(18 November 2025) - The new Falstaff Restaurant & Inn Guide Germany is here. Guide editor-in-chief Ingo Swoboda and project manager Julia Hamester presented the hot-off-the-press edition at an atmospheric premiere above the rooftops of Cologne on Monday afternoon at "KölnSky". Around 100 guests from the catering, hotel and media industries accepted the invitation - and in addition to the presentation of the new guide, they also witnessed the awarding of the prestigious Falstaff Trophies in categories such as "Chef of the Year", "Gastronomic Legend" and "New Opening of the Year".

The award winners impressively demonstrated how colourful, creative and enjoyable the German gastronomy scene is. Right at the beginning, the new opening of the year drew applause: "La Vie" in Düsseldorf, represented by Timo Fritsche, received the first award. The team of the year from the "Jante" in Hanover then showed how much strength there is in genuine authenticity - Tony Hohlfeld and Mona Schrader provided a particularly warm moment with their honest manner.

With the award for Sustainability & Innovation, the "Bio-Hotel 1950" proved just how radically local and yet delicious modern cuisine can be. And Frankfurt celebrated twice: the "Bornheimer Ratskeller" was honoured as Restaurant of the Year, while the "Seven Swans " was named Plant-Based Restaurant of the Year. The audience was also impressed by Franziska Dufner, who was honoured for her exceptional service - a particularly nice moment, as she will soon be taking a short break for a happy occasion.

From there, the programme continued across the country: Fritz Keller won the award for the best wine list, Hamburg's "Criss Studio" shone as Discovery of the Year, and in the south, the managers of the fishing bistro "Mai Liabba" were celebrated as Restaurateurs of the Year - a trio whose energy and entrepreneurial spirit is also making waves far beyond Lake Tegernsee. One of the most emotional moments was honouring Walter Stemberg, who was celebrated as a gastronomic legend.

Maria Groß was named Chef of the Year and lit up the stage with her charming mix of down-to-earthness and temperament. And then the home game of the day: Daniel Gottschlich, whose "Ox & Klee" was virtually directly opposite, was named Chef of the Year.

For the finale, the guide's top scoring restaurants took to the stage before the guests moved on to the relaxed, enjoyable part of the afternoon with a flying lunch from Sönke Höltgen and fine wines from Alpina Wein, Laurent-Perrier and Almdudler.

The titles at a glance:

• New opening of the year: "La Vie by Thomas Bühner", Düsseldorf - accepted on behalf of Timo Fritsche
• Team of the Year: "Jante", Hanover - Tony Hohlfeld & Mona Schrader
• Sustainability & Innovation: "Bio-Hotel and Restaurant 1950" - Simon Tress & Markus Schäffauer
• Restaurant of the Year: "Bornheimer Ratskeller", Frankfurt am Main -Mario Furlanello
• Plant-Based Restaurant of the Year: "Seven Swans", Frankfurt am Main - Ricky Saward
• Service Award: Franziska Dufner, Restaurant "Sein", Karlsruhe
• Best wine list: "Schwarzer Adler", Vogtsburg - Fritz Keller
• Discovery of the Year: "Criss Studio", Hamburg - Mateusz Adam Żurek & Jahmarley Grant
• Restaurateurs of the year: Bistro "Mai Liabba", Bad Wiessee - Christoph von Preysing, Thomas Bayer & Simpert Ernst
• Gastronomic legend: Walter Stemberg, "Haus Stemberg"
• Female chef of the year: Maria Groß, "Bachstelze", Erfurt
• Chef of the Year: Daniel Gottschlich, "Ox & Klee", Cologne