4 Best Restaurants in The Rhineland, Germany

Chef Roland Gorgosilich and sommelier Florian Richter continue the culinary traditions that have made this stylish and intimate art nouveau house one of the Rheingau's top restaurants. The menu showcases dishes with pan-European influences, with produce varying from Breton lobster to Galician veal, while the wine list focuses on the finest local estates for whites, along with Old and New World estates for reds. The main restaurant's painted ceiling creates an atmospheric setting for the multi-course meals (opt for the four-, five-, or six-course menu), while in warmer months, diners can enjoy the gorgeous parklike garden. Overindulged? Stay in one of the 18 elegant rooms and suites here.

On a quiet residential street on the outskirts of the Altstadt, and hidden from view in summer by an ivy-covered patio, this restaurant feels like a true escape—befitting its laid-back name, Beach House. The regularly changing menu focuses on high-quality seasonal ingredients prepared in an elegant, yet no-fuss fashion. 

For three decades, writers and artists from Cologne's elegant Agnesviertel neighborhood have been meeting at this cozy locale on a quiet, tree-lined street. Inside, the ambience—like a little corner of Montmartre—is just right for thinking deep thoughts, or simply chatting over a slice of chocolate cake. Even when the cake's all gone, night owls can enjoy the café's delicious Camembert and lingonberry blintzes.

North of Bernkastel in Zeltingen, this upscale restaurant is in the riverside Weinhotel St. Stephanus. Once part of a 19th-century manor house, the handsome dining room is a lovely setting for enjoying refined regional cooking with a hint of the Mediterranean. Diners can also sit out on the terrace overlooking the Mosel, while pre- and post-dinner drinks can be enjoyed in the rustic brewery cellar.