5 Places to Dine in Moerfelden-Walldorf, Germany

Schnitzel and asparagus with Hollandaise sauce (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

When we travel, we do not only look for sites to visit and activities to enjoy, but we also search for fresh dining places to cool down and satiate our palate and cravings for traditional food and refreshments native to that area. Undeniably, each one of us has his own idiosyncratic requirements and just like any of us, I stick to mine: simple, affordable, and great-tasting.

Here, I list five places to dine when in Moerfelden-Walldorf:

Bella Italia

Bella Italia is a simple Italian Pizzeria located on Frankfurterstr. in Moerfelden. My first dinner whenever I visit this small village is savored in this place. A local introduced me to this pizzeria and since that moment on, I keep on coming back to enjoy the warm hospitality and personalized service by the owner and the staff.

 

Inside Bella Italia (Photo b: Gregg Manalo)

I have tasted several pizzas in Italy and other parts of Europe, but I can personally say that Bella Italia serves the best-tasting pizza. The crust is perfectly crunchy and the toppings are freshly prepared which make each bite of the juicy slice so delightful, you’d finish the entire pizza in no time.

Hand-tossed pizza with fresh ingredients (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Cost for two persons: 15 euros including drinks

The owner of Bella Italia (in the middle) personally greets and serves diners. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Martin’s Thai Bistro

When we talk of proximity, Martin’s Thai Bistro is one of the most easily accessible if you’re staying at Hotel Global in Walldorf. Located roughly 50 meters away from the Hotel, Martin’s Thai Bistro is frequented not only by hotel guests nearby, but also by locals who want to break away from the usual German food and enjoy typical Asian dishes at very affordable prices. Just imagine paying around 8 euros for food and drinks! You won’t have a decent menu with that amount anywhere in Europe!  

 

Inside Martin's Bistro (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

The kitchen can be very busy at lunch or dinner times when the Bistro has to accommodate huge number of food deliveries from callers, so be prepared to wait and enjoy your sumptuous food when you decide to visit the place at these times.  

 

The kitchen (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Cost for two persons: 8 euros including drinks

Menu card at Martin's Bistro (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Der Gundhof

History and great food in one place, Der Gundhof is very popular among the local residents because it is situated at the very place where Walldorf was founded hundred of years ago. The name suggests that it is located by Gundbach which patrons need to cross to reach this historic restaurant. 

 

Inside Der Gundhof (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

This rustic restaurant was suggested to me by a local and referred to it as having the best Schnitzel in town. And she’s absolutely correct! The coating is perfectly fried, not dark nor flaky and the meat inside is impeccably seasoned, very tender and juicy. No wonder it’s the first choice when I asked for the best Schnitzel in town.

 

Der Gundhof's famous schnitzel (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Cost for two persons: 20 euros including drinks

 

Hand cheese (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Zagreb

Zagreb serves traditional Yugoslavian cuisines. It’s one of those restaurants that I visit to meet with friends in Walldorf. The menus are very affordable and come in big servings, so prepare to be completely full when dining here. Their kebabs, chevapcchici, and other dishes are a must-try!

 

Inside Zagreb (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Zagreb is located on Okriftelerstrasse, just beside Aldi Walldorf.

Raznjici with duvec rice (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Cost for two persons: 15 euros including drinks

 

Balkan Liver (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

‘s Wirtshaus

Moerfelden-Walldorf and Frankfurt City are both located in the German state of Hessen. So you might be wondering if there’s such thing as typical Hessen cuisine? The answer is a big YES! And in Walldorf, there is a special restaurant that serves typical and authentic Hessen cuisine. I am talking about ‘s Wirthshaus.

 

Steak with Frankfurt green sauce (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Since you're in Hessen, it is a must to try their homemade hand-cheese that they offer as appetizer. I am not so fond of it, but it’s a must-try for curious diners.

 

Hand cheese (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Cost for two persons: 25 euros including drinks

Inside 's Wirtshaus (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Lichtenstein Castle

View of Lichtenstein Castle. Photo by: Gregg Manalo

This beautiful gothic revival castle is located in Honau in the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. We decided to include this in our list of places to visit on our way to Munich. And why not, it is a short 40-minute drive away from the location of the Hohenzollern castle.

