4 Best Restaurants in The Romantic Road, Germany

On the small square behind the Augsburg town hall, this fine-dining restaurant, in a building dating from 1577, offers an extensive wine list and an innovative, meat-heavy menu according to what's in season. In summer ask for a table on the patio.

Sample Frankish bratwurst cooked over a wood grill and other regional dishes in this converted mill alongside the Main River. Sit outside on the terrace above the river for the best views of the Alte Mainbrücke and the Festung Marienberg.

Have a seat in the ancient courtyard of the Stachel, which is shaded by a canopy of vine leaves and enclosed by tall, ivy-covered walls. The entrées are satisfyingly Franconian, from lightly baked onion cake to hearty roast pork served in a decidedly unstuffy atmosphere.

In the cellar beneath the 1385 Rathaus is a popular local destination for Bavarian food and drink with a surprisingly airy feel. Lunches can be busy, as local workers head there for the wide array of traditional fare. But the restaurant is also open late, until 10 pm daily, after many other local restaurants have closed.