The Best Restaurants on Sylt A curated food guide and interactive restaurant map

The island of Sylt is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Germany. While only 20,000 people live on the island full-time, the population triples in summer when visitors arrive – either by car train from mainland Germany or by ferry from Denmark. In fact, there are almost as many of the iconic “strandkorb” (beach basket) sun chairs as there are residents! The island is stunning, with charming, thatch-roofed houses nestled among the dunes.

Sylt is both dog-friendly and family-friendly, and offers a wide range of places to eat, whether you’re staying in a luxurious five-star hotel in Keitum or camping with kids at one of the island’s scenic campgrounds. The food scene on Sylt has something for everyone – from timeless, Michelin-starred restaurants to legendary beach bars, cozy traditional eateries, and a new wave of hotspots catering to a hip, young crowd.

In this foodie map of Sylt, we’ve gathered all our favorite restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and beach bars – from Kampen to Rantum to Hörnum, and everywhere in between. You can explore the best restaurants on Sylt by scrolling through the list on the right or clicking the points on the map. All locations are listed in geographical order.

It’s well worth a trip to the southernmost part of the island to visit Sylt’s best bakery. Lund has been family-owned for three generations; Jens Lund took over in 2021 and modernized the offerings a bit, baking sourdough with local grains, inspired by the bread in Copenhagen. His sourdough is up there with the best we’ve had – spongy, toothy, and absolutely packed with flavor. And we’re not the only ones who think so – it’s used all over the island at Sylt’s top restaurants. You can buy a loaf to take home, and also enjoy it in some incredible dishes at the restaurant. (We loved the grilled cheese with chive sour cream.) Of course, you need some pastries, too – our favorite was the “butterkuchen,” a soft, fluffy cake topped with vanilla-studded pastry cream and slivered almonds. Finish your brunch bonanza with house-made ice cream – Lund serves creative flavors like wild rose and yogurt, peanut and strawberry, and buttermilk poppyseed cake.

Where else in the world can you drink the likes of Krug, Selosse, Cristal, and DRC in a bathing suit? Legendary beach bar Sansibar has earned quite a reputation since it first opened in the ’70s. It’s a celebrity hotspot, so some think of it as a place to see and be seen – but you don’t need to arrive by Porsche or flash your Rolex to gain entry. The vibe is relaxed, and guests are encouraged to come as they are. Sansibar’s menu is huge, with everything from fish dishes to world-class steaks to German classics – but the quality of ingredients is high, and the food is consistently delicious. We loved the truffle pizza, the burrata with shrimp and tomatoes, the Wiener schnitzel, and the perfectly cooked wagyu ribeye entrecôte with pepper sauce and a baked potato. Save room for the “kaiserschmarrn” – those “scrambled pancakes” are the perfect dessert!

Nestled in the dunes amidst wild rose bushes, Söl’ring Hof is a boutique five-star hotel with only 15 rooms. It’s the only hotel on the island with direct beach access, and the sunset views are absolutely unbeatable. Our favorite feature of our room was the view from the bathtub, looking out at the crashing waves. Another highlight of our stay was the breakfast – a multi-course affair served on various trolleys, with fresh fruit, bread, pastries, house-made marmalades, and a changing selection of cheese, ham, and fish. Hot dishes from the kitchen are also available: order eggs any way you like them, apple pancakes, and even waffles. The best part? It’s served all day, so you can stumble in as late as you like. Complimentary e-bikes are available for guests who wish to explore the island on two wheels.

Located in the hotel of the same name, Söl’ring Hof is Sylt’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant. It’s led by chef Jan-Philipp Berner, who showcases local ingredients ornamented with herbs and flowers he picks from the beach or their culinary garden. Standout dishes from the tasting menu highlighted fish from the North Sea – we loved the mackerel tartare with tomato; the catfish with blue mussels, beans, salt marsh herbs, and caviar; and the “seafood hotpot” with king crab, langoustine, shrimp, and macadamia nuts. Söl’ring Hof is the crown jewel of the Sylt culinary scene and a must-visit for food lovers on the island.

Hafenkiosk 24 is a no-frills, beachside shack in the Rantum harbor, with outdoor seating at picnic tables. It’s the perfect spot for a cheap and cheerful lunch while exploring the island. You’re here for one thing and one thing only: the “fischbrötchen” (fish sandwich), made with freshly caught fish that’s smoked on-site. Choose from different types of herring, salmon, crab, or the local favorite: deep-fried “backfisch,” served in a bread roll with pickles, onions, and remoulade. Pro tip: Add potato salad to the sandwich for extra creaminess – or get it on the side! Note: Hafenkiosk 24 is cash only.

