2 Best Restaurants in The Rhineland, Germany

Located right on the bustling Drosselgasse, this quaint café offers a picture-perfect rendition of the town's most iconic refreshment: the Rüdesheimerkaffee. First created in the 1950s by German television chef Hans Karl Adam, the Rüdesheimerkaffee is made by flambéeing Asbach Uralt brandy and sugar in a specially made cup until the sugar dissolves, pouring strong coffee over it, and garnishing with mountains of whipped cream and chocolate flakes. The café also serves an excellent rendition of a Baumstriezel (chimney cake) and a wide selection of local spirits and wines to enjoy while watching people pass by outside.

Cologne's main pedestrian shopping street is practical but uninspiring—some even say ugly. This café is an airy, artsy oasis with outdoor terrace seating and a view of the 14th-century Antonite church. The food is international with an emphasis on the Mediterranean, and includes many organic, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. The selection of cakes is divinely German, and there's a jazz dinner every Saturday. Three enormous, delicate chandeliers, made entirely of plastic waste, provide lighting.