Lübeck is a small, quaint city in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea. Its medieval old town is one of the most beautiful in Europe. A city waiting to be discovered and, as you know, a self-respecting trip also includes the local cuisine! Given its proximity to the sea, there is no shortage of excellent fish dishes in the city's restaurants, as well as traditional meat dishes and the excellent beers that characterise all of Germany! But that's not all: Lübeck is the home of Marzipan! You can't say you've been here without stopping at Café Niederegger to taste it!
Is your mouth watering? Then let's find out together the 10 things to eat in Lübeck and where, with dishes and places not to be missed!
1 - Lübecker Marzipan
A culinary journey through the city can only begin with Marzipan! In fact, you can't say you've been to Lübeck without tasting the famous Lübecker Marzipan, recognised as a traditional food product by the European Union!
The history of marzipan in Lübeck is linked to the Niederegger family and today Café Niederegger is the best place to taste it! Inside the café you will also find a dedicated salon with all the curiosities and production methods of this cake. It is now a real institution in the city, thanks to its very high quality, soft and tasty marzipan, not to be missed!
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €5.00
Main ingredients: almond paste, egg white, sugar
2 - Fischbrötchen
Being close to the Baltic Sea, Lübeck cuisine features many fish dishes among various starters, main courses and main courses. And fish is also a big player in street food! Don't miss Fischbrötchen, a sandwich stuffed with various types of fish (depending on the variant).
You can find this delicacy both in the city markets, such as the one in the old town, and in the many kiosks along the coast! The most common variant is the one with Matjes, or herring!
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €5.00
Main ingredients: bread, fish, vegetables
3 - Holstein Matjes
And after the Fischbrötchen presentation, we can't help but dedicate some time to the Holstein Matjes, one of the cornerstone ingredients of so many Lübeck recipes: we are talking about herring. Thanks to its strategic location, you can find fresh fish and great food in the city every day!
Herring really is the star of many recipes: you will find it in all forms and served in all ways, from street food with Fischbrötchen to dishes in restaurants, presented either as an appetiser, first or second course.
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: €8.00
Main ingredients: herring
4 - Birnen, Bohnen und Speck
One of the most famous dishes of Northern Germany, especially of the Schleswig-Holstein region of which Lübeck is part. But what is Birnen, Bohnen und Speck? The literal translation is Pears, Beans and Bacon, and it is a kind of stew prepared mainly between August and September.
As mentioned, the main ingredients are pears, beans and bacon, to which potatoes are then added as a side dish. One or two pears are served on the plate, strictly cooked, a good portion of bacon (in some cases it is replaced by guanciale) accompanied by green beans, and a little cooking broth to mix everything together.
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: €15.00
Main ingredients: pears, beans, bacon, potatoes
5 - Labskaus
Due to its location, the city of Lübeck has undergone several influences from other countries, especially in the culinary field! In fact, in its recipes and typical dishes you can find a bit of Lower Saxony, Denmark and the Nordic countries! And this is precisely the case with Labskaus, a dish that is widespread not only in Schleswig-Holstein, but also in Norway, Denmark and Sweden!
It is a dish made of beef, potatoes and onions, to which, in some variations, cucumbers, beets and herring are also added. herring (of course, a touch of the sea could not be missing). The meat is boiled and then minced together with beetroot, onions, boiled potatoes and herring. Once served, in some cases an egg is also added on top. A very hearty dish, but worth trying!
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: €15.00
Main ingredients: beef, potatoes, onions
6 - Rübenmus
Photo by Anne-Cathrine Nyberg. Let's now move on to a more unusual dish, which is served as a side dish or as a separate dish, depending on the ingredients included. We are talking about Rübenmus, a kind of beetroot pulp, which has a consistency similar to porridge. You will find this dish on most menus in Schleswig-Holstein, thus also in Lübeck. It is served as a side dish with meat dishes, such as sausage, or as a main course together with fish, especially herring!
It is prepared with beetroot, bacon, potatoes and carrots. Other ingredients are then added during cooking, such as a little butter, cream to give softness, salt, pepper, nutmeg and spiced sugar to give it an extra kick
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: €8.00
Main ingredients: beetroot, bacon, potatoes, carrots
7 - Holsteiner Sauerfleisch
Photo by Jocian. Let's now discover another recipe from northern Germany, which, however, here in the region of Schleswig-Holstein has been made its own and made unique, becoming a real speciality:Holsteiner Sauerfleisch, or Holstein-style sour meat.
