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Commerce
& Culture
It
may not have the flair of Paris or the romance of Rome, but when
it comes to pure and pristine cultural roots, Frankfurt holds its
own in Europe, unearths Inder Raj Ahluwalia
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Frankfurt
airport
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Delicately
poised at the crossroads of history and modernity, Frankfurt is
arguably one of Europe’s most complete cities, being Germany’s
economic gateway and powerhouse, and a financial centre of standing.
It
may not have the flair of Paris or the romance of Rome, but when
it comes to pure and pristine cultural roots, Frankfurt holds its
own in Europe. ‘Progression’ is the overriding local characteristic,
and finance and commerce make the wheels go around, their telling
effect vividly illustrated by hundreds of banks, brokerage houses
and financial institutions. Courtesy Germany’s industrial prowess
and its own local infrastructure, Frankfurt hosts major international
fairs and exhibitions.
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Ballet
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Business
and finance are the life-blood that promotes and sustains the city’s
growth and shapes its fortunes in contemporary Europe’s highly
competitive environment. They have also paved the way for the preservation
of local cultural heritage, in turn leading to a thriving tourism
industry. The result is that you are greeted by a splendid blend
of the old and new, a happy mix of commerce and culture, dignified
humour, fun and frolic, and historical details. Centuries of German
history unfold in the squares and monuments you pass daily, and
modern Germany is on show. But always with the past close by, as
if in silent cooperation...
If
you’re a first timer, allow yourself a little time to understand
local logistics before putting a label on the city. First impressions
normally hinge on the busy airport, smooth highways and the concrete
and glass city-centre, a mass of high-rise buildings. But essentially,
it is a ‘nine-to-five’ city, and the good news is that
everything works like clockwork.
Sightseeing
is plentiful. If museums draw you, head for the ‘Museumsufer’,
the museums’ row of the city, with a concentration of institutions
along the Main River, including big names like the Stadelsche Art
Institute and the famous Museum for Applied Arts. Immaculately maintained
park-like surroundings make this pleasant and unusual ensemble of
urban culture an international rendezvous. Explore the museums,
amble along the parks and stop by at a nearby cafe.
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Old
Opera
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The
local tourist highlight is ‘Der Romerberg’, the square
that marks the historical focal point of the city. On its west stands
the ‘Romer’, Frankfurt’s traditional symbol, signature
monument and City Hall for over four centuries. The Kaisersaal,
scene of the coronation banquets is open to visitors, as is the
15 th century Fountain of Justice, which has played a pivotal role
in German history. Die Hauptwache is an ancient, appealing baroque
building in the heart of the city. Built in 1729 as a municipal
guardhouse, it today houses a cheerful cafe, and is a popular hangout
for both tourists and locals seeking ‘tavern fun’. The
‘Church of Our Lady’ is a magnificent structure built
some five centuries ago, and its famous symbol, the Rococo Fountain,
is a favourite spot that you must photograph yourself at.
With
Germany’s largest cultural expenditure budget, Frankfurt is
a mega-centre for the arts, with as many theatre groups, actors’
guilds, cabarets, music ensembles and repertory companies, as there
are days in the year. While the Frankfurt Municipal Opera is world-renowned,
several others are also worthy of praise. Prior bookings are advisable.
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Frankfurt
skyline
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If
you’re a jazz enthusiast, you’ll feel particularly at
home, courtesy dozens of professional and amateur groups performing
the year around, giving live concerts wherever they can, and this
includes taverns, beer parks and sophisticated restaurants. That
the local art of living is highly developed is shown by over a hundred
Volksfests at which guests are invited to join in. Operas, cinemas,
theatres, music concerts, and club and street festivals, all combine
to make this a ‘happening’ centre.
If
Germans in general take their eating seriously, in Frankfurt they
take it further. And why not? Meatstuffs and confectionery are world
famous, and Frankfurt offers a wallop of a hamper with all the right
trimmings. While the ‘Frankfurter’ has made the city famous,
local cuisine stretches further and has its share of refinements.
For standard fare, try the time-tested smoked pork with sauerkraut,
cheese, raw onions, vinegar, and oil, best savoured in a Sachsenhausen
wine tavern with some ‘Ebbelwine’ (apple wine) thrown
in.
