Beyond The Banks

Away from Frankfurt’s financial core, there’s plenty of fun to be had, says Marisa Cannon.

- Marisa Cannon

While Frankfurt’s high-rolling hedge funders and FTSE financiers keep the markets ticking over, its reputation as a commercial powerhouse may not tempt those looking for a weekend away. Still, the city’s entrepreneurial spirit has begun to take root outside of the financial district in the form of edgy bars and restaurants, while those after more cultural nourishment can wander the banks of the Main River, home to some of Germany’s best museums. If you have some time between meetings or fancy extending your trip by a day or two, Frankfurt has a host of creative districts worth exploring.

BAHNHOFSVIERTEL

The area around the central station, Bahnhofsviertel is one of the city’s grittier parts, where scantily clad mannequins in shop windows co-exist with seedier activities. Not unlike the gentrification in London’s King’s Cross, however (see our Four-Hour Guide online), the area has undergone a renaissance, with new businesses breathing life into its dingier quarters, cleverly capitalising on the cheaper rents.

Directly in front of the station is Kaiserstrasse, and the best thoroughfare on which to orient yourself if you’re walking into the CBD from the station. Peppered with nail parlours and falafel takeaways, the cobbled avenue leads on to Elbestrasse, where the atmosphere lifts to reveal a cluster of hipster bars and minimalist cafés.