A Celiac’s Gluten Free Guide to Germany

In North America, buying flour is an easy task. You go to the supermarket, you pick up a bag of all-purpose flour, and you go home. Presto! In Germany, it’s more complicated and the varieties of flour are a surprise to those of us from the US and Canada. Type 405 is for pastries, Type 812 for breads, and then there’s Type 550, which is the closest to what we call all-purpose flour in Canada. Oh, and there’s also Type 1150 (rye flours) and Type 1800 (pumpernickel flour), as well as many others. These numbers represent the amount of ash; the higher the ash content, the “more whole grain” the flour is.

In a country seemingly enamoured with its gluten-filled flours, what’s a celiac to do? Have no fear, eating safely in Germany is possibility. During my visits, I was able to find simple meat and vegetable dishes, as well as salads. And while gluten free options aren’t as prevalent in bakeries, shops do carry many products that you can use to cook at home.

Hopefully this guide helps you find your way through a visit to Germany while eating as safely as possible. I have included links to other guides I trust as well. Safe travels, and safe eating!

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A detailed gluten free restaurant card for Germany

This detailed gluten free restaurant card will help communicate your eating restrictions, and allow you to understand what is safe and unsafe from the menu. Any ingredient names and dishes within the card are also double checked for accuracy to ensure they will be understood within different regions in Germany.

Note: The card is available for purchase via Gumroad, a trustworthy 3rd party site that uses https, so you know your information is safe.

Why is this gluten free card different?

I tried different translation cards on my travels, and I still got sick. I may be more sensitive than some celiacs, but even a small amount of oil for frying that had contact with gluten, or wheat-thickened sauce in the food, is enough to make me ill for days. Let alone the joint pain later that week, and the fatigue.

This card is different because:
✅ Immediate download, sized specifically for mobile. You can save it to your phone and have it with you as you travel, or you can print it out and laminate it to take along. I will also send a second downloadable file, a PDF version that is easy to print, with English on one side and German on the other so that you can follow along.
✅ It uses local ingredients and lists of what you can/cannot eat help you eat safely, not just “I can’t eat gluten”.
✅  Unlike less-detailed cards, this card explains that surfaces or oils that have cross-contact with gluten are also unsafe.
✅ It is researched by a celiac and goes through two sets of translations to ensure accuracy.

A big thanks for translating skills to Frank, whose wife is a diagnosed celiac, and to Max for his schnitzel photo.

Eating gluten free in Germany

Dishes and snacks

The following dishes are commonly wheat-free in Germany, as confirmed by translators, my travels in Germany, and German readers who are also celiac. As with any destination, at home or abroad, it’s important to confirm on a case-by-case basis that no flour was used in the sauces, or to thicken soups or stews.

• Sauerkraut: finely shredded fermented cabbage, often served warm with pork or sausages.
• Gurkensalat: cucumber salad, traditionally dressed with vinegar, sour cream and dill (SO GOOD).
• Kartoffelsalat: Potato salad, usually made with a cream or mayonnaise base in Northern Germany, and a vinegar and broth base in the South. May be served warm or cold, and may include additions such as bacon, pickles, eggs or radish. For mayonnaise dressing, confirm made in house and not with wheat-added store bought mayo.
• Rinderrouladen: Rolled beef with onions and bacon, but check gravy. Recipe traditionally calls for corn starch but as always bouillon cubes or flour may be substituted.
• Tomatensalat: Tomato salad, usually made with freshly chopped herbs, chopped onions, oil, and vinegar.
• Braten mit Rotkohl: Roast with red cabbage – again check gravy.
• Erbsensuppe: split pea soup, traditionally flour-free. Confirm that is the case.
• Fleisch: Meat, specifically meats that are grilled (gegrillt), baked (im Ofen gegart) or roasted (gegrillt/gebraten). Confirm any marinades, avoid breading and gravy.
• Gemüse: Fresh, grilled or roasted vegetables. Ask about marinades, and avoid breading, tempura, or gravy.
• Eisbein: salt-cured, sometimes smoked, pork knuckle. Get it without the sauce/gravy.
• Käse: cheese, though watch out for cream cheeses (some thickened with wheat byproducts) and specialities like beer cheese (Bierkäse or Weisslacker), which aren’t safe.
• Milchreis: rice pudding, often topped with cinnamon/sugar or fruit.
• Frucht:  fruit.

