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Who says you need to go to New York to view the Manhattan skyline? See a scaled-down replica, towering over River Main with a design reminiscent of the 1930s style New York skyscrapers, right here in Frankfurt at the The Lindner Hotel and Residence Main Plaza. Living in one of their 118 gracefully decorated bedrooms, suites, maisonette-apartments or even the penthouse, most of them with a kitchenette, may prove to be a memorable experience.

Lovers of light Californian cuisine may find solace in the New Brick Californian Restaurant where you could watch Head Chef Heiko Mattschall, through their open plan kitchen, dutifully crafting a rich breakfast buffet, a delicious lunch or an evening meal. The colour scheme is an elegant red, grey and wooden tone, which beautifully contrasts the soft ceiling lighting and the dark wood panelled, glass fronted kitchen area. In summer step in to the cobbled square for some refreshing cocktails, while watching a boat slip by along the river a few meters away.

The five conference rooms are equipped with all mod cons and fitted with high quality furniture and light, tasteful fabrics bringing in a slight breather to the most heated of business meetings. Once you?ve clinched that all-important deal there?s a swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, a modern gym as well as massage area all waiting to be experienced.

Right here at the Sachenhausen Main embankment, the majestic looking Lindner is an oasis of calm where the busy guest may find just about everything except the commonplace.

Poets and painters have fallen in love with the beauty of Blankenese, an idyllic neighbourhood in the suburb of Altona, to the west of Hamburg. The former fishing village overlooks the river Elbe and its history goes back a thousand years to when most inhabitants were fishermen.

Early records describe how a castle that was later converted into the lovely hotel Süllberg of five stars, was built in the region in 1060. The current premises were constructed between 1887 and 1903 although the site had already been seen as a popular holiday and daytrip destination decades before. Generations of Hamburg citizens have celebrated public balls, weddings and family events, as well as big and small parties at the Süllberg in Blankenese.

The hotel has been restored during the past century, and a recent renovations, have  transformed this beautiful piece of Wilhelmian architecture into one of Hamburg?s grandest destinations, complete with ten elegant bedrooms, ballrooms, conference rooms, spacious terraces, bars and restaurants.

The Süllbergterrassen bistro is one among the many stylish dining destinations in the hotel. Beige walls, leather chairs, white tablecloth and fresh flowers make up the pleasing ambience there, and guests are offered a range of international delights from a modern menu. You could visit them to have breakfast, coffee, cake and assorted special dishes, all created from fresh and seasonal produce.

Start your day with breakfast croissants, Belgian waffles with whipped cream cherry sauce, smoked salmon with horseradish cream, a selection of sausages or simply with eggs fresh from the country.

Among the palate arousing openers is the Italian classic of vitello tonnato with capers, and tomatoes; chilli and wasabi prawns with Asian salad, mango chutney and Pitahaya sauce, as well soups of yellow pepper with fried shrimp.

These are the prelude to mains of wiener schnitzel that appears with fried potato and sour cucumber salad; homemade tagliatelle with Parmesan foam and summer truffle; halibut on young spinach with champagne sauce, meadow mushrooms and Grenaille potatoes; and a simple yet tasty combination of corn, Parma ham and Fontinakäse gratin with tomato, lemon and potato mousseline.

Desserts take in pot mousse with toasted almonds, preserved plums and apricots; crème brûlée of Tahitian vanilla, and a sinful tartlet of chocolate mousse with raspberries and grapefruit compote. There are a hundred exclusive wines and champagne from all over Europe to complement the food you order.

The service is impressive and helpful, confirming the standards you would expect of a hotel such as the Süllberg. Let the enjoyment begin!

Poets and painters have fallen in love with the beauty of Blankenese, an idyllic neighbourhood in the suburb of Altona, to the west of Hamburg. The former fishing village overlooks the river Elbe and its history goes back a thousand years to when most inhabitants were fishermen.

Early records describe how a castle that was later converted into the lovely hotel Süllberg of five stars, was built in the region in 1060. The current premises were constructed between 1887 and 1903 although the site had already been seen as a popular holiday and daytrip destination decades before. Generations of Hamburg citizens have celebrated public balls, weddings and family events, as well as big and small parties at the Süllberg in Blankenese.

The hotel has been restored during the past century, and a recent renovations, have  transformed this beautiful piece of Wilhelmian architecture into one of Hamburg?s grandest destinations, complete with ten elegant bedrooms, ballrooms, conference rooms, spacious terraces, bars and restaurants.

