Restaurant Alte Rheinfähre in Düsseldorf

It is located directly on a ferry

They don't have a single vegan dish, and there's a lack of vegetarian options, apart from a baked potato with quark and a children's dish: tagliatelle with tomato sauce. The fried potatoes were too salty, and the salad was drowned in dressing. The vegetables were overcooked, and the fried egg looked as if it had been thawed. In contrast, the meat dishes were apparently very good. And the staff is very friendly and attentive.

A typical day-trip restaurant with good, home-style cooking. The ambiance is a bit dated, but overall, it feels harmonious. The coffee and hot chocolate were perfectly fine. And the food served by the guests at the next table looked very good.

Great off-season but full during holiday season

This traditional inn, right on the Rhine, has a large beer garden and a lovely view! I was greeted warmly by the staff and enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere. There was some sophisticated jazz music playing. I had a water, a Sauerbraten (Rhineland-style sauerbraten) with potato dumplings and apple-flavored red cabbage. The Sauerbraten was beautifully tender and very tasty. The red cabbage was not too sweet, with apple pieces, apparently homemade. Anyone who enjoys good, home-style cooking will feel very comfortable here.

Very tasty food, very friendly service. A complete success!

We sat in the beer garden and felt very comfortable. Good service and delicious food. The playground for the children is a perfect fit for a family outing.

I've known this restaurant almost my entire life. This time I was there for an uncle's funeral, with a lot of family present. The service was really good. The staff were attentive and very friendly. Good food. The atmosphere was great thanks to the service and the design of the room. Thank you, Alte Rheinfähre team.

Delicious food and owner-managed for decades. A traditional establishment. Unfortunately, the service was only courteous from a few of the staff. It's clear that only some of the staff are trained. This isn't a bad thing, given the shortage of skilled workers, but it did somewhat dampen the experience. It remains a good place for delicious, down-to-earth food on the Rhine.

The view was good, the food was nothing more than "snack-quality," but it wasn't exactly good value for money. The waiter tried hard, but he had to wait on too many tables to accommodate requests. He was still friendly, though. OK for a quick stop in the beer garden for a tasty cold drink, but not if you really want a good meal. The cake looked delicious, though, but we didn't order it. So I can't really judge it.

We spent a lovely afternoon here. Coffee and a walk along the Rhine – very nice 😀. We finished with a delicious meal, and then, unfortunately, we had to move on. Greetings to the team, it was lovely with you! Addendum: The restaurant's parking lot would be ideal for a night (after a delicious meal/drink) – but since some campers in the past have apparently forgotten that you leave the place as you found it... What a pity

We sat in the beer garden right on the Rhine with a beautiful view. Our waiter was a very pleasant, friendly young man who provided impeccable service with a great sense of humor and dedication. We had a wonderful afternoon. The food was delicious, and all our requests for changes were easily accommodated. The homemade cake and freshly whipped cream were a hit.

We always enjoy coming here. Delicious food, great cakes, and the service is always very friendly. There's a beautiful view of the Rhine.

Very good restaurant with direct views of the Rhine. Great service.

We stopped for a quick bike ride, originally just to grab a bite to eat, but the prices were really slowing us down. Charging €12.50 for a currywurst is pretty outrageous. A glass of Altbier (alt beer) costs a whopping €3.90. A 0.2 liter wine spritzer costs €7.00. Sorry, but the beautiful view isn't worth it to us. Friendly service.

A truly great location. This is our second time there, and both times we sat outside under the large trees, overlooking the Rhine. The service was very friendly both times, and the food was absolutely excellent value for money. The sauerbraten, the pork loin, and the pepper cream schnitzel were all very good. My only complaint is the red cabbage. It has an unappealing grayish-dull color and is thickened with an incredible amount of starch. With a fairly neutral flavor and lacking any fruity notes, it was not a culinary experience. All in all, we'd be happy to come back!

We only had coffee and received very friendly service. The staff is polite and accommodating. We'll be back again and try the food; what was brought out to other tables certainly looked very good.

Alte Rheinfähre offers a welcoming atmosphere enhanced by its scenic riverside location and spacious setting, which is ideal for a daytime date, families, friends, or larger events. Great wholesome German food at a fair price and even though service quality can vary, the restaurant is a great choice for its ambience and extensive seating options.

