Food & Drink in Germany: What to Eat, Where to Find It

Hungry in Germany? Good – because this country takes its food seriously.
From giant pretzels to döner kebabs, hearty breakfasts to afternoon cake, there's a lot to discover. Here’s what you should try, and how to find it – without feeling totally lost.

🥐 1. Breakfast

Forget eggs and bacon – the typical German breakfast is bread-based:

Fresh rolls (Brötchen)

Cold cuts, cheeses, jam, butter, maybe Nutella

Soft-boiled eggs (yes, sometimes)

Strong coffee, usually black

You’ll find breakfast at:

Bakeries (Bäckerei) – Many offer sit-down breakfast menus

Cafés – Often serve breakfast until 11 or noon

Hotels – Usually offer big breakfast buffets.

🌭 2. Must-Try German Foods

You don’t have to like sauerkraut to enjoy German food. Try these:

Currywurst – Sliced sausage with ketchup + curry powder

Bratwurst – Grilled sausage in a roll, often with mustard

Schnitzel – Breaded pork or chicken cutlet, often with fries

Käsespätzle – German mac & cheese, Swabian style

Döner Kebab – Turkish-German fast food classic (cheap & delicious)

Pretzels (Brezn) – Everywhere, and always good

☕ 3. Coffee Culture

Coffee in Germany is smaller and stronger than in the US.
Don’t expect a bucket-sized to-go cup.

What to order:

Kaffee = regular black coffee

Milchkaffee = like a latte

Cappuccino = same as in the US

Espresso = small but strong

Tip: To-go is not standard everywhere. Ask for „zum Mitnehmen“ if you want takeaway.

🍰 4. Afternoon Cake

Between 2–4 pm, many Germans take a break for cake and coffee – yes, really.

Look for:

Apfelkuchen (apple cake)

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake)

Käsekuchen (German-style cheesecake)

You’ll find great cakes at Bäckerei-Cafés, not just fancy restaurants.

🍻 5. Drinks: Beer, Wine & More

Beer (Bier) – Huge variety by region. Try local brews.

Radler – Beer + lemonade (refreshing!)

Weißbier – Cloudy wheat beer, especially in Bavaria

Glühwein – Hot spiced wine (seasonal, winter only)

Schorle – Juice mixed with sparkling water (non-alcoholic)

In restaurants, tap water is not free by default.
You usually get bottled still or sparkling water.

🛒 6. Where to Find Food

Restaurants:

Lunch often cheaper than dinner

Tip: Look for “Tagesmenü” or “Mittagskarte”

Bakeries:

Great for cheap breakfast, sandwiches, pastries

Imbiss (snack stands):

Quick, local fast food – wurst, fries, döner

Supermarkets:

Lidl, Aldi, Rewe, Edeka – good for snacks, water, or picnic stuff

Beer gardens & food halls:

Relaxed atmosphere, usually family-friendly

🙋‍♂️ Final Tips

Don’t expect free refills

Ask to pay – they won’t bring the check automatically

Learn this phrase: „Zahlen bitte“ (Check, please)

Tipping = round up or add ~10%