Frankfurt Christmas Market 2022

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Frankfurt doesn’t just have one of the best and most expansive Christmas markets….it also has lots of other festive fun around the city. So this page is dedicated to highlighting where a variety of Christmas festivities can be found in and around Frankfurt. I’ll be offering updates of local information, such as where the best Glühwein is to be found, on my Facebook page. In the meantime Merry Christmas!🎄

Frankfurt Christmas Market

The Christmas market in the city centre will be spread over the Römer and along the Neue Kräme onto Hauptwache. Daily until 22nd December, the stalls will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m, and on Sundays from 11 a.m. onwards. There is lots of additional information regarding special events such as steam train rides, artists markets and where to find gluten-free treats on the Frankfurt Tourist Board website.

Gibson CityXmas

Opposite the Old Opera House, at Opernplatz 2, you can’t miss the huge, lit-up, reindeer which marks the site of the Gibson CityXmas oper-air bar and market. The market is open from 4pm until 11pm Mon - Thurs, from 2pm until midnight Fri - Sat, and until 9pm on Sundays. Full details can be found on the CityXmas webpage.

Christmas Garden

Running until January 15th 2023, Deutsche Bank Stadion Park will be decorated with millions of lights and feature a variety of culinary stalls. Various themed worlds and installations will invite visitors to marvel. In addition, there will be mulled wine, roasted almonds and many other delicacies. Details about entrance fees and opening times can be found on the Christmas Garden web page.

Christmas in the Palmengarten

The Palmengarten will be decorated at Christmas time with poinsettias, amaryllas and Christmas roses. In addition, twinkling lights will dance around the blossoms to create a Christmas atmosphere. The Palmengarten invites its visitors to the Christmas Lights Special from 10th December until 8th January 4 pm to 9 pm.

Christmas creative market - Dornbusch

The Christmas creative market invites visitors to the Kreativwerkstatt from November 28th until December 2nd.

Artists' Christmas Market 2022

Integral to the Frankfurt Christmas Market is the Artist’s Christmas Market, where artists exhibit their work in the Paulskirche and the Römerhallen. The exhibition in St Paul's Church is scheduled to run from 21st November to 22nd December from 12 noon to 8pm. The exhibition in the Römerhallen is expected to take place from 2nd to 22nd December. Peer behind the large Christmas tree to find the entrance to the Römer. Admission is free.

Pink Christmas Market

This year, the Pink Christmas Market will once again be held on Friedrich-Stoltze-Platz. From 22nd November to 22nd December various stalls will be offering food and drink (and somewhere to sit!!) including vegan and gluten-free options.

Sachsenhäuser Christmas Market

Stroll through the atmospheric Sachsenhäuser Christmas market at the Goetheturm. From 21st November to 22nd December, mulled wine, roasted almonds and many other Advent delicacies will be on offer on the south side of the Main. During the week, the market opens at 4 pm, on weekends from 1 pm.

Around Lokalbahnhof

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Lokalbahnhof is associated with being a bus (numbers 30 & 36), tram (numbers 15, 16 & 18) and S-Bahn stop. Many alight here on their way to a night out in Alt Sachsenhausen or for a meet-up with friends in the Brückenviertal. Rarely does anyone talk of Lokalbahnhof as a destination in it’s own right. But that’s about to change, so read on…

As you step out of the S-Bahn the immediate attraction is the Alte Liebe bar. Long established in Sachsenhausen, Alte Liebe relocated to the corner of Darmstädter Landstraße and Mühlbruchstraße approximately four years ago. With the vibe of a traditional pub, regualr revues and even musical bingo nights, the Alte Liebe attracts a loyal following.

Directly opposite Alte Liebe, across the busy Darmstädter Landstraße and on the corner of Hedderichstraße is Eiscafe L’Incontro. A long standing, family run, Italian gelato cafe. If you get the chance, try the Joghurt-Birne ice-cream. It’s delicious, and you can’t find it anywhere else in Frankfurt!

L’Incontro is at one end of a row of shops on Darmstädter Landstraße. Over the past two years, new retailers have taken up vacant space and there is now a mix of independent stores which serve the local community. Møbel (no. 50) has some great present ideas and is worth a browse. Blumenlokal (no. 44) is the “go-to” flower shop in the area and most recently Barrio cafe (no. 42) has opened up and has already attained a reputation for its breakfasts and freshly prepared lunch menus.

Another well established and popular bar and restaurant is Lokalbahnhof, Darmstädter Landstraße 14. Cosy in the winter and with a small outdoor garden open in the summer, Lokalbahnhof offers large plates of hearty food and, a not too shabby, variety of vegan and vegetarian options too.

