Brauerei im Füchschen

Brauerei im Füchschen is a family-run house brewery at Ratinger Straße 28 in Düsseldorf's Altstadt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It brews Füchschen Alt on site and serves it from the barrel in the traditional small glasses, alongside a menu of Rhenish and German dishes. As an Altbier brewhouse the context is brewing tradition rather than Michelin or chef lineage. The kitchen is best known for its large Schweinshaxe, the roast pork knuckle, and also serves Rheinischer Sauerbraten, the marinated pot roast of the region, and hausgemachte Blutwurst, house-made blood sausage. These dishes pair naturally with the slightly bitter dark Alt, which is the main beverage on offer. The dining room is traditional, busy and tightly packed. Wooden furniture, shared tables and a constant flow of blue-aproned waiters give it the feel of an old-fashioned beer hall, and the noise level rises steadily through the evening. Dress is casual, and visitors should expect to share a table with strangers when the house is full, which is part of the local custom. Ratinger Straße has long been a lively street for bars and music venues, so the surrounding area stays active late. Reservations are not usually required for small parties, who are seated as space becomes available, while larger groups should book by phone. Weekday lunchtimes and early afternoons are the easiest times to find a place, and Friday and Saturday evenings are the most crowded. Prices are moderate: beers cost a few euros per glass and main courses sit at the level of other Altstadt brewhouses, with the pork knuckle being a generous, shareable portion. Visitors combining several brewhouses in one evening often start here because of its position close to the Marktplatz and the Rhine promenade, then continue on foot through the old town.