We are excited to add Frankfurt to VISIONAPARTMENTS portfolio this year. Before you book an apartment in Frankfurt, we would like to introduce the metropolis through the eyes of its inhabitants. The largest financial center in Germany is characterized by its impressive skyline. It’s more reminiscent of New York than of any other European location. Regardless of where you come from, you will meet people who speak your language and find a restaurant that serves your favorite food. Almost one in three Frankfurters does not hold a German passport!
The hospitable atmosphere in Frankfurt stems from its centuries-old role as a trading center. If you need some tips on how to make the most out of your time in Frankfurt, read our list of the go-to places, from restaurants and bars, through ancient monuments and green respites.
Local food in Frankfurt
Gerbermühle is a restaurant located in an antique, stylish house directly on the bank of Main. In the summer, you can sit outside in the garden and enjoy the views. The building has also a historical significance. Once it was a summer residence, owned by a friend of Goethe and often visited by the poet himself. If you are not a fan of traditional German dishes, we recommend Alex Frankfurt Skyline Plaza, a rooftop restaurant next to the Messeturm skyscraper. It offers stunning views of the city’s Financial District, especially after dark. Local tip: Step off the trodden path and enter the Old Sachsenhausen (Alt-Sachsenhausen) district to find local pubs lined up one after another. Look for them at Rittergasse, Paradiesgasse and Klappergasse and don’t forget to try the local specialty – apple wine (Apfelwein).
Best shopping
The Zeil is the most popular shopping street in Frankfurt. Right next to the Hauptwache metro station, there are the malls ‘Zeilgalerie’, with a viewing platform on the roof, and ‘Frankfurt Hoch 4’, a paradise for fashionistas. Shoppers can take a tour all the way to the Friedberger Anlage park and stop by various cafes, bars or restaurants. In the summer, they can also sit outside because the Zeil is also a spacious pedestrian zone with an alley of trees in the middle. On Thursdays and Saturdays visit the farmers’ market on the Konstablerwache. It’s the largest outdoor grocery market in Frankfurt. You can buy fresh produce directly from the farmers or try some street food prepared on the spot.
Local tip: If you plan to buy some souvenirs, Konstablerwache is also a great location to purchase regional specialties. Try the local cheese, wine or the Grüne Soße, a traditional sauce usually made from hard-boiled eggs and seven types of herbs.
Best cultural activity
At the Frankfurt museum embankment (Museumsufer) everyone will find something interesting. On both sides of the Main, museums are lined up one after the other: Museum of Communication, German Museum of Architecture, German Film Museum, Natural History Museum, Jewish Museum or German Museum of Architecture, just to name a few of them. Out of many sightseeing opportunities, the tourists pick the Municipal Gallery (Städel) most often. It exhibits European art, from the early 14th century to the present. The museum contains an impressive coverage of over 700 years of art history and outstanding works by renowned artists, such as Jan van Eyck, Sandro Botticelli, Edgar Degas and Pablo Picasso.
Local Tip: Don’t miss the Museumsufer Festival that takes place during the last week of August.
Best cocktail place
It’s difficult to pick only a few names from the vast panorama of Frankfurt’s cocktail scene. Our city insiders chose The Parlour – a small bar hidden on the ground floor of an inconspicuous residential building. There is no sign, lights or name on the doorbell. You need to know in advance where to look for it. But once you find it and the owner himself lets you in, you won’t be disappointed. The Parlour serves the best drinks in town and offers an extraordinary ambience in a cosy, yet exclusive lounge. The second spot recommended by our locals, Blaues Wasser, was once a… brothel. Today it’s a trendy beach bar on the bank of Main. It’s a great spot to enjoy a drink in the garden with a river view. The owners wanted to create a tranquil respite for people in their 30s, where they can eat a snack and have a drink with friends while listening to some good music rather than pop radio charts. Moreover, Blaues Wasser keeps expanding – its owners want to turn it into a cultural center with live events.
Local Tip: Frankfurt is full of fancy cocktail spots, so even if you go out in a group of people, there should be no problem with spontaneously finding a few free seats.
Best green respite
Frankfurt is not just a business city made of glass and concrete, it also has a much greener side. The city offers many parks in diverse styles, like the “Nizza” on the Main riverbank, filled with Mediterranean plants reminiscent of the French Riviera, or baroque style Bolongaro gardens. Nature enthusiasts can go for a walk among the flora from all over the world in the Botanical Garden. However, our favorite park in Frankfurt is the Chinese Garden in the Bethmannpark. The spot serves as a true oasis. It was designed according to the principles of Feng-shui, with ponds, wooden bridges, honorary arches and arbors in the traditional Chinese style.
Local Tip: Frankfurt has the largest inner-city forest in Germany. Frankfurter Stadtwald is a perfect location for a summer picnic. You definitely won’t run out of the green space – the forest is about 48 square kilometers big.