10 Great Restaurants in Heidelberg

If you're looking for a taste of history, look no further than Zum Roten Ochsen. This restaurant has been serving Heidelberg's residents and visitors since 1703, making it the city's oldest tavern. Many celebrities have eaten here over the years, including John Wayne, Mark Twain, and Marilyn Monroe. The restaurant is in the old town centre, so you can easily walk here from most hotels.

The menu features a variety of large portions of traditional German food, from goulash soup and bratwurst to schnitzel and Käsespätzle (cheese-covered noodles). There are also several vegetarian options available. Visit on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, and enjoy the live pianist who plays from 7 pm.

Book a table at Scharff's Schlossweinstubereat and treat yourself to a memorable dining experience. This restaurant is located in Heidelberg Castle, so you'll be surrounded by beautiful historic castle grounds. The menu features a wide selection of local wines and traditional dishes with a creative twist prepared with seasonal products, including Swabian ravioli and smoked eel with cucumber and horseradish.

The atmosphere is elegant, with glistening chandeliers, stucco ceilings, and parquet flooring adding to the refined ambience. Reservations are recommended, especially if you want to secure a table by the window or on the terrace in summer.

Weinstube Schnitzelbank in the old town centre has been making some of the best schnitzels – made with pork tenderloin, breaded and fried to crispy perfection – since 1867. It's served with potatoes and a side salad, and you can choose from a variety of sauces to top it off.

In addition to schnitzel, the menu also features other traditional German dishes such as a spicy potato dish, meat rolls, and Käsespätzle (cheese-covered noodles). The restaurant has a cosy and inviting atmosphere, with dark wood furnishings and low lighting. Be sure to try a glass of their Baden Riesling or a Rothaus Tannenzäpfle beer from the Black Forest.

Palmbräu Gasse is a great place to enjoy German dishes in a lively dining room filled with a mix of both locals and tourists. The menu features large portions of all typical German and regional classics, including schnitzel, bratwurst, and the house speciality: crispy pork knuckle.

Vegetarians will enjoy the variety of salads and spinach dumplings with broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, and cheese sauce. The service here is friendly and efficient, and the prices are reasonable. Reservations are recommended, but you may be able to get a table if you arrive early.

Badisches Gasthaus zum Goldenen Löwen is an inn and restaurant in Eppelheim, a small town 9 km west of Heidelberg. You can find a wide variety of regional and seasonal dishes on the restaurant's menu. Highlights include the breaded schnitzel, cheese spätzle with ham strips, homemade sausages with sauerkraut, and apple strudel. And, of course, no meal is complete without an ice-cold German beer.

The outdoor beer garden is an inviting space to while away an afternoon on a warm sunny day. At peak times, it's best to reserve a table, but if you're flexible, you'll be able to get a seat at any other time as the restaurant offers hot meals until 11 pm. You can reach Badisches Gasthaus zum Goldenen Löwen by car, bus, or tram.

Le Gourmet is sure to impress for a special occasion dinner or a romantic date night. The 1-Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant is located inside the historic Hotel Hirschgasse and features charming décor and candle-lit areas. Reservations are essential.

The 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-course gourmet dinner takes patrons on a creative culinary journey, where unusual but harmonious combinations of ingredients are used to prepare a unique taste experience. You can expect dishes such as king mackerel, yoghurt, green apple and dill, Bouchot Clams and saffron fennel, and slow-cooked hen’s egg with macaroni twirl, bacon consommé and pork crisp on top.

Schwarzer Peter is a cosy, authentic German restaurant located a 10-minute walk from the Heidelberg Central Station. The menu features traditional German dishes such as schnitzel, bratwurst, and potato salad. There is also a vegetarian section on the menu with vegan options, making the restaurant a great place to try meat-free versions of traditional German food.

Accompany your meal with a local beer on tap or a glass of regional wine. The indoor seating is cute, with warm lighting and wood-panelled walls, while outdoor eating is excellent on warm days. Be sure to have cash on hand, as they don't accept Visa or Mastercard (only German bankcards).

Wirtshaus zum Spreisel, which has been serving food for a whopping 450 years, is one of Heidelberg's most historic and beloved restaurants. The rustic tavern boasts fantastic views of the old bridge and the green hills from its location directly across the scenic sidewalk lining the Neckar River.

Look no further than this eatery if you're in the mood for a delicious and filling German meal. On the menu, you'll find hearty portions of beef roulade with apple and red cabbage, guinea fowl with potato noodles, grilled rump steak with fine roasted onions, and sea bream fried with almond butter.

Zur Herrenmühle is located in a charming ivy-covered house in the old town and offers its guests beautifully presented gourmet food served in a traditional German dining room. The menu changes, but you can expect unique flavour combinations, such as sea bass fillet with risotto and saffron langoustine sauce and roast beef with fog and nut crusts.

Be sure to save space to try one of their delicious desserts, like the raspberry sorbet with Prosecco, Belgian chocolate mousse, or coffee cupcakes. During the warm summer months, the tables outside on the terrace are the perfect spot for a romantic meal.

Wirtshaus zum Nepomuk is an elegant tavern located inside the Hotel zur Alten Brücke in Heidelberg’s old town. The food here is traditional, with the kitchen preparing rich, hearty dishes of German classics like roast beef with onions, roasted trout, and cheesy Käsespätzle. There are also seasonal game meat and vegetarian options available.

The different dining spaces are among the best things about Wirtshaus zum Nepomuk. There’s the rustic hunting room, the cosy dining room, the romantic inner courtyard or the large street-side terrace offering great views of the old bridge and excellent people-watching opportunities.