Karlstadt — the most charming quarter in Düsseldorf

If Düsseldorf were a flat, Karlstadt would be the living room. Small enough that you know the bakers by their first name, large enough that you find a different genuinely good restaurant every evening. Karlstadt sits between Königsallee, the Old Town and the Rhine — three steps to each of them, without being overrun by tourist noise.

The Fritz Hotel is at Adersstraße 8, in one of the quietest corners of Friedrichstadt, right beside Karlstadt and about ten minutes on foot from Carlsplatz market. Carlsplatz is not only the oldest market in the city, it is also the only one where you can eat Belgian oysters at midday, fresh asparagus in the evening and home-made tortelloni at the weekend — from the same stall, on the same day.

What to see in Karlstadt

• Carlsplatz market — Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm, fresh fish and cheese.
• St Maximilian — an 18th-century baroque church, five minutes on foot.
• The maritime museum on Burgplatz — compact, but with a view of the Rhine.
• Kunstsammlung NRW (K20) — seven minutes on foot, with a world-famous Klee collection.
• Hofgarten — directly adjoining Karlstadt, perfect for a morning run.

Where we eat ourselves

Breakfast we handle ourselves, of course. In the evening we go to the Wagner Glas-Bar for cocktails, to Kabuki for Japanese (booking matters), or to the small Trattoria Eckart, which claims nothing except good taste. For something vegetarian: Maranellos on Bilker Allee, five minutes away.

Karlstadt has no tour guides. Karlstadt has residents. Our suggestion: have breakfast with us, take a morning coffee at the concept bar Liebevoll, a glass of wine at Mongo's in the evening, and fall asleep in your room. That is Karlstadt.