Celiac-safe shopping and grocery stores in Germany

There are quite a few places to buy gluten free ingredients, from local supermarkets to bigger chain stores and organic shops.

Generally:

• Reformhaus – General word for a health (food) store
• Bioladen/ Biomarkt – Organic Store / Organic (Super)Market

The following supermarkets sell gluten free products. Note that many larger grocery chains in Germany carry gluten-free foods, marked with the words glutenfrei or the German Celiac Society (DZG) logo. The logo features the “crossed grain symbol,” an international symbol that means consumers can trust that the food is certified for celiacs. Per the Association for European Celiac Societies, “the Crossed Grain Trademark is widely recognised by members of international coeliac organisations and a high proportion of non coeliac, but gluten intolerant, consumers as a source of trust and reassurance that a product is safe to eat. Our Europe wide licensing system means that one trademark license gives producers and retailers the right to use the Crossed Grain Trademark on their gluten free sales in over 30 European countries.”

Products cannot be licensed if they hold a risk for cross-contact.

• Edeka: The largest supermarket corporation in Germany, with shops ranging from corner markets to massive “hypermarkets.” As is the case with each of the chains listed, the larger and more central the store, the more likely to have a broader gluten free range.
• Rewe: A supermarket chain that stocks gluten-free products in their locations around the country.
• Spar: A subset chain of Edeka group, sells smaller selection of gluten free products that include rice cakes, corn pastas, and more.
• Kaufland: has ranges of gluten-free and organic products
• Globus: at least some stores have designated gluten-free sections
• DM Drogerie: A drugstore chain that has a dedicated gluten free product section, per reader Marie.
• Real: A hypermarket (with food and home appliances and much more) found around the country.
• Rossman: A drugstore chain in Köln that carries several gluten free products. They have an online shop as well. 
• Alnatura: An organic food shop with locations in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Potsdam. They have a range of organic and gluten free products.
• SuperBioMarkt: A gourmet organic grocery store chain with a selection of gluten free products.
• NaturPur: An organic beauty shop in Dudenhofen with gluten free products. You can also shop for gluten free products online.

Germany’s Celiac Society’s website has office info and contact information in English here.

Helpful phrases for a celiac in Germany

• Kann Spuren von Gluten enthalten: may contain traces of gluten
• Gluten (gluten)
• Weizen / Weizenstärke (wheat / wheat flour)
• Gerste / Gerstenmalz / Gerstenmalzextrakt (barley / barley malt / barley malt extract)
• Roggen (rye)
• Hafer (oat)
• Dinkel (spelt)
• Grünkern (unripe spelt grain)
• Einkorn (einkorn)
• Kamut (kamut)
• Bulgur (bulgur)
• Weizeneiweiß (wheat protein)
• Weizenkleber (wheat “glue”)
• Seitan (seitan)

Suggested Google searches to find GF smaller stores in Germany

Reader Frank suggests using the following searches to find tinier organic or gluten free shops in Germany if you are in the rural areas:

Bioladen+Town

Biomarkt+town

Reformhaus+town

Also, check out Schar’s list of gluten free spots find eats, here. Their database includes restaurants, pizzerias, cafés, bars or ice cream parlours, as well as listings of shops that sell gluten free products.

Gluten free dining in Germany: restaurants and bakeries

A note about allergen notices: unlike in North America, where menus usually say “gluten free” or “vegetarian” in Europe you will often see notes about the allergens themselves. So instead of saying “gluten free”, the menu may denote that an item has gluten in it.

In Germany, this is done via the letter “A”, which stands for allergen A meaning grains containing. The German word for phrase for this allergen is “Glutenhaltiges Getreide“, meaning “containing gluten”, and it refers to products or menu items with gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats (these are included here), spelt, and more, as well as products made from them.