Kaffeerösterei Sylt in Rantum is the island’s first coffee roastery. Like most coffee shops on Sylt, the menu features primarily espresso-based drinks, but there’s also cold brew and a coffee tonic available. While pour-overs and AeroPress aren’t on the menu, there’s a daily filter coffee option – in our case, a Kenyan coffee with notes of cocoa and red fruit. Sit inside if you’d like to watch the roasting process, or outside in a “strandkorb” on the terrace. If you’re craving something sweet, choose from a selection of house-made German cakes.

Restaurant Jörg Müller (also known as JM) is a Sylt institution and one of the island’s longest-standing restaurants. It’s been open since 1988 and held a Michelin star until 2014, when Müller voluntarily returned the star to focus on a more relaxed concept. Today, the atmosphere is cozy and unpretentious, with refined German classics on the menu alongside one of the world’s most celebrated wine lists. JM has received the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1993 – currently one of only 97 restaurants in the world with this distinction. So perhaps it’s an occasion to pop a bottle of vintage Krug (JM’s collection dates back to the ’60s) and indulge in some goose liver with brioche, or maybe some caviar-topped beef tartare with potato pancakes. Continue your meal with truffle chicken cordon bleu or a dry-aged Galloway beef rib-eye and a glass of Cornas. But be sure to save room for the signature dessert: deep-fried cherries with port wine foam and walnut brittle ice cream – and maybe a glass of house-made eggnog.

Kiosk culture is alive and well at Tofree, a hipster hangout hidden away on a Sylt campground. The unassuming venue lends itself to low expectations, so we were pleasantly surprised to find that this tiny hole-in-the-wall serves some of the island’s most playful food. The owners used to live in Portugal, and they’ve brought some of that laid-back culture to Sylt, serving fish tins and conservas alongside dishes made with local ingredients. Our favorite items were a lamb sausage in a brioche bun and a toast with fluffy sourdough, two kinds of cheese, piri piri mayo, herby chicken, tomato, and lettuce. Wash it all down with a mango rosemary lemonade or a glass of natural wine – and indulge in a pastel de nata for dessert.

Chef Holger Bodendorf’s eponymous restaurant is one of the island’s longest-standing Michelin-starred establishments, holding a star since 2002. The fine dining restaurant is located at Landhaus Stricker, a 5-star Superior Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel in Tinnum. The restaurant’s charming exterior is traditional, with a thatched roof, while the interior is modern and artsy, featuring colorful paintings. The highlight of our seven-course tasting menu was a main course of A5 wagyu with a foie gras ravioli, marinated cherries, and a long pepper jus.

A former goat farm turned cheese shop is now also Sylt’s most hip bistro – a colorful, eclectic café in the countryside, with tables spilling onto the fields. Mismatched grandma plates come adorned with slices of cheese: we enjoyed a selection of Camembert, Muenster, goat cheese, and blue cheese alongside dollops of Sichuan-spiked cherry chutney, barberry apricot jam, and yogurt butter, served with a basket of bread. Cheese also features in several dishes, like a fresh salad topped with goat cheese, rose jam, and crunchy nut granola; a decadent Croque Madame with mushrooms; and house-made focaccia topped with burrata, mortadella, sun-dried tomatoes, and melon. Finish with the signature cheesecake – divinely creamy with a crumbly crust and blueberries. Of course, you can also buy cheese to-go, as well as jams, chutneys, chips, dips, and other household provisions. This “cheese club” is definitely our kind of club.

One of the most famous Sylters, Johannes King, previously ran the Michelin-starred restaurant Söl’ring Hof before leaving the luxury world behind to open a more casual shop and bistro. But some luxuries still remain – like caviar, truffles, and Champagnes at great prices (everything from Krug to Selosse to Chartogne-Taillet to La Closerie!). There are even some natural wines, too – including Kolfok, Ganevat, Tissot, and Vinas Mora. Yes, this is the perfect place for day drinking – and the food is great, too. We enjoyed an amazingly fresh vegetable salad with flowers from their garden, fatty matjes herring on bread with an herb cream, and a surprisingly delicious combination of shrimp, strawberries, brioche, and almonds.

