Restaurant Alte Rheinfähre in Düsseldorf

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Went to Kaiserswerth spontaneously and wanted to eat something. The beer garden was well attended but not overcrowded. There were two “service staff” scurrying through the garden without noticing us. After 20 minutes I tried to draw attention to us, a friendly wave back gave me hope. After another 30 minutes of waiting for an order to be taken, we left without having accomplished anything. We don't have to eat there, there are some good and attentive restaurants in the area.

Nice restaurant right on the Rhine! Food was very tasty. The waiter was attentive and drinks and food came promptly. We didn't have to wait long. We were completely satisfied. The atmosphere is a bit from the seventies, but somehow quaint. Conclusion, price and performance are right, we would like to come back.

We ate veal steaks with fresh mushrooms and hash browns. Super tender and fried to perfection. The service is very nice and friendly. The view of the Rhine, wonderful!

Where do I even begin? Let's try it this way: The location is really nice, parking spaces are also offered on site but they are subject to a charge (parking costs €5, of which €4 is charged as a distortion voucher when you present the parking ticket) The beer garden is nice and big, there are lots of trees there so it's nice and shady and you have a good view of the Rhine and the ferry. There is a fenced playground on site. So so far so good. But now the disadvantages: In my opinion, there are not enough cellars there, which is why there are extremely long waiting times, which in itself isn't the worst thing if the few waiters there weren't either totally overwhelmed, incompetent or extremely cheeky and impudent!!! Simple and friendly questions are answered cheekily and rudely. As an example: a cellar is serving the neighboring table, when asked whether you could order something to drink with your meal, the first answer was: no question, I don't have time for that and then turns around to drink a beer first. 20 minutes later we tried our luck again to order new drinks and this time the answer was in an even unfriendly tone: I've already told you that I won't serve you!!! Okay, so we ordered the bill, which we then had to wait half an hour for!!! When cashing out, the cellar suddenly wanted to add additional drinks that had not been ordered to the invoice created by the cash register system!!! When asked several times, the cellar responded very angrily and after 10 minutes of discussion and the threat of calling the police to clarify the situation, the invoice was finally drawn up as it was correct and so we were finally able to pay, at least we thought that the next problem had already arisen You had to pay by card inside the restaurant, which isn't a bad thing in itself, but when I handed over the bill I was asked how much I would tip. When I answered none, I don't pay a tip for such service, I was told that if you're a cheapskate you'd better cook for yourself!!! I don't think this needs any further explanation. All in all, more than outrageous and unsatisfactory and all this for a meal that, with a lot of goodwill, gets a rating of OK. This was our 2nd but definitely last visit. The first one wasn't quite as bad as this one, but the first time the food was at least better and the waiting times were shorter, but the staff was already rude back then (at the time we thought it was because the beer garden was packed, but this time it was less full due to Corona due to the distances that had to be maintained. But the staff was worse.

Waiting 40 mi for a waiter is quite a number!!!! He curses in Yugoslavian

Very nice location on the Rhine ferry. BUT: After more than 20 minutes, no service in the beer garden, numerous tables not cleared, ordering at the counter also not possible, although this is probably the obvious solution to capacity problems. Very unfortunate...

Delicious waffles, but also a steep price

We had dinner there today with our hiking group of 20 people. All the dishes we ordered, from kale to goulash to salad, were excellent and generous in size. The service was more than attentive and special requests were fulfilled immediately. We didn't have to wait long for drinks or food. Everything is just perfect!

Always happy. When the weather is good, like today, you can sit on the terrace under the trees and enjoy the view of the Rhine. The food is very tasty and well prepared, and the service is attentive. The Pinot Gris could have been about 2° cooler. Otherwise everything is fine. See you next time.

Delicious Ratinger Altbier with a view of the Rhine 👍👍👍

Actually a great location, but the staff is hopelessly overwhelmed when it's busy in good weather. Maybe the management should think about more staff or a different external structure. A little tip, just take the ferry over and enjoy a good coffee in a relaxed atmosphere at the Dormero.

Good ambience and natural location, great service. Food was delivered quickly but a lot of things got mixed up when I took the order. I got croquettes instead of fries. These were served on small plates as compensation. Schnitzel and salad were great but pepper sauce was very salty.