A highly recommended restaurant with a beer garden. Wonderful views of the Rhine.

Cozy beer garden, astronomical prices, modest service

The food was okay, but the schnitzel was unfortunately deep-fried, making it rich. The service at the restaurant was friendly and pleasant, but the waiter in the beer garden was an unfriendly older gentleman who seemed to me like he'd consumed most of the beer himself and was in a bad mood because of work. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it; they live off the cyclists here.

Great beer garden right on the Rhine! Very nice waiters

Beautifully located directly on the banks of the Rhine, the food is excellent, and the service is fast and friendly. I highly recommend it if you want to escape the hectic (and unfortunately very polluted) city of Düsseldorf for a few hours.

The Cappuccino is really tasty.

If you're looking for something down-to-earth, this is the place. I wish there were still places like this in Cologne. The old-fashioned children's playground alone is worth seeing. Most importantly, the fantastic location on the old Rhine ferry, nestled under the trees. And we received extremely friendly and respectful service.

The roast beef had a strange aftertaste, the fried potatoes were cold and more black than crispy brown. The gravy from the Diana schnitzel was curdled and ready-made. Never again!

A true insider tip on the Rhine! The Alte Rheinfähre (Old Rhine Ferry) boasts a magical location right on the water—perfect for a relaxing visit in fine weather. The view of the Rhine makes your stay a special experience. The culinary delights are also worth a visit: the German cuisine is honest, delicious, and affordable. The dishes are freshly prepared and down-to-earth, just as you would expect. The staff deserves special mention: attentive, friendly, and quick, without being intrusive. You feel well looked after all around. An ideal place for a relaxing afternoon, dinner with friends, or a stopover during a bike ride. I'd love to come back!

Cozy café, right on the Rhine. Friendly staff, great service. Highly recommended.

The food and drinks are abysmally bad. The ice cream sundae resembles a cheap, no-name ice cream from the freezer of a discount store, but the crowning glory, in the worst sense of the word, is the cappuccino. I honestly wouldn't advise anyone to order a coffee at this restaurant. I've uploaded a photo of the drink, which is called a cappuccino, here. That's how I was served the coffee, before I even drank it from the cup, and I immediately took the photo after I had already asked for a refill. A restaurant couldn't be more excellent than that.

We ended up here after an appointment in Düsseldorf and found the atmosphere very nice. It wasn't very busy, so the service was attentive and quick. We found and ordered simple dishes (fried egg with fried potatoes and salad) and were very satisfied. The aspic was truly delicious. We'd love to go back.

I live in Sardinia and enjoyed the home-style cooking here. Sauerbraten with red cabbage and dumplings is my favorite dish. The location is perfect; you sit outside under old trees, and the view of the Rhine is beautiful. Friendly staff. I'd love to go back!

If you enjoy sitting on the Rhine and watching the ships sail by, this is a lovely spot. The food is appropriate for this location.

This was a visit to the Alte Fähre after a long time, one we were really looking forward to. But in retrospect, we regretted it. The location on the Rhine under the old trees is a highlight, and the expansive view is truly beautiful. The food is hearty and savory, and also delicious. Let's talk about the service, which means we won't be coming back: We were served by an elderly waiter who served us very hastily and barely listened to what we were saying, even interrupting us. When we asked if we could order a larger fries, for which we would gladly pay more, he said that wasn't possible: "Fries are a side dish for us." So the waiter talked us into ordering a rather expensive Salad Rustico so we could order the fries (as a side dish), even though we didn't really want to eat salad. I almost had to shout the second dish we ordered because he was already on his way to leave the table. After this conversation, he brought us a salad with fried potatoes instead of fries... If only he hadn't worked so hastily and had clearly written down that it was fries, an attentive server might have even remembered this extreme special request. So back to the kitchen, and we couldn't start eating our meals together. The icing on the cake was that, despite tipping, he just held up the card reader and said, "Here you go," instead of even saying thank you. During the payment process, he had already left our table without a word, apparently recognizing an acquaintance and greeting her warmly. This is not appropriate behavior with guests, and we will now look for alternatives to the Alte Fähre.