The Süllbergterrassen bistro is one among the many stylish dining destinations in the hotel. Beige walls, leather chairs, white tablecloth and fresh flowers make up the pleasing ambience there, and guests are offered a range of international delights from a modern menu. You could visit them to have breakfast, coffee, cake and assorted special dishes, all created from fresh and seasonal produce.

Start your day with breakfast croissants, Belgian waffles with whipped cream cherry sauce, smoked salmon with horseradish cream, a selection of sausages or simply with eggs fresh from the country.

Among the palate arousing openers is the Italian classic of vitello tonnato with capers, and tomatoes; chilli and wasabi prawns with Asian salad, mango chutney and Pitahaya sauce, as well soups of yellow pepper with fried shrimp.

These are the prelude to mains of wiener schnitzel that appears with fried potato and sour cucumber salad; homemade tagliatelle with Parmesan foam and summer truffle; halibut on young spinach with champagne sauce, meadow mushrooms and Grenaille potatoes; and a simple yet tasty combination of corn, Parma ham and Fontinakäse gratin with tomato, lemon and potato mousseline.

Desserts take in pot mousse with toasted almonds, preserved plums and apricots; crème brûlée of Tahitian vanilla, and a sinful tartlet of chocolate mousse with raspberries and grapefruit compote. There are a hundred exclusive wines and champagne from all over Europe to complement the food you order.

The service is impressive and helpful, confirming the standards you would expect of a hotel such as the Süllberg. Let the enjoyment begin!

Located directly on the famous Kurfürstendamm Boulevard, the lovely Kempinski Hotel Bristol Berlin is counted amongst the city's grandest destinations and is unmistakably eye-catching with its striking semi-circular swung façade. Guests from all over the world appreciate the comfort, service, cuisine and cultural highlights in the hotel. Placido Domingo thanked them after one of his stays because he felt so much at home there.

It is not surprising that the Kempinski feels the best way to fill a hotel with life is most certainly with excellent cuisine. Among the many delightful venues to enjoy a meal in, one place called Reinhards im Kempinski has remained special. Honey-coloured wooden shelves and chequered tablecloths welcome visitors in to the restaurant's lovingly designed brasserie like interior. The spacious summer terraces or the house café and espresso bar, filled with the aroma of fresh biscuits, chocolate and apple strudel, are other areas where you could relax and spend time.

The menu at Reinhards is inspired by regional as well as French and Italian culinary styles. Guests can begin their day with a country house cuisine buffet as early as 6:30am or take advantage of the a la carte breakfast that is served till 1pm. Classics such as a steak called 'mystery of the emperor' and 'Mata Hari' salad with fried chicken breast, bacon slices and fruits, have pleased palates for more than 15 years.

If you visit Reinhards at lunchtime, look out for starters such as smoked salmon with hash brown and apple horseradish, carpaccio of beef with Parmesan, basil and foam, or a straightforward fish soup with rouille sauce, to help you begin a wonderful meal. Among mains you could find grilled saddle of suckling pig on Bavarian cabbage with bread dumplings, steaks, chops and tafelspitz, an Austrian delicacy of well-aged rump boiled with root vegetables and potato.

Dinner is served till 1am and so is a very relaxed affair where marinated beef back with warm kohlrabi salad and tomato semolina gnocchi, or pike fillets with a lemon and caper risotto can be preceded by galantine of corn fed chicken with artichoke salad, or homemade quiche of quail.

Among desserts crème brûlée with cassis sorbet competes with the likes of strawberry and lavender tiramisu or dark chocolate mousse with fresh figs. Most dishes on the menu are paired with wines from a list that complements the food well, and if you do come across something which is not, the attentive Reinhard staff will wish to know.

In Frankfurt, apfelwein is as popular as kölsch is in Cologne, and you shouldn't be surprised to see numerous pubs where this apple based wine is the favoured drink. Adolf Wagner is one of the city's oldest apfelwein houses, a family run business that has been around from 1931, although their reputation is based primarily on the creation of a fabulous, contemporary restaurant with good food and drink, and not just on past laurels.

