche accompanied by a coffee made with beans from a local roastery? A sweet temptation at breakfast or a well-deserved treat in the afternoon?
Party into the night in Düsseldorf’s bars
It might be hard to decide where to start given the huge selection of bars, hence the city’s reputation as the ‘longest bar in the world’. The Old Town alone is home to around 260 pubs and bars, where you can enjoy some champagne after a visit to the theatre, take part in a beer tasting, explore the experimental side of exotic cocktail bars or indulge in non-alcoholic variants of classic drinks.
Tours with locals will help you to navigate your way around Düsseldorf’s bar and restaurant scene: ‘Düsseldorf’s culinary soul’, the ‘Old Town AR tour’ and ‘Sushi, sake and Japanese lifestyle’ in Little Tokyo are a must for anyone looking to delve deeper into the city’s love affair with food and beer.
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