It is mainly a summer dish, as it is served cold. The pork, usually the neck or belly, is cooked in white wine with a mixture of spices. Once cooked, it is cut and put back into the cooking rim. Once cooled, it will have a gelatinous consistency, although gelatin is not used in the process. Traditionally, chips are served as a side dish, but side dishes with bread and butter and pickles have become increasingly common.
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: €15.00
Main ingredients: pork, spice mix
8 - Currywurst
And, of course, Lübeck couldn't be without currywurst, one of the most popular street foods in all of Germany! Served either to eat on the fly between visits or in pubs, it is one of the must-eats par excellence on a trip to this country, no matter which city you are visiting. One of the best in Lübeck is served at Bei Ulla, a German pub par excellence!
If you are not already familiar with it, it is a dish consisting of grilled sausage covered with a sweet and sour curry sauce. It comes with bread and chips covered in your favourite sauce!
Recommended for: lunch and dinner
Average cost: €5.00
Main ingredients: sausage, curry, bread
9 - Rote Grütze
And after all these hearty or typical German street food dishes, we couldn't help but reserve a space for desserts! One of the city's quintessential desserts is Rote Grütze, popular in northern Germany and Denmark, where it is called Rødgrød.
It is a sweet with a somewhat gelatinous consistency, made of potato starch and red fruits! Originally semolina flour was used, later replaced by potato starch. Initially, red fruits (currants, strawberries, sour cherries) and sugar are cooked together, then the starch is added. It is served both hot and cold, although it is a dessert eaten mainly in summer, accompanied by ice cream!
Recommended at: end of meal, snack
Average cost: €5.00
Main ingredients: red fruits, potato starch, sugar
10 - Lübecker Marzipantorte
Since marzipan is one of Lübeck's typical products, you certainly cannot miss Lübecker Marzipantorte, a delicious marzipan and walnut cake! A classic cake, but with a unique flavour that will win over both young and old!
The Lübecker Marzipan Cake consists of a soft sponge cake filled with walnut cream and marzipan. It is usually then covered with a currant jelly flavoured with orange to give the cake a fruity note and a contrast that makes the recipe less sweet.
Recommended for: always
Average cost: €4.00 per slice
Main ingredients: sponge cake, marzipan, nuts
Where to eat in Lübeck: best restaurants, typical places and street food
Lübeck is a marvellous city, to be visited on foot while strolling through its medieval old town, one of the most beautiful in Europe.
And this is where most of the venues are concentrated: from small breweries to the most famous pubs, from traditional establishments to more luxurious restaurants with a more avant-garde menu. If you want to enjoy excellent fish dishes, in addition to the old town centre, we recommend the part on the coast, in Travemünde, which directly overlooks the sea!
1 - Café Niederegger
Description: historic café in the centre, known for its marzipan production, as well as other sweets. Inside there is also a museum room dedicated to marzipan.
Speciality: marzipan
Average price: from €5.00 per person
Address: Breite Str. 89 - Get directions - Facebook page
2 - Schiffergesellschaft
Description: traditional restaurant with dishes from the maritime gastronomic traditions, located in one of the oldest buildings in the historic centre
Speciality: Holstein matjes
Average price: from €30.00 per person
Address: Breite Str. 2 - Get directions - Facebook page
3 - Lübecker Kartoffelkeller
Description: typical restaurant serving Nordic dishes, home-style cooking and traditional specialities from the old Hanseatic city
Speciality: Potato gratin
Average price: from €20.00 per person
Address: Koberg 8 - Get directions - Facebook page
4 - Bei Ulla
Description: One of the best German pubs in town, meeting point for locals and tourists alike. Good beers and fast food, such as the inevitable currywurst.
Speciality: currywurst
Average price: from €10.00 per person
Address: Mühlenstraße 19 - Get directions
5 - Wullenwever
Description: restaurant with a Michelin star, its owner Roy Petermann has established himself as one of the best chefs in northern Germany
Speciality: tasting menu (changes every 15 days to always have fresh, seasonal ingredients)
Average price: from €50.00 per person
Address: Beckergrube 71 - Get directions - Facebook page