A little further up and on the other side of Darmstädter Landstraße at number three, is Kaliko. Small and quaint, with a great menu that has weekly updates, Kaliko is a rarity among restaurants in that it is open on a Monday but be aware it is closed to on a Saturday!

Leaving Darmstädter Landstraße and walking along Dreieichstraße will lead you to number 54 and the Harmonie Art House Cinema. This cinema specialises in showing films in the original language and has a very nice bar area to and a selection of small snacks.

Directly opposite the Harmonie cinema is a shopping complex, the Meichsner & Dennerlein bookstore has a lovely selection of postcards and greetings cards. Meanwhile outside the Rewe supermarket exit is a book exchange. It’s a tall glass cabinet where books are donated and anyone can help themselves.

If flat whites and other speciality coffee brews are your thing, then you only have to walk up Dreichstrase a little further and turn right into Große Rittergasse to find Café Under Pressure, Große Rittergasse 20.

By the end of an afternoon browsing and getting to know Lokalbahnhof a little better, a glass of wine might be in order. Urbans & anders, Dreieichstraße 20, stands on the corner where Große Rittergasse leads into the night life of Alt Sachsenhausen. It’s a friendly wine bar with some excellent German wines among its list of wines by the glass and bottle.

I hope you enjoy getting to know this little area of Frankfurt. If there is something I have missed out, add a comment and I shall investigate!

Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free restaurants in Frankfurt

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Updated 04 July 2022 - please check the individual websites for opening times.

It can be difficult to find vegetarian, vegan and gluten free restaurants in the centre of Frankfurt so I've listed some of the places that I like, which offer something for alternative appetites. I've used the following markers at the beginning of each restaurant for easy identification:
V = Vegetarian
VG = Vegan
GF = Gluten free
If you know of any other cafes or restaurants to add to the list…send me a comment!

Near the main station (Hauptbahnhof) and Willy-Brandt-Platz

V -  Saravanaa Bhavan (Kaiserstr. 68) is 100% vegetarian and serves the best Indian food in town. Try the dosa, it's a good as any in India! Close the main station in the Bahnhofsviertal.

V, VG & other allergens - Kaiserzeit (Kaiserstr. 59) close to the main station is an organic bakery which opens early (7am) to cater for the breakfast crowd. It identifies all manner of options and allergens including wheat-free and lactose-free (no GF though!)

V, VG, GF - Vevay (Kleiner Hirschgraben 10) Vegetarian restaurant and predominantly vegan too. The menu clearly denotes other allergens. Very close to the New Opera house and city theatre on Willy-Brandt-Platz.

V, GF - Pizzeria Scicilia (Niedenau 9) on request this tiny, basic pizza place serves up excellent, gluten-free, pizza. Close to the Bahnhofsviertal however it is slightly off the beaten track and only opens: Mon - Fri from 11:30a - 3.30pm. 

V, VG - Elaine’s Deli (Taunus Tor 1-3) in the park at the base of one of the office buildings, Elaine’s Deli has varied and delicious bowls, salads and freshly made sandwiches. Opens at 07:30 on weekdays.

Frankfurt city centre - vegan, vegetarian and gluten free cafes and restaurants - click here for interactive map

Frankfurt city centre - vegan, vegetarian and gluten free cafes and restaurants - click here for interactive map

In the city centre and old town

V, VG, GF- Mainkai (Mainkai 15) is just south of the Cathedral in the old town. It's known for it's breakfasts and offers plenty of choice for vegetarians and also some gluten-free and vegan options. At the weekend reserving a table for breakfast is advised!

V, VG, GF -  Metropol Cafe (Weckmarkt 13-15) is right behind the Cathedral. Plenty of seating inside and on a sunny day it has a lovely garden to relax in. Metropol is popular with the locals at the weekend and has the option of a vegan breakfast. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available at other times of the day.

V, VG, GF - Vapiano (Goetheplatz 1-3)  in the heart of the city centre, this might be a chain restaurant but it clearly identifies vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options on it's menu. 

V, VG - Lebegesund (Kleinmarkthalle) A market stall perfect for lunch tucked away at the back of the Kleinmarkthalle. Lebegesund offers a variety of vegan dishes to take away.

V, GF - Isabella Glutenfreie Patisserie (Neue Kräme 29) 100% gluten free and not just cakes either! Filled sandwiches and croissants too.

V, VG - Zeil-Kitchen (Zeil 92) In the heart of the shopping area. Exclusively vegetarian with some vegan options and allergens also listed.

V, VG & other allergens - Kaiserzeit (Börsenplatz 1) An organic bakery which opens early (7am) to cater for the breakfast crowd. It identifies all manner of options and allergens including wheat-free and lactose-free (no GF though!)

V, VG, GF - Vevay (Kleine Hirschgraben 10) Vegetarian cafe and predominantly vegan too. Their menu clearly denotes other allergens.

