Becker’s Weinhaus at Becker’s Hotel & Restaurant (Trier, GERMANY) ★★★★☆

We spent the late afternoon touring the heart of Trier, making stops at Trierer Dom (Trier Cathedral), Liebfrauenkirche (the Church of Our Lady), the Konstantin-Basilika (Basilica of Constantine), and the Kurfürstliches Palais (Electoral Palace) before finally driving away.

Our original plan was to stay inside the city of Trier for the night. But with news of a heatwave torching parts of Europe, I took a closer look at our hotel accommodations again before the trip (There were ten of them.). Upon review by AI, one of the hotels was not equipped with air-conditioned rooms and it turned out to be the one in Trier. So, two weeks before the trip, I quickly changed our plans.

The replacement was Becker’s Hotel & Restaurant, a hotel I knew pretty well, thanks to its fine-dining restaurant, which used to boast two Michelin stars. 🌟🌟

We had a very interesting stay at Becker’s Hotel & Restaurant, to say the least. For the part about lodging, I’ll leave that to another post. Here, I’ll just focus on our dining experience at one of its two in-house restaurants — Becker’s Weinhaus.

Under renowned winemaker Wolfgang Becker, Becker’s Hotel & Restaurant offers two entirely different dining concepts: a fine-dining experience at Becker’s Restaurant and a more casual Becker’s Weinhaus, an old-school tavern-style bistro serving high-quality but simple dishes in a rustic vibe. Our stay was on a Sunday, so it was a holiday for the fine-dining restaurant. However, according to their website, the Weinhaus was open on Sundays, even though it didn’t specifically mention the opening time. To make sure they were open for dinner, I emailed the reception a few hours before we arrived. They promptly replied that they would be open for dinner, and we confirmed dinner would be at 7:00 p.m. Looked like we were all set.

But when we came down a little after 7, there was nobody inside except two customers seated at Becker’s Weinhaus. We took a peek into the kitchen, and we could see lights on, but there was no server in the dining room. After about 15 minutes, we decided to leave and check out other nearby restaurants. According to Google Maps, there were two of them, but not surprisingly, both were closed on Sunday.

At that point, we didn’t know what to do next. Should we go back and try our luck again? Or should we take our car and drive back to the city (about a 10-minute drive), where there would be more choices? After a vote, we decided to head back to our room and enjoy a cup of noodles instead.

This was when the phone suddenly rang. A lady asked if we still wanted dinner. It sounded like the two customers in the dining room had told the staff about our arrival (and departure). So we finally got the dinner we were hoping for.

We eventually learned more about what had happened. The restaurant was supposed to be closed on Sunday evenings. The two customers eating there were participants in a cooking event, and their family members were working hard in the kitchen to prepare dishes. All the restaurant staff were helping out, so they were unavailable when we stopped by. Of course, they weren’t expecting any new customers — except us. They were kind enough to offer us dinner service, knowing that there weren’t many restaurants open in the city on a Sunday.

Dinner officially began with a small quiche as a welcome snack.

Next came a refreshing bowl of tomato gazpacho.

Crispy Viennese veal schnitzel (€34) — We’ve had quite a few of these deep-fried veal cutlets on this trip, but these were by far the most delicious. 

Tender, juicy, and deeply satisfying, the veal matched perfectly with the cranberry sauce and wild herb salad.

And who wouldn’t love shoestring fries straight out of the fryer?

Royal sea bream (€38) — Pretty delicate and comforting. The cherry tomato and artichoke gave the dish a nice lift, and I thought the basil foam provided a sublime finishing touch.

Were we singing “Desperato” when we were running out of dinner options? Of course we were. But this meal exceeded our expectations in more ways than one. Our heartfelt gratitude to the team for taking us in. They could have easily given us the stop sign explaining that it was their regular Sunday holiday—but they went above and beyond to make sure we were fed. The cup noodles would have kept us alive for the night, but they wouldn’t have come close to matching the gourmet meal presented in front of us.

With that, I can say we had a pretty successful second visit to Trier. Tomorrow morning, we’re crossing out of France again and ironically, it’s our second visit to Metz. Only this time, we’ll be doing a little bit of glamping.

Food Rating: 6.9/10

Price: €€€

Address: Olewiger Straße 206, 54295 Trier, Germany

Tel: +49 651 938080

Website: http://www.beckers-trier.de/

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 2:30pm (Wed - Sun), 6:00pm - late (Wed - Sat)

My First-Ever Vineyard Visit in Germany — Weingut Kopp

Stepping into Germany’s Baden region for my first-ever vineyard visit felt like walking directly into a postcard.

Nestled near the Black Forest in Sinzheim, Weingut Kopp instantly captured my imagination striking a perfect balance between sleek, modern architecture and deep-rooted tradition.

The estate is surrounded by gently rolling hills covered in meticulously manicured vines, stretching toward the horizon. Breathing in the crisp valley air, I knew right away that simply standing among these historic slopes would be an unforgettable introduction to European wine culture.

The highlight of the journey was exploring the unique terroir and landscape that make this boutique winery so special. Walking along the edge of the vineyards, I looked out over the distinct Feigenwäldchen and Altenberg slopes, learning how Baden’s volcanic and limestone soils shape the future harvest.

