Stuttgart

The Bohnenviertel (beans district) is the oldest and perhaps most charming neighbourhood of Stuttgart. Although some things have changed here, you'll still find three very original wine taverns - in the rustic restaurant "Zur Kiste" (At the box). Whence the name? We don't know. Maybe because almost everything here is made of wood, because the three little taverns are stacked like boxes onto one another, or because there is so little space that you almost feel like you are stuck in a box. Never mind, it only makes it more cosy. As a base for the wine you get Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli), meat fritters or briskets of beef. The wine is slightly overpriced, in order to sell more of the beer from the in-house brewery. However, if you come for the traditional Viertelesschlotzen (Swabian vernacular for drinking quarters of wine), you might have to bite the bullet. In any event, you are not alone: There are artisans, politicians, professors, directors, artists, the talkative and the quiet.

Is this a nightclub? Or an escort agency? Don`t be fooled by the velveteen name of the restaurant. It`s a restaurant offering Haute Cuisine of the finest kind. Until not long ago, the chef, Matthias Herrmann. has cooked for the star-rated Zirebnstube. Now he has ended up in the red-light district of Stuttgart. Not because he fell from his glory, but because he can realize his own culinary ideas in the restaurant of Remo Heine. The menu changes daily and is just as short as it is creative. Rarely do you find more than six dishes, but all of them are so delicious that the gourmet will have a hard time deciding. The interior is, just like the name, reminiscent of Paris: Slightly luxurious, but not overly so. Very stylish and also comfortable.

Have you had enough of Maultaschen? Then grab a pizza for a change. That is one of those perfect pizzas that far extend beyond the edge of the plate. True Italy lovers will even pass over the yummy pizzas and go for vitello tonnato, saltimbocca, crostini or scallopine. Lovely! Punto Fisso is more than a pizzeria, it's a trendy meeting spot for the young and old, for bobos and the creative class, for students and the alternative, for the babbler and taciturn - and it has been for 16 years now. The ristorante is authentic, a trattoria that also works as a pub. In summer time it's simply wonderful to sit in the garden watching people and eating. You can talk about anything here, the funny, the melancholic, the philosophical and the banal. And nowhere does a glass of wine taste better than here.

If you come here you'll hit two fleas at one blow, because not only the flea market is great, the Karlsplatz, too, is worth a trip. In the middle of the square, which is lined by trees, you find a mighty stone lion. On Saturdays, however, the beast seems to disappear behind the immense accumulation of antiques, trinkets, useful and beautiful stuff. If you look for it you'll really find anything on this market. The quality is variable, you do have to push aside a lot of rubbish to find true gems. Yet this is part of the game, and locals have been enjoying it for 25 years now. Two things that are absolutely part of a visit to the flea market: Dedicated haggling - something is always possible - and a small beer at the takeaway. Maybe a sausage to go with it and you've made your day.

It's always twice as fun if you do something in a foreign city that normally only locals do. Such as visiting city libraries. Try it out in Stuttgart at the Mailänder Platz. In case of this new facility one is even prepared for sightseeing visitors. An audio guide leads through the architectonically interesting addition to the inner city of Stuttgart. Two routes can be chosen from in the guide: apart from a library route that introduces offer and usage there's also an architectural route which might be particularly interesting for city tourists. The latter will explain to you the extraordinary concept of the South Korean architect Eun Young Yi who has equipped the cuboid shaped building with an outer shell  of glass blocks and an inner one with glass. Don't miss the so-called heart, a room which is four levels high located in the middle of the building. Above the heart, you'll find a funnel-shaped gallery hall that is limited by a glass room - for a divine reading experience.

It's been a lot of work, the new playhouse in Stuttgart. As early as August 2010 the leading state theatre has started to strip down the old stage machinery including the auditorium and foyer. They got rid of more than 250 tons of steel, the mentioned areas have been completely gutted. Re-opening: June 2013. When the view in the auditorium is impaired one needs a steeper floor. Preferably a parquet floor and not a linoleum covered floor. Et voilá they say in the playhouse, topped up and exchanged! More than 160 seats were too much - that now got knocked out! For an improved acoustic. Parts of the foyer got a new stone floor and a new illuminated ceiling, the natural facade was thoroughly cleaned. In addition they built three double-deck podiums and installed a revolving stage. For even more art appreciation! Bravo!

