A walk on the Luegallee

Oberkassel, how does that sound to you? Like a promise, right? And you're absolutely right. Because even those who have never been to Düsseldorf have often heard of the jewel on the left bank of the Rhine. The special thing: In this district - specifically on Luegallee, the main thoroughfare with streetcar tracks and an avenue in its center - stores for everyday needs mix with discreet luxury. From several supermarkets to opticians, stationery stores and pharmacies to the post office, you'll find everything you need. Stocked up on essentials, you'll head to owner-operated boutiques, galleries and studios to grab objects of desire - such as high-quality, handcrafted jewelry. What can we say? It's probably no coincidence that the district reads "upper class" when just one letter moves to a different place. 

The tour starts not far from Belsenplatz, in front of "Maison La Mesa". Once up the Luegallee- to the Rhine and down again on the opposite side to the Kellermann Gallery, you will need about 60 minutes.  

Maison La Mesa, Luegallee 126 

More than 20 different types of vermouth alone, fine hand soaps from France, tableware with sea motifs, leather key cases, diaries that seem almost too good to use: If you're looking for products that aren't part of every other store or online store's assortment, stop by Maison La Mesa. Here you can buy pretty souvenirs for all rooms of the house, which the owners Sabine Hammann and Arnd Waleczek collect from many different countries.  

If you want to please your loved one, do not hesitate to visit Blumenlanden Pure (Luegallee 104). A large floral selection is already waiting outside the store, ranging from tulips to fir branches, depending on the season. Especially popular: dogs or chicks made of plastic grass, which enrich the house entrance, balcony or garden. 

Stappen Düsseldorf, Luegallee 50 

Admittedly no longer an insider tip, but still a restaurant that we do not want to leave unmentioned at this point. After all, Stappen is a favorite restaurant of many Düsseldorfers, who can't get enough of the fillet of beef with basil tortelloni and asparagus, turbot tartare with bouillabaisse, garlic mayo and parmesan chips, or cheeks of Havelland apple pork with spring garlic ginger marinade. On the terrace of the house, which is located on the street, you let passers-by share in the scent of your dish wafting far across the Luegallee. Which certainly explains the rush to the tables. David Büchner and Franz-Josef Stappen, owners of Stappen, also regularly organize special culinary events like the big fish dinner accompanied by champagne. So we wouldn't be surprised if your name soon appears regularly on the reservation list. 

Why Luegallee is one of the most beautiful streets in Düsseldorf, besides its multitude of plantains? Because of its art nouveau houses! Since the beginning of the 20th century, they enrich the neighborhood as architectural highlights. Grab your camera or cell phone and capture your favorites. 

Hamburg Fashion, Luegallee 42 

How many objects does every German own on average? That's right, around 10,000! And quite a few of them are probably in your closet, right? We understand - especially if you're heading for Hamburg Mode. Checked, with stripes, dotted or plain, Luisa Hamburg offers from shoes to hats almost the entire range that makes a wardrobe a successful one. Special feature, already recognizable from the streetcar by the store windows of the store: Colorful it may be with pleasure in this boutique! Much of the clothing comes in every conceivable shade and, poor wallet, can also be ordered online. 

If you love discovering secondhand treasures at the same time, dash across the street to Mulier (Luegallee 15). Since 2013, Johanna Roberz has been running the store for special designer treasures from Chanel to Dior to Versace, which are just waiting for the appropriate appearance - in the truest sense of the word. Because for the next highlight, fine evening wear is required on request. 

Theater an der Luegallee, Luegallee 4 

Almost hidden, yet impossible to miss, you will find yourself in front of a gate at the beginning of Burggrafenstraße. And thus the entrance to what is probably one of the smallest theaters in Düsseldorf, if not North Rhine-Westphalia. However, this does not mean that the actors of the Theater an der Luegallee have to hide from those of larger theaters, on the contrary! Raven-black crime comedies fill the program here, as do mystery thrillers, musical evenings and readings. Since 1980, for example, Hildegard Knef has taken center stage with her chansons, while a few weeks later Roald Dahl's stories delight the audience. On the website, director Christiane Reichert keeps you up to date on current and upcoming performances. A great gift idea: theater checks, i.e. vouchers for a play of your choice. 

Prinzinger by Saittavini, Leostraße 1a 

Like the Stappen just mentioned, Prinzinger by Saittavini is an icon of the Oberkassel culinary scene. The family actually owns a large number of restaurants and stores on Luegallee, although this particular establishment attracts crowds of guests simply because of its location - and because of the almost 500 wines, among other things. At lunchtime, it's a matter of discussing business figures over spaghetti alle vongole, while in the evening, grandpa's 90th birthday, golden wedding anniversary or first anniversary is celebrated. If you want to sit on the terrace on Luegallee and taste some of the 325 kilos of prawns eaten each year, be sure to arrive early. It's a hotspot to be reckoned with. 

