Buzzing bumblebees and the aroma of warm apple strudel fill the air here. We are standing in front of the Park-Cafe. This cafe offers a delightful escape right in the heart of Frankfurt. It is located in the Grüneburgpark.
The Park-Cafe resides within the Schönhof-Pavillon. This is a classicist pavilion that dates back to 1820. Friedrich Rumpf, a Frankfurt architect, designed it. Carl Ludwig Freiherr von Barckhaus commissioned it. He was a retired minister from Hesse-Darmstadt.
Originally, the pavilion was not in this exact spot. It was relocated here in 1964 due to the Breitenbach bridge construction. Today, the Park-Cafe is a beloved spot. Its doors open as soon as the first rays of sunshine appear.
Grüneburgpark itself has a rich history. It started as the park for the Grüne Burg. This was a castle from the 14th century. In 1789, Peter Heinrich von Bethmann Metzler acquired the property. He expanded the building. He also had the park designed. Great thinkers like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited.
Later, in 1837, the Rothschild family bought the park. They built a palace-like mansion. It was styled after a French Loire castle. Heinrich Siesmayer developed an English garden. It was completed in 1877.
Under the Nazi regime, Albert von Goldschmidt-Rothschild had to give up his home. The palace was destroyed in an air raid in 1944. After the war, the park expanded to 29 hectares. It became a public space.
Today, Grüneburgpark includes the university’s botanical garden. There is also a Korean Garden. The Korean Garden was a gift to the city. It was part of South Korea’s presentation at the 2005 Frankfurt Book Fair.
The Park-Cafe offers down-to-earth food. Salads, tarte flambée and pizza corners are available. Many people find the white plastic seating functional. The beautiful view of the Korean Garden compensates for it. The Park-Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting. It is best to call ahead if you are unsure.
You can easily reach the Park-Cafe from Albert-Siebert-Straße. Parking is limited in the residential area. Taking a bike is a good option. The Park-Cafe provides a mini-vacation from city life. No houses cast shadows. Instead, there is light in the open countryside.