No drink says Frankfurt like Ebbelwoi, the local apple wine, also known as Äppelwoi or Stöffche. It is dry, tart and low in alcohol, and it is served in a ribbed glass called a Gerippte, in taverns with long wooden tables where strangers share benches. The traditional home of the drink is Sachsenhausen, on the south bank of the Main, where the old quarter around Rittergasse, Paradiesgasse and Klappergasse is lined with taverns. Klappergasse is the heart of it, with the Frau Rauscher fountain, which sprays water unpredictably. Classic dishes to order with it include beef with green herb sauce, Handkäse with onions, and a pretzel. Well-known taverns on nearby Schweizer Straße include Apfelwein Wagner and Zum Gemalten Haus. The booking page offered here is a small-group food tour with a guided apple wine tasting in a Sachsenhausen tavern, lasting about four and a half hours with up to eight guests.
How to drink it
Order a Schoppen of Ebbelwoi, and if you find it too sour ask for it Gespritzt, mixed with sparkling water, which is a common local way to soften it. Many visitors take the first sip with a frown and the second with a smile.
Tradition holds that the drink is paired with hearty local food, so order something to eat with it. In Advent, you will also find it served hot with spices at the Christmas market. Taverns vary in character, from rustic wooden rooms to courtyards, so wander and choose the one that feels right.
Going with a guide
A food tour is a good option if you want context and tastes beyond the single tavern. The small-group tour offered here combines a local food tour with a guided apple wine tasting, which explains the history and the way the drink is made, and it takes about four and a half hours.
It suits first-time visitors who want to cover the food highlights in one go, and the small group size means you can ask questions. If you prefer to go independently, an evening in Alt-Sachsenhausen is just as good, but book ahead at weekends.
Practical tips
Sachsenhausen is a short walk from the old centre across the Eiserner Steg or the Alte Brücke, and it is lively in the evening. Taverns keep their own opening days, so check before you walk over, and cash is useful at traditional places. The crowds are thickest on weekend evenings, so a weekday visit is calmer. Pair it with a look at the Museumsufer earlier in the day, or end a Main Tower visit with dinner here, since it is only a few minutes' walk from the river.
What to expect
The experience
Either a self-guided evening in the taverns of Alt-Sachsenhausen or a small-group food tour that includes a guided apple wine tasting.
Best time
Weekday evenings for atmosphere without the weekend crush, or afternoon for a guided food tour.
How long
Two hours in a tavern, or about four and a half hours on the food tour.
Tips
Order something to eat, ask for it Gespritzt if you find it sour, bring cash and check each tavern's opening days.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Foodies and first-timers who want to taste the most Frankfurt drink in the most Frankfurt setting.
- Families
- Taverns serve food and soft drinks, but evenings can be lively and alcohol-focused, so earlier in the day suits children better.
- Couples
- Share a bench in a courtyard tavern and order green herb sauce with a glass of apple wine.
- Pair with
- The Main Tower, the Museumsufer and the Kleinmarkthalle.
- Time needed
- Two hours to an evening.
Good questions
What is Ebbelwoi?+
It is Frankfurt's local apple wine, dry and tart and relatively low in alcohol. It is traditionally served in ribbed glasses in taverns.
Where should I go to drink it?+
Alt-Sachsenhausen, around Rittergasse, Paradiesgasse and Klappergasse, is the traditional home. Schweizer Straße also has well-known taverns.
What should I eat with it?+
Classic pairings are beef with green herb sauce, Handkäse with onions and a pretzel. Order food, because the tavern tradition is to drink with a meal.
Is the food tour worth it?+
A guided tour gives context and covers several tastes in about four and a half hours with up to eight guests. It suits first-time visitors who want an overview.
Can I try it in winter?+
Yes, the taverns are open all year, and in Advent apple wine is also served hot at the Christmas market. Check opening days before you go.