Little one got his first taste of vineyard life, getting up close with the vines and experiencing the magic of being surrounded by grapevines.

Even without a formal tasting, seeing where the grapes grow and observing the meticulous care given to the land provided a profound lesson in how dedication to sustainable viticulture becomes the foundation for world-class bottles.

Rather than a traditional glass in hand, my experience was defined by a sensory appreciation of the winery’s stunning architecture and serene atmosphere. The contemporary design blends seamlessly into the natural landscape, offering panoramic views of the Baden countryside — views that are worth the trip all on their own. Engaging with the passionate team and learning about their acclaimed Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) gave me a deep respect for the craftsmanship behind the cellar doors. It also reminded me that a vineyard’s story can be just as intoxicating as its wine.

Needless to say, I left with some of their most prized bottles in my hands.

Leaving the estate with a newfound appreciation for German viticulture, I realized that my first winery visit in Germany had set an incredibly high bar. Weingut Kopp delivered far more than a destination — it offered an authentic, visual connection to the land and to the people who pour their hearts into every vintage. For anyone hoping to discover the modern, exciting side of German winemaking, walking the grounds of this Baden gem is the perfect place to start the journey. I left feeling inspired, and genuinely eager to return for a pour in the future.

Price: €€€

Address: Ebenunger Straße 23, 76547 Sinzheim, Germany, Germany

Tel: +49 7221 803601

Website: https://www.weingut-kopp.com/

Opening Hours: 1:00pm - 6:00pm (Mon - Fri), 12:00pm - 5:00pm (Sat - Sun)

CoBa Baden-Baden Restaurant (Baden-Baden, GERMANY) ★★★☆☆

We missed the highway exit to our burger joint after battling poor traffic conditions in the rain, so I needed to find a random place near Baden-Baden Station to fill the void. With an area that looked more like an industrial district, finding a restaurant wasn't easy but I managed to locate CoBa Baden-Baden Restaurant with my Google Map app.

CoBa Baden-Baden Restaurant is a modern Vietnamese and Japanese fusion spot, decorated with an interesting mix of neon lights and traditional East Asian elements.

The atmosphere was warm and cozy, with a clean, inviting neighborhood-bistro vibe.

What The Pho (€18.9) — You can choose your own toppings here. Surprisingly, we decided to go with chicken fillet instead of the traditional beef, and it turned out to be a pretty unusual combo. The broth was also a little light and not nearly as aromatic as the authentic one we were all accustomed to.

Crazy noodles (€14.9) — The ribbon noodles were tossed with bean sprouts, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, and onions. As with the pho, you can choose your toppings and this time, we picked crispy duck.

The sauce was well-balanced with both savory and sweet flavors but I thought it was a little too overpowering. That said, the "wok hei" was undeniably good (we could actually hear the chef fired up his wok in the kitchen from where we sat).

CoBa was our saving grace late in the afternoon in a kind of no-man’s-land.

Food Rating: 4.8/10

Price: €€€

Address: Ooser Hauptstraße 16, 76532 Baden-Baden-Oos, Germany

Tel: +49 7221 3769869

Website: https://coba-badenbaden.de/

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 3:00pm, 5:00pm - 10:30pm (Tue - Sat), 11:30am - 10:00pm (Sun)

Maison Karl (Stuttgart GERMANY) ★★★★☆

I had time to visit just one dessert shop this evening, so I decided to make it count.

Maison Karl is very much on top of my list when it comes to sweet spots in Stuttgart. It’s a dessert café that also functions as a coffee shop, seamlessly combining contemporary café culture with high-quality, French-inspired patisserie.

The highlights of their desserts include their viral cheesecakes, tiramisu, and a few others — all freshly handmade daily without preservatives in their own artisan kitchen.

There were a number of pastries that caught my eye, and not surprisingly, I had a problem picking out a couple for our late-night snacks tonight. In the end, I decided to consult with the staff here, and she kindly shared two of their signature desserts — their best sellers.

All set!!! 

Karl’s Original (€7.2) — Their modern take on a gourmet cheesecake.

The exceptionally smooth and rich cheesecake in the middle is infused with Madagascar vanilla. It’s nicely decorated with a dense layer of cream cheese, a vibrant strawberry jelly topping, and finished with a crunchy hazelnut biscuit crust.

A pretty filling cheesecake, with both richness from the cheese and fruity notes from the fresh strawberry jelly. 👍👍

Karl’s signature tiramisu (€6.9) — A unique and contemporary twist on the Italian classic. Instead of a traditional loose, scooped tiramisu, it was reimagined as a stand-alone piece with distinctive layers.

The dessert utilizes Maison Karl’s own specialty coffee, creating a deeply aromatic espresso soak. Hidden in the middle is a silky mascarpone cream and a crunchy praline core offering a luxurious, creamy, and crunchy experience. The shell is a Belgian chocolate coating, giving the dessert a crisp outer layer that contrasts beautifully with the relatively soft interior.

