Zum Ritter St. Georg

Zum Ritter St. Georg at Hauptstraße 178 occupies the Haus zum Ritter, a Renaissance townhouse built in 1592 that is one of the few buildings in Heidelberg's Altstadt, Baden-Württemberg, to have survived the destruction of the city in 1693 during the Nine Years' War. The ornate gabled facade is among the best-known architectural sights on the Hauptstraße, so the restaurant combines a meal with a visit to a landmark. The cuisine is German and regional. The kitchen offers a seasonal regional menu and Kurpfälzer dishes, drawing on the produce and traditions of the historic Electoral Palatinate around Heidelberg. Menus change with the season, so the exact plates vary. Prices sit in the upper tier for the old town, reflecting both the historic setting and the position on the main street. The dining rooms are atmospheric and more formal than the student taverns. Historic interiors give the restaurant a strong sense of place, the noise level is moderate, and smart-casual dress is appropriate, although no strict code is published. The restaurant suits special occasions and visitors who care about architecture as much as food. The beverage programme is expected to feature Palatinate and Baden wines alongside German beer. Reservations are recommended. Booking several days ahead is sensible for weekdays, a week or more for weekends, and earlier in the summer and Christmas market seasons. Opening hours change by season, so visitors should confirm on the venue website or by phone before travelling. The restaurant is a short walk from the Marktplatz, the Heiliger-Geist-Kirche and the Kornmarkt, which puts it next to the castle funicular and makes it convenient before or after a visit to Heidelberg Castle.