Three-star restaurant tasting menu course. ()
Did you know that Germany boasts 10 Michelin 3-star-rated restaurants? That is one more than in the U.K. and only three fewer than culinary giant, Italy. Many of these top-notch dining establishments are near enough to U.S. military installations that a reservation may just be the cherry on top for your next special occasion.
Read about what to expect when visiting a Michelin three-star restaurant.
Both are near the village of Baiersbronn, deep in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest (Schwarzwald). Around Baiersbronn, there are numerous hiking huts (Wanderhütten) open year-round that are known for their eateries. The region prides itself in producing high-quality local foods such as a regional trout, forest honey, lamb specialties and goat cheeses.
The Michelin guide raves about chef Claus-Peter Lumpp at Restaurant Bareiss, whose classic French cuisine earns this restaurant three stars. Set menus offer diners multi-course experiences that include plates like the local roe deer, veal, vegetarian options and choices from the cheese and dessert trolleys. The unpretentious, but chic dining room is situated inside a 5-star hotel of the same name that offers gastronomic packages.
For modern cuisine in a historical setting, the Schwarzwaldstube’s chef Torsten Michel takes pride in re-inventing local and seasonal classics. Three menus offer a wide variety of plates, from Japanese beef with lotus to braised lamb or forest mushrooms for vegetarian palates. As a bonus, the restaurant has a beautiful view of the valley, and is situated in the upscale Traube Tonbach hotel.
Chef adding final touch to a plated course. ()
All are in close proximity to the Mosel River as it courses through German vineyards past castles and quaint towns. This area is known for its incredible Rieslings; winery tours and vinotheks with tastings abound.
The Schanz restaurant is modestly tucked behind the associated small family-run hotel in the town of Piesport along the middle Mosel. Offering four to seven-course menus and á la carte selections, chef Thomas Schanz’s modern cuisine features unique offerings like merluza fish with papaya and mint, local venison and a signature truffle egg.
If you prefer a restaurant with a more traditional approach, the Sonnora in Dreis offers classic French cuisine in an elegant forest hotel with a country-estate feel. Here, chef Clemens Rambichler prepares ageless plates with a modern twist like the langoustines with mango sauce or a beef fillet tartare with caviar.
For something completely different, however, head south to the town of Perl where chef Christian Bau blends French and Japanese cuisine at Victor’s Fine Dining. His set menu “Paris – Tokio” has twelve plates with creative dishes like a Portuguese bonito fish with Japanese rice and Korean kimchi or the coconut yuzu ice cream. The restaurant’s modern décor contrasts with its location inside an old castle on the grounds of the Victor’s Hotel.
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The first restaurant, called JAN (pronounced yawn), offers modern, creative cuisine in the heart of Munich. Set in the middle of the Kunstareal (art district), JAN is near some of Munich’s most well-known museums and historic architecture. Chef Jan Hartwig works in a ‘laboratory of love’ instead of a kitchen and produces a set tasting menu with regionally sourced, unique seasonal plates like a foie gras wonton or caviar with mushroom flan.
If you find yourself further south, the Es:senz restaurant in Grassau also offers modern cuisine. Chef Edip Sigl presents two set menus; one is focused on the produce from the local Chiemgau region while the other has international fare. Both menus have dishes that blend strong flavors, such as the wagyu with paprika and sour cream or the blue cheese with rhubarb. The restaurant has an upscale rustic charm and is set in Das Achental resort where special dine-and-stay packages are offered.
Adding garnish to a dish. ()
The Aqua, in the Ritz-Carlton hotel adjacent to Volkswagen’s Autostadt, turns car factory visits into modern gourmet experiences. In Berlin, the modern moody Rutz has a ‘Berlin-Size-Menu’ for those new to gourmet eating. Lastly, The Table in Hamburg plays to the city’s port history with an eclectic international menu and a unique open kitchen and group seating concept.
Whether you are a die-hard foodie, new to the gourmet scene or looking for the perfect spot for an extraordinary evening out, Germany has a three-star Michelin restaurant waiting for your reservation.
