Check Out These 6 Inspiring Women-Owned Restaurants & Cafés in Düsseldorf

Our city has a diverse range of great eating options, right? I love the fact that I can go and check out food from different countries, living right here in Düsseldorf – be it Persian, Japanese, French or Vietnamese.

Despite the multicultural diversity, one thing I could not help but notice was the lack of women entrepreneurs in Düsseldorf’s gastronomy scene.

I decided, therefore, to research this topic and explore some of the few women-owned restaurants in this city!

It’s kind of strange that I even need to write about women-owned businesses as a separate topic in this day and age, but the truth is that there are very few women ‘disruptors’ in the field of gastronomy. While women are still mostly responsible for keeping culinary traditions and culture alive, there are still only a handful of female restaurant chefs. Not just in Düsseldorf. It’s a worldwide phenomenon.

I’m Paushali, a food entrepreneur and culinary consultant based in Düsseldorf. I offer creative
Indian cooking classes and food & culture workshops with The Mustard Table. You can also read some of my latest Life in Düsseldorf blog posts about Düsseldorfs’ most sustainable restaurants here and here.

As someone involved in the business of food myself, I understand there are additional ‘hurdles’ a woman has to cross when it comes to starting anything in this sector. The restaurant business is not something that many women venture into (or at least, as solo entrepreneurs. There are many couple-owned restaurant businesses).

There may be many reasons for that, most noticeably the late and long working hours.

According to sociologist Lisa Severing, there are frequent barriers that women face to treading the path of self-employment such as following societal norms and expectations, as well as the difficulty in securing enough capital. These get magnified when women find themselves in a traditionally male-dominated field such as gastronomy.

However, I am super proud to see a few brave women take the route of starting their own restaurants and cafés despite the many barriers to entry, which just makes it all the more commendable. 

After my research, I managed to find only a handful of entirely women-owned restaurants and cafés among the city’s numerous eating establishments. But what I found, I liked a lot! It’s after all, the quality and not the quantity that stays in my mind! These entrepreneurs’ food offerings are diverse, while their resilience to challenges in the realms of work-life balance is even more admirable. 

So, here is my list of eateries in Düsseldorf that are run and managed by women entrepreneurs.

And here is your list of women-run restaurants and cafés that you’ve recommended be added to the list:

• Agata’s
• Covent Garden Coffee House
• Weinhaus Tante Anna
• Brasserie Stadthaus
• Hüftgold
• Linas Coffee
• Edeltraud
• Laura’s Deli
• Marli

Shari’s Kitchen

Started on the 1st of April, 2015, Shari’s is a French bistro concept serving delicious vegetarian fare in the Derendorf district of Düsseldorf. Owner and chef Shari Chopra places high value on seasonal, regional and fresh ingredients.

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She offers healthy food, without actively trying to ‘sell’ healthy food if you know what I mean ?. Shari is also very conscious about waste management in her kitchen. The team follows a ‘zero-waste’ principle, as much as possible. Different parts of the vegetables are used in their dishes and leftovers are used creatively to cook up dishes for the next day. 

Seven employees and exactly eight years later, Shari Chopra can really be proud of all that she has managed to create – a top menu, a super cosy and comfortable bistro/café with Parisian très chic vibes, in the heart of Düsseldorf. Shari wanted to create a feel-good restaurant and I think she’s managed that very well. Right from the time you enter the bistro, there is a warmth that draws you in. I was touched by the very friendly welcome and attentive service of Jessica, the ‘face’ of Shari’s Kitchen. Good food, tastefully decorated space, handcrafted drinks and even an attractive courtyard – this is a bistro that is clearly the result of one woman’s labour of love. And you can taste it. 

Good to know: Shari’s Bistro also has a super cosy and elegant event space right next to the main bistro. You can book this space for private parties at a reasonable rate. And yes, friendly service is guaranteed!

• Address: Collenbachstraße 41, 40476 Düsseldorf
• Instagram: @shariskitchen_ddorf

Café Rika

I’ve known this cute little Japanese café since its inception and I can only give big compliments to Ms Rika, its owner, for being consistent over so many years.

This cosy café in Düsseldorf-Grafenberg has been in existence for the last 11 years and offers some top-notch gyoza, ramen, fried rice and selected sushis, among other Japanese specialities. If you are, for whatever reason, heading to Metro, then do make a stop at Café Rika, which is only a stone’s throw away. You can enjoy some quality Japanese food either sitting down in the comfy café or taking it home (yes, they do takeaway)! 

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Personally speaking, I’ve always loved coming to this kid-friendly space. The bowl of sticky rice seems to be a perpetual hit for my kids (what is with kids and sticky rice?☺️). Going down a bit of memory lane here – I remember those days when I used to look forward to picking up food from Rika’s Café and sneakily enjoying the delicious shrimp fried rice while my kids took their afternoon naps. I was so comforted to know that the fried rice has retained its delicious quality years later, as I discovered on my recent visit to Café Rika! As they say, consistency is a hard-to-find product these days. It really makes you stand out. 