View of the Castle from the parking area. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Unlike Hohenzollern castle, Lichtenstein was built on a cliff overlooking a river and a valley. This castle is also very accessible to cars, bikers, commuters, and hikers. From the parking space, we only had to cross the street and we were on the castle grounds. Parking could be difficult if you arrive towards lunchtime, so make sure to manage your schedule very well. We arrived towards lunchtime so we had to search for an available parking space to park our car. In addition, the courtyard was also already crowded which was a challenge especially that I wanted to have a solo picture of myself in front of the castle.  

View of the Castle Tower from the Garden. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

The entrance to the castle ground was 2 euros (student price), but if you want to see its collection of weapons and armors, you need to pay more.  

Entrance Fee Matrix. (Photo by: Gregg Manalo)

Three of the amazing characteristics of this castles are: the wooden bridge connecting the main tower (where the collections are maintained) to the courtyard, the tower which is a reminiscent of the fairy tale Rapunzel, and fact the castle was built right on a rock by the edge of a ravine. 

View of the castle Tower and Wooden Bridge from Courtyard. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Actually, from the observatory areas, we had a great view of the deep valley below and the tower on the other side of the cliff. This fantastic view is enough for me.

View of the Valley from the Castle ground. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Hohenzollern Castle

Photo by: Gregg Manalo

Germany has so many interesting and historic castles scattered all over the country. My interest in German castles was ignited by a short visit to the Rhein valley in 2012. There, I saw castles and ruins along the Rhein River pretty much like the ones in Loire.

Photo by: Gregg Manalo

My fascination with Hohenzollern castle started when came across a website listing the most beautiful castles in Germany. This Castle, like most castles, was strategically built atop Berg Hohenzollern, a 234 m (768 ft.) hill, and standing majestically overlooking the towns of Hechingen and Bisingen. In fact, it can be easily spotted from the country road, which visitors need to traverse to reach the residential castle. Getting there however is no easy task. Cars cannot be parked directly on the castle grounds, unless possessing a special permit, so visitors must either take the steep footpath – combination of asphalted foot path and steps – or take the shuttle which go every 10 minutes. We decided that we are healthy people, so we opted to take the challenging footpath.

Photo by: Gregg Manalo

So after 10 minutes of the tiring ascent, we were rewarded by the view of a gate welcoming us to the castle. We passed through several other gates and winding tunnel-like passage before reaching the main square of the castle. We were in fact very early that we did not have to pay for the entrance to the castle. We only had to pay 8 euros (student entrance rate) when we were tempted to see the interior, but it was just a few halls showcasing some of the properties of the royal family. So I would say, the exterior of the castle would be enough.

Photo by: Gregg Manalo

My advice: Do come early before the swarm of tourists arrives for you to have a wonderful view of the castle and a more private photo sessions. This tourist spot can be really crowded come lunchtime

Photo by: Gregg Manalo

Dachau Concentration Camp: A Remnant of a Savage Past

Perhaps Dachau Concentration Camp is one of the most meaningful places I have ever visited. This Camp was a silent witness to the horrendous Nazi regime. I have known about the Holocaust because the famous movie, Schindler’s List. However, seeing the real thing is incomparable to the one you just see on TV.

Quarters Used to Stand Here

I can’t remember exactly why I placed this historic site on my list to visit, but I think it was influenced by a film. We arrived late so all the museums and the tourist center were closed; however, the park itself was open. From the parking area, we had to walk some meters to reach the camp.

One area that initially struck my attention was the ruin of the loading area where the Jews were unloaded from the trains to be detained as slaves. From that area, they were taken to the gated quarters. On the gate, a misleading phrase – “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work makes you free) was written.

False Promise

What Remains of the Former Unloading Dock

So I opened the same gate leading to the quarters where they were once built and upon seeing the totality of the place I could not help but imagine the terror the Jews – young and old, men and women – had experienced from the ruthless Nazis. Tears fell from my eyes – I couldn’t help it. You will just feel it. I couldn’t imagine how much they had suffered and how desperately they hoped, day and night, that the cruelty would end.

The Gate to the Quarters

It was a huge camp so we only stayed in the barracks. The nearby crematorium was also closed, but I could see a glimpse of it from the gate.

I left the place with the same conviction as the phrase written on the memorial wall – NEVER AGAIN.