Gluten free restaurants in Munich

• Gasthof Obermaier offers a gluten free option for the majority of their menu. An excellent place to try Bavarian specialties in safe way, including millet beer.
• Tushita Teahouse features a beautiful, inviting space with vegan and gluten free treats and a sprawling tea menu to choose from. Their menu changes daily, and if you wanted less than a meal, they have a selection of gluten free sweets and desserts to choose from, all of which are made with organic ingredients.
• Echt Jetzt Bäckerei is a bakery and cafe with 100% gluten free breads and sweets, including soft pretzels and tasty, sweet buns.
• Cupcake 4 You Gluten-free is, as the name suggests, a 100% gluten free cupcake shop that also sells macarons, savoury tarts, and cake pops, as well as custom cakes.
• Another 100% gluten free spot, Palm Tree Club not only has breakfast, savoury bowls, curries, sandwiches, and (randomly) pho, but they also bake their own bread fresh every day.
• Pizzesco has gluten free pizza, prepared on separate surfaces and cooked in a separate oven, as well as lactose free options.
• Das Metta is a gluten free cafe-bakery with plenty of savoury and sweet options to choose from, including cinnamon rolls, sandwiches, and bread. 
• While not fully GF, Wirtshaus am Bavariapark is a spacious Bavarian beer garden with gluten free items marked on the menu and, at the time of writing a separate fryer for them. (Please confirm when eating there that the fryer is still separate.)
• Naxos Taverna is another not-fully GF restaurant that offers delicious Greek specialties, but their menu is clearly marked for gluten free items (even online) and the staff is knowledgeable about CC.
• Ooh Baby I like it raw (what a name!) is a small cafe serving coffees, Instagram-ready avocado toasts and bagels, as well as pastries. The toast and bagels can be made with gluten free breads, though as always confirm preparation for cross-contact when ordering. Limited gluten free sweets on offer as well.
• Pancake am Tor is a breakfast spot serving delicious pancakes, with gluten free items marked on the menu — including those pancakes, which can be made GF with an added fee of 1.50 euros. Confirm upon ordering that the griddle is cleaned off carefully before a gluten free pancake is made, and/or that they have a dedicated surface for cooking the GF pancakes. They said upon being contacted that they were careful in this way, but for something this specific, I always check when I order too.
• Der Kleine Flo serves up burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Thee menu does not mark gluten free foods but the burgers can be served on gluten free focaccia 
• Drunken Cow does not have a gluten free menu, but burgers can be made with a gluten free bun, and there is a dedicated fryer for fries. Confirm fryer before ordering.
• Isabella Patisserie is a family business that started a decade ago with a celiac diagnosis, and now has 9 locations in 7 different cities in Germany, including Munich. The others are in Aachen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, and Stuttgart.
• Pommes Freunde does not have a dedicated gluten free menu. Only the fries and sauces are labelled as gluten free, but staff confirmed the wvrst is also safe to eat.
• If your non-celiac party wants beer, Hofenbraus has some food for you to eat (though no beer that’s safe). They have an allergen menu with marked notes about which items contain gluten, and a dedicated space in the kitchen. Celiac readers report that they were able to eat here safely, but that getting an allergen menu wasn’t always easy. Caveat emptor for this one.

Gluten free restaurants in Freiburg im Breisgau

• Das Kartoffelhaus– “the potato house” in Freiburg has gluten free, lactose free, and vegan menus, as well as strong emphasis on regionally sourced foods. Although the menu includes a few Asian inspired dishes, there are plenty more traditional dishes to try, including potatoes made all sorts of ways!
• Yepa Yepa is a Mexican restaurant that offers tacos, soup, tostadas, and nachos all with 100% corn tortillas. Vegetarian options also available. Be sure to confirm knowledge of CC as they also serve some dishes with wheat flour tortillas, if customers prefer them.
• Burger Chalet has gluten free buns for burgers and staff are versed on gluten free requirements for celiacs. Onion rings are made with potato flour. 
• Huber is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant with gluten free foods clearly marked on the menu. The menu is varied, ranging from torta española, to hummus, dal, side dishes and salads, as well as a dish of the day.
• Pizzeria Bellosguardo can make any pizza or pasta dish gluten free upon request. They have a nice outdoor patio area, which is lovely on a warm day.
• Incontro Gelato, Caffè & Frozen Yogurt has several gelato flavours that are gluten free. It’s located near Martinstor, the medieval gate tower.
• Süden has a couple of gluten free dishes marked on the menu, and others may be safe as well. Verify with the staff before ordering. All of the sauces are gluten free.