You feel like a round of digestion? No problem at all! The breeze of the Rhine is already blowing around your nose in front of the restaurant. In fact, it's less than five minutes' walk to the Rhine meadow, where walkers, cyclists and joggers gather in almost any weather. Run down to the riverbank once to let a few stones flit and marvel at the panorama with the opera and the palace of art to the left and the old town to the right. The subsequent espresso you get, once run back to Luegallee, in the ... 

Café de France, Luegallee 7 

Having a second living room certainly never hurts, and for many people born in Düsseldorf as well as those who have moved here, the Café de France embodies just that. They sit for hours in the café to let everyday life be everyday life and to take their minds off things over a good cup of coffee. Or to indulge in profound conversations about the big questions of life. On the other hand, because it's so heavenly good, they concentrate on eating the food, no matter what time of day or night it is. After the breakfast menu (scrambled eggs with smoked salmon or blueberry pancakes, for example), would you like poulard saltimbocca on white wine sauce with market vegetables and cauliflower puree for lunch? Or would you prefer fish soup à la Marseillaise? The wild garlic risotto would also deserve a chance ... In any case, keep an eye on the daily changing offer. Don't miss out on your next favorite dish.  

For dessert we go a few houses to ... 

Guiseppe's Dolceria Vineria, Luegallee 11 

Hopefully you have already noticed from the previous lines: Oberkassel clearly stands for Düsseldorf's dolce vita. Therefore, logically, an ice cream parlor of excellence may not be missing. In this sense we may introduce: Guiseppe's Dolceria Vineria. Whether you like it chocolaty-sweet, lemony-sour or nutty-tart, don't hesitate to order a large portion in a wafer or cup every day from mid-January to the end of October, gluten- and lactose-free on request. What makes dessert so special at Guiseppe Traina's? His three main ingredients: "the right balance, absolute passion and great attention to detail." If you can't break away, just stay until evening: then aperitifs and savory snacks are on the menu. 

You're out and about on Luegallee on Tuesdays or Fridays? Bingo, then visit the market on Barbarossaplatz. It actually starts just a few meters before, at the level of St. Anthony's Church. You'll find fresh flowers, coffee, cheese, soups and meat at fair prices. In spring, between the church and the square, you can enjoy a row of cherry trees whose blossoms make for thousands of photos year after year. 

Bookstore Gossens, Luegallee 109 

The Gossens bookstore represents a true institution. Ever since 1968, when Kurt Georg Kiesinger was ruling the country as its third chancellor and the left-wing student and civil rights movements were at their peak, Bernd Gossens, his daughters Katja, Christina and Lisa, and a team of employees have been selling everything book lovers could possibly desire here. You'll find a variety of works on Düsseldorf in general and Oberkassel in particular on site. If you're also looking for the latest John Grisham, want to try your hand at recipes for Moroccan cuisine, or want to take home a stack of weekly newspapers and magazines for an evening of undisturbed reading, you've also come to the right place. The very friendly staff will also help you with any question about any genre. You'll enjoy looking at the shop windows, which Nicole often decorates around a theme, such as Portugal, equal rights, or various publishers celebrating anniversaries, such as Diogenes or Oetinger. 

If you just happen to want to start yoga, get rid of your barely used keyboard, or are looking for someone to help you brush up on your Spanish, be sure to check out the bulletin board just around the corner from the bookstore. Normally found in the entrance area of supermarkets, this is where the Oberkassel residents exchange information. The next stop is just across the street in ... 

Helmus Butchery & Delicatessen, Cheruskerstraße 107 

... and it's anything but difficult to get a taste here - unfortunately or fortunately - because the XXL shop windows offer a view of several counters full of delicacies. Meat, of course, but also pasta, lemonades, jams and other selected specialties that confirm the saying "food and drink keep body and soul together". Stephan Helmus and his staff have won many awards for their craftsmanship, so it's worth buying truffle salami, Gallica poulard and Parma ham, among other things. You can also pick up inexpensive lunches here. A store that exudes the charm of a long-lost corner store.  

Kellermann Gallery, Cherkuskerstrasse 105 

He is one of the most important artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, which means that buying a work by Gerhard Richter is reserved for a short list of very wealthy people. But, as we all know, it costs nothing to look, so we recommend a visit to Galerie Kellermann, just three steps away from Helmus. With a bit of luck, you'll discover a portrait of the Cologne painter with a signature, or let yourself be tempted by Andy Warhol's graphics, works by Joseph Beuys' or fascinating up-and-coming colleagues like Babak Saed. And maybe you'll even invest in the very first piece of your very own modern and contemporary art collection.  

Title image: Düsseldorf Tourism