Düsseldorf – Leather & Abel

I’ve been so many places in my life and time…
I’m not going to beat around the bush here, there was only one reason why we went to Düsseldorf and that was to try the Japanese food. I’ve always heard everyone rave about it and Japanese people travel specifically to this city to eat. I wish I could say it was so amazing that I will do it again, but alas, it wasn’t. The actual city is super cute though. I’m going to be lazy and just tell you about it all under the photos (I’m still sick so feeling ready to go back to bed and rest again now – please forgive me!)

This is the reason we came to this city - the Tonkotsu Ramen with an added boiled egg at the 2nd Naritake (not the one opposite the Nikko Hotel). I have to say it was disappointing and Berlin has much better Ramen than this... — This is the reason we came to this city – the Tonkotsu Ramen with an added boiled egg at the 2nd Naritake Restaurant (not the one opposite the Nikko Hotel). This is the place that is most famous and we even had to queue! I have to say it was disappointing and Berlin has much better Ramen than this…

OM NOM NOM! Gyoza and Chicken karaage was amazing - but it pretty much is everywhere! — OM NOM NOM! Gyoza and Chicken karaage was amazing – but it pretty much is everywhere!

Here's the restaurant that everyone raves about. I wasn't convinced :( — Here’s the restaurant that everyone raves about. I wasn’t convinced 🙁

Düsseldorf is actually super pretty – we had no idea as the only thing we had come for was the noodle soup, so it was a pleasant surprise to wander along the Rhein River in glorious sunshine 🙂

No one seemed to eat here - everyone was up before noon drinking beer on the river front! Typical of Germans, there was tons of people walking on a Sunday morning :) — No one seemed to eat here – everyone was up before noon drinking beer on the river front! Typical of Germans, there were tons of people walking on a Sunday morning 🙂

We HAD to eat and the Schwann was delicious and exactly what we both wanted. A huge buffet - this was the first of four plates I ate - haha! — We HAD to eat and the Schwann Restaurant was delicious and exactly what we both wanted. A huge buffet – this was the first of three plates I ate – haha!

St Andreas is a stunning church - well-worth popping your head into... — St Andreas is a stunning church – well-worth popping your head into…

It's beautiful just to walk down the streets - we came upon this area which is just full of shops on both sides, but if you wander in the middle you are surrounded by trees and water. — It’s beautiful just to walk down the streets – we came upon this area which is just full of shops on both sides, but if you wander in the middle you are surrounded by trees and water.

Last but not least - this is the town emblem: a person doing a cartwheel! In 1288 people were so happy that they all ran onto the streets and randomly started doing cartwheels! Now there is an annual competition and you can buy tons of fun souvenirs - just be careful though, as I broke my arm doing a cartwheel many years ago... — Last but not least – this is the town emblem: a person doing a cartwheel! In 1288 people were so happy that they all ran onto the streets and randomly started doing cartwheels! Now there is an annual competition and you can buy tons of fun souvenirs – just be careful though, as I broke my arm doing a cartwheel many years ago…

Normally I recommend a place to stay, but we did AirBnB and it was the most awful experience we’ve had on there yet. Terrible apartment, terrible key exchange (we ended up waiting outside for half an hour in the cold) and not very clean apartment… luckily the other places were great 🙂

6 Comments

Charlotte Steggz

October 19, 2015 at 2:43 pm Reply

Aww I’m sorry to hear your Airbnb went badly. I keep hearing horror stories but TOUCH WOOD I’ve never had a bad one yet.

Vanessa Abel

October 21, 2015 at 11:12 am Reply

We literally just had horrendous guests as well – I had to tell them off! Ugh… Normally it’s pretty wonderful but… let’s hope the next people are better!

I have heard about the hugely popular Japanese restaurants in Düsseldorf. It sounded pretty intriguing to me but now I’m not sure that I would go just for that. Maybe if I’m in the area I’ll stop by… 🙂
Ack, I’m trying out my first Airbnb TONIGHT! I hope it goes well. I have one scheduled for the first week of November in Paris so hopefully these experiences work out! Sorry to hear you didn’t have a good experience at yours in Düsseldorf. 🙁

Vanessa Abel

October 25, 2015 at 3:39 pm Reply

Yeah, I had been looking forward to the Japanese food there for months. Years ago when I was in London, my Japanese colleagues would go on holiday to Düsseldorf just for the food, but I’ve no plans to go back… although the city is super cute!!
Hope your AirBnB was good – Düsseldorf was the first bad guest experience we’ve had and at the same time we had horrendous guests at our place as well… but luckily the guys we had yesterday were wonderful, so all is good again 😉

You May Also Like

Croatia – Plitvice Lakes

Board game shopping in Leipzig, Germany

Pfaueninsel – Peacock Island

6 Comments

Charlotte Steggz

Vanessa Abel

Pingback:

Pingback:

Meredith - Kaffee und Kuchen

Vanessa Abel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply