Leipzig has developed rapidly in recent years and enjoys an excellent reputation as a gastronomic stronghold in Germany. Whether creative star cuisine, traditional German restaurants, refined international cuisine, cosy cafés or urban trendy pubs – there is a wide choice of places to eat for every taste. There are over 2,200 eateries in the city, so guests looking for a good time are spoilt for choice.
With this article we would like to make the search easier. We have selected 10 restaurants that are not included in the typical online best lists and are reluctant to self-promote, but all have special offers in their own way. In the process, we also venture away from the centre into the city districts. Whether it’s the most beautiful outdoor seating, the largest selection of craft beer, the coolest interior design or the best organic restaurant – you’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth here. Whether you’re planning a private dinner, a get-together with friends or a business lunch, we’ve got you covered.
Criteria for the selection of the 10 insider tips
When selecting the insider tips, we focused on a number of criteria to ensure that only the best are included in our list. Here are some of the criteria we have considered:
Quality of food: We have selected restaurants that offer high quality, delicious dishes and a varied drinks menu.
Atmosphere: We have selected restaurants that offer a welcoming and exceptional atmosphere.
Value for money: We have selected restaurants that are good value for money and affordable.
Service: We have selected restaurants that offer friendly service and are responsive to their customers’ needs.
Uniqueness: We have selected restaurants that distinguish themselves from other restaurants through their uniqueness and exceptional concepts.
Since various criteria were taken into account in the selection process, the Top 10 list does not represent a ranking order; the insider tips were sorted alphabetically.
The 10 best insider tips in Leipzig
Insider tip No. 1: Brauhaus at St. Thomas Church
The brewery is located in the heart of Leipzig. From the largest and most beautiful outdoor seating area in the city centre, you can enjoy a great view of the famous St. Thomas Church. The restaurant is not a typical tourist hotspot, but a restaurant with high quality standards, excellent food and remarkable service quality. It offers dishes from Italian and German cuisine. So, in addition to fresh wood-fired pizza, popular pasta variations and many other Italian classics, there is also roulade, fillet of matjes and the famous pork knuckle with a portion size of over one kilo. Beer connoisseurs get their money’s worth with home-brewed beer. In addition to Pils and Schwarzbier, seasonal beer is also offered four times a year. Another highlight is the homemade ice cream and the ice cream menu with imaginative sundaes. Although the restaurant is located in a busy pedestrian zone, there is almost always a seat to be found, as there are over 300 seats outside and another 300 inside the restaurant.
Brewery at St Thomas’ Church
Thomaskirchhof 3-5, 04109 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 2126110
Web: www.brauhaus-thomaskirche.de
Reservation: by telephone or at www.brauhaus-thomaskirche.de/reservierung
Insider Tip No. 2: Dr. Hops
“The doctor says: Cheers” – with this recommendation, the craft beer bar Dr. Hops in the Connewitz district warmly welcomes its guests. With regional and international beer specialities on tap from eight different taps and almost 100 types of bottled beer, no wish is left unfulfilled for beer lovers. Even true connoisseurs can still try something new due to the large selection in the quaint pub in the south of Leipzig. The knowledgeable staff are happy to advise, answer questions about the different types of beer and serve various snacks with the drinks. In addition, the Dr. Hops regularly hosts beer tastings, beer & food events or other programme items such as readings or live music. The classic in the programme is the standard beer tasting. Guests can not only sample up to seven types of beer, but also gain interesting background knowledge about beer.
Dr. Hops | Craft Beer Bar Leipzig
Eichendorffstraße 7, 04277 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 68670038
Web: www.dr-hops.de
Insider tip No. 3: Mr. Kauzig
The former petrol station near the Palmengarten in the Lindenau district has been turned into “Herr Kauzig” – a promising new concept of beer garden, bar and club. Under the motto “Herr Kauzig…lob ich mir”, based on Goethe’s famous quote about the city of Leipzig, the idyllic beer garden in Leipzig’s west invites you to relax and enjoy. The menu includes typical dishes for big and small appetites, such as jacket potatoes or bruschetta, burgers and salads. At the weekend, there is also delicious food from the grill and cake. On Fridays and Saturdays, Herr Kauzig opens the bar for drinks and the club with two different floors from 10 pm. In the restaurant you pay exclusively without cash. There is usually enough space, which is why reservations are only necessary for eight or more people.