Long wooden benches line the walls, while murals lend a rustic feel, perhaps a look that is carelessly contrived as a concession to the numerous tourists that throng here. Seating options include a warmed winter garden where you can relax with friends over a delicious meal and a bembel of apple wine. The bembel, a traditional off-white and blue pitcher, is used to serve apfelwein and is never far from  the hands of the friendly waiters who are ever ready to replenish your glass.

Wagner is renowned for their reasonably priced food and popular dishes there include bratwurst with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes and the wiener schnitzel, breaded veal slice with fried potatoes and salad. The menu lets you choose from beef, pork, veal and sausages and the dishes in each section are well thought out, providing a mix of traditional favourites and some innovations that reflect the local tastes, as well.

Frankfurt specialities on the menu are bound to induce hunger pangs, particularly if you are fond of grilled spare ribs or pork shoulder, while cold dishes such as handkäse mit musik, regional cheese with oil, vinegar and chopped onions along with bread and butter hold their own appeal. If you are visiting in summer, then do try the sausage salad or the sülze, diced meat in aspic, with marinated onions for a refreshingly different take on German specialities

There is good news for any vegetarians who may be accompanying you, or possibly even yourself; just try the fried feta cheese with olives, pepperonis, onions and bread or  the vegetable patties with herbed sour cream and salad.

If you are not too keen on sipping apfelwein throughout your meal, you could choose from a number of German and French wines, while spirits and non alcoholic drinks are also there for your pleasure. What you won't find is beer, but the huge number of alternatives makes up admirably for any disappointment you might feel.

Desserts include the famed apple strudel or the homemade red fruit pudding, both with ice cream and you will be hard pressed to find another more fitting way to end such a hearty meal!

Ma is a Chinese word for horse and with a century old clay horse standing majestically in the middle of the room, made during the Han dynasty in China, you don't have to look too far to see how the restaurant got its name. Located at the rear of Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Tim Raue's new venture at this upmarket spot demonstrates that he has come a long way since his days at Restaurant 44 in Swissôtel Berlin, where he honed his culinary skills.

The Asian inspired interior of slate, bronze, jade and cashmere fabrics add character to the place; while the cosy brown and yellow sofas may help you linger a little longer. Look outside and you might notice an abundance of creepers descending down the glass windows, lending an earthy and bright feel.

Raue's passion for freshness and harmony of flavours is reflected in his food. He manages to achieve that delicate balance by combining the natural sweetness of fruit with a bitter note of fresh herbs and plants in meat, fish and vegetables dishes. To help guests understand how the tender Kobe-style beef comes only with a fork and spoon watch the chefs in the open plan kitchen slice the well-marbled meat, which is then slightly blanched and immersed in soy broth poured from a teapot.

There's foie gras with shiso herbs, red grapes and Sichuan pepper and soft shell crab with leeks and ginger amongst starters. Watch taste and textures combine in main courses of fish maw and scallops with green paprika and coriander; lobster with cinnamon blossom pink lady and apple jelly, and ox tongue with mustard, pear, kohlrabi and cumin. Pigeon is cooked Cantonese style with jus from dried mushrooms and green beans.

Sweet treats include raspberry tapioca with milk ice and tarragon foam and Mallorquin peach with passion fruit, basil and raspberry ice cream. The cordial service by Anne-Marie Raue and her team sustain the warmth and friendliness of this place, which could appeal to just about anyone - whether it is a guest at Hotel Adlon Kempinski, a tourist or just about any Berliner.

The Rathenauplatz is one of the prettiest spots in Cologne, a beautiful square with a park in the centre, almost like an oasis in this teeming city. Surrounded by a number of well maintained houses on one side, there are a few beer gardens as well as restaurants nearby, and among them, Restaurant Amabile is noteworthy for its excellent cuisine and serene atmosphere, providing a backdrop of relaxation and laidback enjoyment of life's pleasures.

The décor is quietly elegant with warm, wood furniture and interesting photographs along with some eclectic art on the walls. The ambience is just right for a romantic evening, and outside the dining options take on a very contemporary and carefree feel.

The mingled influences of French and Mediterranean cuisine make their presence felt in the menu, where fresh and seasonal produce are used widely to effectively create some of the most delicious fare you have ever had. For starters, Restaurant Amabile presents some delectable fried prawns and Jacob's mussels with white foam, tomatoes and marinated cucumber spaghetti. The snails in mushroom with Gorgonzola gratin sauce and herbs have the right elements that bind it together into a most appetizing dish.