V, VG Badias (Römerberg 6a, by the Schirn Art Gallery) Lovely vegetable platters and fresh food in the heart of the “new” old town. GF* Badias does not formally offer GF food for coeliacs. If you however, just have an intolerance, there are plenty of dishes without gluten ingredients.

Sachsenhausen

V, VG, GF - Mystery of Pizza (Brückenstr. 36) It’s a small restaurant so make sure you reserve. Delivery and collection service also offered.  

A walk (or cycle) from Fechenheim to Rumpenheim

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Fresh air and feeling at one with nature away from the noise and bustle of city life. This stretch of the River Main is particularly beautiful with weeping willows gracing the river banks and, at arrival in Rumpenheim, a small “Schloss” in the heart of this quiet town.

Getting there

Simply take the number 11 tram (direction - Schießhüttenstraße) and alight at Arthur-von-Weinberg-Steg, also listed as Fechenheim Post on google maps, where the pedestrian bridge takes you over to the other side of the river and where the walk begins.

This area is away from any roads, the only noise pollution is that of the birds. Some people like to take a picnic and find a sunny spot along the river bank to enjoy the peace and quiet. The route mapped out is simple, just follow the river bank to Rumpenheim.

For an interactive map use this link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1zIaIRHLtRwx7z_kCd7LznQSlXpDcyfwD&usp=sharing

For an interactive map use this link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1zIaIRHLtRwx7z_kCd7LznQSlXpDcyfwD&usp=sharing

Rumpenheim

Rumpenheim is a quiet place. The highlight is the old Schloss, was founded in 1678 as a manor house and in the late 1700 extended to become the building recognised today. The Schloss is divided up into private apartments, but it’s park is a public area. Rumpenheim is home to many artists, and one weekend a year artists open their doors for the Rumpenheimer-Kunsttage, taking place on the 18th & 19th September 2021. Check the link for more information and possible changes due to CoVid restrictions.

Route to the Rumpenheimer und Bürgeler Kiesgrube

Taking the small streets out Rumpenheim will lead you past riding stables and towards the Rumpenheimer and Bürgeler Kiesgrube, a nature conservation area. It’s also home to a pond that is open to the public for bathing.

Heading back to Frankfurt

From here it’s an easy stroll back to the river bank and the Arthur-von-Weinberg-Steg o catch the number 11 back into Frankfurt city centre. If you are on your bike, head back to the river bank and follow the river, on the southside, for a beautiful ride back towards Frankfurt (the northside of the Main is very industrial and not worth following).

Coffee, Kaffee - the best Espresso bars in Frankfurt!

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In the morning it has to be a cappuccino, no wait, perhaps you’re a flat white drinker, or maybe you like your coffee simply black, hot and strong? Frankfurt has quite the variety of espresso bars to indulge whatever coffee you prefer, so here’s the insider knowledge of where to quaff your coffee!

Wackers (Kornmarkt 9) - my go-to coffee fix. A traditional rosterei, selling bags of whole beans as well as fresh cups of the stimulant. My take on their freshly prepared coffee is that it’s strong and slightly bitter, a style long associated with Germany. Cappuccinos pack a punch without an extra shot and are served cup sized (125ml). Pots of kaffee milch (a little like evaporated milk that one gets in the UK) are distributed amongst the tables for those who like a splash of milk in their Americano. There’s no fresh brewed filter or hand pour coffee here, instead it’s all about the traditional values of a coffee house. It’s possible to pick up a ham or cheese roll, or pastry in the morning and some good cakes in the afternoon, but that’s about it!

The Espresso Bar (Schäfergasse 42-44) - to me, this is the best of the Italian espresso bars in Frankfurt. Barely more than a hole in the wall with place enough to stand and drink, serving seriously good espressos and cappuccinos. Proper cup sized portions, none of this over-sized, laden with milk, nonsense from these people! Good, strong, with a very slight bitterness. You know you’re getting a coffee hit when you drink here. Italian pastries are also available.

Hoppenworth & Ploch Altstadt (Markt 22) - a decent espresso bar in the middle of the old town. It’s more “new school” in it’s style of coffee; mellow, has flavour but lacks that hint of bitterness that I personally like. It’s a popular place and rightly so with seating indoors and outdoors in the pretty market square. H&P have other cafés around Frankfurt where they indulge with pour over and other coffee options which promote their own roasted beans. Meanwhile, this cafe in the Altstadt focusses on the espresso bar concept, and has a few cakes and pastries to snack upon too. (There is also a pop-up H&P by the Old Opera House, Opernplatz 2)

Espresso Espresso (Braubrachstr. 28) - a good espresso with a very slight bitterness that gives the coffee some depth and works well as a cappuccino. It’s a small espresso bar along a street which oozes continental style. Not much space indoors but on warmer days there is space outside to watch the locals pass by (and the trams too). A small selection of pastries and cake is available to stave off the hunger pangs.

