My love language is food. It's one of the ways you exchange and share a piece of yourself, family, and/or culture while engaging the, much taken-for-granted, sense of taste. Normally, before any trip, I do extensive research on the food of my destination. I aim to keep it relevant to the local culture, but I didn't plan anything for this trip (besides packing my suitcase). A lot of the food I encountered in Bonn was a game-time decision while walking or pre-planned by our tour group, and I am happy to report that it all worked out!
Note: This list is not "The Best Food in Bonn." This list is exclusive to the food that I ate while on a single trip.
Bonn: Quick Bites & Lunches
Köftespiess Kebab Story: Located in the central marketplace, grab a quick kebab or falafel sandwich, wrap, or platter with fries. Simple, cheap, quick, and delicious.
Asia New Wok: Quick, cheap wok! Pick a protein, pick a sauce, and *bam* your food will be ready in a matter of minutes. I opted to dine in, which was spacious, and observed covid protocols. The peanut sauce wasn't as sweet or as tangy as I'd have liked, but I still ate it all! A whole dinner meal for under 8 euros.
Sefa Beef Döner: Located near the central bus and train station, this quick doner shop will have you in and out in a matter of minutes. For 5 euros you can get a falafel pita sandwich that will completely fill you up. A perfect lunch for a person on the go!
Lavina Restaurant: Also located near the central bus and train station, this restaurant could be a quick grab-and-go spot but also offers a sizeable and funky dining room to enjoy your food at a more leisurely pace. I had a falafel plate and an iced tea which was 9.50 euros total. I turned my platter into small falafel wrap bites. I tried a blueberry vanilla juice drink which was different and probably wouldn't have again. The staff was very friendly and chatty.
Pie Me Cafè: During one of our long meeting-full days, Pie Me was catered for lunch. This meal was so fun! The pies were excellent! They had a variety of flavor profiles, including Indian flavors, and were able to satisfy carnivores and vegetarians. I had the spinach ricotta, which was a safe bet, but delicious! For the Indian pies, they provided multiple flavors of chutney. The pies were complimented by a salad and large soft cookies. Loved it!
The Grill Buffet at the Hilton Bonn: This place is the *bonn* diggity (hehe). Come here for breakfast or lunch and you will not be disappointed, in fact, you will find yourself to be completely satisfied. There is a vast assortment of foods, from savory to sweet. Many days during breakfast I found myself staying for an hour to enjoy breakfast #1 followed by breakfast #2. You might even enjoy sitting out on the patio to dine al fresco. I don't think I'll ever go to a breakfast buffet as good as this one. Pricing was included in my room rate, and I am not sure if non-guests can partake, but if this helps you select a hotel in Bonn, do it. Pro Tip: Please wear your mask at the buffet because covid is still real and it's gross when people are huffing and puffing and coughing all over the food. Pro Tip: The breakfast buffet is so extensive that you will have enough of a selection to create a lunch sandwich to take away (my go-to was either a pesto, tomato, and brie sandwich or a BLT or hardboiled eggs).
Bonn: Sit-Down Lunch & Dinner
Nees: Located on the Bonn Botanic Gardens property, this restored farmhouse is simple and bright with rustic charm. The truffle pasta has been the best meal I've eaten in Germany thus far. Great for large groups with a private room available. Definitely try the ginger-lime or orange-lavender housemade lemonade which are zippy, sparkling, and refreshing!
Vietnam Deli: This was right across from my hotel so I ate here twice! One night I had a vegetarian soup (similar to tom yum) and spring rolls- it was light and refreshing, even on a hot day. The next time, I ordered a Queen Bowl with seitan and tofu (to go). Both were tasty and fresh. I am impressed by their large array of vegetarian options (almost the entire menu can be made to suit vegetarians). They also have an entree called "Obama Special" if you're feeling nostalgic for a Vietnamese dish praised by President Obama. Cash only.
La Fermata Pizzeria: This Italian restaurant was located near my host school and was recommended by the teachers. They have an excellent lunch special that provides a full-size personal pizza for only 6.50 euro. Though it looks overwhelming for one person, the crust is quite thin and crisp so you can eat it all without feeling gluttonous. I had a pizza with spinach and gorgonzola, again, not super heavy despite the rich cheese. The service was a bit slow and the pizza tasted alright. Definitely a great deal if you want a sit-down/ table-service lunch.
Weinhaus am Rhein (Technically right across the Rhine in Königswinter, so you'd need to drive here): Another traditional German restaurant. This one had a sizeable outdoor patio area and was great for large groups. I had a salad with goat cheese (which were gigantic slabs of cheese- yum), and most of my colleagues had schnitzel and wurst. The servers here were fantastic. Be sure to check out the gelato shop (Eis Zeit, below), just a short walk away, after dinner!
Brauhaus Bönnsch: Okay, so the running summary is that German food is not my fave. We went here on our first night in Bonn and the menu was extensive. I settled on fish and chips, however, much to my chagrin, when I ordered the Kellner informed me that they were out! I had to make a split-second decision and picked the veggie burger. It was a standardly decent veggie burger, but what sets this one apart is that it was a monstrous double patty veggie burger (yay, actually)! They provided enough fresh produce on the burger that I turned it into a veggie burger salad and skipped most of the bread. Many of my cohorts had schnitzels the size of their entire plate- the portions are huge. Try the pretzel appetizer with a sour-creamish dipping sauce!
Zen Sushi: Our local program guide recommended this spot as "a new favorite resto is emerging... Fast, fabulous, n funky and just around the corner [from our hotel]" and it did not disappoint! The lunch menu is a great deal, including miso soup and a soft drink plus a plentiful selection of sushi, nigiri, and sashimi.
Bonn: Beverages
Black Coffee Pharmacy: I stopped by here for a quick coffee break, which always means green tea for me. I loved how they served the green tea in a diffuser and in a clear mug- the aesthetic was quite pleasing. On top of that, the tea was a mix of green tea and other floral fragrant additions- tasty. My colleagues had a range of black coffees and cappuccinos and those, again, were also satisfying to look at.
Alter Zoll: This expansive open-air beer garden is located near the Rhine River and extends to the nearby park/field with quick service and lots of beer, Kolsch, cider, and liquors available. Bring 1 friend, bring 10, there's room for everyone. There is a 1 euro deposit charge for drinking glasses, so make sure you return them to the kiosk before you leave to get your buck back. I wouldn't recommend the snacks (pretzels and pizza) just by the looks of them (didn't try them).
Bonn: Sweets
Solo Qui: By far the best gelato shop I've been to in Germany! The variety of flavors is impressive. The gelatos look beautiful, but taste even better- America could never!
Eis Zeit (Technically right across the Rhine in Königswinter, so you'd need to drive here): This is the first gelateria I experienced in Germany and it set very high expectations for me with ice cream, yes, all ice cream. The strawberry mascarpone and dark chocolate gelato (one scoop of each) on a cone were excellent, delicious and rich, and creamy, and under 3€! Highly recommend! Cash only.
Haribo Store: Ok, so maybe this isn't exactly a restaurant, but if you're a gummy fanatic this will be a lot of fun for you to grab a treat. With more flavors than you could imagine and far cheaper prices than the United States, you might as well try all the flavors that catch your eye. However, my recommendation is to avoid the "wine gummies" boasting zero alcohol and no discernable alcohol taste; they're gimmicky and a waste of time. Actually, I think I'll have to do a blog post just for the Haribo store...
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