A great day-trip restaurant with two large beer gardens and plenty of parking. The service was terrific. Only the fries could be a bit better (but with my Belgian roots, I have high standards). A good selection of cakes.

Beautiful location directly on the Rhine, courteous service, public parking within easy walking distance.

Located on the water, simply beautiful

Good food, ambiance 10/10, service could be improved. Long wait times. Waiters don't serve you – but definitely worth a visit given the location. Beautiful view of the Rhine.

We went there with a large group for dinner and drinks in the evening. Very good food, top service.

Great class. Parking costs a bit, but that's okay.

We will definitely avoid this restaurant in the future, even for drinks. We only enjoyed beer and coffee on the terrace. The older waiter was unfriendly and unprofessional. The draft wheat beer tasted strangely sour, and the foam disappeared immediately. The beer was probably old, or the tap system hadn't been cleaned properly.

Amazing restaurant operating since 1933 with an interesting menu and good beer

Very tasty goose breasts and very friendly service. It was another very nice Sunday in the winter garden with great weather.

Terrible! Yesterday, a good friend celebrated his birthday here again, like every year (10 people in total!)... the service staff was completely overwhelmed, even though the place wasn't even full! It took a long time to order, and even longer for the order to finally arrive at the table. And that's unacceptable given the prices. The food wasn't good either; mine had pieces of goulash with ice-cold centerpieces. You don't even need to order sauerbraten anymore, either. Previously, they neglected to put down the cutlery... I then got it myself, despite a waiter's protest. Clearing it took a while, too. It seems to me as if the death of the owner, Poensgen, in early April 2025, cast a long shadow. Things aren't going well anymore. Nope, nope, nope. And that after being a guest there for decades.

We spent a sunny day at the restaurant right on the Rhine and were completely satisfied. The location is fantastic – with a view of the water and a truly relaxing spot. The food was fresh and delicious, and the service was friendly and attentive. It was just the right place to enjoy a relaxing day with good food and a beautiful view.

Yes, a nice place to relax, with a view of the Rhine and delicious food.

Nicely located, but actually too big and therefore no longer pleasant. It's not exactly cozy.

We were just in the beer garden to enjoy a cool blonde beer after a hike. The staff was very friendly and the ambiance was lovely.

A very nice place to rest, everything is perfect!!

We were there after coffee time. The ambiance right on the Rhine is very nice, and the service was good too. What's really unacceptable, however, are the prices for the food and drinks, which are not in proportion to the quality. The beer (Bitburger Pils) was lukewarm, not even close to cold. The food (a pulled burger and a currywurst with fries) all came very quickly, which always makes you very skeptical. The meat felt like it had been sitting around somewhere all day, had been reheated, was tough, and not at all tender. The entire burger was thrown together without care. The currywurst was anything but "currywurst." On top of that, all the fries were rock hard.

Despite the high number of visitors, there is great service and long food served outside on the terrace, temperature fluctuations in what is ordered cannot be ruled out.

The perfect leisure spot for strollers! We sat outside overlooking the Rhine and wondered what restaurant could possibly offer so many tables with such a great view. The food was delicious, and the waiter did a really good job. We've often missed such great service in more upscale restaurants lately. We had a wonderful evening here and nothing to complain about.

The food was bad, not fresh, the food was on the table within 10 minutes, bad service.

Delicious currywurst, prices absolutely reasonable.

It was very nice and the asparagus in particular was excellent.

Beautiful beer garden, delicious cake, and very friendly staff! Also very bike-friendly!

A little snack on a holiday... Very friendly staff! I'd be happy to come again

I ordered roast beef with fried potatoes and remoulade sauce. Half of the fried potatoes were burnt black. The roast beef was very greasy. The remoulade sauce was delicious. For the high price, the food was mediocre. My comment to the waitress was met with an "Aha!" response. We won't be going there again.

Unfortunately, I wasn't served outside. After 20 minutes, a waiter told me I was sitting at the wrong table, where there was only a place for dishes.

First visit this year. The food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. Parking wasn't a problem either. Parking fee is €5. €3 of this will be credited toward your order.