Gluten free restaurants in Bonn

• Cay Tre Restaurant has a menu with listed allergens, but as always confirm that items are gluten free before ordering. Vietnamese food has many naturally gluten-free dishes (as you can see in my celiac guide to Vietnam!), but when made outside Vietnam sometimes soy sauce (with wheat) or other gluten-containing ingredients can be used. In this case, the classics like the phở options (with different cuts of meat) are safe.
• Isabella Glutenfreie Pâtisserie has several locations in Germany, including Bonn. They have cakes, desserts, and breads.
• Burgermanufaktur can make all of the burgers on the menu gluten free, with the exception of the veggie burger.
• Royal India’s menu marks dishes that contain gluten with “A”, like many other menus in Germany. Still, it is a good idea to speak to the staff when ordering. They are familiar with celiac needs and very helpful. The biryani and currys are very good here.
• Bono Fresh and Tasty Burgers and bowls can be made gluten free on request. For the bowls, there are two unsafe bases (bulgur and couscous) but you can pick basmati rice or wild greens as your base to build a bowl that is gluten free. Toppings include grilled cheese, grilled chicken, and more; be sure to clarify you’re celiac so you don’t get any wheat toppings (like croutons).

Gluten free restaurants Dusseldorf

• As per my note in Munich, in Dusseldorf, Isabella’s Gluten Free Patisserie is as safe as it sounds, serving up beautifully-crafted sweets and pastries since 2014.
• Backbrüder is a 100% gluten free bakery with breads and rolls, croissants, cakes, tarts and biscuits, bagels, and cinnamon rolls.
• Also 100% gluten free is Ruthis Cafe & Bistro, named after the founder’s mother Ruth who has celiac disease. Offering breakfast bowls with granola, avocado bread, ice cream, or freshly baked waffles during brunch, the cafe is also open for lunch and dinner, with burgers, quiches, and salads on offer.
• Reader Vera wrote in to recommend Cucina Italiana for gluten free pizza and gluten free pasta.
• Space Burger has been serving up gourmet burgers and fries since 1997, and burgers can be served on a gluten free bun. It’s important to notify them that you are celiac and need the bun to be toasted in a separate pan as they do not do this automatically.
• Restaurant Da Noi is an Italian restaurant with antipasti, pizza, and pasta. Dishes with gluten are marked on the menu with “A”, and several dishes can be made gluten free for an extra 3.50 euros. All pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven and there is risk of cross-contact.
• Frittenwerk does not indicate which dishes are gluten free on the menu, but they do have a helpful allergen chart. Some celiacs have reported there is a dedicated fryer, but it is best to double-check before ordering.
• Lina’s Coffee is a trendy spot to grab a beverage and a snack, with a health-focused menu. They have gluten free pancakes and grain bowls. Gluten free bagels are available for an additional 3 euros.
• Bistro Erminig is a brightly lit restaurant serving galettes made with 100% buckwheat flour. Most of the crêpes are savoury — which honestly is my preference! But I know many of you like a sweet version so I’m specifying.
• Oak Berry serves açai bowls, and most of the toppings are gluten free with the exception of granola. They have two locations in Germany, one in Dusseldorf and the other in Köln.

Gluten free restaurants in Frankfurt

• Glutenfreie Kaffeebar by Alex is, as the name suggests, an excellent option for celiacs. Cakes, waffles, coffee, and more, it’s a perfect stop for a snack when you’re hungry and want to stay safe in Frankfurt.
• A 45 minute drive from Frankfurt, Arici’s Cafe & Eis (an ice cream shoppe) has gluten free (and some dairy free!) treats on offer, including the elusive gluten free ice cream cone, as well as sundaes, milkshakes, and more.
• For German food, head to Schuchs Restaurant, where their menu is clearly marked for gluten (and lactose!) free items, and staff is knowledgeable about celiac disease. Their homemade apple sausages are gluten free and delicious, as is their sparerib dish.
• Heroes Burger has gluten free buns (as well as meat-free options too), and their menu clearly marks all allergens. Be sure to confirm no cross-contact with cooking surfaces.
• Pizza Sicilia has gluten free crusts and will cook them on a separate pan for celiacs. It also has gluten free pastas. Kitchen is shared, however staff is knowledgeable about celiac. Confirm cross-contact needs prior to dining.
• Other pizza options are Pizza Mille Lire, with both gluten free pizza and pasta on the menu, or Vito Pizza Pasta, with gluten free (corn and rice) pies for their pizzas available upon request. Again, please discuss cross-contact before ordering.
• Mainkai Cafe serves breakfast and brunch, as well as other treats, and has a menu that clearly denotes gluten and vegan options. Not a huge GF selection, but a good bet if you have a mixed party of different allergen-needs.
• Saravanaa Bhavan is a chain of South Indian restaurants that can be found in Frankfurt, as well as Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, and more. South Indian food has many gluten free options, like idli and dosa. Best to discuss with the restaurant prior to booking in, but their extensive menu offers those dishes as well as biryani and other gluten free options. The fryer is shared, so anything deep fried will be off limits.
• A higher-end Indian food option is Curry Club, with organic, fresh ingredients and a menu that lists each grain that contains gluten, and staff that is knowledgeable about the disease.
• Plants & Cakes Raw Cakery & Juice Bar is a dedicated gluten free bakery with delicious cakes, squares, and other desserts. The food here is also free of animal products and refined sugars.
• Joolina Cakery is also 100% gluten free. They make cakes, squares, and pressed juices. They also have a small lunch menu.
• Readers report that Sachsenhäuser Feinbäckerei has gluten free breads and pastries that are kept away from gluten-containing ingredients and cooked on separate surfaces, but it is not a gluten free establishment and I have not been myself.