The newest addition to the Sylt food scene is Roots, a health food-focused café. In the morning, you’ll find protein shakes and breakfast bowls on the menu, like overnight oats, yogurt with fresh berries, and a chia colada made with coconut cream and vanilla-roasted pineapple. Lunch features plenty of vegetarian options with locally grown vegetables, along with the occasional meat dish. Roots buys whole animals and uses every part – including the bones for broth. The menu also includes playful daily specials, such as loaded chips with bolognese, goat cheese, and freshly shaved truffles. Roots is home to a running club and also hosts health food workshops and cooking classes.

Oma Wilmas Heimatküche (translated: Grandma Wilma’s home-style cooking) is a cozy restaurant in the heart of Keitum, named after chef Nicolas Rathge’s grandmother. Rathge serves many of her original recipes in a homey setting, including her classic Friesian bread – a spongy onion and rye loaf served warm with whipped butter. The menu is modern German: we loved the salmon, perfectly cooked with crispy skin and a tender center, served with sweet potato purée, chickpeas, and Swiss chard. The juicy flank steak was another standout, paired with chimichurri, cauliflower, and carrots. The charming outdoor garden is the perfect spot for a drink and a bite on a sunny day.

Schröders is a must-visit on Sylt – an all-day eatery that’s perfect for a long, boozy lunch. The wine list is a dream: exceptionally well-curated, with top Champagne producers at fair prices. And the food is some of the best on the island. We enjoyed warm potato bread with whipped brown butter, fresh shrimp with lemon aioli, hamachi crudo in a buttermilk sauce, scallops in a mussel beurre blanc, tortelli filled with Parmesan cream, and turbot with sauce vierge. With good food, good wine, and great service, this is one of our top recommendations on Sylt.

Severin’s Resort & Spa is one of Germany’s top luxury spa resorts. The spacious spa features a heated indoor pool, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath, and a hammam. The resort also offers multiple dining options, including the Michelin-starred Tipken’s, the casual restaurant Hoog, a spa café, a cocktail bar, and a wine cellar. Breakfast is included for all guests (served until 1 p.m.) and features both a buffet and à la carte dishes. The state-of-the-art fitness center is equipped with TechnoGym machines and offers daily workout classes. The hotel is just a short walk from the sea and the charming town of Keitum, home to many boutiques and eateries. Bikes are also available to rent for those looking to explore further. The resort is both family- and dog-friendly, with spacious villas, an on-site kids’ club, and pet amenities such as dog beds. Humans are well taken care of too, with a complimentary welcome drink, ultra-comfortable beds, Dyson hairdryers, and even a free minibar.

Tipken’s, located at Severin’s Resort and Spa, is the newest Michelin-starred restaurant on Sylt. The restaurant is overseen by German chef Nils Henkel, who previously led the kitchens at the three-Michelin-starred Lerbach near Cologne and the two-Michelin-starred Schwarzenstein in the Rheingau. Two seasonal tasting menus are available for guests to choose from: the “Flora” menu features vegetarian dishes, while “Fauna” highlights meat and fish. The vegetable-focused menu was especially impressive. One standout dish featured mushroom-filled caramelle pasta with burrata; another combined eggplant with a spice-forward vadouvan sauce; and our favorite showcased different variations of corn – grilled, pickled, creamed, and even popped. The creative, house-made non-alcoholic pairing is a must-try.

Exploring Sylt by bike? On the famous curve between Keitum and Kampen, you’ll find Café Curve, a colorful coffee shop housed in an old barn in Braderup. This cozy café is worth a stop, serving espresso-based drinks, chai lattes, soft drinks, and smoothies alongside sweet treats like cookies (the white chocolate macadamia nut was our favorite!), croissants, and pastéis de nata (Portuguese egg tarts). There’s indoor seating as well as a spacious garden with wooden tables and chairs where you can soak up the summer sun.

If you’re taking the ferry to and from Denmark, Sylter Eismanufaktur in List should be your first (and last!) stop – it’s our favorite ice cream on the island. The passionate staff happily encourages sampling their creative flavors, all made with local dairy milk and organic ingredients. We worked our way through the seasonal offerings, such as quark with Sylt sea salt caramel and a fresh strawberry sorbet. Ultimately, our favorites were the vanilla, with its wonderful saltiness; the pure, creamy milk flavor; and the nutty pumpkin seed – a deliciously sweet-and-salty combo unlike anything we’ve tried before. Sylter Eismanufaktur also serves soft serve, as well as the iconic German dessert “spaghettieis”: vanilla ice cream pressed into noodles, topped with strawberry jam and white chocolate “Parmesan.” Note: Sylter Eismanufaktur is cash only.