If your life is starting to look like an empty cavity of 'fun past' than it is time to jump on the train and head over to Ludwigsburg for some visual and gastronomical pleasantries. The food and castle selection alone will give you a much needed boost to ward off the gloomy (up and coming) gray days of winter and scarf sets. Don't forget, several of the cafes offer customers cushy blankets and heating lamps to edge the chill- perfect for people watching and showing of your new oversized sunglasses. Pack an appetite, an open mind (the pumpkin specialties at the Schloss are delicious even if it sounds a bit questionable) and be sure to take the train so you and your husband/friends can enjoy several delicious glasses of Germany's New Wine, Baden-Württemberg wine or one of the many delicious drinks offered by every restaurant and cafe in the area. Check out my fav's below for a more intimate take on this historical city!!I live directly on the Marktplatz where the selection of restaurants and cafes can be overwhelming. Here's my take on the hits and misses around LB's favorite square...
Hit: The Baron is a great place to enjoy the mid morning sun and a Chai Tea Latte. They offer great coffee classics, good atmosphere and those warm blankets I was speaking of. If you’re looking for a little snack I highly recommend their Bruschetta...super tasty!
**Service can be a bit slow at times.
Miss: Cafe Del Mar. Cool concept, hip place but the service is excruciatingly bad- even if they have the best view on the Marktplatz and comfy seating.
Sometimes Hit/Sometimes Miss: Eberhard Ludwig. Sorry Laura, but I'm not a huge fan. Atmosphere is everything right? Dining by Eberhard is a little lackluster and their food is so~so. This restaurant is perfect for an evening with Oma and Opa (you'll see lots of gray heads there- especially during lunch) but not date night. It's too bad because where Eberhard stands out physically (very sleek inside) it lacks the WOW factor regarding the feel and food of making a good restaurant great. Trust me, if you are in search of good German food there are many other restaurants worth visiting like the, Alte Sonne ($$$), Württemberger Hof (fab terrace), Die Post Cantz or Schloss-Stüble my favorite for great/inexpensive Schwabian food.
Hit: Castel del Monte. Great lunch location for delicious pizzas, salads and my favorite...the garlic laced pizzabrot (Mmmmmmmm!!!). I definitely prefer satisfying my Italian lunch craving here rather than for dinner- don't ask; it's just one of those unexplainable things. FYI: between 2 & 5pm their kitchen closes for coffee, cake and ice time.
Miss: Although one of my dear friends is co-owner, I have to admit I am not a huge fan of the family owned Italian restaurant (opposite Castel del Monte) on the Marktplatz, La Signora Moro. Their service is horrible and their food is okay at best.
Hit: The Italian food in Germany is scrumptious!!! These next three restaurants are wonderful additions for your next lunch or dinner date. The Rosa Blu is a must. Reservations are hard to come by so call now. My favorite, besides the delicious eggplant dish, are their menus. You can order for two people (starting at a combined 50 euro) a menu selection worth drooling over. They have several different menus to choose from (fish, vegetarian, meat or pasta) that all include Prosecco, a bottle of wine, appetizer, pasta plate, main meal, grappa, espresso and desert. I know, I know, fabulous right? I have no idea how they make any money. Probably why it's so hard to get a reservation. Oh, and by the way, their food is amazing. You will not be disappointed.
Miss: Cafe Del Mar. Cool concept, hip place but the service is excruciatingly bad- even if they have the best view on the Marktplatz and comfy seating.
Sometimes Hit/Sometimes Miss: Eberhard Ludwig. Sorry Laura, but I'm not a huge fan. Atmosphere is everything right? Dining by Eberhard is a little lackluster and their food is so~so. This restaurant is perfect for an evening with Oma and Opa (you'll see lots of gray heads there- especially during lunch) but not date night. It's too bad because where Eberhard stands out physically (very sleek inside) it lacks the WOW factor regarding the feel and food of making a good restaurant great. Trust me, if you are in search of good German food there are many other restaurants worth visiting like the, Alte Sonne ($$$), Württemberger Hof (fab terrace), Die Post Cantz or Schloss-Stüble my favorite for great/inexpensive Schwabian food.
