Autumn is slowly but surely arriving here in Rheinhessen. What could be nicer than watching the rain fall in a cozy café or catching the last rays of sunshine on an inviting terrace? For this article, I asked four women from Rheinhessen about their favorite cafés and can now share four real insider tips, all of which have that certain something.
Cafédrale C41, Mainz-Drais
When I think of cafés, I immediately remember what a friend recently told me: A café in the Protestant church in Mainz-Drais. I immediately pull out my cell phone and ask if she can tell me more about the project when she gets the chance - the answer comes promptly: "Let's meet on site on Wednesday, I want to deliver my cake anyway!". "Drop off my cake?" I ask myself and agree to the meeting.
No sooner said than done, I sit with Michelle at one of the tables in front of the rather modern church in the middle of the residential area in Drais and she tells me about it. The Drais-Lerchenberg Protestant parish's café has only been open since June, and the idea behind it is to use the church premises as a meeting place: The church premises can and should be used much more as a meeting place than just every two weeks for church services. "The café is a real enrichment for the district, and of course we want to support that," says Michelle happily. Support because almost everything here is done on a voluntary basis - from the services to baking the cakes. Michelle's cake has already found a home in the well-stocked counter and is just waiting to be enjoyed with a delicious coffee in the sunshine in front of the church.
We are now joined by Karolin, the vicar of the parish, and Kerstin, a parish worker. They talk about the start of the project: "We had actually planned five days of PopUp Café as a trial run, so to speak, for a possible start in September. However, these five days were so well received that we opened four times during the summer vacations." The great popularity of the Cafédrale can be seen and felt immediately. There is a lively in and out, with senior citizens sitting at the tables as well as families and young people. What do Kerstin and Karolin particularly like here? "There is such a wonderful cheerfulness among the guests, but also among our many volunteers," they emphasize. By the way: here in the Cafédrale, everyone only pays what they can - the prices on the large blackboard are just a guide, as you can read in large print. From September, the church will open its doors three times a week, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, to fill it with even more life. More information about the project is available on the website.
Mainz Coffee Manufactory, Mainz-Finthen
My whole family, especially my mother, has long been impressed by the coffees from the Mainz coffee manufactory convinced. She is the only one in the family who drinks her coffee black and has found her favorite in the coffee manufacturer's "Peru". We were recently given a behind-the-scenes tour of the new premises in Finthen, where we learned a lot about the work on site, with the producers and with the product itself.
The beans from the Mainz-based coffee manufacturer come from all over the world: Java, Brazil, Kenya, Costa Rica, Honduras, Sumatra and many other countries can be found on the packaging on the shelves. What they all have in common: They are produced by small farmers and under fair and environmentally friendly conditions, which is something they are particularly committed to here. The personal relationship with the farmers and their families is very important to owner Norbert Becker and he often travels all over the world to maintain this. Intermediaries are also avoided in order to guarantee fair payment for the producers. Thanks to the efforts of the Mainz-based company, many villages have already been supported in terms of schools and infrastructure.
Long-term roasting is used in the further processing of the coffee beans. This makes the coffee particularly mild, digestible and aromatic. Of course, this takes time compared to industrial coffee, which is roasted in just a few minutes at a very high temperature. The result is convincing (and above all tasty): The Manufaktur café offers a wide variety of coffee specialties, from cappuccino to latte macchiato and espresso - all made from the company's own beans, of course. There is also a changing coffee bar. You read that right! Different varieties can be sampled on each visit until you find your favorite bean. If that takes too long, you can of course ask the expert staff for advice. Behind the counter, Wolfgang will be happy to help you with your selection and give you a few tips on how to prepare them at home. With such an all-round good feeling, there's nothing left to do but enjoy a piece of cake and a cup of coffee and let your gaze wander through the glass roastery next door from the café. In the Online store of the manufactory there is an overview of the coffee varieties, but here you can also find more information about the opening hours on site.
Veronika's wine café, Strubel-Roos winery, Flonheim
Veronika's wine café from the Winery Strubel-Roos is idyllically situated in one of Flonheim's winding alleyways, side by side with the family's wine hotel. I came here following a recommendation from Sandra, who is a cultural and wine ambassador here in Rheinhessen and is always on the lookout for culinary highlights. The café is bustling with activity, and in the middle of it all Veronika is standing behind the counter helping a customer choose a piece of cake. It's not that easy, because: The many varieties of cakes and gateaux all look temptingly delicious. In the end, the lady opts for a classic, a slice of plum cake, and Veronika finds a moment for me.
In our conversation, we really start from the very beginning, namely when her parents decided on a second mainstay - the wine hotel. It has been around for 17 years and has been growing ever since. At some point, the family realized that hotel guests were always looking for something to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. The idea of a wine café was quickly born, where guests of all kinds could enjoy refreshments and unwind from early afternoon until late in the evening. This was a real dream come true for Veronika, who studied hotel and catering management and was born with a passion for baking from her grandfather. He was also a baker and her granddaughter still uses his traditional, handed-down recipes in her own bakery.
Many of the cakes and tarts on the large counter are inspired by the season, and some are even topped with the restaurant's own fruit. "That's also the reason why local guests in particular love coming to us," Veronika reveals - she is visibly proud of the handcrafted quality of her creations, for which she has been responsible since 2013. Of course, this is not only appreciated by visitors from the surrounding area, but also by hotel guests and the many cyclists and hikers who visit Flonheim for its Hiwweltour "Aulheimer Tal" visit. If you don't fancy something sweet, you can also choose from a variety of tarte flambée and enjoy one of Veronika's brother's wines - these have recently even been certified organic. The opening hours of Veronika's wine café are Saturday and Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00 (February - November).
Nachtigallenhof, Wallertheim
The Nightingale Court in Wallertheim is a rather young business - at least that's how it looks to outsiders. Its gates have been open to visitors since May 2022, and a large perennial garden with an associated nursery and a garden café invite you to linger. My sister-in-law Melli came across the farm through her love of everything that grows and thrives around the house and referred me here straight away.
However, the project began much earlier, when the owners Mark Ehrbrecht and Markus Gaißl were still students but were already enthusiastic pot gardeners at the time. Their passion for all things green never dried up, but continued to flourish over the years with plenty of inspiration from all over the world. In the mid-2000s, while house hunting, they came across a plot of land with an old fir tree plantation in Wallertheim that was to be sold - today's Nachtigallenhof. But in the years that followed, the career changers had one thing above all else on their agenda: tidying up, creating beds, testing plants for their suitability and replacing them if necessary.
This process ultimately resulted in the perennial beds with sun and shade areas that can be viewed today, which are mainly composed of particularly drought-resistant species. On his regular guided tours of the extensive grounds, including the kitchen garden, chicken enclosure and nursery, Markus Gaißl is happy to share his specialist knowledge with groups of visitors, some of whom are even from abroad. However, the sea of flowers that changes throughout the year can also be explored without a guided tour, for example on the Open Garden Days that take place throughout Rheinhessen.
The cozy garden café right at the entrance and yet surrounded by greenery rounds off a visit to the farm. Mother Rosemarie Gaißl lovingly and courteously looks after the guests and provides them with her home-baked cakes. This is accompanied by a cup of delicious filter coffee - not a gimmick, but honest, down-to-earth quality that reflects its creators Mark Ehrbrecht and Markus Gaißl at every turn. The couple experience their work on the farm as a counterpoint to their actual professional lives, as the "other side of life", as they like to say.
The café and garden are open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. from April to October. An overview of the opening hours of the garden and the various offers of the Nachtigallenhof can be found at on the website.