It truly felt like having tiramisu. All the flavors and textures were there like a traditional tiramisu, but it also felt more like having an ice-cream bar than a piece of cake. No wonder it’s considered a signature item. During the summer, I bet it’s even more popular thanks to the heat.

Maison Karl’s creations are just as much a visual feast as they are a treat for the palate. We’re so grateful to have the opportunity to experience two of their signature offerings tonight before leaving for France early tomorrow morning.

Food Rating: 7.3/10

Price: €€€

Address: Calwer Straße 50, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany

Tel: +49 711 9357-3591

Website: https://www.maisonkarl.com/

Opening Hours: 9:30am - 9:00pm (Mon - Thu), 9:30am - 10:00pm (Fri - Sat), 10:00am - 8:00pm (Sun)

Feinkost Böhm Restaurant (Stuttgart, GERMANY) ★★★★☆

Feinkost Böhm is Stuttgart’s high-end gourmet market, offering an extensive selection of premium meat, seafood, wines, and desserts. I joked with the team that they’re the “Citysuper of Stuttgart”. (if you happen to live in Hong Kong, you know what I'm talking about...)

What sets Feinkost Böhm apart from a typical market or supermarket is that it also has two in-house dining options. An upscale sushi bar and a gourmet restaurant serving curated European dishes made with the store’s top-notch ingredients.

Since we didn’t have dinner plans tonight, we decided to try the gourmet restaurant which, at first glance, looked every bit like a fine-dining establishment.

We started off with an amuse bouche, a tomato gazpacho.

Since we’ve all been eating a little too much of late, we decided to skip a full appetizer–main–dessert format and ordered a few dishes to share instead.

Beef carpaccio (€22.5) — A timeless combination pairing the paper-thin slices of raw beef with rocket leaves, parmesan chips, and pine nuts. It was a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Tagliolini with prawns and truffle sauce (€40) — This tasted pretty good. The al dente pasta was matched with a truffle sauce that was light and not overpowering. The prawns were nicely cooked working well with the dish.

Pan-fried cod (€42.5) — I picked something from the sea.

The cod was served on a pool of Arctic shrimps, along with sea asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, and artichoke, all in a vegetable-based sauce. Not bad.

This was a pretty enjoyable meal. I was happy we didn’t end up with more typical German dishes like sausages or breaded veal escalope. Everyone seemed tired of the same flavors and presentations already.

Stuttgart is more of a major industrial and business hub than a hardcore tourist destination like Berlin or Munich. We only had time for a few of the attractions nearby including the Palace Square (Schlossplatz), New Palace (Neues Schloss) and Königstraße this time around. Would I come back to Stuttgart for a third visit? Highly unlikely at this point.

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: €€€€

Address: Kronprinzstraße 6, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany

Tel: +49 711 227560

Website: https://feinkost-boehm.de/pages/gourmet-restaurant

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 7:00pm (Mon - Thu), 9:00am - 7:00pm (Fri - Sat)

Le Méridien Stuttgart (Stuttgart, GERMANY)

We’re staying in the fourth city in the last four days. It’s my second visit to Stuttgart, the first since 2012. Despite being the 6th largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has very few accommodation options close to the city centre. I managed to find a few possibilities — mostly boutique hotels in the area but in the end, I chose to stay at a reliable international chain instead. The decision was mainly about its underground parking, something any boutique hotel couldn’t have offered. And with heavy construction going on in the area, that’s an important factor to consider.

We arrived in Stuttgart from Ulm by car in the late afternoon and immediately noticed the ongoing construction of the "Stuttgart 21 central railway station" project, which I heard has been going on for years. Luckily, we didn’t have to search for parking.

Le Méridien Stuttgart was pretty empty when we arrived, so the check-in process didn’t take very long.

Most of the rooms here are the same size (30 sq. metres), but our superior room looked a little smaller than what they indicated. 

Especially with the designer chair, coffee table and desk, there was no room for our luggage and the walking space to the window.

The building that houses Le Méridien Stuttgart was first built in 1988 and later underwent a couple of major renovations after it was rebranded from an InterContinental hotel to a Le Méridien. Nevertheless, its age is starting to show — particularly in the finishes on the walls, among other things.

The bathroom in particular looked as if it had missed the recent renovation (2016). It’s the first part of the room that’s due for a major facelift.

The hotel itself is within walking distance of some of the major attractions in the city, but with multiple major construction sites around, getting there was a nightmare. Instead of a straight line walk, we had to navigate around construction, past Schlossgarten park, and over connecting stairs and footbridges while also avoiding bikers.

The only thing worth reporting was the breakfast buffet, which was outstanding. 

They offer a really good mix of hot and cold dishes, including an egg station where scrambled eggs were prepared to order.

This wasn’t an ideal stay. When I asked my team members to identify their least satisfactory accommodation of this trip, not surprisingly, Le Méridien Stuttgart ranked near the top of everyone’s list. The numbers don’t lie.

P.S. The “Not bad” rating also takes into account the overall experience, including service from the front desk, location, facilities, parking, and breakfast so they kind of counterbalance the negatives.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: €€€€

Address: Willy-Brandt-Straße 30, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany

Tel: +49 711 22210

Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/strmd-le-meridien-stuttgart