Zum Gemalten Haus in Frankfurt am Main

Food was so so, many items we wanted were out.

The service was friendly but overwhelmed. We had to wait 1.5 hours for our food after ordering. The food was good!

A beautiful, nostalgic spot! It feels like Heinz Schenk might walk around the corner at any moment... 😉

Food was okay, hospitality could be better, but I don't expect much from German hospitality anyway

The food was delicious, but unfortunately the apple wine didn't taste good; it had a strange aftertaste. The service also left much to be desired. The slightly gruff, direct Frankfurt manner is perfectly fine and even part of the atmosphere, but unfortunately our waiter rarely attended to us, and we had to ask quite emphatically several times to be served. The ambiance is very charmingly rustic.

We visited this place for dinner as our last stop in Frankfurt recommended by a German friend and we were unfortunately left with such a bad impression due to their horrible service. There was no one attending to us the moment we entered and we had to get our own menu before the male waiter came over even though the restaurant was still not as busy. We ordered the Schnitzel with green sauce and while the green sauce was light and appetizing, the schnitzel was not tender and tasted pretty average. After we politely requested to change our order for the goulash soup due to the miscommunication in ingredients used, we were faced with hostile treatment by the male waiter who started aggressively questioning us on whether we still wanted to retain our order. We ended up ordering the goulash soup which was rather salty served with dry hard bread on the side. When we called for the bill, the male waiter shortchanged us and proceeded to lecture us on how it was expected for us to provide tips in Germany when questioned about the discrepancy in the wrong amount that he returned. I have been to other restaurants in Germany and have never faced such treatment before. The waiter proceeded to give us snarky rude remarks on how we should have placed our order properly and thanked us for all the trouble we caused him in a sarcastic mocking tone before we left. It was extremely insulting to have dined in this restaurant which absolutely ruined my appetite and my last night in frankfurt as a visitor. I read other reviews mentioning about their harsh service before posting this and I am not sure if there was blatant discrimination against people who are not locals dining in this restaurant. I am sharing this honest review based on my experience but I did feel that there was a difference in their service towards locals and foreign visitors. Given that there are other restaurants with better service and food, I would definitely not visit this restaurant again.

Despite the house being full, the service was extremely friendly and the price-performance ratio was excellent.

Unfriendly waiters. A complete tourist trap. Food is substandard. You can get more authentic and better Hessian food in Frankfurt. Never again :)

Never in my life have I been treated so badly in a restaurant. Perhaps it's the way they serve in Germany, but it's not right. My friend (who is German) called in the morning to make a reservation and they told her they didn't take reservations. They said to just show up and they'd give us a table if there was one available. We arrived and there were tons of tables reserved. My question is, why can some places make reservations and others can't? They sat us at a table that apparently wasn't reserved, and a man came out from the back shouting, giving us dirty looks, and making unpleasant gestures, saying that the table was reserved. I repeat, we called in the morning and they said they didn't work with reservations. The food was good, but because of the service, I would never go back. You pay them and on top of that, they treat you badly. It's not worth it. Thanks to the waitress who served us very well and was wonderful to us.

The schnitzel was very good, the apples too, but the service was outstanding. Our waiter was incredibly fast and kept us entertained and well looked after. It was a wonderful evening.

Far too loud, but those who like that sort of thing will feel comfortable here.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was really great. Unfortunately, we encountered a very unfriendly young waiter who confronted us for no reason and was extremely tactless. This unfortunately ruined our visit.

Zero star if it was possible. Terrible staff and racist remarks. Ashamed

Exceptional traditional Hessian food, friendly and attentive service that entertains, jokes and takes care of the customers.

Disaster. Rude, unfriendly, overwhelmed.

Great atmosphere. Great service. Great food. The green sauce and roasted potatoes were delicious. The veal schnitzel was not so tender, but it was enough for two people to share for lunch if you are not so hungry. Wurst was good. Try the apfelwein which is a local drink.

The grüne Soße is actually tasty, no problem with the food. However their behaviour is extremely rude, we as well went after a football game and the tables were not even clean. They sacked us from the second saloon and told us to sit on one table; after, another waiter sacked us saying we cannot sit wherever we wanted…

We had a wonderful time celebrating our Christmas party here. The food was delicious and the service was fast. The traditional atmosphere created a great atmosphere. Thank you! 👍🏻

Typical German food for foreigners. The food is good.