Moving on to the main courses, the geschmorte lamb shoulder with needle beans and rosemary potato crepe; the monkfish with mozzarella and basil on bresaola filled risotto or the fillets of royal sea bream with polenta and red and orange cumin sauce all stand an equal chance of becoming well loved favourites.

If you're uncertain about what to choose, the three or four course surprise menu may be just the thing to opt for, and for a fixed amount per person, you can let the chef decide your meal. For dessert, apple tart with tonka beans ice cream or the luscious crème brûlée ring all the right notes and you are left with a feeling of pure bliss, a natural reaction towards the end of a fine meal.

When in Cologne, drink only Kölsch beer, maybe the diktat that many follow although at Restaurant Amabile you could indulge in some of their excellent wines as well. An eclectic selection, the wines there seem to have found the perfect balance with the food.

For an evening out at a delightful restaurant that promises to make an epicure out of you, a visit to Amabile becomes a foregone conclusion.

This charming, cozy tavern situated in a half-timbered house with white walls welcomes you with Mediterranean and regional dishes. The stylish inn serves cold beer and a good selection of wines to accompany the daily changing bill of fare which is prepared from the best of local produce. The service is cordial and attentive making it a popular among the locals. The lovely summer terrace offers a beautiful surrounding to enjoy lunch.

The menu trawls through the fare of choice providing a large canvas on which gastronomes can try various combinations to achieve a different experience each time.

The house specialty of prawns in olive oil with fresh herbs and chili peppers and French onion soup with cheese could be the beginning for some, while diced tomatoes with basil vinaigrette grilled on white bread slices and beef Carpaccio with parmesan cheese and basil cream could appeal to others.

Hot appetizers such as baked camembert salad with cranberries and bouquet, and fried goat's cheese on tomato slices with basil-honey vinaigrette are also on the carte de jour.

Those who prefer salads can order mixed salad bowl with roasted turkey breast strips and balsamic dressing, market-fresh salad greens, Angus beef with fried fillet strips balsamic dressing and the special colourful salad with roasted peppers, mushrooms, onions and roasted turkey breast strips.

Steaks are represented by Angus rump steak grilled, with foil potato, crème fraîche, herb butter and mixed salad and grilled turkey steak. The favorite dish among the regulars is the grill plate, barbecued pork, with herb butter, aioli, crispy fried potatoes and mixed salad.

Mains could also include roasted fillet of zander in a spicy white wine sauce, basmati rice and vegetables or Scottish salmon fillet, pan-fried with lemon butter sauce. For a taste of Italian food you could try grilled tenderloin tips with beef and mushroom and spaghetti with grilled scampi in tomato sauce.

The needs of vegetarians are attended to with spaghetti in cream sauce, truffle oil and parmesan cheese, and tagliatelle with spinach in cream sauce and parmesan cheese.

Desserts are a gala affair with exotic gems such as caramel apple slices with almond-brandy-splitter and vanilla sauce, vanilla ice cream with hot sour cherries and cream and small cheese platter consisting of spicy gorgonzola, French brie, parmesan and goat's cheese with homemade bread and butter.

The wine list contains a good selection and sommeliers are at hand to advise you in choosing wine matching your food.

Berlin’s very own little piece of Italy can be found at the Pestalozzistr in the Ristorante Biscotti, a delightful restaurant where the atmosphere is soothing, relaxing and well, positively humming with serenity. If you’ve always loved Italian food, then you can throw caution to the winds and continue your love affair there, amid the mellow and warmly lit interior, or outside if you prefer a more casual ambience with the wooden chairs, trellises and overflowing potted plants.

Ristorante Biscotti opened in 1993 and since then they have accumulated many admirers, some of them celebrities from the media and television, who have become regulars and keep coming back again and again to sample the delicacies prepared by the chef. The cuisine represents a cross section of the culinary specialities from across various Italian provinces, particularly the South.

Simple and concise, the menu begins with starters of carpaccio of beef, or tuna and squid and an unusual combination of beets and scampi. You could supplement this with a rocket or spinach salad, or maybe try the renowned caponata Siciliana, made with aubergines and celery.

The main course is another compilation of some delectable dishes such as potato gnocchi in pink sauce; spaghetti with garlic oil; linguine with scampi and rocket or tagliatelle with spicy sausages. Fresh ingredients are the key, lending an undoubtedly distinctive appeal to make it into a most marvellous meal.

