Discover Local Frankfurt: What to Do Around Mercure Hotel Frankfurt City Center

At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Frankfurt, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?

Frankfurt in 5 picks

Kleinmarkthalle

Frankfurt\u2019s central market hall, near Zeil and Liebfrauenberg — three floors of asparagus, wild mushrooms, regional cheese and sausage stalls. Come hungry and grab Handkäse mit Musik straight from a counter.

Sachsenhausen's Apfelwein taverns

Cross the Main to find Ebbelwei-Wirtschaften — apple wine taverns marked by green wreaths outside. Long tables, unchanged menus, and an atmosphere that doesn\u2019t really start until after 6pm.

Sachsenhausen riverside market

A smaller market running Thursday to Saturday along the riverbank — cheese, seasonal produce, and none of the tourist buzz of the centre.

Römerberg

The reconstructed medieval square at the heart of the Altstadt, half-timbered façades and all. A short walk from the main train station.

Zeil promenade

Frankfurt's main shopping street, with the banking district's skyline rising behind it — worth a walk even if shopping isn't the point.

Where to eat
Frankfurt\u2019s signature dish is Handkäse mit Musik — a sour milk cheese served with onions, best found at a Kleinmarkthalle stall. In the evening, head across the river to Sachsenhausen for Apfelwein and hearty tavern food. One tip locals will tell you: many of the traditional taverns are cash-only, so carry some with you.
Across the river to Sachsenhausen
Sachsenhausen sits just across the Main from the centre, connected by footbridges like the Eiserner Steg. It's a different Frankfurt once you cross — cobbled streets, apple wine culture, and a rhythm that only really gets going in the evening.
Right outside your hotel
Mercure Hotel Frankfurt City Center is close to the main train station and the banking district, with Zeil and the Kleinmarkthalle around a 15 to 20-minute walk away. Cross the Main via the Eiserner Steg and you\u2019re in Sachsenhausen.
/

FAQ

Many traditional Apfelwein taverns and smaller neighbourhood spots don't accept cards, so it's worth carrying cash, especially in the evening.

It\u2019s roughly a 15 to 20-minute walk from Mercure Hotel Frankfurt City Center, near Zeil and Liebfrauenberg.

The evening — the Apfelwein tavern atmosphere is lighter at lunch and doesn't fully kick in until after 6pm.

Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Frankfurt, all within reach of these picks.

View hotels
Where to sleep

See Mercure hotels in Frankfurt, all within reach of these picks

View hotels