Gluten free restaurants in Hamburg

• Rudolph’s in Hafencity, Hamburg offers the majority of their pizzas, pastas and Mediterranean dishes in a gluten free version, as well as gluten free beer.
• Isabella Glutenfreie Pâtisserie has several locations in Germany, including Bonn. As the name suggests, they’re right up our alley! They have cakes, desserts, and breads.
• Café Himmlische Versuchung is 100% gluten free cafe. The menu features cakes and tarts, as well as avocado bread, quiche and soup. The food is also dairy free.
• Nord Coast Coffee has no dedicated gluten free menu, but dishes with gluten are marked with an “8”. (Unlike other menus, “A” here means “caffeine”, not gluten — so be sure to make a note of this!) For breakfast, they have cornbread waffles with poached eggs, ham, and chipotle cream which is quite good.
• Mama Trattoria gluten free foods are clearly marked on its menu (with “GLU”, just to change things up), with selections that include caprese salad, primavera bowl, and pizzas, as well as other menu items. With no separate gluten free prep area, please confirm how the pizzas are cooked (is there a separate pan to cook it under) when ordering. At the time of writing, they do cook the GF pizzas with a tray under them to avoid cross-contact.
• Ti Breizh is a crêperie with savoury gluten free buckwheat galettes. The menu has quite a few options. Sweet crêpes are made with wheat but they can be made using buckwheat for an extra 1.50 euros.
• Capriccio, like many Italian restaurants, can accommodate gluten free diners and are well-trained in cross-contact and other concerns. Most meat and pasta dishes can be made gluten free, and they have a rotating handwritten menu that they post to their Facebook page.
• NOM Vietnamese has a few dishes that are safe for celiacs. Anything marked with “A” contains wheat, and “F” has soy. The soy should be fine, but ask if gluten free soy is used before ordering.
• Dean & David is a trendy health-focused restaurant. Gluten free dishes are clearly marked on the menu, and include grain bowls, salads, and currys. They have a yummy mango coconut rice pudding. They have several locations throughout Germany.

