Tips for the best and nicest restaurants in Düsseldorf
O, how we love Düsseldorf. The capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, where you can just as easily devour a golden-breaded schnitzel or tender Schweinshaxe with an ice-cold Altbier as you can slurp down a steaming bowl of ramen. And as if that weren't enough, the city also lavishes on Michelin stars. From authentic Japanese in Little Tokyo to fine dining hidden in the basement of a supermarket—Düsseldorf has it all.
These are the best restaurants in the city.
Are you in town for the weekend? Then take the Düsseldorf weekend guide included.
Velvet is one of those culinary spots in Düsseldorf that instantly feels right. Trendy, but not contrived. Creative, but unfussy. The interior is industrial and modern. Perfect for lingering. During the day, you can tuck in for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. In the evening, pop in for original sharing platters. Be sure to check the opening hours, as they don't cook every evening. But if you can, you'll want to be there. Everything is seasonal, made with ingredients from local suppliers. The pancakes and sourdough bread alone will have you coming back. The wine list is extensive, and non-alcoholic drinks are also in good hands.
Bistro Fatal is a must-see when talking about Düsseldorf's culinary scene. Ideal for anyone who enjoys French cuisine but doesn't want to dine for hours. Bistro Fatal is what it should be: a casual bistro by Alexandre and Sarah Bourgeuil. And boy, are the wines here fantastic.
The food is not inferior to the wines. Start with a pastis as an aperitif and a home-baked baguette with butter. Then hop on to a classic ravioli. Finish with a delicious crêpes Suzette.
Sun on your head? The bistro has a charming terrace at the front of the building.
New kid in town. And how cozy is this wine bar? Okay, it's actually a French delicatessen bar, but when the clock strikes nice weather, everyone drinks outside. They have a wide range of French delicacies and biodynamic and natural wines, lovingly selected by owner Olivier Grosjean.
The coziness may also be partly due to the fact that Chez Olivier is located in trendy Flingern. Open on Wednesday from 12:00 to 18:00, on Thursday and Friday between 12:00 and 20:00, and on Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00.
You can put us in any restaurant, but chances are that we will never eat as well with a whole group as when a table full of mezze arrives. Die Kurve serves Israeli cuisine: everyone chooses a bite and it all comes to the table. A lot of coziness.
The place is cozy, the staff is super friendly and helpful. And although it can be busy, the service always has it under control. It can be a bit loud sometimes, because of the large groups that are there - but that is not surprising, when a place is so nice for large groups.
And ten thousand points for the eggplant. SO good.
We already warmed you up with a restaurant in a supermarket – and here it is. Restaurant Setzkasten Düsseldorf is located in the basement of EDEKA Zurheide, a gigantic supermarket in the heart of the city.
Whether you want to spend an evening in Kazakhstan, where chef Egor Hopp transforms his childhood memories into refined flavours: Setzkasten is the place to be. Expect an evening full of fine dining, with a surprising multi-course menu.
For a quick bite, for strolling and for the 'everyone-has-a-different-thing' days: at Carlsplatz you will find more than sixty stands close together. Fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, meat and poultry, bread and cheese, pastries and coffee – and so on.
Huis Cortilla for delicious Italian cuisine, Hin & Weg has chill salads to go, Koffierijk for your caffeine fix and Fladi for Persian and Italian delicacies to go, great wines and delicious flatbreads filled with lots!
Also nice: everything from Inka & Mehl. We would love to fill the entire kitchen with their special spices, vinegars and oils.
You’re either in Germany or you’re not. No matter how we try to turn left or right, there comes a point where the smell of schnitzel is so strong that we simply give in. And then you better give in to a really good one. And that really good one is Heimwerk Mitte. The best in town.
And the best ones are what draw the crowds – so you’d better make a reservation in advance. After such a breaded monster, you really have to try the Kaiserschmarrn. Finger-licking good.
By the way, they don't just have schnitzel, they also have other options. Even vegetarian schnitzels!
Anyone who can’t get a plane ticket to Japan can now simply book a train trip to Germany. Little Tokyo in Düsseldorf is Japan in miniature. There are an insane number of good Japanese restaurants, traditional izakaya bars, bakeries and bars – as well as hotels, supermarkets and bookshops. Even the street signs are Japanese and the orange street lamps are inspired by origami figures.
And the crème de la crème noodles from Little Tokyo? You can find them at Soba-An: handmade soba noodles by a female entrepreneur. The best in the city… uh, Europe?
We continue to wander around Little Tokyo. For this favorite, a little background: Kushitei in Tokyo is a refined izakaya, known for its delicious kushiyaki – perfectly grilled skewers.
Although izakayas are often compared to pubs, the experience here is (to put it mildly) very different from that of the German beer house culture.
At Kushitei, it's all about the grill: specialties that turn a simple skewer into a true art. Whatever you do – order the grilled eel!
Imagine the harbour, the good weather and the French people around you – and you are there. France in Düsseldorf you can just walk into La Bouillabaisse. A small café on the side of a busy street, where they serve the tastiest fish in town. Bouillabaisse, oysters, monkfish medallions – everything equally delicious. Of course combined with a wonderfully matching Chablis.
The restaurant has been around for over twenty years and is still popular. Only fifteen guests can enter, so here again: book quickly.
After the schnitzel, we want more. Currywurst, Bratwurst, the whole shebang. Weinhaus Tante Anna is a traditional family restaurant – in fact: now run by the seventh generation.
And fun: you dine in a centuries-old chapel. Even more fun: they serve delicious German wines.
Something to celebrate? Zwanzig23. Treat yourself to a really good meal? Zwanzig23. Whatever the reason – when Lukas Jakobi cooks for you, you know the party is on. The young chef divides his menu into vegan en non-vegan, each with six or nine courses.
Jakobi's cooking did not go unnoticed by critics: he received both a green star and a regular Michelin star. Most of the ingredients come from the Düsseldorf area.
In 2025, you can no longer ignore it: fermenting. And that is exactly what Zwanzig23 excels in – think: kombuchas on the menu, homemade kimchi, soy sauce and garum.
We already said that Düsseldorf certainly has no need to apologize when it comes to fine dining goes. Sure, you have the stately restaurants with white tablecloths, but it's the modern kitchens that really stand out. And WELA is definitely one of them. This authentic Thai fine dining-experience in the heart of the city brings Bangkok to Düsseldorf, with chefs bringing their Michelin experience.
WELA means “time” in Thai – and that’s exactly what they want to give you here. That’s why you’ll be sitting down for an 8-course meal with the perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy and savory.
What to expect: Think of tenderloin with fish balls and green curry, or sea bass Nam Dok Mai. On to Bangkok – uh, Düsseldorf.
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