The Holy Cross Brewing Society (Fahrgasse 7) - more than just an espresso bar, the HCBS does a full range of coffees and is the place to go if you like pour-over and filter styles. It’s popular, although it’s my least favourite for espresso style coffees. Again, very “new school” in terms of no bitterness at all in the coffee and the mellowness borders on being too subtle if you like milk in your coffee. Small plates of food are available for breakfast & lunch and locals come here for the variety of top branded roasted beans on sale.

Café Under Pressure (Sachsenhausen - Große Rittergasse 20) Another great espresso bar, beloved by the locals. Admittedly I tried the pour over coffee and found it too weak, but the espressos are tasty and spot on. Cappuccinos are correctly proportioned, and smooth (meaning without bitterness which for me is a negative, but for many a positive!) Ample seating and a few tasty snacks too. If you are in Alt Sachsenhausen, hop across the street to Under Pressure, it’s the best espresso bar in the area.

O’Heim (Oppenheimer Landstr. 48) the cappuccinos here follow the “new school” of mellowness and are as good as any of the others mentioned on this page. The additional draw however, is the cakes and snacks, home-made and super delicious! Perhaps it’s those wonderlicious cakes that also draw in the mum & pram set - you have been warned!

Hoppenworth & Ploch (Nordend - Friedberger Landstr. 86) I’ve mention H&P above in the City Centre section. This is their flagship store and coffee is taken very seriously here and includes the pour-over (read: takes forever to make) style and filter coffees featuring their own roasted brands. Smooth, palate gentle espressos entice the young hip crowd in but don’t let that put you off. There is plenty of seating inside and good snacks to compliment which ever coffee style you prefer.





How to download and use Voicemap for your Walk-Frankfurt audio tours

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How to...

download and use Voicemap

In conjunction with the Walk-Frankfurt audio guided tours, here is a how-to guide on downloading and using the voicemap app.

How does VoiceMap work?
VoiceMap uses your phone’s GPS to play commentary automatically. Once you have the Voicemap app and have downloaded an audio tour, plug in your earphones, press start , and put your phone away. A voice will tell you where to go, and the next part of the story will only play once you move on. You can walk at your own pace, and stop for pictures along the way. Just listen out for directions, and if you can’t remember where to go, take a look at the map on your screen.

 How do I install the app?
You can download the app for Android devices in the Google Play Store, and iPhone in the App Store. Just search “VoiceMap” and look out for the red headphones icon. Once it’s installed, sign up.

 Why do I have to sign up?
Once you download a VoiceMap tour, it’s yours forever. You need to have an account so that you can access your tours. 

Do I have to be near a WiFi network?
You can use WiFi or data to download the app and the tour. Wait for all the files to download, and then you can disconnect and turn off your mobile data. All the audio files and maps will work offline. Make sure you don’t put your phone on airplane mode. That turns your GPS off, so nothing will play.

 How much does the app cost?
The app is free to download. Frankfurt tours are individually priced, starting at $4.99.

 How do I play the audio tracks?
Don’t worry about it! VoiceMap will take care of all that. You don’t need to manually play, pause or skip to the next track. The app does all of that for you.

How do I start?
Once the tour has finished downloading, just press start and the tour will begin right away. If nothing is playing:
- check you are on the right tour,
- check you are close enough to the start point. Voicemap tells you how many meters to the start point and starts automatically once you arrive.

What's my password?
It’s the password you entered when you signed up to the Voicemap App. If you can’t remember, you can reset it at the website (voicemap.me) or in the app.

 Can I listen to a route I’ve downloaded more than once? Do routes expire?
Once you download a tour, it’s yours to keep. You can delete it from your phone, and still
re-download it at any time in the future.

 Nothing is playing! What do I do?
Check the following:

1. Is your GPS turned on? VoiceMap needs GPS to be enabled to play audio.
2. Is your phone on airplane mode? If yes, turn it off. Airplane mode disables your GPS.
3. Have you allowed VoiceMap to access your location? If not, go to your location settings and allow the app to use your location.
4. Did you allow all the tracks to download completely?
5. Is your volume turned up, and are your earphones working properly?

 Can I stop a tour?
You can stop whenever you like. The tour will resume automatically when you reach the next point of interest. Just make sure you don’t close the app, or you’ll have to start from the beginning. Remember that when you start walking again, it’ll carry on automatically, so put your earphones in before you get going.

Are there other tours?
As well as the Walk-Frankfurt walking tours, VoiceMap offers tours in over 45 cities, each one unique and created by passionate locals. You can browse the city list to see what’s available.