GERMANY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 621

course salads. If you're a trainspotter, sit on their trackside terrace and trade travel stories
with new friends over dinner, letting screaming trains punctuate your conversation. If you
prefer charming old German decor, sit inside (€10-16 main courses, open 6 days a week
17:00-21:00—closed day varies, restaurant closed Dec-early Feb). Kurt and Fatima are your
hosts.
Altes Haus, the oldest building in town (see here ), serves food with Bacharach's most
romantic atmosphere. Find the cozy little dining room with photos of the opera singer
who sang about Bacharach, adding to its fame (€9-15 main courses, May-Oct Thu-Tue
12:00-15:30 & 18:00-23:00, closed Wed and Nov-April, dead center by the Protestant
church, tel. [phone]).
Gasthaus Jägerstube is every local's non-touristy, good-value hangout. It's a no-frills
place with no outdoor seating, run by a former East German family determined to keep
Bacharach's working class well-fed and watered. Next to the WC is a rare “party cash box.”
Regulars drop in bits of money throughout the year, Frau Tischmeier banks it, and by year's
end...there's plenty in the little savings account for a community party (€9-16 main courses,
March-NovWed-Mon11:00-21:30,Dec-FebWed-Mon15:00-23:00,closedTueyear-round,
Marktstrasse 3, tel. [phone], Tischmeier family).
Therestaurantandcaféinthe Posthof courtyard(bytheTI)hasniceoutdoorseatingand
a medieval feel, with a view of the ruined cathedral above (€12 main courses, daily Easter-
Oct 12:00-21:00, closed Nov-Easter, Oberstrasse 45-49, tel. [phone]).
Bacharacher Kebap Haus, on the main drag in the town center, is the town favorite for
€4 Döner Kebabs, cheap pizzas, and salads (daily 10:00-23:00, Oberstrasse 43, tel. 06743/
3127).
Eis Café Italia, on the main street, is run by friendly Mimo Calabrese, who brought
gelato to town in 1976. He's known for his refreshing, not-too-sweet Riesling-flavored
gelato.Noticethebigsundaebowlsontheshelves.Toenjoyyour Eis German-style,sitdown
and order ice cream off the menu, or just stop by for a cone “to go” for your evening stroll
(€0.80/scoop, no tastes offered, April-mid-Oct daily 10:00-22:00, closed mid-Oct-March,
Oberstrasse 48).
Pubs
(See “Bacharach” map, here . )
Zum Kleinen Monning Irish Pub, with international beers on tap, provides the liveliest
after-dinner scene in town. Bacharach's 2,000 residents hail from more than two dozen dif-
ferent nations, and you'll meet many of them here enjoying the convivial atmosphere cre-
ated by Martina and Marcus (light meals too, Tue-Fri 12:00-15:00 & 18:00-24:00, Sat-Sun
14:30-24:00, closed Mon, Oberstrasse 35, tel. [phone]).