TRAVEL DIARIES: Eckerts Bamberg

We arrived in our hotel in Bamberg, Hotel Nepomuk, in the evening after driving from the Mercedes Benz Factory in Rastatt. So, we decided to have dinner in their bar. Even though I was super tired I was able to appreciate the straightforward, striking and no-frills, modern Franconian interior design.

SCHLENKERTA RAUCHBIER

One thing not to be missed in Bamberg is their specialty called Rauchbier or smoked beer. It’s quite a unique and delicious beer that for me and TD tasted a little like bacon, but in a good way. We had the famous Schlenkerla Rauchbier.

Smoked beer or Rauchbier, a type of beer with a distinctive smoke flavour imparted by using malted barley dried over an open flame. The Rauchbiers of Bamberg in Germany, Schlenkerla in particular, are the best-known of the smoked beers. – wikipedia

TD and I shared the homemade black sesame pasta with melted cherry tomatoes and pesto and the sausage salad with farmhouse bread and butter. The servings in Germany are always quite large, so it was a good thing we were famished. Instead of getting two mains that we can’t finish, we usually share a starter and a main course.

HOTEL NEPOMUK BREAKFAST

If you can’t reserve a table al fresco in their terrace don’t worry because we also loved having breakfast inside, right on top of the river. The windows are easy to open for some fresh air. The breakfast is not included in the hotel room price, however with the prices being so reasonable, and with the excellent quality and best view, we didn’t bother looking elsewhere.
The renowned kitchen team of Eckerts reinterprets traditional dishes and prepares mainly fresh regional and seasonal products by hand. Even the bread and jams are prepared in their GenussWerkstatt.

The Classic breakfast has cold cuts, cheese, a soft boiled egg, bag of bread & homemade jam from their “GenussWerkstatt” + orange juice and one hot beverage of your choice. We also added (and this is a must try) two Nürnberger sausages, two scrambled eggs and another coffee.

GENUSSWERKSTATT

The GenussWerkstatt has catering services and holds cooking classes for adults, children and kitchen parties. They also have high quality, regional and seasonal products, from fine oils to fruity jams, to exquisite wines.

The GenussWerkstatt, together with Eckerts, work with the principle of regionality and seasonality. Because fresh produce offers the best quality, the most healthy ingredients and does us and our environment well. You can take classes here that will introduce you to traditional ingredients while creating new dishes, and you will learn more about sourcing high quality regional ingredients and how to prepare them properly. We enjoyed their freshly made bread and homemade jams. The space is again breathtaking in its simplicity and design.

ECKERTS TERRACES

I’ve saved the best for last. We never woke up early enough to get a spot here during breakfast but we loved having dessert or afternoon tea in this beautiful al fresco space. Genuss im Fluss means “enjoyment in the river” and it is the perfect description!

I loved the leather menu holders with the metal button snaps. It’s so clever and makes changing their menus easier, especially since they serve seasonal dishes which can vary weekly. You can find their weekly menu here.

In the evenings the terrace space becomes a bar. So this is the only downside I see to staying in Nepomuk. If you like to sleep early, make sure to ask for a room that does not face the bar. However, if you like to have drinks in the evening and sleep late, then it shouldn’t be a problem.

TOILET DESIGN

I just had to take photos of the well designed toilet for customers. They are nothing but consistent in their straightforward, striking and no-frills modern Franconian interior design.It’s a tiny space but so well designed that guests can even have a seat while they are powdering their noses. There is even a tissue holder/table, and a guestbook full of happy messages from their guests. Everything is clad in wood, yet easily accessible.

Eckerts will forever be a favorite restaurant of mine, not just because of the thoughtful seasonal dishes but because of the interiors and amazing views. Every nook of Eckerts was thoughtfully designed and a true gem in Franconian hospitality.