We entered without a reservation and had to wait quite a long time however the food was worth the wait. The schnitzel was the softest I ever had and the green sauce was fun to try! The staff seemed very friendly with regulars, though a bit impatient with other customers. Overall, a good experience.

The service is, in part, very incompetent and unfriendly. I work in the service industry myself and would NEVER tell a customer that they don't belong there or that I'm reluctant to serve non-alcoholic drinks! There were two male employees who didn't approve of my outfit or my order. Despite the rustic ambiance, one should remain polite to paying customers! Such people are welcome to work in a sports bar in the provinces, where they know 99 percent of the customers personally.

Very nice,cozy, traditional atmosphere 😊 Lots of tables available - both indoor and outdoor. Staff: incredible! We had a very nice experience, the waiter who served us was very friendly, smiley and always available. Food: we were expecting a better experience, to be honest. We did order the Frankfurt Schnitzel, which was very thick (as a Schnitzel lover, maybe my expectations were a little higher) - however the potatoes and the traditional sauce were very good. We also got the Pork shank which unfortunately was not of my taste. Might come back to try different dishes!

The food was absolutely delicious, with a great atmosphere and a very kind and attentive waiter and service in general. 100% recommend if you’re in Frankfurt! Traditional, cozy, and truly yummy!

A traditional Frankfurt restaurant with delicious classic dishes and a weekly specials menu. The pea soup with beef sausage from the weekly specials menu was very tasty. The Frankfurt-style veal schnitzel with green sauce was also delicious, but could have been pounded a little thinner. Super friendly service. I would definitely go again.

The staff were incredibly friendly.

I enjoy going there. The food is great and the service is good. I've made reservations several times with large groups, and everyone has always been satisfied. This time, we happened to be there on a busy day, which highlighted the strict separation of service areas. I can't tell if it was irony or a joke, but it was sometimes quite rudely pointed out that we were the guests of another employee and who was "getting" which guests. At first, we felt like we weren't even allowed to sit somewhere else because we would then be in the other waiter's territory. This could definitely be handled more politely. Stress in the restaurant industry isn't exactly unexpected, of course.

A very good cider tavern in Frankfurt. The food is hearty and delicious. We had hand cheese, the mixed Frankfurt platter for four people, and plenty of cider :-) The service is in the familiar, relaxed Sachsenhausen style. We'll gladly come again.

Very disappointing. The painted house used to be a quaint cider tavern with good, home-style cooking. On my last visit, I was unfortunately absolutely disappointed with the quality of the food. The schnitzel was partially burnt. At least they provided a replacement after I complained – but in my opinion, food like that shouldn't be served. The fried potatoes were greasy on the outside and still hard on the inside. The bratwurst was hard and inedible from being cooked far too long. The salad was soggy. The savoy cabbage was poorly seasoned. Only the drinks were good, as always, but you can't really go wrong with those. There was also a noticeably musty smell in the back of the restaurant where we were sitting. Perhaps the chef was having an off day. Maybe I'll give the place another chance. But please do something about it. Kudos to the server, who was always friendly and replaced the burnt schnitzel without any fuss. But still – food like that shouldn't leave the kitchen.

Next to the iconic Wagner building, THE apple wine tavern! 🥰🥰🥰

I love you. A wonderful goose at a reasonable price. GH forever.

A truly quaint inn with typical Frankfurt cuisine and apple wine.

This pub is one of Frankfurt's traditional restaurants, popular with young and old alike. It's always bustling. The noise level and the hustle and bustle are a matter of taste. So is the Frankfurt hospitality, of course. But that doesn't detract from its popularity. The dining area is surprisingly large, extending far back, and the space is needed to accommodate the crowds. The food is very good. They say they make their own apple wine. I can only drink it heavily diluted. But these days, they're not so strictly bound to tradition; a lot of beer is ordered too. I'd recommend the light beer over the apple wine. Add to that the safe atmosphere. Even late at night, when the regulars are heading home, it's peaceful here. You simply have to experience it at least once.

The food is simply fantastic. I love going here and do it often!

A cozy apple wine tavern with reasonable prices for food and drinks. We'll be back!

