Do you dig food? Like, a lot? Stuttgart has quite the diverse foodie scenes. You can dig into sushi, sample Vietnamese food, try Sri Lankan cuisine or spice it up at an Indian establishment. The ultimate food in Stuttgart is local.
To give you a great overview of where to regain your energy after sightseeing in Stuttgart, read on. Here are some of the places I tried and some that I researched for my next visit.
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Where to Get Food?
Restaurants
There are plenty of restaurants all over Stuttgart and surrounds, though some areas are more concentrated than others. There are a few in Stuttgart Mitte (the centre) around Schlossplatz, for instance. These have more of a traditional vibe.
Foodtruck
Yes, you can dine from a foodtruck in Stuttgart. Hip street food has made it to the capital of Baden Württemberg, too. Check out this calendar to see where to get it. Foods they serve include Maultaschen, pretzels, BBQ and salads.
Bakeries
For sweets, get a cake in any of the many bakeries around. Just look for the sign Bäckerei. They are basically on every corner.
Germans love their bakeries and “tea time” (called Kaffee and Kuchen = ”coffee and cake”), which is around 3pm on weekends especially. Watch out for special deals on coffee and cake or three-cake packages.
Cafes
For classic Swabian desserts, expect carb heavy treats that feel like grandma made it. (In the best of ways.) For instance, you can have a go at Apfelküchle (battered pancakes with apple), Ofenschlupfer (bread cake with cherries) or Kirschenmichl (bread cake with apples).
Vinyards
Surrounded by vinyards, you gotta check out the local wine. And maybe stop at a vinyard for nibbles and tastings as well. There are local tours offering exactly this and if that’s totally your thing, check them out here.*
They also make for great day trips around Stuttgart in case you want to put on your hiking boots and make the most of sunny weather.
vinyards spaetzle
Types of Cuisines in Stuttgart
Traditional Swabian Food in Stuttgart
What makes Swabian food so special? It’s very down to earth and resourceful. The stereotype for Swabians says that they are quite stingy and won’t throw anything away.
You can see that in their version of German dumplings. They are made from super stale, old bread that is soaked in water because it has become rock hard.
In their very basic form, you can form balls out of them and you get dumplings. Of course, take this with a pinch of salt and totally try them for yourself. They are really quite nice.
Another tale says that the typical dish is Schwäbische Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli with meat) had a sneaky background as well.
Apparently monks from the monastry Maulbronn were craving meat during feasting time and just hid them from God in the dough pockets. They can also be vegetarian; check on the menu.
Meat lovers will delight in the Swabian roast joint (Schwäbischer Rostbraten). That’s several slices of roast, fried in a thin layer of flour, seasoned with roasted onions and peppers. The dish is often served with spätzle.
Speaking of spätzle. That’s essentially flour noodles and also shared with Austrian cuisine. Similar to it are Buabaspitzla (longish potato dumplings), which are boiled and then fried. They can be a sweet dish/dessert as well. Or you can eat them mixed with sauerkraut and bacon
You’re in Germany, so you also get to eat plenty of sausage with sauerkraut. Another staple is potato salad, which is made with vinegar and therefore quite sour. It’s often served as a side dish. An alternative is the Swabian meat salad, which incorporated black sausage and baloney or leberkäse.
Are you a soup kinda person? Soups are a typical entre for Swabian cuisine and are on every menu in traditional restaurants. At home, however, they can be and often are the main dish.
For a hearty stew, get your hands on the meaty Gaisburger Marsch. A meatless (though not necessarily vegetarian) version is Flädlesuppe, which has small pancake stripes boiled in clear broth.
Asian Cuisine in Stuttgart
In case you are craving Asian and fusion foods, Stuttgart totally has got you covered. Most Asian restaurants are very centrally located, so no need to head outside. For a steaming hot wok in a very tasteful and hip setting, take a seat at coa Wok & Bowls.
Are you more into Japanese cuisine? I know, sushi is popular the world over and there are quite a few sushi restaurants along Calwer Street in Stuttgart. One of the best sushi places in town is art sushi. If you’re craving the rolls and are close to the S train station Stuttgart-Mitte, step into Sushi ONE Restaurant.
Thai food lovers will want to check out Kwan Kao – Taste of Thailand. The name says it all, excellent Thai food is what you get. The atmosphere and décor are also quite notable as you’ll get a modern interpretation of traditional Thai symbols. Buddha statues are lit by small lamps in nooks and you’ll be seated on black leather seats at white tables.
Alternatively, whet your appetite at DO‘s Vietnam Street Food. It’s a small bistro serving Vietnamese finger food and perfect for a quick bite. Note that you cannot pay by card.
Greek and Italian Food in Stuttgart
Germans love Greek food. So it’s not surprising that there are quite a few Greek restaurants all over town. Within the city centre, head to Thios Inn for excellent gyros pita.
In case you are staying in the district of Bad Cannstatt, give Taverna Ouzeri Kolokotronis a try. Right opposite the restaurant is a Greek food store as well in case you want to take home some bites and ingredients.
Just as popular as Greek is Italian food. Stuttgart has plenty of those bistros as well and one of the best rated places in Nostalgia di Napoli, which is pretty central. Just as popular it seems is Valle, near the train station.
Stuttgart Food Events Worthy of a Trip
Canstatter Was’n
The ultimate highlight for beer in Stuttgart is a visit to the Canstatter Was’n. This is like the local version of the Oktoberfest.
But don’t say that out loud. It takes place in autumn and millions of people flock here to drink tons of beer and mingle with happy crowds in beer tents.
Street Food Festival Stuttgart
Alternatively, there is the Street Food Festival Stuttgart, taking place in spring. Dig in at around 20 different food trucks and pop up stores in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Food will come from all over the world, so you can try different treats. It’s also possible to get sample sizes to see what suits your palate.
Slow Food Messe Stuttgart
The craft of making traditional food is getting more and more lost in Germany, where bakeries are closing down and vacancies in food production and sales are increasing. So it’s a great idea to support a concept like the slow food fair in Stuttgart.
The goal is to bring mindfulness and appreciation back when it comes to food. Quality over quantity. The focus is on regional specialties and raw, authentic tastes. Therefore, you can get to meet local producers face to face and hear about their products.
The market takes place in spring and in 2020 it is from 16 to 19 April. View the official page (in German – but you can let Google translate it) here.
More from the Germany blog
- Did you know Germany has a dumpling museum?
- The best restaurants in the city of Erfurt
- Feasting on apples in Altes Land near Hamburg
- Trying fancy cuisine in Oberhof, Thuringia
- The best things to do in Regensburg
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