Dresden is known for its incredible beauty and charm, which makes it one of the favorite destinations for those looking to experience Germany’s best cuisine. Full of youthful energy, art galleries and theaters, the city is also well catered for, here tourists can taste hearty Saxon cuisine. Here are the 10 best cultural restaurants selected for a trip to the city.
Have a really hearty Saxon meal at Watkze Ball & Brauhaus, a 100 plus-year-old restaurant, ballroom and brewery. According to Dresden inhabitants, this place is a must. Alongside traditional interiors and walls decorated with old photographs of Dresden, customers will have the opportunity to try the regional specialities, such as the pork neck in beer sauce with mushroom goulash, and taste their own in-house beer. When the weather is fine, Watkze Ball & Brauhaus set up a lovely beer garden on the banks of the Elbe.
Watkze Ball & Brauhaus, Kötzschenbroder Straße 1, Dresden, Germany, +49 03 51 85 29 20
In the heart of hip neighborhood Neustadt, and in particular the Kunsthofpassage, a courtyard complex with colorful buildings and cozy cafes, Lila Sosse is a shabby-chic venue which serves German tapas. Cheese spaetzle with fried onions and herring tartar with beetroot arrive at the table in glass jars. With an intellectual and relaxed atmosphere, Lila Sosse is a perfect snapshot of modern Germany’s lifestyle.
Lila Sosse, Alaunstrasse 70, Dresden, Germany, +49 803 6723
German Sturm und Drang artists are well known all over the world, so why not having a real German meal in the spirit of Young Werther? In fact, inside the XVIII century building which hosts the Museum of Romanticism, the Kügelgenhaus, there is an alehouse which stays open even when the museum is closed. With a cellar ambience, brick walls and cave-style architecture, here tourists can taste the good food Germans are so proud of, such as bratwurst, kartoffeln, sauerkrauts, and of course they can enjoy their amazing beer.
Kugelgenhaus, Hauptstraße 13, Dresden, Germany, +49 351.804 47 60
Entering the Stilbruch it seems to be dispatched in the surrealistic time of the 30s-40s: as a tribute to Salvador Dalì, the atmosphere is more than extravagant. Arms and legs which protrude from the wall, an upside down table on the ceiling, the clocks run backwards and toilets are accessed via an armoire. The dishes reflect the same creativity of the design, perfectly studied to give the customers the right stylish break and to let them see a lot of craziness.
Stilbruch, Böhmische Straße 30, Dresden, Germany, +49 351 8108610
With waitresses dressed up in period garb, Sophienkeller is the perfect place to taste a typical Saxon meal from the XVIII century. Expect specialities such as the boneless half duck with red cabbage or the spit-roasted suckling pig, to be accompanied with a dark Bohemian Krušovice beer. The ambience is amazing, with vaulted ceilings in the Taschenbergpalais, an elegant and historical building in the old city centre of Dresden.
Sophienkeller, Taschenberg 3, Dresden, Germany, +49 351 497260