Stopped by for some food yesterday as it was recommended by some locals on Reddit, it didn’t disappoint. We had some schnitzels and apple wine, the food was lovely, the environment and atmosphere were great and the service was good too. Well worth a visit.

Neat spot with traditional German food. The green sauce is unique to Frankfurt and worth a try - the best I can describe it is that it just tastes like fresh "green". Not bad on bread. I had the blut and leberwurst, and it was pretty decent. The service is about average for Europe, though.

Location Easy to find. Very popular, looks like lots of locals and regulars go here. Food was ok, general 'pub grub' i would call it. Price is reasonable. Quite disappointed with the beef tartare. Goulash was excellent. Service is a bit harsh, maybe I am not used to the way how service staff should be. Place is quite clean though.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience and a great place to sample the local cuisine. There's one thing I didn't dare say while I was there, so I'm saying it here: apple wine is overrated. Sorry to the apple wine lovers. Everything else was excellent.

Simply spectacular—the decor, the food, the service. I went to wrap up my vacation in Germany, and it was the best decision. The traditional dishes are the best, including, of course, the green salsa.

A restaurant where everyone except me was local. The schnitzel was delicious.

The restaurant is mostly tourist oriented and the quality of service is subpar. The waiter refused to split our bill because, according to him, it is not done in Germany. It is)) I’ve lived here for three years.

Very nice atmosphere, German cuisine and people of all ages, the food is excellent and the staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable.

Fast service despite the packed house, and the beef tongue was superb.

Authentic, just like in the old days.

Simple and good food. Excellent value for money. Very nice people.

A very nostalgic and original cider tavern with a very good menu.

The food is all delicious. The schnitzel is the best I've had in Germany. The boiled pork wasn't that great. The interior has a lively atmosphere. The staff aren't as friendly as in Korea, but the atmosphere is friendly. However, because there are so many customers, it takes a long time to order and receive. I've seen locals say the same thing, so I guess it's just because it's a busy restaurant.

It's a cool spot to experience some classic German drinks like the apfelwein - available in glasses and pitchers! They have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Food looked good and really appetising but we just went for drinks. It's better to reserve a spot before you go because otherwise you might be stuck waiting outside in the rain while they make adjustments.

That's something special: ribs cooked in the painted house with apple wine, sauerkraut, and bread. What more could you want?

Extremely unenthusiastic service; I've rarely been treated so poorly. The apple wine was mediocre, as was the hand cheese with onions and caraway seeds (one piece). I won't be going back.

The service was incredibly friendly; the server immediately gave my American friend the English menu and helped with explanations. The food was as expected: delicious and hearty, the green sauce was excellent. We'd gladly come again.

This is a must-visit... a typical Frankfurt apple wine pub...

The side dishes, mashed potatoes and cabbage, were very good. The quality of the "Nuremberg" sausage was unacceptable: mushy/greasy with an unpleasantly overpowering pork flavor. The "farmer's bread" served as a separate appetizer was industrially produced, pre-packaged bread, a pseudo-wholegrain loaf colored with cocoa, like the kind you get in the plastic packaging from the Rewe supermarket across the street. The service wasn't great either. Not recommended, and I won't be visiting again, sorry.

I hadn't been to the Painted House in a long time, and it was lovely to be back. The food was delicious; I ordered veal breast with green sauce and fried potatoes. The atmosphere is quaint and the service very friendly. I'll definitely come back to Frankfurt again; Sachsenhausen is truly beautiful.

A charming little restaurant to experience classic Frankfurt food and drinks. You should definitely reserve a table on a Saturday. We hadn't, so we had to share a table with two other people. The waiter made this very clear to us when we asked if we could sit at the table that was reserved for 7:30 pm, and we arrived at 6 pm. His initial response was, "Don't bother me, I'm having a conversation here." At that point, I knew I was going to leave, but we didn't. He then said our only option was to join the other two people, which was fine. The schnitzel with green sauce was delicious, and the apple wine is also highly recommended.

A top address for traditional German cuisine; everything was just right, from the Handkäs mit Musik (a type of cheese with onions and caraway seeds) to the green sauce. Simply everything!!!

There are very few vegetarian options. The vegetarian schnitzel is rather mediocre. The apple wine, however, is good.

