Dresden Restaurants

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I doubt more than a hanful tourists have discovered this place so far. It's tucked away in a beautiful valley (Zschoner Grund) in the non-touristy western outskirts of Dresden. As the name indicates this was a mill, first mentioned in 1570 but probably going back to around 1400, finally turned into a restaurant and cultural site in the early 1990s.

The location is totally romantic, idyllic - a shady garden, dining rooms in the hundreds of years old main building (plus a museum, free), a puppet theatre in another old building ...

Your only option (aside from a VERY infrequently running bus) to get there is either by car, cycling or - best - walking. If you hike from the final stop of tram #7 in Pennrich, down along the Zschoner Grund valley to Dresden-Briesnitz where you catch a frequently running bus back to the city centre, you get to Zschoner Mühle restaurant about 2/3rd of the way and have a very enjoyable day.

Favorite Dish: I had veggie casserole au gratin, a glass of tasty local (from a vineyard really only a few hundred meters away!) wine, apple juice, a piece of yummy cake and tea. The check was about 20 Euro if I recall correctly.

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This is more than a restaurant, it's an institution in Dresden! The villa was built about 1860 in Neo-Renaissance style, clearly inspired by villas in Tuscany. In the 1980s the communists planned to tear down the villa which was in very poor condition. But local artists occupied the building, opened a gallery. After the fall of the wall the villa was bought by two guys from Munich who reconstructed it for almost 2 Million DM. Since 1994 on it hosts an excellent restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine, the chef has worked in a 3star-rated restaurant in Milan before.

The ambience is fantastic - location right by the river, a shady terrace overlooking the Blue Wonder bridge and the river as well as the green hills dotted with 19th century mansions/villas on the opposite bank of the Elbe river. The interior is rather simple, with art works here and there.

Favorite Dish: I've had meals here many times. Some recommendations: Vitello tonnato is always delicious, sort of a *must*. Pasta is of course freshly made and excellent. I *love* the lamb rack, another specialty of Villa Marie. Desserts are to die for - Panna cotta with strawberries ... yummy!

Service is very good, helpful, quick. Prices are somewhat higher than usual but not outrageous. For a three-course meal incl. wine, water, coffee and tip expect to pay about 40 - 50 Euro.

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This is one of the most popular beergardens in Dresden - no wonder given the location: right by the river, on a ferry connecting the residential areas on the left bank with the Neustadt's nightlife district on the right bank of the Elbe river, surrounded by large meadows and under trees providing shade on hot summer days.

Co-workers and friends of mine keep raving about the place, however, my own experiences are not so good: The bratwurst was still half raw, the roasted potatoes only lukewarm and not really "roasted". The beer was good, though. Prices are average.

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It's been a while that I ate here. In the meantime it was sold to another owner and everything has changed for the better. It was about time, previously the food was only fair and the service was poor. American friends who stayed nearby and had dinner at the Kurhaus in Dec 2011 reported that the food was very good, ambience nice and service good.

The location is excellent, close to the river and by the ferry to Schloss Pillnitz, only a few steps from the final stop of tram #2 (direct connection to the old town).

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Wippler's is one of my favourite bakeries/cafes in Dresden. They are originally from Pillnitz and have some shops in the northeastern part (right bank) of Dresden. In 1996 they bought the cafe at Körnerplatz in Loschwitz and turned it into a wonderful place to hang out, enjoy the tasty cakes and other goodies, coffee and hot chocolate etc. They do offer snacks but I never had one of them.

It's a family run place and it shows - attentive, friendly service. Interior is modern with a touch of Art Deco. The location is just perfect - right on the busy Körnerplatz and the bus stop for #61, 63. The station of the funicular to Weisser Hirsch is just across the street, the suspension railway only a 2 minutes walk away.

Favorite Dish: Eierschecke cake! It's one of the best in Dresden. They bake it in varieties: pure or filled with fruit (like morello cherries - fabulous). Don't miss their hot chocolate or the cafe au lait (Milchkaffee). In Christmas season they have yummy Stollen and Vanillekipfel.

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I am reluctant to recommend this restaurant for anything else but cake, coffee/tea, dessert. I've had several meals there and main courses were never perfect. Or the service was slow/inattentive. Or something else.

But - the view from the restaurant is not to beat. It is located high up on the hills above the river, in the fancy 19th century residential area Weisser Hirsch. The funicular from Loschwitz (Körnerplatz) ends right next to the Luisenhof. I love to have tea and cake on a sunny day on their terrace (see picture).

The restaurant is open daily. If you intend to visit on a sunny weekend make reservations. The interior (only recommended to sit inside when the weather doesn't co-operate) is modern, cool-ish - unfortunately they managed to drive out any charm that the place had when they renovated it in the 1990s.

Favorite Dish: I love their cakes/tarts. I was VERY surprised they even offer an "Engadine nut cake". I tried and it was pretty good. However, you'll want to have something more local. The Eierschecke is not bad, but Wippler's is better (just a short funicular ride away). Tea and coffee are very good. For lunch/dinner see above :(

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All thumbs up for this restaurant! The food is some of the best I've ever had, and at very reasonable prices. I had the pleasure to eat there lunch twice - once with a friend who works nearby, the other occasion was with business friends. Prices are between 10 and 15 Euro for a main dish at lunch time, about 20 Euro at dinner time.

The restaurant is located in the complex of Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau, in the first German garden city Hellerau, in the north of Dresden. Tram #8 to "Am grünen Zipfel" and then it's a 5 minutes walk down the street with the same name, then turn right. Voila.

The interior is consequently modern. In summer you can also sit outdoor. Be prepared that some wealthy guy from an African or Caribbean country with (discreet) bodyguard may sit on the neighbouring table and may be picked up by a limo after the meal. He probably sealed a deal in the Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau previously, they might redecorate his yacht for a couple of million Dollars. Whoa. So it's also a great spot for people watching also :-)

Service is impeccable.

Favorite Dish: They have a weekly menu list and day specials. Once I had mozzarella-lemon tortelloni with chanterelles, spinach and parmigiano froth. YUMMY! I had a freshly squeezed mango-orange juice with it - delicious also. Highlight was the dessert: Mille-feuille of mirabelles, white chocolate and tonka bean with poppy seed-pine nut-honey gravy. UNBELIEVABLE! With an espresso and some water incl. tip the check was less than 30 Euro.

The other time I had filled (don't remember with what) poulard breast with wild rice, carrots and some other veggies on champagne froth - superb! Finally I had a plate with three of their best desserts: creme brulee, terrine of blueberries, cranberries and something else, and a roast apple ice cream in some baked dough - delicious!! With wine, water and espresso plus tip the check was 70 Euro for two.

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This is one of the few restaurants in the Neustadt (nightlife!) district which has been in business since the area started booming, has always been a very popular spot and seems like it's going to be there forever. It is located in the backyard of a townhouse along busy Louisenstraße, hostel and rental apartments in the same building.

The main floor restaurant and the beautiful, quiet garden are where I often go with friends to have a meal or drinks but they also have a separate guest room in the cellar where smoking is allowed.

They used to have a great breakfast buffet 7 days a week but, alas, now only on Sundays anymore.

Favorite Dish: As you can see on picture #2 I had roasted potatoes with (organic) goat cheese coated in breadcrumps and orange juice. It's not on the menu anymore, instead they serve grilled veggies with the goat cheese (and the cheese is not coated anymore) - also yummy and a steal for 8.80 Euro.

Much of their food is organic. They have an excellent selection of loose tea and finest coffee also. At night the place changes more into a bar-like place - very good drinks available.