Insider Guide to Altstadt Pub Hopping in Duesseldorf, Germany

Duesseldorf's Altstadt is a hot spot for bar flies, club goers, artists, tourists and beer lovers. Famous for the quintessential Altbier, this downtown area has rightfully been called the "longest bar." Where should you go to drink, eat and be merry?

Park at the Carsch Haus

The Duesseldorf Altstadt is notoriously short on available parking places. Even though it is easy to reach with all forms of public transportation, there are still plenty of drivers. The Carsch Haus offers 560 parking spots, which makes it a better bet than the popular Kunsthalle lot with its 116 spaces.

Hire a Guide

First-time visitors to Duesseldorf, Germany, will do well to hire a knowledgeable guide who can help get a grip on what's hot, what's not and what is up and coming. The Geschichtswerkstatt works in conjunction with the local Volkshochschule to offer tours of the Altstadt, historic sights, art walks and also architectural sightseeing. If beer is your passion and historic pubs are on the agenda, allow the guides to separate the faux-old facades from the bona fide historic venues.

Stay at the Carat Hotel

A four-star venue, the Carat Hotel is just a very short walk away from the pubs and stores of the Altstadt. Its breakfast buffet menu is renowned for including lactose- and gluten-free products. Catch the tram to nearby locales at the Graf-Adolf-Platz.

Eat, Drink; Repeat

It is a common misconception that all pub food is created equal. German pubs have had decades to perfect menu offerings that run the gambit from mother's home cooking to deep-fried heart attacks on a plate.

Take for example the Schloesser Quartier Boheme. Enjoy hot meals until 10 p.m. in a huge venue that mixes a live stage with a dance floor, restaurant-style seating and standing room tables. Dishes include risotto, quiches, pork chops and steak. Meals might cost 15 Euros or more -- depending on the extravagance of your taste buds and the amount of Schloesser Alt you plan on drinking.

Im Fuechschen is a classic brewpub. Fuechschen Alt is the beer of choice and sausage, ribs, ham hocks and sauerkraut as well as liver dumplings are the meal options. Average cost of a full meal might be 13 Euros. Hot food is available until 11:30 p.m. or midnight.

Zum Schluessel has a history dating back to 1936 and maintains its rustic chic. Meatballs on buns, black pudding, curry wurst and herring dishes are just some of the offerings. Costs vary, but paying 12 Euros for a meal is not uncommon. Do not forget to order Schluessel Alt, the resident beer.

Remember to enjoy all that the Duesseldorf Altstadt has to offer with an eye on moderation. Pub hopping is a time-honored activity, but drinking and driving is a strict no-no. Stay local, take public transportation or bring along a tee-totaling friend as designated driver.

Location Information

Carsch Haus Parking Garage

Heinrich-Heine-Platz 1 in 40213 Duesseldorf

Open year-round, around the clock

17 Euros per day, 1.70 Euros per hour or 4 Euros overnight

Geschichtswerkstatt

Location specified by the guest

By appointment

110 Euros for two-hour tours

0211-580 29 84

Carat Hotel

Benrather Strasse 7a in 40213 Duesseldorf

0211-13 0 50

Schloesser Quartier Boheme

Ratinger Strasse 25 in 40213 Duesseldorf

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., 3 a.m. on Wednesday and 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday

0211-15 97 61 50

Im Fuechschen

Ratinger Strasse 28 in 40213 Duesseldorf

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.; 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12 a.m. on Sunday

0211 - 13 74 70

Zum Schluessel

Bolkerstraße 41-47 in 40213 Duesseldorf

Open daily from 10 a.m. to midnight; until 1 a.m. on weekends

0211 - 82 89 550