Then
look beyond standard fare. The city’s cuisine showpiece is
the celebrated ‘Grune Sobe’, supposedly Goethe’s
favourite dish, carefully prepared using seven different green herbs.
For those with a sweet tooth, the good news is a cake called Frankfurter
Kranz, and the tasty little Bethmarnchen, both of which can be enjoyed
in cafes and confectionery shops. One can have a fancy, candlelit
dinner at one of the dozens of sophisticated downtown restaurants,
or try something more casual at smaller taverns and cafes that greet
you at every turn of every street. The gastronomy on both sides
of the Main river reaches from the gourmet temples of French culinary
arts to the typical ‘gemutlich’ neighbourhood restaurant.
Living
Bar-Restaurant XXL is the biggest restaurant in Frankfurt with 450
seats on the top of Eurotower. Boasting an international cuisine,
it is a must visit. Aubergine (Alte Gasse 14) is a reasonable French
restaurant with good service, although it only opens in the evening
at weekends. Tse Yang (Kaiser Strasse 67) is the best choice for
Chinese food. It is good value for money for business lunches.
After
sunset, the city attempts to charm visitors with diverse entertainment
centred around dining and dancing, perhaps less racy than Berlin’s
or Hamburg’s, but strong enough. With the sun going down, so
do the business shutters, giving things a more relaxed beat. Whereas
the daytime rhythm is all about trade and finance, the night action
comprises a world of cabarets, nightclubs and classy discos. The
lights are bright and the music loud, but it never gets glitzy.
The
city is easy in a sense. With its subtle sense of preservation,
Germany’s commercial capital is intrinsically a part of the
Old Germany: the city of Goethe, the city of letters. Strolling
down the Main, one sees thousands of office-goers out for a quiet
lunch or a walk by the river. Essentially a city of history and
commerce, it does not impose, which makes it easy to discover...
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Accommodation
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The
city has hotels of all categories from deluxe down to
budget class, and bookings can be done at the airport
itself. Upper-end hotels’ tariffs range from Euro
200-300. Standard hotels’ tariffs range from Euro
80-120.
Hilton Hotel Frankfurt
Hochstrasse
4, 60313 Frankfurt
Tel:
(069) 1338000, Fax: 13381338
The
hotel is in the immediate vicinity of the Stock Exchange,
the business and shopping district and the famous Opera
House. The 342-room hotel offers the best in modern
facilities, comfort and relaxation.
Rate:
Without breakfast Euro 200 onwards
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Maritim
Hotel Frankfurt
Theodor-Heuss-Allee
3, Frankfurt
Tel:
(069) 75780, Fax: (069) 7578 1000
The
Maritim Hotel features a high standard of comfort and
the latest security features. The hotel has executive
and non-smoking floors and conference facilities and
is located next to the Fairground and the Congress Centre.
Ideally situated for visitors to the city, it has a
warm and welcoming atmosphere, with the emphasis on
friendly and hospitable service.
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Arabella
Sheraton Grand Hotel Frankfurt
Konrad-Adenauer-Strasse
7
60313
Frankfurt am Main
Tel:
(069) 29810, Fax: (069) 298 1810
The
modern, state-of-the-art Grand hotel is located in the
heart of the city. Frankfurt’s main shopping area
‘Zeil’ is within 100 metres, and the financial
district is within walking distance. The three wings
are constructed around a daylight atrium. With its facilities,
service and luxurious guestrooms, the hotel has taken
a leading place in Frankfurt’s hospitality scenario.
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Accommodation
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Steigenberger
Frankfurter Hof Hotel
Am
Kaiserplatz, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Tel:
(069) 21502, Fax: (069) 215 900
An
elegant hotel since 1876, the Frankfurter Hof combines
European hotel tradition, service and the experience
of more than a century of hosting guests. The Frankfurter
Hof is equipped with the latest technology for business
travellers with private fax, modem, video conferencing
and PC-connections.