Gluten free restaurants in Berlin

• Jute Bäckerei in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg is a gluten free bread lover’s paradise. In addition to the buns and baguettes, they’ve got crispbreads, pastries, and gluten free loaves galore. If you happen to be around Berlin on a Sunday morning, they’ve even got a small breakfast menu.
• Mecato Berlin is another 100% gluten free spot, this time a Colombian restaurant with a menu featuring corn arepas, empanadas made with corn instead of wheat, sweet fried plaintains, and pandebono (which is similar to Brazilian pão de queijo, but sometimes includes corn flour in addition to the tapioca flour or cassava starch).
• Another bakery option is Eis Voh, which originally started as an ice cream shop. Now, they’ve expanded to offer baguettes, rolls, carrot cakes, seed breads, and their own sourdough loaves. They also have many different cakes, pies, pastries, and of course homemade ice cream—all 100% gluten free. Many vegan options on the menu, too.
• Suzette in central Berlin is known for authentic galettes, crepes and ciders from Brittany, France. Sadly the crepes aren’t gluten free, but the 100% buckwheat galette menu is extensive and affordable at 8 euro each.
• Gluten free schnitzel? Yes please. At Schnitzelei Mitte, you can try a gluten free version that is safely-prepared for celiacs, and staff knowledgeable about the disease. Be sure to confirm no cross-contact, as usual, but readers report that this schnitzeleria (yes I made that word up) was safe and delicious.
• Another option for schnitzel is Ottenthal, where the menu is annotated for allergens, but the staff is knowledgeable about celiac disease. lergens are marked on the menu but when I said I’m celiacs the waiter offered the gf version of schnitzel (which is why we came), and it was delicious. Great! Reservations recommended, especially during COVID.
• Easy Peasy is 100% gluten free and vegan. Their drool-worthy menu includes pancakes, waffles, and cinnamon rolls.
• Oshione is also dedicated gluten free. The cakes are wonderful, and they also make a variety of bread, croissants, gluten free granola, and other pastries.
• Pretty Hill is a dedicated gluten free café with pastries, cakes, and sandwiches, and a slogan that says “No gluten. Much love”. Right up our alley!
• Sinless, another 100% gluten free spot with fantastic cakes on offer. Try the cocomisu, carrot cake or chocolate cheesecake. The cakes are also sugar free, hence the sinless name.
• Tina’s Superfood Deli is dedicated gluten free and vegetarian deli with dishes like beet salad with pear and mint, mushroom steak and eggs, and small plates to share or enjoy on your own.
• Tribeca Ice Cream is as healthy a treat as it gets: gluten free, soy free, plant-based, and very transparent manufacturing processes. Their offerings aren’t anything to scoff at, either: don’t miss the salt maca caramel and the coconut ash, both stupendously good. You won’t be able to go just once.
• Glutenada is a 100% gluten free café in Berlin, whose owner Lana also happily accommodates other food restrictions / allergies. Her cakes alone will make you want to return. (Don’t miss the key lime pie coconut.) Sadly, closed.
• As the name suggests, Simply Keto is a cafe and shop for ketogenic diets, which means no gluten and lots of zoodles (zucchini noodles) and pastries made from alternative flours that are safe for celiacs. They sell gluten free products and will ship from their online shop also. During the pandemic the cafe portion of Simply Keto closed.
• Simela in Berlin offers gluten free and lactose free pizzas in two locations, Koppenplatz and Savignyplatz, as well as by delivery. They’ve also started offering gluten free foccacia, which is hard to turn down.
• I LOVE a good dosa, and this southern Indian treat is naturally gluten free when made with the original recipe. Chutnify to the rescue in Berlin, where you can enjoy it to your heart’s content.
• Cielo di Berlino in Berlin has gluten free pizzas also, offered in a hearty buckwheat crust and prepared separately / in a separate area from the wheat crusts so as to prevent cross-contact.
• Brotquelle is a fully gluten free bakery and cafe, with great breads, muffins, cakes and more to choose from, and you can stay and eat it too in their cozy wood dining area.
• Another incredible bakery is AERA, and what a beautifully-designed site too. Their bread is as delicate and artisanal as their website, and everything they have is gluten free. They also use natural sourdough as a leavening agent, instead of artificial yeasts, which they claim makes their bread easier to digest. Base ingredients are from an organic farm in northern Germany.

• Berlin is gaining a reputation as the Europe’s vegan capital, and while that might not necessarily matter to celiacs, it does mean an overall increased awareness of “alternative” diets in the city. Many of Berlin’s vegan restaurants offer gluten free options. Attaya Cafe, for example, offers 100% Vegan Afro-Italian cuisine in Berlin.
• Vapiano offers pastas and gluten free pizzas, but cross-contact more of a risk from reader reports, due to shared kitchen. They are a chain, and the link here is to a full list of their restaurants within Germany.

Gluten free restaurants in Brühl

Twenty2 Cafe is entirely gluten free, and a cute clothing shop as well! The menu is filled with breads, cakes, and other sweet treats.

Gluten free restaurants in Köln

• Isabella Glutenfreie Pâtisserie, as noted elsewhere, has several locations in Germany, including Köln. They have cakes, desserts, and breads.
• La Teca is not dedicated gluten free, but the owner has celiac disease and a large portion of the pizza and pasta dishes can safely be made gluten free upon request. 
• Freddy Schilling serves up gourmet burgers and fries. The burgers can be served on a gluten free bun for an additional 2 euros. The staff are familiar with celiac requirements, and happy to give recommendations.
• Antica Pizzeria Nennillo can make any of the pizzas on the menu with gluten free dough, which are then cooked in a dedicated GF / safe oven. Because this is otherwise a shared kitchen, however, celiacs may want to opt for a 100% gluten free spot instead.
• Oak Berry serves açai bowls, and most of the toppings are gluten free with the exception of granola. They have two locations in Germany, one in Dusseldorf (noted above) and the other in here in Köln.
• Zen Chay is a vegan Asian restaurant with a menu of rice and noodle bowls, sushi, and South Asian dishes. The menu clearly marks foods that contain gluten with the letter “A”. They have a lovely outdoor patio space, and the cocktail menu is quite good too.

