Frankfurt Restaurants

This huge, wood-panelled old apple wine tavern is a classic that produces hearty German dishes, which are better than the many other similar taverns in the popular Sachsenhausen area. Dishes like the pork shoulder with sauer kraut and potatoes, stewed beef or fresh fish (on Fridays) can be enjoyed with a slow glass of apfelwien, or a choice of beer or cider. The atmosphere is fun, boisterous and crowded; seating is at communal tables with a mix of locals and visiting German businessmen. Reservations not accepted. No credit cards.

Address: Schweizer Strasse 71 (Sachsenhausen); Tel: (69) 612 565

Erno's is one of the best restaurants in town and something of a Frankfurt culinary institution offering classic French cuisine such as rack of lamb, lobster and fresh fish dishes. There is an excellent wine list to make the meal even more memorable, as well as some sensational desserts. Erno's is a chic gourmet rendezvous that is always busy, so reservations are essential. Closed weekends and July to August.

Address: Liebigstrasse 15 (Westend); Tel: (69) 721 997

This upmarket restaurant is presided over by chef Werner Döpfner who serves contemporary dishes such as rack of venison in a walnut crust, or seafood salad with scallops and lobster mousse in a candlelit setting. Maingau Stuben is famous for its fresh fish and game meat that is carved at the table, and the cellar is full of rare German wines. Closed Monday. No lunch Saturday. No dinner Sunday.

Address: Schifferstrasse 38-40 (Sachsenhausen); Tel: (69) 610 752

This stately restaurant is very conscious of upholding the high standard of the five-star hotel that it complements. It is an ideal venue for a formal, discreet occasion with a quiet and sophisticated atmosphere, elegant furnishings, attentive service and high quality food that is beautifully prepared and presented. The menu offers international fare that is light and French-inspired with delicacies such as quails in champagne and grape sauce. Closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations required.

Address: Frankfurter Hof Hotel, Am Kaiserplatz (City Centre); Tel: (69) 215 02; E-mail: frankfurter-hof@steigenberger.de

The aptly named Silk is a 'bed restaurant' where patrons semi-recline on white leather beds and are served magnificent food in a setting of harmonious colours and soft lighting. Enclosed inside the CocoonClub, Silk pulls out all the stops to revolutionise the dining experience and is most likely the only restaurant in the world where the DJs outnumber the chefs. The restaurant features a waterbed, which is arguably the best 'table' in the restaurant, surrounded by a virtual aquarium. The fusion of high-class experimental cuisine, architecture and electronic music makes for a unique experience. Guests dine together with reception at 7:45pm and dinner service at 8:30pm, lasting for most of the evening. Dishes served up include such fare as lobster spiked with mango, Serrano ham, and lemon grass, as well as a rack of lamb with a sauerkraut risotto. The prix-fixe menu consists of several courses encouraging diners to make an evening of it. Silk is open Tuesday to Thursday until 3am and Friday and Saturday until 7am.

Address: Hordend Strasse 30B, the Westend; Tel: (069) 900 200

Gargantua is one of Frankfurt's Westend's most chic restaurants and is reminiscent of a slightly toffee-nosed 1920s bistro in Paris. The restaurant is located on a street corner with outdoor tables shielded from passers-by and traffic by a wrought-iron fence. Owned by a local food writer and columnist, the fare on offer is bound to be nothing but the best, including an impressive selection of Austrian, German and Italian wines. Patrons can expect a near-perfect dining experience. Taste sensations on offer include a creamy soup with black sausage and Perigord truffles, or a zesty risotto with radicchio, squid, and spicy chorizo sausage. A must is the duck breast in vinegar-cherry sauce. No lunch Saturday. Closed Sunday. Reservations recommended.

Address: Liebigstrasse 47, The Westend; Tel: (069) 720 718; E-mail: info@gargantua.de

Avocado Bistro is a treat for all five senses. Brimming with fresh flowers and the complementary colour-scheme of turquoise and peach tones one might expect to find in Florida, the smells from the kitchen and the delicious and beautifully presented dishes ensure an unforgettable dining experience. The atmosphere is a mixture of bourgeois and artsy and is the perfect venue for a romantic dinner or a successful sales pitch. It is the type of restaurant associated celebrations and champagne. The menu changes with the seasons, ensuring everything is fresh and old favourites are given a new twist. The chef's experience and ingenuity are evident in the restaurant's dishes such as confit of quails sprinkled with truffle oil, a roasted saddle of rabbit served with plums in a coat of bacon on a beet mousse, and filet of cod with apple and fig and red lentils. Avocado Bistro is open Tuesdays to Saturday for lunch and Mondays to Saturdays for dinner. Reservations recommended.

Address: Hochstrasse 27; Tel: (069) 292 867

One of Frankfurt's most popular Greek restaurants, Exedra is deceptive with its ornate 19th-century exterior, but once inside, the large and relatively undecorated taverna with big windows overlooking the street offers guests a wonderful dining atmosphere. The cuisine originates from northern Greece (Macedonia), and the grilled lamb filet with a feta-cheese sauce and grilled sweet peppers is an absolute must as well as the more interesting and imaginative leg of rabbit braised in shallots, cinnamon, and red wine. The restaurant functions as a bar and café in the mornings and throughout the afternoon. Exedra is open Monday to Saturday 9am - 2am and Sundays from 4pm-2am. Reservations recommended.

Address: Heiligkreuzgasse 29; Tel: (069) 287 397

Located on the ground floor of Frankfurt's Historisches Museum, Historix exhibits the age-old art of Hessian cuisine. Many exhausted museum-goers frequent this restaurant purely because of its proximity to the museum and its affordable menu, but anyone who knows a thing or two about good Hessian cuisine will find themselves returning time and time again. Emphasis on authentic Hessian tradition of wine and apple-cider cellars is evident in the décor, where the modern world streams through big, plate-glass windows, along with sunbeams, meeting the old world and affording diners views of passersby in the old town outside. Traditional Hessian fare includes pork schnitzel with green sauce, Tafelspitz, Frankfurter Hacksteak (chopped steak), and roasted pork shank with green sauce. All these dishes are designed to compliment the tart flavour of hard cider, which is in abundance at Historix. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.

Address: Saalgasse 19 (In the Historisches Museum, Altstadt); Tel: (069) 294 400

The Hilton's avant-garde lobby is the home of the Pacific Colors restaurant, which offers up a mouth-watering range of diverse Californian dishes combined with a touch of Asian, Mexican and Mediterranean tang. Pacific tones of green and blue as well as stunning views of the Friedberger Anlage Park and walkways through the floor-to-ceiling windows provide a beautiful backdrop for a wonderful dining experience. Fare on offer includes dishes such as the seafood medley, a sumptuous trio of red snapper, white fish, and prawns served with spicy chilli-laced noodles and a coriander syrup. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.

Address: Hochstrasse 4 (in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel); Tel: (069) 1338 000