Kiel
As the capital of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine. The use of seasonal, regional and quality ingredients is not the exception for young chefs, but rather the rule. Ocean specialities can often be found on the menus, but so are new interpretations of traditional North German dishes. Thirsty night owls will also be thrilled by Kiel’s diverse bar landscape.
Kiel’s culinary hotspots
As the state capital, Kiel has a small but wonderfully refined gourmet scene: Restaurants that bring seasonal and regional ingredients of outstanding quality and craftsmanship to the plate. The steak and grill restaurant “Kaufmannsladen” at the Hotel Kieler Kaufmann, for example, or the “gourmet restaurant for everyone” known as “KOS”, whose chef always puts together two inter-changing menus, one of which is always vegetarian. “Pastis” is known for its steak and tartar specialities, and “Flygge” combines the cuisine of Schleswig-Holstein with inspiration from cuisines around the world – always in search of authentic flavours and that special taste. “Haveli” serves traditional Indian dishes with a modern twist in a 100-year-old villa on Holtenauer Straße. The culinary team brings together five different regions of India, whose different styles allow you to experience the full diversity of Indian cuisine. The bread is baked fresh daily in the in-house tandoor ovens. “Fischers Fritz Restaurant” at Hotel Birke Kiel has North German, as well as vegetarian and vegan classics – dishes from both sides of the dyke – on its menu. For creative fish dishes and innovative seafood with a view of the fjord, “Moby’s” on Kiellinie is the place to go.
Explore and enjoy
A panoramic view over the Kiel Fjord, a floating beach bar or gin tasting? Kiel’s bars have a lot to offer. The “Moralist Bar” on Holtenauer Straße, which has twelve different types of gin on the menu, is also the new home for friends of new and old cocktail creations. Beer fans will feel at home at the brewery “Lille-Brauerei”, where you can experience the brewery’s processes first-hand and taste a wide range of in-house beers. “Deck 8” is the name of the Atlantic Hotel’s Sky Bar, complete with a roof terrace where you can experience sunset cinema at its best. A visit to the “Seebar” – the restaurant right on the waterfront, and part of the historic seaside resort of Düsternbrook (“Seebad Düsternbrook”) – feels like a short holiday on the Kiel Fjord. The “Seebar” is the ideal place to relax with a well-chilled drink on one of the deck chairs in the Nordic summer. The “Sandhafen” is Germany’s only completely floating beach bar – holiday atmosphere guaranteed! Nestled between palm trees, sand and many wooden elements, you can get comfortable on a 500-square-metre floating pontoon with chilled background music.
Sweet stuff
A crêperie in Kiel! “Blé Noir” is a place where sweet and savoury crêpes, including the Breton version – galettes – dominate the menu. Très français, for example, with caramel and salted butter, chestnut cream or with apple slices and calvados. The dark buckwheat galettes are topped with bacon and fried egg for a good start to the day or with goat’s cheese, honey and red wine and onion confit for a pleasant end to the evening. “Zantopps”, the family-run company, produces its ice cream using old-world craftsmanship in its “Nordische Eismanufaktur”. At various beach bistros along the Baltic Sea, you can find the ice cream vans, which are designed with great attention to detail. A must-try: black strawberry with meringue. The insider tip for the best cakes in Kiel is “Café-Konditorei Pursche”, which opened in 1952 and brings the charm of the time – now retro – into the present. Cakes and pies are, of course, homemade and of the highest quality. Fresh bread rolls are also available to take away every day.
Culinary events
The farmers’ and regional market (“Bauern- und Regionalmarkt”), which takes place at the beginning of October, brings a rural flair to Kiel’s city centre: Regional producers and suppliers present their diverse agricultural and handicraft products. Autumnal regional produce such as pumpkins, fruit, honey and cheese and hearty farmhouse food and drinks will be on offer on the city’s locations “Holstenplatz”, “Europaplatz” and “Asmus-Bremer-Platz”. “Cheese meets wine” is a culinary tradition in Kiel’s calendar of events: The cheese dairies of the Schleswig-Holstein Cheese Route – awarded the “Geprüfte Qualität Schleswig-Holstein” quality mark by the Chamber of Agriculture – meet vintners from southern Germany against the maritime backdrop of Kiel’s “Bootshafen”, and invite you to feast, relax and enjoy with live music daily. Likewise, the “Kieler Umschlag”: Kiel’s oldest folk festival has its roots in the 15th century, and thrills both young and old then and now with a fine mix of entertainment, regional culinary delights and unusual merchandise. On a journey through time from the early Middle Ages, to the age of pirates, to the present day, historical figures and views of the city, as well as stories and food from times long past, are waiting to be discovered.