The Black Forest Region Offers a Wide Variety of Treats; Here’s Our Favorite Food Items from Southern Germany
Travel can be one of the greatest dreams for any foodie! I mean, one of the best things about travel is trying different delicacies and treats that aren’t found where you live. Expanding your palette can be a great adventure for many. For me, I can be a bit picky, so I love going to regions that have a wide variety of options for everyone- from traditional to a nice modern meal inspired by the tastes of the region. This was exactly what I found when I visited Southern Germany. I found a unique, delicious variety of cuisine and wines all inspired by the tastes of the Black Forest. Here are my favorite treats from Southern Germany.
Freiburg im Breisgau
MarktHalle
What I loved about visiting MarktHalle during my time in Freiburg was the vast variety of food options it had for anyone and everyone. It was laid out like a traditional food court but much nicer and busier. It was the place to be! There were traditional German stands, Indian food stands, pasta stands, a bar, you name it. It offered a variety of dishes from around the world, including home-made fresh foods and vegetables you could take with you to go. It was served cafeteria style (Be still, my heart. Cafeteria-style eating is my favorite.), so you could see exactly what you were getting before ordering, which makes the language barrier even easier. If you’re in Freibrug, I recommend MarktHalle, as it works regardless of your dietary restrictions and the amount of time you have available to dine.
Wine Tasting at Alte Wache Freiburg
With wine being a major treat of the Black Forest area, it’s important to partake in a wine tasting while you are here. We highly recommend the popular spot, Alte Wache Freiburg (House of Baden Wines). The interior of this happening spot is very chic and modern, and let me tell you that their tapas are to die for! You must try the tapas. When I was there, the exterior was packed, as this is the prime spot to go after your workday. And, clearly, all those locals are onto something! The wine was unique, fresh, and delicious, from the regular Rieslings of the area to the more unique choices. They have wine from 35 different wine companies and 90 wines from this particular region of Germany, 12 of which are their own wine. The special wines are upstairs in the chic gorgeous sitting room. Their wine connoisseur was incredibly educated and informed on all things wine and was ready to answer anything about the wine, whether it be in English or German.
For me, personally, I loved the Riesling offered here, as it is less acidic than in most other places, and with my stomach issues, I’m always looking for a wine with lower acidity. And you must try their slushie wine; it was absolutely delicious.
With gorgeous views looking out at the main market square and the Freiburg Munster, this really is the best spot to sit back after your day and enjoy a glass or two of wine. You get the perfect view of the sunset without ever having the sun directly in your face. With Alte Wache Freiburg celebrating its 26th birthday this year, there’s no excuse for you not to come visit!
Breakfast at the Colombi Hotel
Now, you may be reading a lot about breakfast in this article, but after all, it is the most important meal of the day. I love a proper breakfast while traveling, as it ensures I’ll have the energy and stamina to go wherever I need without getting super hungry too early. The breakfast at the Colombi Hotel was worth the stay, in itself, and had me feeling as if I were a queen. A nice array of meats, cheeses, eggs, tomatoes, and fruit were laid out buffet style along with bread, and there was a wait staff, as well, to take any specialty order. There was all the coffee and orange juice I could want. And it was all conducted in a beautifully sophisticated room. It provided the perfect start to the day.
Baden-Baden
Wirtshaus zur Geroldsauer Mühle
Wirtshaus zur Geroldsauer Mühle is a traditional, rustic German eatery with a chic, luxury modern feel. Near the entrance to the Black Forest in Baden-Baden, it’s the perfect spot to get a traditional German meal before going to explore the famed woods. I was lucky enough to try the Spätzle there, which is a very traditional German meal from the area. It is a thicker noodle dish with a creamy cheese sauce instead of traditional pasta sauce, and it was baked with French-fried onions on the top of it. It was absolutely delicious. There salmon in a delicious cream sauce was also to-die for, as well. It was a true culinary delight, and I would highly recommend anyone visiting Baden-Baden to stop there. It’s traditional rustic meets luxury, exactly what I expect when I think of Baden-Baden.
And for all the sweets lovers, you simply must try a traditional Black Forest Cake while in Baden-Baden. It’s a chocolate sponge cake with layers and topping of deliciously rich cherries, and it is just as mouth-watering as it sounds. The cherry flavor is the richest, most pronounced cherry I’ve ever had, as it is a specialty of this region. So, you simply must try it when you are in the area.
