Gluten Free Stuttgart, Germany
Stuttgart, Germany… my first European home! I lived in Stuttgart for about a year for work, and while I can discuss all the things to do and see (don’t worry I’ll sprinkle in some things to check out).. What I really want to share is the best gluten free food I found in Stuttgart, Germany! One of my favorite things about Stuttgart was the size of the city.. It’s smaller than Frankfurt, Berlin, and Munich, but it’s bigger than Nuremberg, Heidelberg, and Düsseldorft (gluten free guides to all these cities coming soon!! Until then, check out my Italian Gluten Free Guides).
In my opinion, Stuttgart felt like the perfect size for a city. Big enough to have all the attractions of a city and a wide selection of food, but small enough that it didn’t take all day to get around on public transit. Overall, it was the perfect goldilocks sized city for me. Now let me explain why Stuttgart is a Celiac person’s dream..
Travel Tip: glutenfrei means gluten free in German.
Now, I need to be honest.. When I first moved to Stuttgart, my German was not great. I had accepted a job in February and moved to Stuttgart by June.. I hadn’t anticipated I’d get the job.. So when I did, I had three and a half months to learn German well enough to be able to ask for gluten free food safely. My biggest concern when I move somewhere new is: Will I be able to eat out safely there? Or will I mostly be cooking at home to avoid getting sick? ..The true dilemma of a Celiac.
Thanks to the internet, I learned quickly that “glutenfrei” means “gluten free” so whenever I saw a label at a market stating “glutenfrei” I knew I was safe to buy and eat it. Germany, like the rest of European Union countries, requires products to have a gluten content of less than 20mg/kg (ppm) in order to label a product as gluten free. A safety standard similar to the United States. A safety standard I am thankful for! What I noticed quickly throughout Europe is that almost every restaurant has a gluten free indicator label on their menu, which was very helpful to narrow down what to eat.. even if I still had to ask some questions on how the kitchen prepared it.
Now, there are many places in Stuttgart that offer gluten free options, but below are places that I would classify as the BEST GLUTEN FREE FOOD in Stuttgart, Germany. Do I have an impartial opinion because I lived in Stuttgart and ate at all these places regularly? Yes, definitely! So my opinion is very one-sided. If you have Celiac Disease like me, you might be hesitant before trying all these places I’m about to list.. But I want to assure you I never once had a reaction while I was eating at any of these places. But like anyone with a food allergy, I did let my waiters know before I began ordering. Although I only lived in Stuttgart for about a year, below are my absolute Top 5 best gluten free places to eat at!!
Although, I should note, the locations listed below will not be your typical German food. Most German restaurants will offer a bread free option, resulting in just meat and potatoes. For the list below, I wanted to give a local perspective of what to eat as Celiac other than typical German food (which can honestly be found throughout the city pretty easily). So that being said, let’s dig in!!
Travel Tip: Stuttgart, Germany is a major hub for the auto industry. Be sure to visit the famous Mercedes-Benz (pictured above) and Porsche Museums while in town.
1. Isabella Glutenfreie Patisserie
Since this is only a top 5 list, I’m only putting my absolute favorite and best places you HAVE TO VISIT while in Stuttgart, Germany. So number 1 on this list goes to Isabella Glutenfreie Patisserie! First off, Isabella’s is a bakery and cafe so don’t expect plenty of seating, but in the warmer months they typically have outdoor seating available. This place specifically caters to the gluten free and vegan crowd. Now when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING at this place is Gluten Free (happy tears!).
Walking in, you’ll notice a typical bakery front with many sweet bakery items to choose from. Isabella’s specializes in making macaroons, mini pies, hand pastries and mini quiches. Picture macaroons of every flavor, mini Kirsh Crumbles, Apfel-Mandel Tartelettes, and Spinat quiches. English translation: Cherry crumbles, apple-almond tarts and spinach quiches! Also, everything is perfectly sized to be hand held and ready to eat on the go, they’ll even warm it up for you before you head out! The perfect stop on the way to work!
Now why did I pick Isabella Glutenfreie Patisserie to be number one on this list? Well truly, it’s because of their bread! I personally went to Isabella’s once a week to pick up a loaf of gluten free bread.. And I didn’t even live nearby, that’s how much I loved it! They are a true bakery making multiple types of loaves as well as croissants, muffins, biscuits. Every week I would personally buy a loaf of their Bio Quinoa Sauerteigbrot (Organic Quinoa Sourdough Bread) and some Käse Blondies (cheese breads).
In addition to serving up savory and tasty treats in the bakery, Isabella’s also operates as a small cafe. They have a wider selection of foods on their menu and offer a sit down service. I highly suggest stopping by Isabella’s while in Stuttgart, Germany for either a quick bite on the go, or a sit down meal! To see more photos of the food I’ve tried at Isabella’s, check out my instagram post about it here!
Calwer Strasse 48, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany
2. Gardener’s Nosh*
*Since the date of posting this article, the Gardener’s Nosh has changed its name to “The Nosh.”