The food is TK food, which is very expensive due to the ambience right on the Rhine. Baked potato with curd is more curd than potato. It comes to the table cold and looks more like a ready-made potato from Rewe. (Unfortunately it was worse prepared than at home) Schnitzel Diana has potential if it weren't frozen schnitzel and ready sauce. Condition was worse than a full McDonalds. It was already emptier but we still waited 20 minutes for a waiter to order. After the food was served quickly, the waiter couldn't go fast enough. So my girlfriend is still eating and she asks if I can pay. When you pay, the mobile card device isn't even brought to you; you have to go to the restaurant to do so. Then you can't even finish the drinks in peace, everything starts to be cleared away straight away. All in all, not welcoming service and not tasty food. It's a shame given the beautiful location. Here, the maintenance of the tables, hedges, etc. should also be carried out again. Unfortunately it looks very run down compared to pictures from last year. On the next bike tour I'd rather take a Coke with me instead of paying for bad service here.

My wife and I had lunch there today. Nice place. Nice service, food was very tasty

The location is unique. Otherwise, almost all of the potential to become one of the most beautiful beer gardens in RheinRuhr will be wasted. The grumpy service, the offerings and the 25-year-old laminated menu top it all off. Just a shame. Really a shame.

I can only report good things, the polite service is just great, thank you

Bad service, as already described. Food ok, location itself very nice and a nice playground. Nevertheless, I wouldn't come here again due to the poor service...

A very nice location. BUT: the service is really impossible. Waiters listless, seem annoyed. Very inflexible. Despite poor service, we tipped out of respect, the waiter didn't even say thank you/bye. There wasn't much going on, so you can't blame it on stress. We were there several times - always had the same experience.

Relaxing environment and good food. The portions could be larger 😉

Directly on the Rhine, pure relaxation. A nice waiter who was always friendly despite a lot of work... Thank you for that. Unfortunately there is not enough staff to relieve the burden. Very unfortunate. Playground for children and good play equipment.

You can sit there very comfortably, right on the Rhine, watching ships. The food is very good, service is top notch, highly recommended

Great restaurant, the guest is treated individually. The service team is very friendly and always has a smile on their faces. Directly on the Rhine and ideal to linger. A slight feeling of vacation. Great.

Salad with turkey strips was okay

A large, quiet and comfortable place, with beautiful and picturesque views, and close to a large sea, Asma Rayen is considered the most beautiful atmosphere in this region.

A very nice day on a Sunday, 21 degrees, the sun is shining, you are prepared for a wonderful afternoon with delicious food. When you ask for a place, the waitress starts talking to you and tells you, yes, sit down, but who knows whether you will be served, after a while we found a place. When ordering it goes on, would the sauce be a part of the schnitzel dish, no! Definitely not enough staff, the kitchen can't handle that. For me as a restaurateur, an absolute no-go! Staff unfriendly and quickly feel attacked, friendliness needs to be worked on urgently and perhaps on a Sunday when the sun is shining and it's 21 degrees, you should plan for 2 more people if 6 waiters are not enough. Best regards.

Typical tourist restaurant with food at reasonable prices. Attentive and friendly staff

Stumbled upon it by chance on our return journey home. We returned via the Rhine instead of the highway. We sat comfortably and we saw the pound in our sights, which we of course took advantage of

We were there for a birthday party with almost over 20 people. The service staff were friendly and attentive, everyone enjoyed it. Special highlight: Although it wasn't ordered, a great vegan menu was spontaneously put together. All around a great experience👍🏻

A very nice restaurant, a wonderful place to look at the water 😊

Beautifully located on the Rhine, on the Kaiserswerth-Kierst Rhine ferry. I just had a drink. The food looked good. I can't say whether the price is right. Popular restaurant also because of its convenient location for cyclists and cars. Parking spaces available. Large terrace, difficult with a wheelchair ♿️, cramped with a walker. I can't judge the interiors.

Nice quiet travel break with a view of the Rhine Delicious rotbarsch fillet with an altbier Friendly and smooth service 👍