The ambiance is super nice on the Rhine! The seating is great. Service is attentive, fast, and very friendly. The food, however, isn't that great. It's a matter of taste, but for people who really value it and want really good food, I wouldn't recommend it. The rest makes up for it, but not everything. The price-performance ratio is unbelievable!

A very nice restaurant with a view of the Rhine and the ferry. We sat outside and two young waiters served us excellently, even though it was very busy. The food was okay but lacking in flavor. The price/performance ratio was too high. In the other outside area, the waiter couldn't keep up, and guests complained. It used to be better.

I love the food there. Every year during asparagus season, they always serve the asparagus cream soup and the linguine with asparagus. When the weather's nice, you can enjoy the view of the Rhine.

Yesterday: The restaurant impresses with its location directly on the Rhine. The food is rather mediocre. Why the quality of the food in day-trip restaurants is rather mediocre remains a mystery to us. However, the service was very friendly. The prices were reasonable. The decor is dated. It's a shabby design; even if you're into retro, the significant renovation backlog is obvious. Hygiene: The restrooms are very dirty and smell of urine. If there's a lack of hygiene there, I'd rather not think about the hygiene in the kitchen. The beer garden: loveless drabness. Overall, to put it mildly, it's a real shame for this restaurant.

Sat in the previous customer's trash for 20 minutes without being served

Never again. We sat down at an empty table on the banks of the Rhine. It was moderately busy, as the weather was mixed. A waiter came over and said that the uncovered tables had probably been cleared, as rain was expected at any moment. He recommended that we take the tables closest to the restaurant, as they had umbrellas. So far, so good. We had barely sat down when another waiter came over and said everything was reserved. When I asked if we had been offered this table, there was no reply. Even when I asked which table they could offer us, I received an unfriendly, condescending, and terse reply: There's probably room here somewhere; we'll have to look for ourselves. When I pointed out that my partner is severely disabled and can't always move, something insulting was muttered, and this so-called waiter left. Simply rude. Happened on May 3, 2025, around 4:30 p.m., in front of numerous guests who just shook their heads at this behavior. This is no way to treat long-time guests. Opportunity and decency are a virtue, but they're clearly out of place here; they can probably afford it given the location. This kind of behavior is inexcusable, so I can no longer recommend this establishment. As one hears, this is probably not an isolated incident. Never again.

I can't understand these negative reviews, you can certainly even guarantee that it is the only store, 200 people come unannounced, that everyone is served at once, in any case, the staff is very friendly, accommodating, the food is delicious, the location is super easy, with a little patience you can go home satisfied, so once again all respect to the staff at the old Rhine ferry

No price information on the menu online... That's not possible! What's that supposed to mean?

After a long walk on the Rhine, we were happy to have something to drink there. There was also enough space outside. Just not enough service. After almost 10 minutes I was able to wave to someone. He initially disappeared. A little later a lady came out and asked what we wanted in a rather harsh tone. We were completely amazed to learn that there was no lactose-free coffee variant. My husband can drink black coffee, cola or water. We then left. Too bad.

After we weren't served at a table in the beer garden because that exact table wasn't served... all the tables around it were served, except for one... for whatever reason, we sat down and waited another 15-20 minutes for the waiter to walk past us several times. When we were finally able to order, drinks were brought to us in dirty glasses smeared with lipstick. When the waiter pointed this out, all we got was: Yes, it can happen. The tables are hardly cleared and not cleaned after previous guests, our table was neither cleared nor cleaned! It's a shame, we know this restaurant very well and the service has deteriorated significantly!

In the beer garden you can sit comfortably on ancient plastic chairs in the immediate vicinity of the Rhine. So much for the good. Have a lot of patience. If it's full, you'll have to wait a good 30 minutes for an iced coffee and a strawberry cup, as we did. Too few staff who seem to have completely lost track of things. The price is completely wrong: a strawberry cup for €8.80 includes 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream, cream, 1 waffle and a few strawberries. Conclusion: disappointing.

The fried potatoes were excellent. Great, thank you very much.