Number two on my Top 5 best gluten free places in Stuttgart, Germany goes to The Gardener’s Nosh! Personally, the Gardener’s Nosh was my favorite place to brunch at with friends. They have a large outdoor seating area, and a two story indoor seating area. Plenty of space to accommodate large groups.
Food specifically, their cuisine focuses on light healthy hearty meals. Picture quinoa, sweet potatoes, and plenty of leafy greens. For brunch, they specifically have many egg centered dishes like eggs benedicts or poached eggs. Now that’s not to say they don’t have a couple of sweet focused dishes as well. My favorite sweet treat at the Gardener’s Nosh is the “waffle on a stick” which of course was completely gluten free and Celiac safe!! A perfect way to top off brunch with friends!
During my time living in Stuttgart I went to the Gardener’s Nosh many times, each time ordering something different. Aside from the food, what I loved most about this place was the friendly and knowledgeable staff. They were well aware of Celiac and always informed me if something was cross contaminated and may not be safe to eat. And with my limited German speaking abilities, they always made the effort to communicate with me in English to ensure I felt comfortable eating there. I highly recommend stopping by Gardener’s Nosh while in Stuttgart, Germany! To see more photos of the food I’ve tried at Isabella’s, check out my instagram post about it here!
Calwer Strasse 33, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany (location is now referred to as “The Nosh”)
Travel Tip: Want a beautiful view of Stuttgart, Germany? Check-out Birkenkopf, Monte Scherbelino! An easy 10min hike accessible by bus that gives you a 360 degree view of the surrounding area.
3. Netzer
Netzer probably has the most photographed food in all of Stuttgart, Germany. It’s cute, trendy and most importantly delicious!! Number three on my top 5 best gluten free places in Stuttgart, Germany goes to Netzer!
I love when a place can hand me a gluten free menu and can immediately make recommendations on what is the safest to eat as a Celiac. Netzer is not only a cute and trendy spot to eat at, but it also offers a wide selection of gluten free and vegan options, and with a menu that changes frequently, it will keep you going back for more!
Netzer offers a bright setting for breakfast eggs, health-conscious brunches & light lunches. Since this place is popular, I highly recommend making a reservation, otherwise you’ll end up waiting for 30+mins for a table.
Pictured below is a typical meal I would order at Netzer. A plate full of veggies, delicious cheeses and eggs. They did not have a gluten free option for toast at the time I visited for this photo (they ran out) so I opted for a small fruit bowl instead. Definitely recommend stopping by for a tasty gluten free meal while in Stuttgart, Germany.
Herzogstrasse 4, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
4. Krua Thai Bolan
Now I know what you’re wondering, how did Thai food make it on the Top 5 Best Gluten Free food list for Stuttgart, Germany?? Well, because it was honestly the best gluten free Thai Food I had in Stuttgart.. No Joke! The portions were large and the menu was clearly labeled, making it an easy choice for multiple quick dinners while I lived in Stuttgart.
There are plenty of places to get gluten free German food (which is mostly meat and potatoes), but I wanted this list of top 5 best gluten free places to in Stuttgart, Germany to mix it up a bit.
My favorite dish to get is the Chicken Pad Thai (pictured below) but I have also opted for the mango curry and other classics. What sets the place apart is the wonderful staff and how knowledgeable they are regarding Celiac Disease. If I had questions about any dish, they were always quick to answer and provide alternatives. Definitely a favorite go to when I needed a break from typical heavy German food.
Rotebuhlstrasse 159, 70197 Stuttgart, Germany
Travel Tip: Stuttgart, Germany is a quick train ride to Schloss Ludwigsburg (Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, pictured above), a highly recommended place to stop at since their gardens are AMAZING!
5. Restaurant Kicho
Annnnnddd for number 5 on my list of top 5 best gluten free places to eat in Stuttgart, Germany goes to.. Japanese Restaurant Kicho!
I know what you’re thinking.. Japanese food.. In Germany? But Stuttgart is soo south and far from the sea.. And what about all the soy sauce?? I have to hand it to you, I had the SAME concerns.
But Restaurant Kicho truly serves up traditional Japanese cuisine with modern influences. Think Nigiri and handmade rolls made right in front of you. No imitation gluten filled crab found at this restaurant. Kicho is a bit pricy, but all the ingredients are fresh and prepared exceptionally well. Additionally, the staff is knowledgeable about what is and isn’t gluten free.. They also brought out gluten free soy sauce for me and it honestly made my day!
My husband and I ate at Kicho multiple times and I never once got sick. I highly recommend stopping by if you need a break from German food!
Jakobstrasse 19, 70182 Stuttgart, Germany
Travel Tip
If you’re like me, you probably research gluten free food in an area before traveling there. But, once you’re at your destination, it can be hard to remember all the places you read about. That’s why, whenever I get a recommendation, I save it on Google Maps. That way, when I’m out and about, I can check Google Maps to see which places close by have been recommended. It saves a ton of time and avoids disappointment by knowing the place you’re headed offers gluten free options.
Do you have any recommendations for gluten free restaurants in Stuttgart, Germany? Let me know in the comments.
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
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