You don't care about a central location? Then the Hexenhäusle (witch house) is a charming and authentic alternative to the hotels in the city centre. It's hardly possible to get a cheaper place - which is why you can take the liberty to hire one or the other taxi. The rooms are bright, decorated in a sunny yellow and spotlessly clean. The hotel was last renovated in 2007, and since then everything has been shining in a warm glow. There are sinks in the rooms, yet no showers - those are on the floors for common use. If you want to save even more, you can bring your own towels and bed linen, otherwise you have to rent them. And if you don't feel like making your way into the city centre at night, you can settle down in the hostel garden or play table football with the other guests. Doubles start at 16 euros a night per person, and for longer-term residents (one month stay) there is a special tariff of 11 euros per person.

If you book a room in the Meridien, you know what to expect: Luxury of the most sophisticated kind. In this case directly in front of the magnificent, green Schlossgarten (palace garden). The 281 rooms have an elegant and modern touch, and if you'd prefer something even more up-scale you can book one of the 25 suites. Whichever category you decide on, all rooms provide a perfect retreat after a turbulent day in the city. Nothing seems overdone here, the colour combinations are subtle and the precious furniture is pleasantly reserved. The service is complemented with the fantastic restaurant Le Cassoulet, which offers a great mix of regional and French cooking. The spa area lures you with a wonderful pool, steam bath, sauna and a number of treatments. Whether you are on holidays or working, in the Meridian everything is a pleasure. Doubles start at 193 euros a night.

This hotel kills two birds with one stone. It's close to the city centre, just like you wish for as a city hopper. Additionally it's located in a quiet, green area - which is unusual for a hotel with such a proximity to the city centre. If you come home from your shopping expedition or cultural trip in the city you can afterwards take a stroll through the forest or have a match on the tennis court. In the fitness and sauna area with view on the forest relaxation and recharging your batteries are on the daily agenda. The 94 rooms and two suites are dominated by a modern country style, combining historical and contemporary design. In the recently refurbished hotel complex the guest finds among natural materials like oak, marble and felt a harmonious atmosphere for recreation - and in this way experiences an exciting connection to the forest in front of the door. 

Mrs. Opatril has probably never heard of the word subtle, and if she has, she has forgotten it immediately. She designs bags, hats, coats and shoes. Nothing more and nothing less. Yet she draws from an exclusive pool of ideas and puts at least a piece of fur, leather, gold or silver onto every single piece. Sounds frumpy? Only in the rarest of cases. Most of her fashion is striking, colourful and tailor-made for extravagant customers. Of course, PETA activists would not be amused, they would find more than one reason to protest. The raccoon fur bag is only suited for ladies who don't lose much sleep over living animals. The furs of Antelopes, foxes, calves, minks and rabbits are all available. The most interesting creation is the silver leather hat aviator-style. It's padded with coloured rabbit fur, and is not only warm but also an absolute looker.

Sichtbar (visible) helps you to keep everything in perspective and look great at the same time: In the purist and stylishly designed shop you only find selected pieces, and many of the glasses have come in directly from one or the other trendy fashion week. Sichtbar not only promises the latest trends but also keeps its promise. The labels are national and international - a good mix. They include: Dsquared, Oliver Goldsmith, IC!Berlin, Mykita, Marni, Oliver Peoples, Paul Frank, REIZ, Robert La Roche, Tom Ford. And if you have perfect eyesight, don't be sad - there's a huge selection of sunglasses, too. You won't just find the perfect advice when it comes to style, the optician's team, too, is extremely capable and has an individual solution for every desire. Custom-made designs are part of the standard programme. Tip: For the lovely little ones you can get the wonderfully colourful glasses by Bbig.

If you get a new outfit in the Weltenbürger (citizen of the world), you might as well just have come back from looting flea markets in New York. The shop is dedicated to American fashion, however, that of yesterday, or more precisely from the time between 1950 and 1990. Are you looking for Alice-Cooper shirts, like Boho dresses and Members Only jackets? How lucky you are: The shop's owner, Bryan Sanderson, has collected all of that for you. Be inspired by what you see: Bryan calls his concept fashion laboratory and asks his customers to experiment with the clothes. Boys' and girls' corners? Forget it. You will see whether or not it fits, says the vintage expert. The owner is a world's citizen himself, and his temporary shop might disappear as fast as it has sprung up. Tip: Great finds are always welcome. If you have got any chic retro clothes yourself you can swap or sell them here.