Bavaria

Holidays by Destination Europe Germany Bavaria Eating 

Breakfast is usually bread, cheese and sausage, plus jam, and in hotels and restaurants on Sundays there may be a brunch buffet.

For other meals ham and cheese are staples and along with eggs and the multiple varieties of bread, should provide meals children will eat. Typical of the region are pork, venison, freshwater fish, and locally produced sausages - the archetypal German eating experience, with different styles in different cities.

Vegetables are less popular but fruit bought from country roadside stalls (often strawberry shaped so very visible) can be excellent. There are also village and town markets, and local butchers are often effectively a delicatessen selling also cheese, hot dishes and maybe mayonnaise style salads.

Gasthaus are the places to eat Bavarian food but in the tourist resorts these tend to kitsch rather than genuine. Better stick with places in less fancy surroundings and used by locals - though they can be very noisy and smokey. The Ratskeller, a pub in the cellar of the town hall, usually features local specialities. Weinstuben are alternatives serving decent wine, but usually higher prices. For food with beer see Bierstuben and Bierkeller, pubs usually belonging to a local brewery with seating on long benches.

If all this palls, you will also find Italian pizzerias, Greek tavernas, steak houses, Chinese, Turkish and Balkan restaurants, as well as fast foods of various kinds.

While parents drink Kaffee children will enjoy Kuchen at the traditional cafes selling home-baked cakes.

Almost all restaurants offer a high chair, and menus generally include the option of smaller portions for children, or in resorts children's menus.