Herr Kauzig
Jahnallee 52, 04177 Leipzig
Phone +49 1516 6465141
Web: www.herrkauzig.de
Reservation: www.herrkauzig.de (from 8 persons)
Insider Tip No. 4: Hotel Seeblick
When walking along Karl-Liebknecht-Straße from the city centre towards the south of Leipzig, one passes the Hotel Seeblick. The name is irritating, especially as it is neither a hotel nor is there a body of water in sight. Instead, guests are welcomed in a cosy, modern-rustic guest room that invites them to linger at any time of day. The menu includes a wide range of breakfast creations from all over the world. Late risers will not miss out either, as the Hotel Seeblick offers breakfast until 4 pm. For lunch and dinner, there is a delicious selection of classics, burgers and low-carb dishes. Since no ready-made products are used here, you should bring some time with you when you visit and you will be rewarded with something homemade afterwards. Many dishes are vegetarian or vegan. On Friday and Saturday, the restaurant opens its doors until 2am. In summer, guests can experience the great atmosphere on Leipzig’s most popular pub mile on the outdoor seating area.
Hotel Seeblick
Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 125, 04275 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 2253952
Web: www.hotel-seeblick-leipzig.de
Reservation: www.hotel-seeblick-leipzig.de
Insider tip no. 5: imperii Bar
The imperii bar is located in the heart of Leipzig’s city centre. Named after its location on the former Via Imperii, one of the most famous long-distance trade routes of the Holy Roman Empire, the imperii, which was created in 2015, has established itself as a special meeting place for local and international guests. Here, unusual cocktail creations such as the Cloudy Punch with candy floss and gin, the flowery Rio Rio, the nostalgic Candy Clock and many more ensure a unique bar experience. The bar’s offer is complemented by a menu with international dishes and small delicacies that successfully round off the taste experience. The modern, stylishly furnished bar is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 4pm and midnight and is definitely worth a visit during this time.
imperii Bar
Brühl 72, 04109 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 96283789
Web: https://imperii.de
Reservation: by telephone
Insider Tip No. 6: Kuapo – The Cultural Pharmacy
A real insider tip is the Kulturapotheke on Leipzig’s multicultural Eisenbahnstraße, in the eastern district of Volkmarsdorf. The premises of the former Falken pharmacy are now home to a cosy café, where the characteristic pharmacist’s cabinets are still a reminder of the past. In addition to coffee specialities, cool refreshments and excellent cakes, there are dishes such as sandwiches, tarte flambée or quiche. There is a children’s corner for the younger guests. The outdoor seating in front of the café attracts guests to enjoy summer temperatures with an Aperol Spritz. The special feature of Kuapo is that a bookshop is integrated into the café. So many guests like to drop in for a coffee to browse and read during their visit to the integrated bookshop. “When I’m feeling bad, I don’t go to the pharmacy, I go to my bookseller.” – following the motto of the Kulturapotheke is definitely worthwhile, in any state of mind.
Kuapo – The Cultural Pharmacy
Eisenbahnstraße 99, 04315 Leipzig
Phone: +49 341 58156700
Web: https://kuapo.de
Reservation: https://kuapo.de/?lang=de#reservation
Insider tip no. 7: Macis
The restaurant is located opposite the New Town Hall. In a stylish Art Deco ambience, guests enjoy excellent creations from a kitchen that cooks exclusively with fresh organic ingredients. For lunch, you can choose a 2 or 3-course menu or opt for a main course from the lunch menu. There is always a varying choice of a vegetarian dish, a fish dish and a meat dish. In the evening, there are also changing creations. Those who want to experience the maximum culinary pleasure can order a menu with up to 5 courses. A separate menu with popular classics is available for children. To drink, you can choose from a wine list with wines from all over Europe. In the evening, the bar menu with signature cocktails tempts you to extend your visit to the restaurant until the open end. The restaurant sources the ingredients for cooking from the associated organic market, which offers over 4,000 selected food items. The organic market includes an organic bakery with an open bakery, a market hall with an open kitchen for a quick breakfast and a fine pâtisserie.
