4 Best Restaurants in Trier, The Rhineland

This wine estate in the peaceful suburb of Olewig features a gourmet restaurant with four- and five-course prix-fixe menus. Bordeaux and Burgundy wines are available in addition to the estate's own wines, and wine tastings, cellar visits, cooking classes and guided tours on the wine path can be arranged. In addition to the gourmet restaurant, the hotel also has a wine bar serving regional cuisine and a more casual wine tavern.

The name means "gourmet owl," and, indeed, the chef caters to gourmets in the 19th-century Palais Walderdorff complex opposite the cathedral. Truffles are a specialty, along with excellent fish. Wines from top German estates, particularly from the Mosel are featured, along with an extensive selection of reds.

Daily soups and stews, hearty fare, cold snacks, and fresh, regional cuisine are served with wines from the Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt estate. The Tagesgericht (daily special) and Aktionsmenü (prix-fixe menu) are a good bet; Das Beste der Region (the region's best) is an ample selection of local hams, cheeses, fish, and breads, served on a wooden board for two.

Whether you dine inside or out, don't miss the collection of Roman artifacts displayed in the cellar. In addition to the German dishes on the regular menu, you can order à la carte or prix-fixe based on recipes attributed to the Roman gourmet Marcus Gavius Apicius in the evening.