We were a large group, and several of us called the waiters over multiple times, but they just looked the other way. I finally managed to get one to look at me and asked if we could order, to which he replied, "No!" and the insolent fellow left. The birthday boy went to speak to him, and the waiter responded that this friend was arrogant. The treatment was unbelievable, and the service was terrible. All we wanted was to drink our Apfelwein 🤷🏽‍♀️

Delicious, typical Frankfurt food! The ribs with mashed potatoes are highly recommended. The service is rather unfriendly, but they're also very busy. Reservations are recommended.

The food was delicious, arrived quickly, and was piping hot—everything was wonderful. But the service...wow (an older gentleman in a white doctor's coat at the front of the restaurant). If rudeness were an Olympic sport, this gentleman would have definitely won gold. As soon as we ordered our drinks, we were told that our choice "didn't really suit them" and that we "should perhaps go to the neighbor's." Sorry, but if drinks are on your menu, there's probably a reason, right? The food was then hurled onto the table without a word or a smile, as if someone had personally gotten on their nerves. No "Bon appétit," no nothing at all—just pop, plate down, and the mood plummeted. When we then refused to leave a tip when paying (for understandable reasons), the question came immediately: "So? No tip today?" After our discreet rounding up, the highlight came: "What kind of people are you?" and a comment about how rude we were. Conclusion: Culinary delights, humanly disturbing. Two stars – one for the food, one for the experience, which I won't soon forget (whether I want to or not).

Very rustic and delicious green sauce!

Very traditional restaurant with a very good menu.

The service is completely unfriendly. The atmosphere is okay, but there's a draft at many tables, making it a bit uncomfortable at times.

Everything was great! I'd gladly come again.

This was our last meal in Germany after a two week stay. Great choice. We dined on a Friday night - group of 5. Pretty lively inside. Beer was excellent (I had non alcoholic). Brisket of beef was excellent. Not a huge fan of the green sauce but got some of it down. Very authentic and traditional. They have open air dining in part of the restaurant if weather permits. Service was fast and friendly. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Definitely one to put on your list.

I'm Asian and I had an unpleasant experience at this restaurant.

Eight of us spent a lovely evening here and had a delicious meal. It was incredibly busy 🤣 Luckily, we had a table outside, so it was nice and quiet. I wish the service had more staff; they were working hard.

A very cozy, authentic German café with delicious goulash soup, apple wine, and pumpkin soup. Highly recommended!

Once a year, there's a sweet treat; if you're lucky, you'll find it on the right week! There's a cellar door in the courtyard, from which you can even smell the fermenting apples in September. Waiters in livery, solid hand cheese, and happy customers. One room follows the next: a nested universe! And if you know the back entrance, it's less than ten minutes from the Südbahnhof (South Station)!

We were there yesterday for a farewell party with 18 people. We were given several tables to choose from, and we finally chose the tables in the covered courtyard (with radiant heaters and underfloor heating). The service from our waiter, Dennis, was particularly positive; he did everything he could to ensure our stay was a memorable experience. 5 stars for him alone! The party was a complete success!

Good and plentiful food at fair prices.

Really nice typical Frankfurt place

A typical apple wine restaurant in Sachsenhausen with a very pleasant ambiance, but also some rather simple seating. The food and drinks were delicious. When I arrived, it was still very busy, and the service seemed rather annoyed by the new guests, but this improved over the course of the evening as the restaurant emptied.

I always enjoy coming here. However, I don't think a very small piece of hand cheese with bread for €5.80 is acceptable. That's really going too far.

It's okay. The food selection is decent, the quality is okay, but it's not very authentic. It feels like it's being over-the-top.

Rustic, traditional, apple wine pub... with plenty of seating inside and outside... funny waiters... very tasty food 😋😋😋👌👌👌

A standard traditional German restaurant. It seems like everyone who comes here orders cider. Personally, I don't think the Frankfurt pork chop is as good as the Austrian one, but the green sauce is a local specialty, so I definitely want to try it!

We were in this place, we ate sausages, the food is really excellent. I would especially like to praise the waiter who is originally from Serbia.

We were there on a Saturday at 7:30 p.m. It was packed. After a 15-minute wait, we were able to get a seat. Ordering food and drinks was quick, accompanied by friendly remarks from the server. The salmon sandwich arrived quickly. I had to wait a long time for my dressed Camembert, as many Eintracht fans in the lobby had also ordered Camembert. We should have chosen better timing. Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Eintracht Frankfurt was playing at that time => it was very crowded and loud. A visit is not to be missed.

