A Frankfurt restaurant that only opens in the evening is making one exception this year. On Christmas Day, the dune, which earned Michelin stars within months of opening, is serving lunch.
Chef Niclas Nussbaumer runs the kitchen, and Lea Rupp is the host. The two had already earned Michelin stars together at their former restaurant in Germany’s Black Forest. “We are deeply moved by this award,” Nussbaumer said.
2 Michelin Stars in 6 Months
The Michelin Guide gave the dune two stars six months after The Florentin opened in December 2025. The hotel says the honor came a century after Michelin launched its star system in 1926.
You’ll find The Florentin in a landmarked 1901 mansion, with newer wings around a garden courtyard. The building was once the Villa Kennedy. Today the hotel has 147 rooms and suites.
2 Menus and a Wine Lounge
The dune’s tasting menu runs seven courses. On weekdays, there’s also a four-course menu if you’re short on time. The restaurant opens Tuesday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
The menu follows the seasons, and the kitchen works the same ingredients into several courses in different ways. Nussbaumer said he aims for cooking that’s “calm, thoughtful and full of character.”
For something lighter, the Fine Bites & Wine lounge at the center of the restaurant serves smaller dishes and wine. Across the restaurant, about 250 ceiling lights call to mind a starry desert sky.
Holiday Menus at The Florentin
The Florentin Bar serves a Christmas afternoon tea on weekends from late November through Jan. 3. At The Garden, the hotel’s all-day restaurant, you’ll find a goose-and-duck menu for the holidays.
If you want to stay over, a holiday package runs Nov. 23 to Dec. 22 and includes two nights, a goose menu at The Garden, an arrival amenity and spa access. A separate Christmas package covers stays over the holiday itself, with a festive dinner at The Garden.
More to Do in Frankfurt in December
Frankfurt’s Christmas market season runs Nov. 23 to Dec. 22, and you can pair it with a few other seasonal events.
- The Frankfurt Christmas Market spreads across several locations, including many of the city’s historic areas. More than 200 stalls sell holiday and local specialties, such as hot apple wine and Bethmännchen, a marzipan pastry.
- The Pink Christmas Market trades red and green for pink and rose lights, with wooden huts serving hot cocktails and homemade soups. It runs on the same dates and is LGBTQ+ friendly.
- The Palmengarten botanical garden hosts Winterlichter (Winter Lights) from Dec. 5 to Jan. 10, with open-air light installations and video art across the grounds.
- The Städel Museum opens “SurFace: On Skin” on Dec. 2, with works by Raphael, Titian, Auguste Rodin and Robert Mapplethorpe that show how artists have depicted human skin. It runs through Feb. 28, 2027.
Listen for the Bells on Christmas Eve
If you’re in Frankfurt on Christmas Eve, listen for the Frankfurt Grand Bell Ringing, when the bells of 10 churches across the city center ring together for 30 minutes. The hotel calls it one of Frankfurt’s most beloved holiday traditions. The only other date this year is Nov. 28.