Culinary highlights in Bayreuth — Franconia’s culture und culinary centre
Bayreuth has both the regional cuisine of the typical Bayreuth establishments and the modern brewery and fine-dining-cuisine of the 21st century to thank for its status as a Franconian culinary centre. Franconian classics are combined with Mediterranean and Asian elements to create outstanding culinary experiences.
The margraves already cultivated an exclusive dining culture in Bayreuth. Their dishes were refined with spices and ingredients from all parts of the world known at the time. In the 19th century, this tradition was continued by Richard Wagner himself, along with his international visitors.
Nowadays, it can be said that there is probably no other city in Franconia that can offer a wider range of culinary delights than Bayreuth.
Upper Franconia’s specialities
Whether in the city itself or in the surrounding area, connoisseurs of international and Franconian cuisine can be assured that they will find a suitable restaurant nearby. If you want to learn more about the production of Franconian beer specialities or chocolate, we offer special themed tours.
Restaurants in and around Bayreuth
Bayreuth’s restaurants have become more international. Alongside good Franconian cuisine, many international dishes can also be found on the menus.
Culinary people and places
Bayreuth has a long history of gourmets from times past who appreciated the specialities of its cuisine and its beer. There are also numerous chronicled reports about special culinary locations in Bayreuth.
Friedrich Nietzsche
„Sometime or other we will all be sitting together in Bayreuth and asking ourselves how we were able to bear being anywhere else.“
Culinary guided tours
In Bayreuth you can find a wide range of guided tours and walking tours centred around culinary specialities and Franconian treats. During the tours you will learn about the production processes and regional customs. From beer to chocolate, there is a tour to suit young and old alike.
We offer the following tours:
- The Culinary Tour – enjoy Bayreuth’s specialities (page in German)
- The Bayreuth Brewery Delivery Coachman Tour (page in German)
Gourmet packages und combi-tickets
A short holiday entirely devoted to Upper Franconian cuisine is just the thing for gourmets. In the “Genussregion” in the area surrounding Bayreuth, hotels as well as some museums offer exciting packages and combination tickets.
We offer the following packages:
- Opera house meets Brauhaus (page in German)
- The Bayreuth Gourmet Pass (page in German)
Jean Paul
“Thank God that you – like me – do not live in Saxony or in the Saxon Vogtland, but in Bayreuth, closest to the best beer – Champagne beer.”
Beer tradition in Bayreuth
Bayreuth is also setting new standards when it comes to contemporary beer culture: Maisel’s Bier-Erlebnis-Welt (Beer Experience World) is the world’s largest beer museum according to the Guinness Book of Records, and the modern “Liebesbier” brewery offers over 120 types of beer to be tasted! Annual beer festivals such as “Kirchweihen” (church fairs) or “Bockbieranstiche” (beer tastings) are the most important dates in the Franconian calendar. Guests can experience still more beer culture in historical locations and on special beer walking tours through Bierfranken (braukultur-franken.de).
Bayreuth can look back on a long brewing tradition. In 1884, Bayreuth was home to no fewer than 74 breweries. Today, Maisel’s Weisse, brewed in Bayreuth, is one of the most popular wheat beers in Germany. Around 200 breweries throughout the region produce a total of over 1,000 different types of beer.
From “Pils” and “Märzen” beer to a wide variety of wheat beers and the special “Rauchbier” (smoked beer), Upper Franconia holds the world record for the highest density of breweries in terms of population.
Even Jean Paul was convinced by Bayreuth’s beer: “I am strangely healthy. Thanks to Bayreuth’s beer …”
Also interested in convincing yourself of the “healing” effect of Bayreuth beer? Then sign up for one of the various beer tasting options offered by Bayreuth’s breweries: In addition to the Maisel ´s Biererlebniswelt, which has a wealth of different beer tastings on offer, there is also a BräuBrüder (brew brother) joint brew every month – a collaboration between Mann’s Bräu and Becher Bräu. International beer styles are brewed and interpreted with a Franconian twist. This way, you can get to know and appreciate Bayreuth’s beer delights directly on site.
The city also lies on the Beer and Castle Route, which connects numerous places with a long brewing tradition from Thuringia to Passau.
Bayreuth in the “Genussregion”
Tradition, and a closeness to culture and nature are reflected in Upper Franconian gastronomy with all of its delicious specialities. Here, visitors can experience the diversity of regionally produced food.
In terms of population, the “Genussregion Oberfranken” has the most bakeries and confectioners, the most butchers and the most breweries in the world. Many are still traditionally run as family businesses. Products originating from the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region are marked with the “Original Regional” logo. They contribute to supporting the local (agricultural) economy and environmental protection.
As with beer, Franconia also has numerous regulations for the correct preparation of sausages. The Bayreuth bratwurst, for example, is finger-thick, about 20 centimetres long, very fine, low in salt and comparatively low in fat, and is always served with mustard and in pairs (at a minimum).
Other traditional specialities such as “Blaue Zipfel”, “Stadtwurst mit Musik” (cold meat marinated in oil, vinegar and onions) or “Presssack” (cold meat jelly), which was highly appreciated by the poet Jean Paul, can be savoured by foodies in the traditional inns and lovingly renovated historic restaurants in and around Bayreuth.
Traditional
Franconian “Brotzeit” (bread with cold meat)
in an inn
Fresh
Kerwa Küchla (fried cakes)
with icing sugar
Home-made
Ziebalakäs (curd cheese with chives)
with farmhouse bread