Hit: Castel del Monte. Great lunch location for delicious pizzas, salads and my favorite...the garlic laced pizzabrot (Mmmmmmmm!!!). I definitely prefer satisfying my Italian lunch craving here rather than for dinner- don't ask; it's just one of those unexplainable things. FYI: between 2 & 5pm their kitchen closes for coffee, cake and ice time.
Miss: Although one of my dear friends is co-owner, I have to admit I am not a huge fan of the family owned Italian restaurant (opposite Castel del Monte) on the Marktplatz, La Signora Moro. Their service is horrible and their food is okay at best.
Hit: The Italian food in Germany is scrumptious!!! These next three restaurants are wonderful additions for your next lunch or dinner date. The Rosa Blu is a must. Reservations are hard to come by so call now. My favorite, besides the delicious eggplant dish, are their menus. You can order for two people (starting at a combined 50 euro) a menu selection worth drooling over. They have several different menus to choose from (fish, vegetarian, meat or pasta) that all include Prosecco, a bottle of wine, appetizer, pasta plate, main meal, grappa, espresso and desert. I know, I know, fabulous right? I have no idea how they make any money. Probably why it's so hard to get a reservation. Oh, and by the way, their food is amazing. You will not be disappointed.
Ristorante Da Tafuro is another wonderful choice if you are looking for the most delicious tasting pizza dough around and best rated Calzone, the Trenchetto in the area (you really must order this...you can find it under the pizza selection and I believe it is the last item on that particular list!!). For starters I highly recommend their 'family secret' tomato based soup with beans and meat (think Minestrone but better...enough for sharing so order only one for tasting) and their spicy olive oil sauce for drizzling and dipping. We eat here at least once a week and always make a reservation- tables fill up quickly.
My favorite restaurant/cafe on the Marktplatz is the notorious Lavazza Caffe Espresso Bar. I love this place for several reasons; our friends are the owners, their food is delicious (bruschetta flammkuchen and wraps are painfully addictive) and they provide great entertainment every Wednesday night and feature once a month, Soul Shadow, a witty three man band designed to make you dance with classic Temptations and Stevie Wonder classics. Lavazza is very small and welcomes smokers, so it's understandable if you need to take a break outside on their elegantly decorated terrace from the smoke and crowd (don't be surprised if you see someone famous!!). FYI: Soul Shadow will be making an appearance next Friday, October 2nd, so be sure to come by and check them out. As long as the babysitter doesn't call in sick, we'll see you there!!
Sometimes Hit/Sometimes Miss: Towers Irish Pub. The drinks are a bit overpriced, but if you're in the mood for a giant XXL Hamburger or good old BBQ chicken this is your place. The cook has recently changed hands but I've heard the food is just as good.
While traveling off the beaten path be sure to check out these tasty tidbits...
Hits: Il Boccone for fresh fish plates and Italian food (its a trattoria, so kids can be as loud as they want!), Ennui for their famous tomato soup (it really is that good) and daily specials. Their soup is so popular you can find it during LB's Christmas Market in the midst of all the delicious sausage stands. If you are sitting outside at Ennui and notice a small (very small) restaurant/wine bar, Antipasto - Weine & mehr , you are staring at the location where several of my stories have emerged from. I love this place. Great for small plates, chit chat and my favorite Greek wine Nemar. Go ahead; I'll wait a second while you write it down. The owners are incredibly friendly and their food is great for slow nibbling and people watching. Speaking of good Greek wine and food, Ygrec is my pick for Modern Greek specialties with a very attractive atmosphere and food selection- great place to eat during the winter months.
Hit: We all know expats are blessed with Germany's ability to make lip smacking breads, but this is different...this is even better (if there's such a thing!!). Inge, the Austrian owner of the best little secret around, Zum Urigen, has devised a plan for you to inadvertently add on a 'few' extra calories by blessing each table with a piping hot specialty bread infusion, Prigel (only served at this locale) that is so good you cannot have just one (can we ever really have just one though?). Her splendid little restaurant serves up German classics and Austrian fair that is simple cooking at its best. Zum Urigen's specialty is Maultaschen (German stuffed ravioli) and I'm not sure if every child is served with pre-cut schnitzel at no cost (yeah seriously!!) but mine are. Come hungry!!!!
