Café Knösel

Café Knösel at Haspelgasse 20 is described as Heidelberg's oldest coffeehouse, founded in 1863, and it sits in the Altstadt of Baden-Württemberg just off the Hauptstraße. The café is best known as the home of the Studentenkuss, a chocolate confection created in the city and tied to the history of its university students. The story goes that the sweets were devised as a gift that students could give without breaking the strict social rules of the time, and today they are sold as a Heidelberg souvenir in boxes bearing the traditional design. The Studentenkuss is the emblematic item and the main reason many visitors stop here. The menu is that of a classic German Konditorei and café. Coffee and cake are the core offering, and the display of cakes and confectionery changes through the day. Prices are mid-range for the old town, and a coffee with a slice of cake is the usual order. The dining room has the nostalgic character of a traditional coffeehouse, with a calm atmosphere compared with the busy main street, and the noise level is low. The clientele ranges from tourists to local regulars. There is no dress code. Café Knösel does not take table reservations in the usual restaurant sense, and walk-ins are the norm, though the small rooms can fill on busy afternoons and on weekends. Hours are typically daily from late morning, so visitors should confirm locally before travelling. The café is a short walk from the Marktplatz and the Heiliger-Geist-Kirche, so it fits easily into a walking tour of the old town. The chocolates also make a portable gift to take home.