Sachsenhausen Apfelwein Quarter

Sachsenhausen is the district south of the Main in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and its old-town streets around Schweizer Straße and Textorstraße are the traditional home of Frankfurt's Apfelwein (apple wine, or cider) culture. The area is lined with taverns, many with timbered facades, shaded courtyards and long communal tables, where the local drink is served in a stoneware jug called a Bembel and poured into patterned glasses. Apfelwein is tart and low in alcohol, and the typical accompaniments are regional dishes such as Handkäs mit Musik (marinated sour-milk cheese with onions), Grüne Soße (green herb sauce) with potatoes and egg, and schnitzel. Most taverns open late morning or in the late afternoon and stay busy until midnight, with the liveliest atmosphere on Friday and Saturday evenings. A visit usually lasts two to three hours and is organised around a meal rather than sights. By day, the district is calmer, with independent shops, cafés and the riverside promenade along the Main, where visitors can look back over the skyline from the south bank. A flea market takes place on the riverbank on Saturday mornings. The best approach is on foot across the Eiserner Steg footbridge from the Römerberg, which gives a classic view of the skyline, or by tram 15 or 16 or the U-Bahn to Schweizer Platz. Crowds are heaviest on weekend evenings and in summer, when courtyard seating fills quickly, so arriving early or booking ahead for groups is advisable. Weekday afternoons are quieter, and the museums of the Museumsufer are a short walk away. Prices are moderate compared with the city centre, and cash is still preferred in some traditional taverns. Visitors who do not drink alcohol can try the non-alcoholic apple juice that most taverns serve.