The food is top-notch. Our server gave us valuable advice on how to choose our dishes. I highly recommend it.

No, nice atmosphere, food OK. But the service was "substandard." We had time and patience. But two other guests at our table left after 30 minutes of ignorance.

To be honest, we were very disappointed. While we did get our drinks, we had to wait 45 minutes to almost an hour for our food order – and that was only after we asked at least ten times before someone finally came. This shouldn't happen in a restaurant with this reputation. We were hungry and looking forward to the food, but unfortunately, the service was very slow and disorganized. Overall, it wasn't a good experience.

Nice ambiance, but that was it. The service was a complete disaster. Long waits; after repeated reminders, they brought a hand cheese, which apparently had to be ordered first. We ordered ribs with mashed potatoes, but what came? That's right: ribs alone and cold, with no mashed potatoes to be seen. No seasoning on the table. Salt, pepper, and caraway belong on the table in an apple wine tavern. It's a shame that such a beautiful establishment is being called into question by such disastrous service. Fortunately, there are other establishments in Sachsenhausen. You could delegate your service there for training; it's just around the corner.

Yes, it's very nice there. Although it's very large, it's still cozy.

Because I am Asian and I don't speak German, I was not given a seat at all. I waited for half an hour, and there were six or seven other tables in front of me. There was no waiter to take care of me.

The food is good. The ambiance is what you'd expect from a cider pub – authentic. Our reservation was simply made by phone with the note: "With a stroller." We arrived and were seated at a walk-through table. The stroller had to go. Our 8-month-old son was supposed to sit in a high chair. That worked for 15 minutes. I asked if we could sit outside: yes, I should ask his colleague outside. Said and done. No problem. We then moved ourselves with our drinks. The food was then served to us with a lecture about not having told him again and now he had to spend a long time looking for us. (There are six tables outside.) The lady outside was initially in a good mood but deteriorated over the course of the evening. Cards were thrown onto other guests' tables. All the guests were more than irritated by this kind of service. We would have liked to give the usual 10% tip, but after this embarrassing and unpleasant restaurant visit, we decided against it. We waited over 25 minutes for the bill, only to be dismissed with the words: "What's he supposed to thank you for?!" Since we waived the tip. Conclusion: It's a real shame, but the service is so abysmal, there are alternatives.

Tourist trap - similar to Hofbräuhaus in Munich.

Another Applewein pub. Good atmosphere, good service and food, reasonable prices.

We had a good experience at the Painted House. The ambiance is incomparable and truly beautiful. The food was also very tasty, and the portions were generous. The service wasn't particularly attentive or friendly, but it was quite quick. Overall, it's worth a visit.

We went to this place to try authentic German food. It was good, although not my favorite: too much sauce and too much fried food. We tried the frankfurter, which was good, but I found it quite expensive. The place is like a tavern: lively, cheerful, with people enjoying themselves and drinking, so it's quite noisy, not recommended if you're looking for a quiet experience. The service is quite slow because the place is always full, although we were served politely in English. It's an interesting experience to experience the atmosphere, but I wouldn't go back for a relaxed dinner.

Horrible service. Waiters were really rude and just ignored people for ages while they waited to be shown to a table. Most of the time they were standing at the bar chatting. Food was not great, there are far better German restaurants in Frankfurt.

The restaurant is nice, but too loud. The waiter is very rude. The food is tasty and the portions are generous.

Dining at the "Zumgemalten Haus" is practically a family tradition. Here, you'll find excellent Frankfurt cuisine, and the many tourists now enjoy the inn as well. A clear recommendation for anyone looking for a charming restaurant serving Frankfurt cuisine.

