Stuttgart

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!

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.

Once upon a time... there were people with lots of money. For example King William I., who had a private garden built that would put row house owners on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Today the former retreat of the royal has been converted into a public garden, attracting 2.1 million visitors a year. Special feature: It's a zoological-botanical garden, with exotic animals as well as unusual plants. Free guided tours will help you when your biological and botanical knowledge is exhausted after the first few steps.   The complex was designed in a Moorish style by the architect Karl Ludwig von Zanth. The Swabian kign flirted with the idea of an Alhambra at the Neckar. Today the Moorish country house, the ballroom and the Damascene Hall are reminiscent of that. Take your time, there's a lot to discover that even turns the most hardened city dwellers into nature lovers: magnolia, lily pond, subtropical terraces and a sea of flowers. On top of everything you have lots of wild animals that you would expect in a zoo.

The pleasures of the night are the main points on the agenda of the concept store Night Delight in Stuttgart. Spread over 35 square metres of minimalist architecture Ulrike Brucher offers a range of fine products: lingerie (for example by Huit, Stella McCartney, Princess Tam Tam), cosmetics (Escentric Molecules, Jimmyjane) and jewellery (Saskia Diez, Arena CPH).   She explicitly wants her customers to sample the fragrances or slip into the sheer silk pieces. In the meantime you can taste the hand-made chilli chocolate. The in-house Ecoline received the must-have seal by women's magazine Elle.   The store concept even exceeds its opening hours. In this sense, you can find the so-called Slip-O-Mat by Night Delight in selected bars in Stuttgart and Berlin that provides female nighthawks wearing the wrong undies with the essentials for a hot adventure: a fine string and a pack of teeth cleaning tablets.

Göppingen lies almost exactly halfway between Stuttgart and Ulm, and is hardly known as a fashion Mecca. Nevertheless, two guys got together there to turn their shared love of fashion and neon prints into the label Fetter Clothing. Revelling through the Stuttgart night you will see them more and more often: The shirts, hoodies and bags that are so characteristic one will always place them correctly. The not entirely secret to success: Print, print, print, in all the colours that people used to love in the 80s. You'll see neon sunglasses on jumpers and even the modified smiley has a revival. The bags are simple shoppers made of fabric, which are perfect for going to the library or swimming.

The blood sisters have long been a star at the fashion heavens that no one wants to miss! And where did this never-ending family story begin? 2001, in a little shack near the Stuttgart train station. The founders of the label, Christina Haneberg and Karin Ziegler, have long passed this stage: As early as 2003 they won the first award for best fashion designer newcomers. Blood sisters attract attention, after all. Their collections are popular all over Europe, but since you happen to be at the point of origin you should absolutely visit the main shop in Stuttgart, the L'aufbrezelsteg. Take at least one piece of this unconventional, authentic, amazing, unique, exciting and passionate fashion home with you.

At Tasca in Feui you will experience southern flair in Swabian country. The small restaurant offers Portuguese and Spanish cuisine, and the furnishing looks exactly how would you imagine in a family-run business: Tightly standing tables, not too many of them. Not very stylish but very cosy. The head of the house, Barry-James Hackh, greets you and serves olives, garlic dip and bread as a starter. His wife is the cook, and she really knows what she's doing. Whether you choose something from the daily menu or à la carte , it doesn't really matter. The fish platter for two with its great variety of tastes is particularly recommended. Attention: Sides are ordered extra, as is common in Spain and Portugal. And keep some room for the dessert - fans of Portugal know why!

Cornelia and Gert Habener, the owners of the épicerie fine, love France; so much so that they apparently had a hard time coming to terms with Swabian cooking. So they started to import treats and ingredients from France. What they make from it? Croissants, cheese platters, ratatouille or entrecôte. The lunch menus for about 10 euros are particularly popular, and all of Stuttgart comes here to celebrate French cuisine. Who's surprised? The cuisine is light but excellent, and the carefully chosen glass of wine is a blessing.   The shop is located in a former bakery, which was renovated and radiates in its renewed old charm. The guests cannot help but enjoy life and devote themselves to the most beautiful things in life: eating, drinking, music, talking, laughter, art - in short, everything that sweetens one's life. Come for the petit déjeuner, than you'll know exactly what we mean: The épicerie fine is a piece of Paris in the middle of Stuttgart.

In the Middle Ages, the Wilhelmplatz was a stage for executions. Today not much worse could happen than that you walk past and don't enter the Cibo Mato with a hungry stomach. The Lounge Bar is one of the most urbane restaurants in Stuttgart - it might as well be sitting in New York or Paris. Purists will just settle down in the summer lounge, on one of the white sofas. And if you prefer it a bit more playful, you can look for a space in the orient lounge and enjoy the smoke of the shishas under a violet velvet sky.   The food in the restaurant, tapas and finger food from all over the world but with a primarily Asian touch, is very tasty. We recommend, above all, breakfast and steak. The former can be had until 11 p.m. (on weekends only until 2.30 p.m., then as a buffet). The latter is available as Rib Eye, bison, Frisian or dry-matured beef.

Don't feel like too many knick-knacks? Welcome to the Pension Riehle. Here you live in one of the 32 rooms that can safely describe as functional but comfortable. A bed, a table, a chair, wooden floor, skylights, airy curtains. The inn is perfect for guests who appreciate a cosy and down-to-earth environment and don't need any extravagances to have a nice holiday. The location is great for culture lovers, since it's only a brush stroke away from the Stuttgart State Gallery. This can be very handy, because if you want to really do justice to the collections of paintings, sculptures, and graphic design, you'll have to visit the museum several times. Attention: Not all rooms have an en-suite bathroom. Doubles start at about 48 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. 

If you want to drop into your freshly made hotel bed right after arriving in town, you should book a room in the Hotel Unger. It is only one minute away from the train station, right in city centre. The disadvantage: It is not exactly tranquil. The advantage: The availability of public transport is perfect, and many highlights in the city can be reached on foot. The hotel is therefore the perfect place for business travellers and jet-setters. The 130 rooms are clean and furnished with natural materials, so that allergic persons can spend the night here without problems. The breakfast is legendary, and you will be perfectly set for a busy day in the city, whether you are on a private or business mission: smoked salmon, shrimp and the best regional delicacies. Doubles start at about 175 euros a night.