Further down there are some luscious desserts that will make you forget your calorie counting resolutions. Tiramisu, pannacotta and sorbets make their presence felt alongside zabaglione with raspberries, ice cream in an espresso-Cointreau sauce and an assortment of cheeses.

The wine cellar is cosy and stylishly designed and you can hold small and intimate events there, or just relax while sipping on the fine wines and beers on offer. The selection is made up from a huge number of carefully chosen bottles from all regions of Italy and includes newcomers as well as classics.

Ristorante Biscotti represents everything that is well loved about Italian restaurants and food, from its easy going atmosphere, to its classy look, and of course the beautifully prepared cuisine. This is one place that notches top points for the simple but perfect execution of everything that you want.

"In Winterhude there's a place entirely in white. We must visit!" is what draws guests to this location initially. Once inside, they are exposed to something completely new - a meeting of creative design with urban industry culture. The interior is swathed in white and dotted with elements of maroon. The fare is presented with élan while the service is friendly and unobtrusive giving it an aura of sophistication.

Situated in the border area of Barmbe and Uhlenhorst is the White Lounge, a lounge, bar and restaurant serving sushi. Idyllically located on the banks of Osterbekkanal where every now and then a light breeze kisses the surface of the blue water, it has captured the fantasy of the residents of Hamburg, making it a hotspot. The sublime white during day takes on various hues after sunset as lighting effects co-ordinate with sound. Guests who make reservations are made to feel special when the system highlights their table as they enter. A conveyor system brings the short-eats to the table as they settle down to browse through the short but unique bill of fare.

The four hundred square metre area is divided into five zones: the berthing area, treadmill area, event area and twos and fours group places. Visitors are filmed by cameras and the images projected on flat screens adding another element to the uniqueness.

The 'sushi for friends' product line has been extended to include tapas and Thai cuisine,  all under the same 'small plates' concept, providing more exciting options. Technology has been well implemented by providing call buttons for service, managers and to acknowledge a good meal.

Start with finger food variations to accompany your drink. Skewered mini tomatoes or mozzarella and a feta-olive paprika could set the pace. If you are in a mood for more, try the melon-parma-chips, cocktail tomatoes, and mini-wraps.

Sushi could follow with a selection of nigiris and inside out rolls and rolls rocket. Tapas fans have plenty to choose from. There is chorizo, sweet dates in bacon, mushrooms, pickled zucchini, and ham rolls filled with cream cheese. The Thai kitchen brings to the fore specialities such as noodles and Thai red curry.

If you fancy tucking into some exotic curries whilst on a visit to Frankfurt or looking for some delicious Indian food, then Jewel of India might just be the place. Located in the heart of the banking district and close to the trade grounds, localites may vouch for the fact that this is a great place, if a tad pricey, though watch out for their special menu of the day, which represents excellent value, however, the feisty menu and the appetizing spread of authentic Mughlai fare will also help you get your money's worth.

The interior is well laid out with interesting artwork, subtle lighting and the gentle flicker of candle light, all of which could set the tone for a pleasant meal. The décor takes in all the finer points of Indian heritage and culture, so here's a place for those looking to treat themselves to some royal food with soothing music in the background.

The cuisine focuses primarily on the North-Western princely states of erstwhile India, while those from the other regions are not completely forgotten. Their house speciality of grilled king prawns in a mild sauce and green peas with potatoes and fresh mushroom curry is refreshingly tasty. The chef recommends an assorted silver platter or the 'thali' of the king's feast of grilled meat, a selection of curries; vegetables and rice while the queen's feast, or begumi khazana, is an array of vegetarian delights with lentils, rice and dessert.

Among the starters there are onion rings fried in batter, succulent lamb mince rolls and creamy tomato soup. Choose from a variety of flavoursome curries such as fish fillet cooked in a creamy coconut and mustard gravy, chicken cooked with green peppers and lamb in almond gravy; these could be accompanied with steamed rice. Soak up the flavours of the tandoor sizzlers of fillet of salmon grilled with fresh herbs, chicken breast marinated in saffron and yogurt and lamb cubes doused in Indian herbs and spices.

Sweet treats include gulab jamun, milk dumplings in a light sugar syrup and rasmalai, cottage cheese dumplings in cardamom, pistachio and saffron milk. The team at Jewel of India hope that diners will appreciate their journey through the Mughlai cuisine of India and enjoy the palate tingling experience.