Where to Eat in Leipzig: The Best Essential Restaurants

As you may know, when I’m traveling, I spend a lot of time finding pubs and restaurants with tasty food and drinks. I look for interesting places with vibe and food, that I will want to return to. I spent five days in Leipzig and it turned out that in this city you can find them at practically every corner!

Where to eat in Leipzig? This German city offers a variety of cuisine, from traditional German to Indian, Turkish and Vietnamese.

I made a list of the best restaurants and cafes in Leipzig for any occasion. Whether you’re in the mood for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a drink, I have something for you! In this post you will find different types of cuisine, including places that serve traditional, vegetarian and vegan dishes. More than 10 verified and tasty suggestions!

Auerbachs Keller – Traditional Leipzig Cuisine

I’ll start with a classic, even iconic place in Leipzig. The one with international fame and an extremely long history. Auerbachs Keller, the restaurant in the basement where Goethe used to visit. This is where the writer was inspired by the legend of Dr. Faust, and where part of his work of the same name (“Faust”) takes place. For this reason, the cellar has become extremely famous.

However, Auerbachs Keller is not only a legendary place, it is also home to extremely tasty German cuisine. You can try Gose beer (a salty beer) there not for a fortune. Very large portions cost, for example, 17 euros/person (traditional meat, noodles and cabbage). In my opinion, for a cult pub, it’s definitely worth it. After all, it’s like visiting a museum and a restaurant in one, and you only pay once.

What I would point out, by the popularity of the place, in high season and on weekends it is better to make a reservation, even a few days in advance. It gets really crowded on weekends.

Location: Grimmaische Str. 2-4, 04109 Leipzig

Pilot – Tradition and Modernity in the Heart of the City

If you’re looking for a place that’s modern while serving tasty, slightly traditional cuisine, drop by Pilot. This German restaurant is popular for a reason – it’s really tasty! It is said that here you will try dishes that are really creative. This place is perfect if you want to taste modern German food.

What can you eat at this restaurant in Leipzig? For example, asparagus (seasonal), roulade, or a variety of soups: the traditional cucumber soup or solyanka, a Russian soup popular in the region. In the Pilot you will also find breakfasts, and I would try the Bauernfrühstück, or worker’s breakfast. The most grazing, after which you can explore the city until the evening.

Location: Bosestraße 1, 04109 Leipzig

GAO – Vietnamese Veggie Food

Not far from the above mentioned Pilot there is an extremely tasty vegetarian diner (with vegan options). I was a vegan for several years, so the bar for this type of restaurant is set really high with me. Here, not only were my expectations met, but Goa has raised my expectations for more restaurants. Honestly, this is one of the best vegan places I’ve ever eaten at, and their dishes look like little works of art!

What can you eat here? Vegan duck and other “non-meat”, tofu, noodles, rice in many different ways. All from fresh, extremely tasty ingredients. I won’t elaborate, just go there! ?

Location: Zentralstraße 1, 04109 Leipzig

Coffee and Ice Creams at Café WB

I love finding old flavors in new places. Although this was my first time in Leipzig, I used to go to Germany for holidays all my childhood (I have family in Hessen). I spent a few weeks at my aunt’s farm, and after work we used to go for lemon ice cream. And I managed to find the same flavor in one cafe in Leipzig!

However, Cafe WB stands out not only for its tasty ice cream. They also serve good coffee, and besides, I heard from Irene – a friend who lives nearby – that their baked goods are the best in the area. This cafe in Leipzig has another advantage – beautiful murals painted on the entrance. Incredibly photogenic stories that are worth seeing with your own eyes.

Location: Könneritzstraße 100, 04229 Leipzig

Café Ella – a Cafe in Leipzig with Good Vibe

If you’re looking for a small café with good coffee, check out Café Ella.

It’s a charming café in Schleußig that delighted me not only with good coffee (I ordered a cold espresso with lemon ice), but also with a friendly, warm atmosphere, thanks to the owner. You can eat homemade pastries there, sit both inside and outside, and there is a good ice cream shop (Tonis Eisladen) across the street.

Location: Brockhausstraße 2, 04229 Leipzig

Make Your Own Ice Cream at Mr. Borella

This ice cream shop in Leipzig is just brilliant! At the beginning you choose the size of the cup (the price depends on it), and inside you pack whatever you want. Different flavors of ice cream (cheesecake, strawberry, banana, etc.), toppings, sprinkles, fruits, cookies, jelly beans. Cool experience, especially since I worked in an ice cream shop back in my student days! ?

Later just sit with a cool dessert under colorful umbrellas. Well, and go for a bike or kayak and burn all the calories!

Location: Augustusplatz 15, 04109 Leipzig

Leipzig for Breakfast – Bull & Bonito at the Townhouse Hotel

Where to eat breakfast in Leipzig? Our first choice was the hotel where we stayed, the Townhouse Hotel. Breakfast is served by a restaurant close to the hotel, Bull & Bonito. We can eat inside, but also on the large terrace in the church courtyard, overlooking the Bach monument. The place is extremely atmospheric and tasty. We can have a simple continental breakfast or choose one from the menu. Options depend on the season, in June they served Mediterranean and Hawaiian breakfast. Both were tasty and there were really a lot of options to choose from: pancakes, potato pancakes with pineapple, frittata and many others. For five days we tried practically everything and were always satisfied.

