Das Restaurant "Glück und Seligkeit" in Bielefeld ist in einer früheren Kirche untergebracht., © glückundseligkeit.de

Un­usu­al gast­ro­nom­ic ex­per­i­ences


15 pieces of ad­vice for ex­traordin­ary res­taur­ants

Whether it’s a crime dinner or a knight’s banquet, in many places, eating has become far more than simply enjoying your food; it’s become an event. Naturally, this is also true in NRW. From restaurants in former churches to the spiciest “Currywurst” sausage - we’ve compiled a list of the most unusual gastronomic experiences in Your NRW - in spectacular locations and with very special gastronomic concepts and culinary offers.

Das Qomo im Rheinturm in Düsseldorf bietet in rund 170 Metern Höhe japanische Küche, leckere Cocktails und einen fantastischen Blick über die Stadt und das Umland., © Jens Schwarck

Culin­ary en­joy­ment up high


En­joy­ment with a view

Rheinturm, Düsseldorf
On the Rheinturm tower, at a height of around 170 meters, there is a new Japanese restaurant, the Qomo 2018. Here, you can enjoy not only the finest sushi, but also a fantastic view over the old city, the Rhine and the trendy Medienhafen. In clear weather, you can even see the spires of Cologne Cathedral. The restaurant rotates, enabling you to enjoy the view in all directions. You can also savour a cocktail at sunset up high.
www.rheinturm.de

Ettelsberg cable railway, Willingen
Every spring, during the “Willinger Schlendertagen” festival, the cablecar cabins of the Ettelsberg cable railway in Willingen in the Sauerland region are turned into small gourmet paradises. While the guests are taken slowly up and down the mountain, a five-course meal is served, with the next course being served each time the cabin reaches the valley station. The offer during the “Schlendertage” is also available for groups, with pre-booking required.
www.ettelsberg-seilbahn.de

Zeche Zollverein Casino, © Jochen Tack

Where oth­ers used to work


Din­ing with in­dus­tri­al cha­risma

Zollverein, Essen
The casino at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site in Essen radiates a very particular kind of charm, since it combines industrial culture with elegant chic. Candelabras with candles hang from the high ceilings of the former compressor hall, which are supported by solid exposed concrete pillars. Wooden floorboards combine with machinery parts and the exposed ventilation system makes its own contribution to the industrial flair of this location. The cuisine is young and creative, with traditional regional influences. Crime dinners are incidentally also organised on a regular basis.
www.casino-zollverein.de

Landscape park, Duisburg
The disused Thyssen smelting works in Duisburg-Meiderich is the spectacular centrepiece of the Duisburg-Nord landscape park. The furnace complex is open to visitors, and for anyone wanting to stop for a break, the Hauptschalthaus, or main transformer building, is the right place to go. Here, under steel girders and among old machinery, cross-over cuisine is served bistro-style, with regional influences such as “Currywurst” sausage. It’s particularly worth visiting during the evening, when the disused furnace is lit up in bright colours.
www.landschaftspark.de

Mine, Bestwig
In the Ramsbeck adventure mine in Bestwig in the Sauerland region, a “Gruben-Light” pit dinner is served 300 meters under the ground. By candlelight and by the light of the “frogs”, the old miners’ lamps, a three-course menu is served, with miners’ songs as background music. The dinner is offered in combination with a guided tour through the mine by former miners.
www.hotel-nieder.de

Red Wagon, Kleve
In Kleve, right by the handcar station, there is a former railway carriage that has been converted into a small snack bar with a beer garden. The food served in the Red Wagon is generally vegan, and to a large extent also gluten-free. Events are organised there every so often.
www.facebook.com

Café Castle Türnich, Rhine-Erft district, © Tourismus NRW e.V., Ilonka Zantop

Eat­ing and drink­ing in old ru­ins


Eat his­tor­ic­ally

Glück und Seligkeit, Bielefeld
There’s probably no other restaurant in Germany with such high ceilings. The “Glück und Seligkeit” in Bielefeld is housed in a former church. When it was opened in 2005, the Martini Church was the first church in Germany to be used in its entirety as a gastronomy venue. The menu contains a broad range of dishes, from tandoori salmon to pizza with Bratwurst sausage and French fries to duck with bread dumplings.
www.glueckundseligkeit.de

Schloss Türnich, Kerpen
Many palaces in NRW also have restaurants with a special atmosphere. One very special example is Schloss Türnich in Kerpen near Cologne, the only Baroque palace in the Rhineland region that is still fully preserved. Its owner, Severin Graf von Hoensbroech, has taken it upon himself to restore this badly battered jewel to its former glory. In the palace café, home-grown organic ingredients are served, including fruit juices from the palace owner’s own farm. The prizewinning palace park is a good place for a stroll after your delicious meal.
www.schloss-tuernich.de

Severinstorburg, Cologne
The Severinstorburg castle on Chlodwigplatz in Cologne used to be a part of the city wall. Today, it is a well-known location used for wedding parties and other events. In a relatively new development, it also offers a wine garden within its old walls. When the weather is fine and temperatures are above 20 degrees, there’s delicious wine on offer here, as well as Kölsch beer.
www.facebook.com/severinstorburg

In der römischen Herberge im Archäologischen Park Xanten kommen altrömische Leckereien auf den Tisch., © Spitzlicht Fotografie/Axel Thünker

Old dishes presen­ted in a new way


Treats from days long ago

Old Roman dishes, Xanten
In the Xanten LVR Archaeological Park, old Roman delicacies are served in the Roman inn, such as roast piglet or barley soup with flatbread. Food is cooked according to recipes from the famous Roman gourmet Apicius, who lived in what is now Cologne during the time of the birth of Christ.
www.roemische-herberge.de

Auf dem Japantag in Düsseldorf gibt es auch leckere japanische Gerichte., © Düsseldorf Tourismus

From Tokyo to Wanne-Eick­el


De­li­cious dishes from the Far East and the deep West

Little Tokyo, Düsseldorf
Thanks to the large Japanese community in Düsseldorf, the city has the largest, most authentic culinary offering from the Far East in Germany. Most restaurants, Japanese supermarkets and sake bars are located very close to the main station, all around the Immermannstrasse.

Wanne-Eickel
For many people, Currywurst sausage immediately comes to mind when they think of typical food in the Ruhr region. There are particularly spicy versions served in a small snack bar in Wanne-Eickel. The classic sausages are served with a sauce with ten different degrees of spiciness, with the sauce already around two to four times as spicy as Tabasco source at level seven. The sausages are served with standard French fries, with a sweet version also on offer, with Nutella or cinnamon and sugar.
www.diecurrywurst.com

Are you look­ing for even more sur­prises?

Find some fur­ther travel ideas here.

Are you always looking for unique places and special experiences? Whether it’s unique restaurant experiences, surprising places for photo enthusiasts, hiking trails with a guaranteed farm café, or stories about unique people from NRW – we are presenting further travel ideas off the beaten track here.