After a long walk with our dog on the banks of the Rhine, this excellently located restaurant is highly recommended. We didn't eat anything there, but you can say that the menu offers something for everyone. We will definitely stop there again and maybe eat something.

The food was okay. The coffee a bit too thin. But the service was very friendly!

Great location! Bad food, probably from the convection oven! Too bad! The menu sounds good, but the food is not fresh and prepared industrially!

Very nice staff, great food and very cozy. Great pit stop if you're traveling by bike.

Food and drinks are normal and a bit overpriced, but you usually have to pay for the view. In any case, it is cozy and beautiful there.

Beautiful restaurant with a huge outdoor area and beer garden right on the Rhine.

Very nice location and nice service. Food was okay.

Nice spot by the water, good parking, good service... Food was a shame, a little more love would have been nice. Steak with peppercorn sauce and fries was very well cooked! The sauce seemed to come from a packet. Roast beef with fried potatoes and remoulade. Without love, a shame. Remoulade from a tube. The onions in the fried potatoes were very dark.

Beautiful, sunny beer garden with a view of the Rhine. Nice service

Very friendly service, nice ambience, good location right on the Rhine. However, the cake was rather average

I just don't understand the 4 star reviews. It's perfect there in the summer and great service. Then they only give 4 stars? Absolute nonsense. That's really nice there.

Sit comfortably in the nicest weather, have a drink and eat well, with a view of the Rhine! It doesn't get any better.

The waffles are delicious! Especially the Bergische ones!

Very unfriendly service. Tables are only served at the discretion of the staff. I'd rather go somewhere else.

Actually a nice restaurant in a nice environment… But if three waiters can't agree on whose area of ​​responsibility a table outside belongs to for a good half an hour, we end up not being served and other guests are already making the waiters aware of our situation... that's really bad and we'll never come back to this training room for lack of organization and commitment...👎

This restaurant only lives from the location. The waiters are unfriendly and not the least bit charming. You actually want to get up and go straight away. You have to have a lot of time and patience here. I won't be making my next trip here. Cakes were okay.

Five stars for the location right on the Rhine. Waiter zero stars. Unfriendly and very irritable. I ordered cake with cream and only got the cake. When I asked (explicitly in a friendly way) whether I could still get the cream, the waiter simply replied snidely that he could only bring me what was put in front of him (???) and that I could give the cake back if I didn't like it. Very unfortunate...

Good old German restaurant with delicious food

Great location, great view of the Rhine, very friendly service, and the cake was also very tasty and fresh

The heating is always too cold in winter. This is not good for the stay.

Very nice terrace, in my opinion there could be a slightly wider selection of food. Unfortunately there is an extreme wasp problem on the terrace in summer. Of course the restaurant can't help it, it's still tiring to enjoy the food. So it's not a criticism of the place, just information for people who may have to avoid such places due to an allergic reaction to wasp stings.

Nice snack bar right on the Rhine. Were there for the second time, very suitable for a stop on the bike tour.

Nice restaurant, very hospitable. Even on Christmas Day. Tables were nicely set and there are several rooms/areas that, I think, have a certain theme (I didn't go very far into the restaurant. The food that passed by looked well prepared and it made us hungry. We wanted to have a drink and that was no problem, because we had not made a reservation.

It’s a secret gem by the river. Decoration and service were excellent. Portions are big.

At 8:35 p.m. the waiter came to remind us that our restaurant would close at 9 p.m. He then went to the bar and said to another colleague; Since 19 These two Chinese guests sit the whole time Bla Bla Bla! We were very embarrassed. I don't know if that's racist? whether we as Chinese guests are sitting here and can't talk, or did he want to finish work early?

Very tasty and a lot. Great service and nice atmosphere. I can only recommend it.

Despite all the negative reviews, the food was really good Good schnitzel and really tasty fries 👍. The waiter was in a good mood. Simply good home cooking. Of course not a star restaurant...but we didn't want to either. The ambience would be a bit too simple for a very special event.

Really appealing restaurant. Hands-on host, a capable cook, a sincere, very hard-working young waiter. Good vibes 😎 The food was a real pleasure

Great ambience, very good German cuisine at reasonable prices. The service is friendly, fast and always has nice sayings. We ate well and were well looked after.