Ost, Frankfurt: neighborhood guide

Frankfurt-Ost covers two different areas east and north-east of the centre: the Ostend district, which runs along the Main towards Ostbahnhof and the Hanauer Landstraße, and Bornheim, a residential quarter further north-east. They are separate neighbourhoods with different characters, and neither is a sightseeing quarter.

The Ostend mixes pre-war apartment blocks, new office buildings and the Hanauer Landstraße strip. The European Central Bank's towers stand at the old Grossmarkthalle site near Ostbahnhof, and the riverbank in front of them is used for running and cycling (check).

Bornheim is the part most visitors end up liking. Berger Straße runs from the Nordend edge through Bornheim Mitte to Alt-Bornheim, lined with small shops, cafés and restaurants. Alt-Bornheim kept its medieval houses through the war, and its Ebbelwoi (apple cider) taverns are the reason many Frankfurters come here.

Yes, if you are happy to use the U-Bahn and want to be near the Zoo, the Lohrberg and the Bornheim taverns. Hotels around Ostbahnhof and along Hanauer Landstraße are often cheaper than comparable rooms in Innenstadt or West (check), and the ride to Hauptwache or Konstablerwache is short. The trade-off is that you will not step out of your hotel into the old town.

No, if this is a short first trip and you want the cathedral, Römer and Museumsufer on foot. In that case Innenstadt or Altstadt saves you two metro rides a day. Families often prefer Ost for the Zoo and the river paths; nightlife seekers should note that the club venues are on the eastern edge, not next to the hotels.

Alt-Bornheim is the eating highlight: Ebbelwoi taverns serving the local cider with hearty plates, some of them centuries old, around the north-eastern end of Berger Straße near the Bornheim Mitte U-Bahn stop. Bornheim also has a market and a steady supply of cafés and small restaurants along Berger Straße.

In the Ostend, options are more scattered. Pizzeria Charly Braun on Röderbergweg is a small, cheap pizza and pasta place where locals phone ahead and collect in about twenty minutes. For drinks, Sandbar on Sandweg serves wine and small snacks, open from 18:00 into the early hours. Batschkapp on Gwinnerstraße is a long-running rock and alternative venue; Robert Johnson sits near the Offenbach S-Bahn and its opening hours should be checked before you go.

Ostbahnhof is the U-Bahn station nearest the European Central Bank, and Bornheim is served by the U4 with stops at Bornheim Mitte and Eissporthalle/Festplatz. Connections and journey times should be checked against the current timetable before you travel. The Zoo has its own U6/U7 stop, and the Lohrberg is reached by bus or a long walk from Bornheim.

Walking works well along the river: the Mainufer path links Ost to the Altstadt in about 25–35 minutes (check). Trams run along Hanauer Landstraße, including Tram 11 to Osthafenplatz for the Dialogmuseum. Check current ticket rules and validation before boarding.