Schwane 1404
Hauptsrasse 12
97332 Volkach
Franken
Germany
Tel. +49 938180660
The dishes
Smoked salmon/melon/silvaner
Grilled chicken drumsticks/Mirabelle/radicchio/hazelnut
Duck/pumpkin/cranberries/parsnip
Citrus/shortbread/sabayon
One of the oldest inns of the Franken (Germany’s Franconian region), the Schwane 1404 is located in the upscale but welcoming Romantik Hotel Zur Schwane in the pretty town of Volkach. It is an outstanding stube-type restaurant (a Franconian Wirtsstube, in fact) that serves traditional food re-interpreted with noteworthy modern flair. (The hotel also has another dining spot, the one Michelin star Weinstock restaurant.) In fact, the centuries-old Schwane 1404 (it started serving hungry travelers over 600 years ago) really is a stube only in its inviting rustic charm, décor, and atmosphere. Clearly, while the wood panelling, heavy tablecloths, dim lighting, heavy wooden chairs and table might conjure up the idea of a warm stube, the food served there is very removed from the typical hearty fare of dining establishments such as bistros and stubes. Its dishes showcase outstanding inventiveness and complexity, not to mention refinement, and are certainly worthy of a one Michelin star rating as well (to be crystal-clear, I have been to, for example, starred-gastropubs in the United Kingdom where the food, though good, is nowhere near as good as the one you’ll find at Schwane 1404). And when the weather allows, if you like, you can also eat in the beautiful inner courtyard where a seven meters long table makes for a fun, easygoing and different evening.