Hit: Blühendes Barock. If you plan on visiting the pumpkin patch be sure to stop by and taste the savory (and quite splendid) kurbis offerings. You can surprise your taste buds with everything from pumpkin soup to pumpkin stir-fry. **I personally enjoy their pumpkin cake layered with chocolate and a nice hot coffee.
Sometimes Hit/Sometimes Miss: If you’re looking for cheap eats for kids (1 euro cheap) and good potato pancakes the Blauer Engel is a good pick, but if you’re looking for life changing cuisine opt for another place to lay your fork.
While traveling off the beaten path be sure to check out these tasty tidbits...
Hits: Il Boccone for fresh fish plates and Italian food (its a trattoria, so kids can be as loud as they want!), Ennui for their famous tomato soup (it really is that good) and daily specials. Their soup is so popular you can find it during LB's Christmas Market in the midst of all the delicious sausage stands. If you are sitting outside at Ennui and notice a small (very small) restaurant/wine bar, Antipasto - Weine & mehr , you are staring at the location where several of my stories have emerged from. I love this place. Great for small plates, chit chat and my favorite Greek wine Nemar. Go ahead; I'll wait a second while you write it down. The owners are incredibly friendly and their food is great for slow nibbling and people watching. Speaking of good Greek wine and food, Ygrec is my pick for Modern Greek specialties with a very attractive atmosphere and food selection- great place to eat during the winter months.
Hit: We all know expats are blessed with Germany's ability to make lip smacking breads, but this is different...this is even better (if there's such a thing!!). Inge, the Austrian owner of the best little secret around, Zum Urigen, has devised a plan for you to inadvertently add on a 'few' extra calories by blessing each table with a piping hot specialty bread infusion, Prigel (only served at this locale) that is so good you cannot have just one (can we ever really have just one though?). Her splendid little restaurant serves up German classics and Austrian fair that is simple cooking at its best. Zum Urigen's specialty is Maultaschen (German stuffed ravioli) and I'm not sure if every child is served with pre-cut schnitzel at no cost (yeah seriously!!) but mine are. Come hungry!!!!
Hit: Blühendes Barock. If you plan on visiting the pumpkin patch be sure to stop by and taste the savory (and quite splendid) kurbis offerings. You can surprise your taste buds with everything from pumpkin soup to pumpkin stir-fry. **I personally enjoy their pumpkin cake layered with chocolate and a nice hot coffee.
Sometimes Hit/Sometimes Miss: If you’re looking for cheap eats for kids (1 euro cheap) and good potato pancakes the Blauer Engel is a good pick, but if you’re looking for life changing cuisine opt for another place to lay your fork.
Hit: Sausage stands. My two favorite places to pick up a good Rote Wurst (red sausage) in a bun is the Dietz butcher on the Seestrasse and the kiosk stand on the Marktplatz during Market Day on Saturday's.
Brunch Hits: The Nestor Hotel serves up wonderful omelets during Sunday (family) brunch, Sudhaus has a wonderful brewery and good eats for weekend brunch and last but not least, our Saturday morning Stammtisch (i.e., we are there every Saturday morning) at the Emporio lounge. They serve an all you can eat buffet downstairs and an all you can shop outlet upstairs. I love Emporio's tea selection (Heidi's Delight is by far my favorite- so good!!)and their fresh cheese plate.
Now you have the opportunity of showing visiting guests your knowledge of great restaurants and what to order where. Have I ever told you how much I love living in the city. Aahhhhh...Urbanite vs. Suburbianites? I'll take living as an urbanite any day!!
3 comments:
Your blog looks wonderful with nice pictures. It was nice going through you blog. Keep it up the good work.
THANK YOU.
This list is awesome...thanks so much! We are trying to plan a weekend away in Ludwigsburg and this guide will be most helpful for our trip! Love the blog!
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