In Frankfurt am Main there are 43 districts and no two are alike. Each neighborhood has its own face and story to tell. From the picturesque half-timbered houses in Niederursel and the wonderful old town in Sachsenhausen to the skyscrapers and designer boutiques in the banking district and the city centre - Frankfurt is hard to beat in its diversity. Every visitor will find something different in the Main metropolis, because each district surprises visitors in its own way! At the annual, well-attended District Sunday, the districts and their shops and restaurants introduce themselves to visitors and guests
The Frankfurt district of Sachsenhausen, also affectionately called "Dribbdebach" (= on the other side of the Main) by its inhabitants, is probably the best known and most popular district of the Main metropolis, especially among tourists. In addition to its many picturesque fountains, Sachsenhausen is first and foremost the district of the "Stöffche"": many quintessential Äppelwoi pubs invite you to a cosy get-together here. And with the Museumsufer, Sachsenhausen also has one of the city's cultural highlights to offer. And whether it's the Film Museum, the Architecture Museum, the Städel or the Liebighaus, all the museums have their own Cafés or bistros in addition to interesting and worthwhile exhibits, of course, which also play a decisive role in shaping Frankfurt's culinary image.
Bockenheim has had a strong student influence for over 80 years, with Johann Wolfgang Goethe University having its headquarters here until 2001. In the next ten years, the university will disappear piece by piece from Bockenheim, which will change the image of the district in the long term. Nevertheless: in the last decades so many student cafés and -bistros have established themselves in Bockenheim that they will surely defy the departure of the university to the Westend. The rich offer of international cuisine and typical Frankfurt pubs on and around Leipziger Straße is, besides the famous Senckenberg Museum, a convincing reason to pay Bockenheim more than one visit. And every Thursday, the popular weekly market also attracts visitors to the Bockenheimer Warte.
The name of the Höchst district will, of course, always be inextricably linked with the famous Farbwerke. But Höchst is, especially nowadays, much more. In and around the old town centre with its historic half-timbered ensemble and the 1200-year-old Justinuskirche church, there are also some gastronomic highlights to discover. Rustic cider pubs, international cuisine ranging from African to Mediterranean and popular trendy hangouts near the New Theatre make this part of town an interesting cultural and culinary destination. At the latest when the Höchst Castle Festival is celebrated for a month once a year, there is one more reason to drop by the Höchst district.
Frankfurt's Old Town is first and foremost the cultural highlight of the Main metropolis. With the Römer, the cathedral, the Paulskirche, the Nikolaikirche or the Kunsthalle Schirn, Old Frankfurt offers some of the most important points of interest for visitors. But there is also a lot to discover here from a gastronomic point of view. From quaint pubs on and around the Römerberg to international restaurants and trendy hangouts in the many small side streets, no culinary wish remains unfulfilled. And you can even dine excellently on the Main. Cultural and culinary highlights in Old Frankfurt are also the annual Main Festival on Römerberg and the large Christmas market, which thrills year after year with colorful lights, mulled wine and all kinds of delicacies.
During the day, the business of "takeaways" rules on and around the Zeil, one of Germany's largest and most popular shopping miles: National and international food, quickly prepared and conveniently packaged to go. American fast food, Hessian bratwurst, Turkish doner kebab or Asian noodle dishes spoil the customers' palates. Indispensable for friends of culinary delights in Frankfurt's city centre are the famous Kleinmarkthalle and the "Fressgass", which does not bear this name for nothing. Here, even when the shops close their doors and it gets quiet on the Zeil, you will find cosy international and national gastronomic establishments that ensure that Frankfurt's city centre is worth a visit even after work.
In the Bornheim district lies one of Frankfurt's most famous streets: Berger Straße. Affectionately called the "Bernemer Zeil" by Bornheimers, the residential and shopping street not only rivals its big brother in the city centre, but also offers a wide range of caf<x>ampersand</x>eacute;s, bistros and restaurants. In the many small side­streets you will find quaint apple­wine pubs, which convey a typically Frankfurt atmosphere through the ambience of quaint half-timbered houses. Especially after a visit to the popular Berger Kino, it is definitely worthwhile to explore Bornheim in more detail. Especially recommendable is the weekly ampersand</x>shy;market, which takes place every Saturday at the famous Uhrtürmchen.
Niederrad is primarily known to sports fans, as it is home to the famous Waldstadion and the racecourse. Otherwise, the district is but firmly in the grip of business, which is why this district is also called the "office city". Thousands of people commute to Niederrad every day to work. In the evenings it is rather quiet, which of course also leads to the fact that the gastronomy here is rather sparse. But once a year Niederrad is the favourite district of all Frankfurt residents, when the popular "Wäldchestag"" is celebrated here. Until a few years ago still a half holiday, the Tuesday after Whitsun is now a normal working day, but of course that doesn't stop the people of Frankfurt from enjoying the many culinary delights of this public festival.
Palmengarten, Grüneburgpark and the new university campus on the site of the former I.G. Farben building shape the image of Frankfurt's Westend just as much as the many adjacent banking houses. The fact that this district is not exactly one of Frankfurt's poorest neighborhoods becomes quickly apparent as one wanders through the streets of the Westend. And also the gastronomy adapts to the prosperity reigning here. But there are also some culinary highlights to discover for the small purse, especially in the vicinity of the university. Especially in the summer months, it is well worthwhile to go on an extensive gastronomic voyage of discovery in the Westend.