\u2018Tis the season\u2026 for Christmas markets! And while the Netherlands is home to a smattering of festive fairs, those in Germany are (I\u2019m ashamed to say) far superior. The gl\u00fchwein<\/em> is tastier, the sausages smokier and the knitted hats woollier. If you\u2019re coming from the Netherlands, Belgium or even the UK, Aachen is one of the easier Christmas markets to reach, given that the city is just east of the Dutch\/Belgian borders. It\u2019s a cathedral town with a charming old centre that \u2013 in December \u2013 forms the backdrop to dozens of festively lit stalls selling Christmas baubles, wintry accessories and, of course, plenty of seasonal street food and warming booze. Honestly, even in the rain, it\u2019s magical.<\/p>\n With all this being said, at a certain point you\u2019ll be looking for something that goes beyond bratwurst to soak up all that gl\u00fchwein<\/em> and eierpunsch<\/em> (much like eggnog). I\u2019d advise you to book well ahead at any and all Aachen restaurants during Christmas market season, because the city is overrun by visitors \u2013 all looking to eat out at the same time. These restaurant recommendations have been put together over a couple of different trips, and range from traditional German dinners to modern brunch dishes.<\/p>\n With its decoratively tiled walls and stained glass windows, Am Knipp<\/a> is about as traditionally German as you can get \u2013 which means it\u2019s all about the schnitzel. Mine came with a fiery pink peppercorn sauce, crunchy fried potatoes and a perfectly dressed salad. I\u2019d recommend washing it down with the Benediktiner Weissbier Dunkel \u2013 a dark, malty beer that\u2019s perfect for winter.\u00a0Am Knipp\u2019s\u00a0prices are pretty reasonable, too (at least, in comparison with Amsterdam).<\/p>\n At Greek-inspired restaurant\u00a0NOIMA<\/a>, you\u2019ll find mezze dishes aplenty and some Mediterranean wines to go with them. We enjoyed the whipped feta and aubergine salads as well as the spicy sausage (loukaniko<\/em>) and meatballs (keftedakia<\/em>). Lots of the mains looked tempting, but I decided to go for the mixed grill: pork skewers, beef kofte, lamb cutlets and more sausage. Even with the help of the dog, I couldn\u2019t finish it all! Still, I appreciate a generous portion in these straitened times, and\u00a0NOIMA\u00a0was a friendly and inviting place to spend an evening with friends.<\/p>\n For the morning after your Christmas market revelry, look no further than Caf\u00e9 de Luna<\/a>, just south of Aachen old town. Instead of the usual avocado toast, Caf\u00e9 de Luna specialises in Korean-style sandwiches made with pillowy brioche, perfectly scrambled eggs, the obligatory avocado and a range of other toppings (we went for bacon). It was not only delicious but hit the hangover spot perfectly. The coffee was also excellent, and they offer a range of other interesting-looking homemade drinks and teas.<\/p>\n Alternatively, if hair-of-the-dog beer and flammkuchen<\/em> are the only way to send your hangover packing, head to\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Kittel<\/a>. It\u2019s a bit student-grunge, but Kitt\u2019ll hit the spot. (See what I did there?) On the menu, you\u2019ll find plenty of German pilsners (and stronger) on offer, as well as a few different variations on flammkuchen<\/em>: from traditional speck<\/em> and onions to veggie versions with mozzarella and pesto. There\u2019s other breakfast fare too, but when in Germany I can\u2019t resist a flammkuchen<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n One of the best coffees I drank in Aachen came from\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Dom<\/a>, where the baristas serve up a perfect flat white (with vegan milks, if you prefer). The menu features an excellent selection of breakfast dishes, from stuffed croissants to yoghurt and granola, depending on whether you feel like going healthy or hearty. The d\u00e9cor is hipster grandma and the view is unbeatable: take the love seat at the back of\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Dom\u00a0and you\u2019ll be looking straight up at Aachen\u2019s cathedral.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re all gl\u00fchwein<\/em>-ed out and are looking for a cocktail, wander past Aachen\u2019s Rathaus (town hall) to The Gin Library<\/a>. More than just gin, you\u2019ll find an extensive cocktail menu featuring everything from old classics to modern creations at this laidback lounge bar. I tried the French 75 (a mix of gin, lemon and bubbles) and the Whiskey Sour \u2013 both of which tasted exactly as they should.<\/p>\n It\u2019s pretty rare that I end up eating a kebab at midnight these days, but what can I say? Christmas markets seem to bring out my younger self\u2026 Luckily, the kebabs I\u2019ve eaten in Germany have generally been a lot better than those I indulged in after nights out at university in the UK. One such example is tat Gem\u00fcsekebab<\/a>, which was within stumbling distance of our hotel. I ordered the D\u00fcr\u00fcm wrap (texturally, it was like a softer version of the Turkish pizza we get in Amsterdam) with shavings of that questionable meat and lashings of garlic and chilli sauce. Not one of my finest gastronomic hours, but damn good late-night snacking material.<\/p>\n PS. If you have neither the time nor the energy to go all the way to Germany for gl\u00fchwein<\/em>, I\u2019ve published my own recipe here<\/a> for everyone\u2019s favourite winter drink!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Christmas-market-Aachen-Germany-500x671.jpg\")
Where to eat and drink in Aachen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Traditional German food: Am Knipp<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Am-Knipp-Aachen-500x624.jpg\")
Modern Mediterranean meals: NOIMA<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Korean-inspired brunch: Caf\u00e9 de Luna<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Cafe-de-Luna-Korean-brunch-in-Aachen-500x759.jpg\")
Beer and bites: Caf\u00e9 Kittel<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Coffee with a view: Caf\u00e9 Dom<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.amsterdamfoodie.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Cafe-Dom-Aachen.jpg\")
Cocktail lounge bar: The Gin Library<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Late-night kebabs (but good!): tat Gem\u00fcsekebab\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n