Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [176]
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Sleeping
DJH hostel ( 532 1010; www.jugendherberge.de/jh/magdeburg; Leiterstrasse 10; dm/s/tw €20/30/45, over 27yr extra €3; ) This large modern hostel is the total package – it’s in the middle of town, close to the train station, yet on a quiet street. Rooms have shower and toilet attached, and there’s even a family floor with a kiddie romper room.
Hotel Sleep & Go ( 537 791; www.hotel-sleep-and-go.de; Rogätzer Strasse 5a; s/d €54/60; ) If you’ve outgrown hostels but don’t want to drop buckets of money for your overnight digs, this friendly, family-run hotel should fit the bill. Rooms won’t win style awards but you’ll sleep well beneath fluffy feather duvets and can even dial into CNN on the satellite TV.
Residenz Joop ( 626 60; www.residenzjoop.de; Jean-Burger-Strasse 16; s €90-140, d €110-160; ) Although not related to German clothing designer Wolfgang Joop, this boutique hotel delivers the same kind of discreet elegance and luxury. Stay in this small villa and discover that nothing is too much trouble for your hosts.
Herrenkrug Parkhotel ( 850 80; www.herrenkrug.de, in German; Herrenkrug 3; s €90-132, d €120-180; ) Rise to chirping birds at this art-deco riverside mansion, then take a wake-up stroll through the lush surrounding park before planning the day at the breakfast buffet. Rooms are spacious and stylish and its restaurant, Die Saison, is among the best in town. Although about 4km from the city centre, it’s well connected by public transport.
Grüne Zitadelle ( 620 780; www.hotel-zitadelle.de; Breiter Weg 9; s €105-135, d €125-145, breakfast €11; ) This hotel right in the Green Citadel channels Hundertwasser with bold colours, organic shapes and all natural materials. The nicest rooms face the inner courtyard and provide access to a grassy terrace. Those facing the street are air-conditioned.
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Eating
Bingöl Grill ( 555 7913; Breiter Weg 231; dishes €2-5; 10am-3am Mon, Tue & Sun, to 6am Wed-Sat; ) In the wee hours, this unassuming Turkish shop gets howling with night owls hoping to restore balance to the brain with bulging doner kebabs.
Liebig ( 555 6754; Liebigstrasse 1-3; snacks €4.50-11, mains €8-12; from 10am, food until midnight) Tattooed hipsters to helmet-headed grannies, everyone loves Liebig, a trendy cafe-bar-restaurant with large outdoor terrace. Thanks to substantive breakfasts, global fare and cool cocktails it’s a good spot no matter where the hands of the clock are.
House of Steaks Ortega ( 535 7710; Otto-von-Guericke-Strasse 104; meals €6-15; 11.30am-midnight; ) Surrender helplessly to your inner carnivore at this woodsy pub-style eatery where you’ll join a mostly local crowd tucking into yummy cuts of aged Argentine steaks. Cholesterol-watchers can choose from a variety of pizza, pasta and salads.
Vienna ( 555 6166; Sternstrasse 24; lunch special €7.50, dinner mains €8-16; lunch Mon-Fri, dinner daily; ) If you thought a schnitzel is a schnitzel is a schnitzel (with apologies to Gertrude Stein), you’ll know better after tucking into the huge and juicy contenders at this popular Austrian outpost.
Die Saison ( 850 8730; Herrenkrug 3; mains €18-30; 6.30-10am, noon-2pm & 6.30-10.30pm; ) Classic German cuisine gets a modern international twist within the ornately detailed dark-green walls of the Herrenkrug Parkhotel’s art-deco dining room. Gourmets on a budget can opt for the three-course menu for €16.50.
Other eating options:
Ratskeller ( 568 2323; Alter Markt 6; mains €8-15; 11am-11pm Mon-Sat, to 9pm Sun) Average German food but all dishes are half price between 3pm and 5pm.
Red Snapper ( 737 4884; Maxim-Gorki-Strasse 18; mains €15-25; lunch Tue-Sat, dinner Mon-Sat; ) Romantic gourmet