Macis Organic restaurant
Markgrafenstr. 10, 04109 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 22287520
Web: www.macis-leipzig.de/biorestaurant
Reservation: by phone, by Whatsapp at 0176/62715527 or at www.macis-leipzig.de/tisch-buchen
Insider Tip No. 8: Moritzbastei
Opposite the Mensa am Park is the Moritzbastei, originally a medieval fortification. Since 1982, it has been home to Leipzig’s best-known cultural centre. In addition to the diverse cultural programme in the Moritzbastei, the associated restaurant and café Barbakane also invite you to visit. Depending on the time of day and the occasion, guests can enjoy drinks, snacks or a fresh lunch in a casual atmosphere and in the special charm of the typical brick walls. The changing daily and weekly menu offers German and international lunch dishes at reasonable prices. In warmer weather, the two idyllic inner courtyards and the terrace invite you to linger. For visitors to one of the numerous events at the Moritzbastei, it is worth arriving a little early and getting into the right mood for the evening with a drink or finishing off the evening with a drink afterwards. The Moritzbastei is open from Tuesday to Saturday until open end.
Moritzbastei Leipzig
Kurt-Masur-Platz 1, 04109 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 702590
Web: www.moritzbastei.de
Reservation: via the website
Insider Tip No. 9: Naumann’s Gaststube
Naumann’s Gaststube is located in the west of Leipzig on the hip trendy Karl-Heine-Strasse. It belongs to the Felsenkeller, a former ballroom that looks back on a rich history and is now an important socio-cultural centre for Leipzig. The neo-baroque building was erected in 1890 for the C. W. Naumann brewery and, with its significant dome, has since been an architectural landmark of Leipzig’s west. For as long as Naumann’s Gaststube has existed, it has offered traditionally refined working-class cuisine. Dishes such as homemade aspic, schnitzel or regional snacks can be ordered. To drink, there are various draught beers and other refreshing drinks. If you are interested in the impressive history of the Felsenkeller, you will find artefacts documenting it on display in the rustic restaurant. During the open-air season, a cosy beer garden also opens for guests. In addition to Naumann’s Gaststube, the Felsenkeller is also home to the alternative club NAUMANNs, which has many cultural highlights to offer.
Naumanns Gaststube
Karl-Heine-Straße 32, 04229 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 860 942 63
Web: www.naumanns-gaststube.de
Reservation: by telephone or by mail to reservierung@naumanns-gaststube.de
Insider Tip No. 10: Upper West
As the name suggests, the Upper West is located in Leipzig’s West in the trendy district of Plagwitz. The industrial-chic interior design and loft-like spaces of a former foundry create an open, inviting atmosphere, making for a great restaurant experience. The Upper West has a seasonally changing menu of modern classics, lovingly served. With main dishes like bowls, salads, burgers, Wiener schnitzel, tagliatelle with feta or desserts like cheesecake, every taste is catered for. The weekly highlight at Upper West is the Sunday brunch, which features a sumptuous buffet and lots of delicious drinks. In warm weather, guests can also take a seat on the terrace. The restaurant opens from Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm and on Sunday for brunch from 9:30am. A visit is definitely worthwhile during this time.
Upper West
Gießerstraße 12, 04229 Leipzig
Phone +49 341 94019930
Web: www.upperwestleipzig.de
Reservation: via the website
Conclusion and final thoughts
Leipzig undoubtedly has an impressive gastronomic scene to offer, and this list of 10 insider tips is just a small part of it. Whether you are looking for traditional German cuisine or modern European dishes, there is something for everyone in Leipzig. We hope this list has helped you to make a decision about which restaurant to choose in Leipzig and that you have an unforgettable culinary experience!