The least international experience in the most international city. This review is based on my personal experiences at this restaurant. If some details may have been perceived differently from my side, I invite the restaurant to provide an official response here. I will gladly review it and adjust my feedback if necessary. 1. When we entered the restaurant, the waiter who served us suddenly shouted “Am!” in front of our table like a conductor and made a gesture as if we should be quiet – I did not observe him doing this to other guests. 2. When we wanted to order, he said in a very agitated tone: “In Germany everything is slow, you have to wait.” Then he took away all the menus and let us order as if he wanted to check whether we had memorized everything. 3. During the meal, he asked us where we were from. When we said “from Korea,” he responded with the words “Korea has a lot of money” and made a money-counting gesture with his hand. He also said that we had to pay extra for additional plates. Later, he cleared our courts abruptly without saying a word, which I found very rude. 4. When paying, we gave 3 euros as a tip. The waiter refused to accept it and twice said loudly: “This is an insult.” For me, it felt paradoxical, because in fact it was his behavior itself that I experienced as insulting and humiliating. 5. When I asked him where he was from, he said “Bavarian.” He seemed very proud of being from Bavaria. I replied that I found his behavior rude – and I had the impression that his attitude could leave a negative image of his region. 6. When I previously visited this place with my German cousins ​​and friends, I never experienced anything like this. I used to like this restaurant, which is why I brought my friends from Korea here. It was all the more disheartening that this time we were subjected to such humiliating and discriminatory treatment. Despite all these experiences, I must say: the food itself was good. The least international experience in the most international city. This review is based on my personal experience at this restaurant. If some details were perceived differently from my perspective, I ask the restaurant to officially comment here. I will be happy to review the response and adjust my review accordingly. 1. Upon entering the restaurant, the waiter serving us suddenly called out "Am!" in front of our table like a conductor, making a gesture as if to ask us to be quiet – I didn't observe any other guests doing this. 2. When we wanted to order, he said in a very excited tone, "Everything goes slowly in Germany, you have to wait." He then took away all the menus and made us order, as if to check if we had memorized everything. 3. During the meal, he asked us where we were from. When we said "from Korea," he responded by saying, "Korea has a lot of money," and made a money-counting gesture with his hand. He also explained that we would have to pay for additional plates. Later, he cleared our plates without a word, which I found rude. 4. When paying, we left a €3 tip. The waiter refused and said loudly twice, "That's an insult." It seemed paradoxical to me, because I actually felt insulted and degraded by his behavior. 5. When I asked him where he was from, he said "Bavarian." He seemed very proud to be from Bavaria. I replied that I found his behavior rude and felt his demeanor might create a negative image of his region. 6. When I was here before with my German cousins ​​and friends, I had never experienced anything like this. I actually liked this restaurant and had therefore brought my friends from Korea with me – which made it all the more hurtful for me that we experienced such humiliating and discriminatory treatment this time. 7. Despite all these experiences, I have to say: The food itself was good.

A very unfriendly waiter. We left.

I moved away from my hometown in Hesse over 20 years ago. Whenever I visit, I absolutely have to come here for grie soß (grey sauce). The service is excellent, the Äppler (apple) is delicious, the medlar (mispelt) is a must, and you immediately strike up a conversation with other guests. Add to that the authentic ambiance, and you'll have a great time. No reservation is needed for two people; you'll be seated quickly (happily at a table with others who are alone or in pairs).

Excellent German food, lots of different delicious and filling options for any taste, very nice atmosphere, and so much history behind this restaurant. The staff speak fantastic English and are great. Kudos to Nicu on his impeccable English, exemplary customer service skills, and much appreciated recommendations. I look forward to returning.

On September 3, 2025, we tried to enjoy a carefree evening in the outdoor area of ​​the painted house. Unfortunately, we didn't expect the service staff to be there. We completely understood the long wait times, uncleaned tables, stressed staff, and succinct language. But... a very overworked and apparently untrained employee should definitely get rid of unfriendly and insulting behavior. It's a shame the evening had to end like this!

I only had a drink here, but it was busy....

The goulash soup was delicious! It had a sour taste and lots of big chunks of meat. It was so tasty that once you start, you won't be able to stop eating! The sausage platter was bigger than I expected and was very filling! The thin-skinned sausages, which are rare in Japan, were delicious with herbs. (See the back left in the photo.) Eating them with the accompanying sauerkraut was refreshing! The staff were kind and recommended a terrace seat with a great view when I entered the restaurant, so I chose one in the back. It's cool in the German summer, and the terrace is filled with plants, so it felt like time was passing slowly. When I passed inside the restaurant on my way out, I saw what appeared to be regulars having a great time, so I think the terrace seats are best for a quiet and relaxing time, and the inside seats are best for those who prefer a more lively atmosphere. If I had the time, I would have liked to go again!