Of course, you can come to this place for breakfast without staying at the hotel, which is why I’m including it in the post.

Location: Thomaskirchhof 13/14, 04109 Leipzig

The Brothers – a Taste of the Real Turkey in Leipzig

If you’re looking for a cool place for a tasty Turkish-style breakfast or lunch, drop by this pub, founded by three brothers. After living in Turkey, my expectations for Turkish cuisine are really high, and they were fulfilled here. We went there after our breakfast, so we ordered pide (Turkish “pizza”) and lahmacun. Add to that the ayran, the bustle (both in the premises and on the street) and you can feel like you are thousands of miles away.

It’s better to note that this pub is located on a street that was once considered particularly dangerous. The reason was the large number of expats from Turkey or Arabic countries. Over time, a number of tasty places have opened there and are well worth a visit. If you want to see neighborhoods other than the city center, take train line 8.

Check also: Leipzig: What is Worth Seeing? List of the Most Interesting Attractions

Location: Eisenbahnstraße 85, 04315 Leipzig

Currywurst – Typical German Street Food

To be in Germany and not eat currywurst? You can’t do this. Currywurst is just what its name implies. It’s hot sausage: grilled, roasted or boiled, topped with tomato sauce and sprinkled with curry. Top it off with a bun. Where can you eat this German fast food? For example, at Curry Cult.

We ordered the classic wurst with a bun (you can choose fries). Fast, tasty and, in my opinion, once in a while we can indulge in such fast food ?.

Location: Petersstraße 10, 04109 Leipzig

Where to Go for a Burger in Leipzig? Hans im Glück

As we are already at street food, we can not omit burgers. But not the kind from an American fast food chain, but more in the German way. Hans im Glück is a pub that can be found in many cities in Germany, including Leipzig. It’s a very cool place with delicious burgers and interesting decor (lots of birch accents, and you have to pump the water to wash hands!). You’ll find options for vegans and vegetarians and all meat lovers. I preferred the vege burgers myself, which were really good at Hans im Glück (I recommend the spicy one with vege-chicken).

Location: Augustusplatz 14, 04109 Leipzig

Felix – a Nice Bar with a View of the City

If you’re looking for a place to eat and drink with a view of the city skyline, head to Felix. The Felix restaurant is located on the 6th floor of Leipzig’s Old Post Office, with an adjoining rooftop terrace. Therefore, although the decor of the place is really interesting, if the weather is good, it’s much better to go to the terrace and enjoy the cityscape. Check for yourself!

Location: Augustusplatz 1-3, 04109 Leipzig

Panorama Tower – Here you Will See the Best Panorama of Leipzig

And while we’re at bars and views, the second such place would be the Panorama Tower restaurant and bar. This is the tallest building in Leipzig. The bar itself is located on an observation deck, which, in my opinion, is a must see while in Leipzig! On the other hand, for the restaurant on weekends it is worth having a reservation, during the week there is a favorable lunch offer.

Location: Augustusplatz 9, 04109 Leipzig

Prices in Leipzig for Food in Restaurants and Cafes

How much does it cost to go out to a restaurant?

I know that many people are afraid that restaurants in Germany will be expensive. Relax, I have good news – In Leipzig the prices are not bad. For example, a scoop of ice cream costs from 1 euro upwards, a currywurst with a bun costs 3.90 euros, a lunch in a restaurant costs from 10 euros upwards. And if you want to save money, opt for lunch deals (some are available only during the week, others also on weekends). In my opinion, Leipzig is a great city for a culinary trip.

Restaurants in Leipzig

Are you looking for a restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere or just good food? Do you want to eat in the center of Leipzig, or would you rather go somewhere further from the center? I hope my post has helped you find the perfect places for dinner, coffee or drinks.

There are many restaurants to choose from in Leipzig, and the best places are not always in the most obvious locations. Sometimes it’s worth asking locals to find tasty and atmospheric places, and a lot depends on what kind of cuisine you prefer.

And if you didn’t manage to find the perfect restaurant in my post, you can use a site like Trip Advisor or Google Maps. There you will find reviews from people who have been to these places before.

This guide was written during our trip to Leipzig. We toured the city at the invitation of the German Tourist Board. It was wonderful to discover the flavors of Leipzig and this will certainly not be my last visit to this city! Thank you!

See also:

What to Do in Leipzig: A Guide to the Must-See Attractions

Saxony-Anhalt: Must-See Attractions You Can’t Miss

Wernigerode: Unveiling the Fairy Tale Beauty of Germany’s Hidden Gem!

Exploring Lübeck: A Gem of Medieval Architecture and Cultural Heritage

Things To Do In Quedlinburg – Tips for a Day Trip

Hildesheim: Fascinating Attractions to Explore