Wine Tasting
I’m sure you’ll see “wine tasting” on many of my lists here, but Southern Germany really is a great hub for wine tasting. They can trace growing grapes for wine back to this region for at least 1,000 years to the Romans, and many of the wines are crisp, light, and sweet- my kind of wines. If you’re going to pick one place to do your wine tastings, however, I highly recommend Schloss Neuweier. This gorgeous 7th-century chateau encapsulates all the charm of a fairy tale, complete with wine! You can stay in the the chateau as a hotel, visit the restaurant within, or experience a unique wine tasting outside in the yard of the chateau. It’s such a lovely experience, but perhaps, my favorite part is that the current owner has studied and grown wines for all of his adult life. He bought the property out of a love of wine, and you can really feel his love in both the taste of the wine and the environment of the property. While the wine is light, it certainly is still flavorful and pushes the idea that you should have a light drink to help make yourself a little sharper to end your day- not to drink to get drunk. Those are ideals I can get behind!
Breakfast at Hotel Belle Epoque
The Hotel Belle Epoque was a beautiful, Victorian-looking wonderland. The vintage style of the hotel made you feel as if you were truly a princess waking up in the 1800s, and the breakfast most definitely added to that feel. Taking place in a gorgeous, maroon-colored classic Victorian-luxury setting, you were served coffee, tea, orange juice, and an array of breakfast treats. From eggs to meats to cheese and vegetables, everything you could want and need for breakfast was there. I truly felt like a princess each morning as I woke up and dined.
Heidelberg
Hotel Konig Stuhl’s Bergstube
Now, it’s highly likely that when you visit Heidelberg, you’ll ride the iconic Heidelberger Bergbahnen up to the very top of the Königstuhl hillside to see the most picturesque view of the city. When you do, you must eat at the Hotel Konig Stuhl’s Bergstube. On top of the array of delicious, traditional German meals, goulash, and meats and cheeses, they also offer salads and accommodating meals for vegetarians, too. I had a delicious soup and salad that really stood out as something special, and their fries were, of course, delicious, too. And the view from this spot is breath-taking!
Breakfast at Hotel Europäischer Hof Heidelberg
Of all the breakfasts I enjoyed throughout my adventures in Germany, the breakfast at Hotel Europäischer Hof Heidelberg was the most eccentrically special. For breakfast, each table was given a tray of lox, fresh meats, and cheeses in a very COVID-friendly style and was also allowed to help themselves to a buffet of veggies, fruits, and yogurts that were also carefully and intelligently packed. It was breakfast-to-the-nines in a gorgeous and glamorous hall complete with coffee, tea, and orange juice. I’ve never had such a lovely breakfast experience before.
Kulturbrauerei
Dinner at Kulturbrauerei was truly an exceptional experience. The gorgeous, Baroque building had traditional vintage paintings on the ceiling with draped, gorgeous chandeliers, and it set the tone for a uniquely beautiful fine dining experience. The potato dumplings that I had were incredible, and the environment added to this delicious affair. From a family night out to date nights to meeting up with friends in a classy setting, this place should definitely be on your to-visit list in Heidelberg.
Trier
Das Weinhaus Trier
Das Weinhaus in Trier is the perfect spot for a classy gathering with friends, a nice romantic dinner with your partner, or just a solo adventure. It’s a very chic place, and it was incredibly popular with the locals when I was there. I could easily see why. I ordered their ravioli, and it was perhaps, the best ravioli I’ve had to date. It wasn’t too heavy, but it was still extremely filling, and the salad that accompanied it was heavenly. Of course, what makes Das Weinhaus so special is its selection of delicious wines! The owner knows anything and everything about the wines offered and prides himself on the selection of wines that are locally made within the region of Trier and Southern Germany. Spoiler alert- the local wine is fresh, light, and divine.
Krämerei Trier
Krämerei Trier was such a beautiful, boutique place to eat. The environment was classy, modern, and yet still nodded to the glamorous past of Trier. And the salmon and coffee there was delicious, as well. This was a great spot for lunch, and the atmosphere was perfect for a nice meet up with your friends.
All in all, it’s important to hunt for the delicacies and local cuisines of any area when you visit. In my time in Germany, I experienced a nice array of traditional German cuisine mixed with a few of my modern favorites. It was a fantastic experience, and I hope I inspired you to get out there and try the tastes of the Black Forest region and Southern Germany for yourself.
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