Food

In Germany, every region has its own local cuisine with typical specialities. Eating out in Germany covers a whole gamut of possibilities, from traditional German fare to Michelin-starred, award-winning gourmet restaurants. International cuisine is also very popular. Every major town has a wide range of Italian, Asian, Indian or Greek restaurants. Snack bars stay open late at night serving inexpensive food (pizza, doner kebabs, wok dishes, sausage and french fries) to eat in or take away.

Breakfast is generally eaten between 6am and 9am. Many restaurants offer breakfast menus, often until as late as 2pm. The typical German breakfast consists of bread or rolls with sausage, cheese, jam or honey and muesli, served with coffee or tea.

Lunch is the main meal of the day and is usually a hot, cooked meal, usually of generous proportions.

At around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, especially at the weekend, Germans drink coffee and eat cake ("Kaffee und Kuchen"). Cafés and cake shops offer a huge range of delicious tarts and gateaux, to eat in or take away.

Dinner is usually eaten between 6pm and 7pm, and consists of bread and rolls with sausage or cheese. Anyone who has only eaten a light lunch will generally eat a hot meal at this time.

If you wish to go out for dinner, you should aim to do so between 7pm and 9pm. At popular restaurants it is advisable to reserve a table.
Restaurants close by 1am at the latest, but the kitchen often shuts earlier. Pubs and bars serve light meals and snacks later than this.