Frankfurt Marriott
Hamburger
Allee 2-10, 60486 Frankfurt
Tel:
(069) 79550, Fax: 79552432
Rate:
With breakfast Euro 150 onwards
The
Frankfurt Marriott offers elegant surroundings and a
fantastic location for business travellers - opposite
the exhibition grounds and the new Congress Centre Messe
Frankfurt. There are 10 meeting rooms, a business centre
and a ballroom for conferences, while the deluxe guestrooms
on the executive floors offer all business facilities,
as well as the Executive Lounge for relaxation. For
more healthy recreation, the Fitness Oasis contains
a sauna, whirlpool and extensive fitness equipment.
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SHOPPING
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Literally,
the world is for sale at hundreds of outlets that cover
the entire gamut of humble shops right up to exclusive
designer boutiques that flash designer labels. The centre
of the city boasts the Hauptwache, which has dozens
of department stores and speciality shops on two shopping
levels, selling everything from flowers to jewellery
and fashion items. Seconds away is the Zeil, Germany’s
biggest, best-stocked and busiest shopping area with
large department stores and clothes and shoe stores,
set amidst a spacious pedestrian zone. Here, one gets
a wide range of prices to suit all budgets.
If you’re looking for clothes, leather, hi-fi,
or camera equipment, try the shops in the Kaiserstrasse,
while ultra exclusive stores tempt buyers in the Goethestrasse.
For paintings, antiques and old books, try the Dom and
Fahrgasse. The Kleinmarkthalle, an indoor fresh-produce
market, sells every fruit, vegetable, spice and meat
stuff one can think of.
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Nightlife
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Many
of Frankfurt’s top hotels have excellent bars that
are particularly popular with visiting business people.
Belying its rather staid image, Frankfurt has a lively
club scene; techno is particularly popular. The best venues
for live music are around Kleine Bockenheimer Strasse
otherwise known as Jazzgasse (Jazz Alley). If an up-to-the
minute scene is more your style try Oppenheimer and Orionbar,
next door to each other on Oppenheimer Strasse, which
offer excellent cocktails to a trendy crowd. The Lifestyle
Bar at the Maritim Hotel is also the place for superb
cocktails. Nachtleben, Kurt-Schumacher-Strasse 45, is
two places in one: upstairs a trendy bar and downstairs
a dance club playing house on Thursday and drum ’n’
bass on Saturday. Try Galerie, Dusseldorfer Strasse 1-7,
where the young and trendy enjoy live sets, dance music,
theatre performances and unusual art exhibitions. A palatial
villa in Bethmann Park is the chic setting of the Odeon
disco, Seilerstrasse 34. |
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BASICS
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Tips:
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Germans are very punctual and appreciate punctuality.
It is advisable to arrive for meetings a few minutes
early. While traffic congestions are rare, they can
hold you up and this should be kept in mind.
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One doesn’t tip staff at most restaurants. A
service charge is normally included in the bill. However,
it is common to tip porters.
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The area around the Main Rail Station can be a bit
dangerous, if you’re out walking around alone
at night. It’s best to seek advice on such matters
from your local hosts or hotel staff.
Business Hours: Banks are open Mon-Wed 8.30 am-1
pm and 2.30 pm-4 pm, Thursday till 5.30 pm, Friday till
3.30 pm.
Telephone
Code:
0069
Excursions:
Available are several round-trip cruises on the romantic
Main river, and downstream (May-October), to the Rhine,
past Mainz and the legendary Lorelei, besides other
excursions to Aschaffenburg and Rudesheim. There are
bus excursions to the Taunus Hills with their medieval
hilltop villages and famous health spas.
Holidays:
Jan 1, Mar 29, Apr 1, May 1, 20, Oct 3, Dec 24, 25,
26, 31.
Getting
Around:
The city and its surrounding regions within a radius
of 40 km are connected by a convenient system of public
transportation known as the Frankfurter Verkehrs-und
Tarifyerbund. This apart, city and commuter buses, streetcars,
subways (U-bahn) and commuter trains (S-bahn) service
each area with flat fares that include any necessary
transfers. Tickets can be purchased (except at bus stops)
with coins from the blue automats.
Business
Etiquette:
Frankfurters are impressed with efficiency and strong
business sense. These are displayed in their business
style: firm handshakes, formal use of business cards,
and an appreciation of straight talking. Business contacts
must be addressed by their surname and by the formal
‘Sie’ for ‘you’. Both men and women
are expected to wear suits; men should also wear a tie.
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