Celiac Cruise in Germany

Celiac Canada is offering a Gluten Free cruise along the Rhine and Moselle River in 2025. You can learn more about it here. I have no affiliation with this trip or Celiac Canada other than being a member of the local Ottawa chapter.

What foods AREN’T gluten free in Germany?

• Spätzle: Egg noodles that are made from wheat flour, eggs, water and salt. They’re often incorporated into other dishes.
• Sauerbraten: A pot roast served and cooked with a gravy that is thickened with flour (occasionally with gingersnaps).
• Kartoffelpuffer: Potato pancakes, with flour used to thicken the batter.
• Gemischter Salat: Mixed salad, listed here only because processed meats or cheese may be used in the mixture.
• Frikadellen: Meatballs, usually made with breadcrumbs.
• Schnitzel: Tenderized, flattened meat (kalb, veal /schwein pork), dredged in flour and coated with breadcrumbs before frying. Originally from Austria, this breaded meat dish is popular in Germany also – and definitely off limits for us celiacs! However, do ask if you can get a “Schnitzel natur” or Schnitzel ohne Panade, without flour crust.
• Wurst: This is a general term for sausage. Bread and flour are often used as fillers, so it is important to ask. Popular varieties of wurst include: (1) Currywurst – pork sausage served with curry ketchup or curry sauce; (2) Bratwurst – thicker, grey, mild sausage made of pork, veal, or beef, and (3) Wiener Würstchen (hot dogs – here often made without gluten).
• Döner Kebab: Turkish dish of thinly-sliced meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie stuffed into pita or flatbread and served with a variety of accompaniments. Similar to shawarma or gyros. Depending on gluten sensitivity, may be okay if eaten without the bread. Cross-contact is likely, however.
• Pan-fried fish filets: These are usually dredged in flour before frying. Ask for a grilled version, or a fried version without the flour and in a separate pan.
• Semmelknödel: bread dumplings, definitely off limits!
• Bienenstich: Bee-sting cake. Made with a yeast dough, baked-on almond crust, and a cream or custard filling.
• Gravies such as Sauce, Jus, Soße, Bratensaft: these are generally thickened with wheat flour or roux base.
• Hollandaise sauce: generally thickened with flour.
• Mayonnaise: can contain wheat flour as thickener, especially if bought from the store (vs. made in-house).
• Senf: mustard often contains gluten in Germany, except artisanal versions. Check ingredients.

Best books to read before visiting Germany

For those of you looking to visit, here are some wonderful books to help learn a little more about Germany and its food before you get there.

Historical books:

• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer. Originally published in 1960, this is an unflinching look at Germany during Hitler’s 6 year quest for world domination, written by an American reporter stationed in Berlin during the lead up to World War Two.
• The German Genius: Europe’s Third Renaissance, the Second Scientific Revolution and the Twentieth Century by Peter Watson. This is an ambitious examination of 250 years worth of German influence on global culture, from Bach to Freud, Einstein to Hitler. Beginning in 1750, Watson crafts a fascinating narrative of how German brilliance dominated Western intellectual life in the realms of art, music, philosophy, science, industry, and ultimately, warfare.
• In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson. A captivating narrative that reads more like a thriller than a nonfiction account.

Food books:

• The German Cookbook by Mimi Sheraton. One of the German cookbook classics, first published in 1965. Although it uses measurements and temperatures designed for an American audience, the dishes themselves are authentic and traditional.
• The New German Cookbook by Jean Anderson. A history lesson as well as a cookbook!
• Grandma’s German Cookbook by Linn Schmidt and Birgit Hamm. Full of anecdotes, photos, and heirloom recipes by real German grandmas.
• Beyond Bratwurst: A History of Food in Germany by Ursula Heinzelmann. Throughout this chronological history, Heinzelmann weaves in the social, political, industrial, and geographical influences that make German food not one cuisine, but many. She not only answers the question of what Germans eat, but also how and why.
• Culinaria Germany by Christine Metzger and Ruprecht Stempell. Full of lush photographs and in-depth background information, Culinaria Germany travels through each of Germany’s 16 states by region.