If you get a chance, do check out the consistently good food of Rika in her Granfenberger Café.

• Address: Gehrtsstraße 16, 40235 Düsseldorf
• Instagram: @cafe_rika

Mi Frida

Jessica Riojas’ Mexican bistro may be tucked away in the northernmost corner of Düsseldorf-Angermund, but it’s a place where you will get some of the most delectable Mexican tacos and quesadillas in town, with fillings that are hard to find anywhere else. Why? Because they have Jessica’s signature on them!

Whether you are eating the warmly spiced slow-cooked pork ‘Trompo’ Taco or Nachos in a homemade cheese sauce, it is made with lots of love and attention, with fresh and high-quality ingredients. Mi Frida Cantina & Bistro also offers nice cocktails and my favourite is chef Jessica’s signature spicy mezcal.

I recommend you try out their Taco Fridays where you can get a taste of Mexican tacos with mouthwatering fillings (vegetarian, fish and meat options, with corn or wheat tacos). And do try out the Mi Frida nachos in a special, homemade cheese sauce, served with jalapeños and avocado. The quesadillas are great too! The dishes are served with different types of ‘salsas’ on the side, which are fun to put on nachos, salads and tacos too.

Chef and owner Jessica Riojas started her gastronomic journey in Spain where she studied at a culinary institute in San Sebastián in the Basque region. She moved to Germany 5 years ago and started to share her passion for food from her home country by giving cooking classes.

“I have always been so proud of my roots that I wanted to share the amazing culture of Mexico through food. I started giving cooking classes and people loved getting to know more about the different flavours Mexico has”, says Jessica, for whom opening up a restaurant was a dream come true.

“I put a lot of love and care into all of my food, hoping people can feel a little of my Mexico in every bite. I wanted to create a space where people could come and enjoy good food, amazing cocktails with good tequila in a great environment.”

Having been to Jessica’s little Mexican corner quite a few times now, I can only agree with this. 

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Mi Frida Cantina & Bistro has evolved into something more than just a bistro serving delicious grub, since August last year. It’s become a popular event space where different kinds of events are organised from time to time that brings people and cultures together. A couple of weeks ago, there was a wine and painting class with an aptly fitting ‘paint Frida’ evening. Stay tuned for more fun events!

• Address: Angermunder Str. 5, 40489 Düsseldorf
• Instagram: @mifrida.cantina.bistro

So Re

Have you tried Georgian food? Well, if you haven’t I suggest you give it a try very soon. Georgian cuisine for me is just one of those hidden treasures that the world needs to discover! My palate was very happy when I visited a cool, (fairly) new Georgian restaurant in Flingern, serving up not only some of the most exciting vegetarian dishes I have eaten in Düsseldorf but also some very tasty wine!

I was excited to find out as well that the So Re restaurant was started and is run by a woman! Natia Torchinova opened the doors of So Re in 2022 and since then her restaurant has been pretty busy, and understandably so. Good food, good wine, good homemade drinks and stylish, elegant interiors – there’s a lot that speaks for Düsseldorf’s latest Georgian. 

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Natia is the head chef and concept developer. She is a sweet and hospitable person, full of passion for food from her homeland. She gave me a thorough explanation of the different types of specialities from her country and I must say I totally love their vegetarian appetisers, especially a cold starter made with aubergines, walnuts and pomegranates. Their ‘khachapuri adjaruli’ (a famous Georgian boat-shaped cheese bread with egg) is pretty good and tummy-filling too. On a warm day, you will also really appreciate sipping their refreshing ‘Georgian lemonade’ with tarragon. I cannot complain about the prices either at this casual, yet elegant place. The only tricky thing is finding a parking spot. So, perhaps it’s better to get there by public transport if you are thinking of trying this place in the evening. It’s usually not so difficult to find parking during a weekday lunch. So Re is a place I would definitely recommend for going out with the whole family and oh, they are pet friendly too. ?

• Address: Hoffeldstraße 37, 40235 Düsseldorf
• Instagram: @so_re__flingern

Familiencafe APROPO

This is a relatively new cafe/restaurant that was started in the Autumn of 2022 by two ladies who have a heart for families, especially parents of young kids. Owners Olga Frage and Lilia Detje-John both wanted to have a restaurant which catered to the needs of families, where parents can relax, eat and have a good time with their friends, while their kids can play nearby.

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When Olga moved to Düsseldorf a few years ago from Ukraine via Israel, she did not find a restaurant with a family-oriented concept in Düsseldorf, and after having talked with her business partner Lilia, the two women decided to fill this gap and start a place that is especially family-friendly. APROPO serves European food, with several options for kids, and a range of drinks, including good cocktails on weekends.

This is not just a family-friendly restaurant but also an event location that can be rented for company events, wedding parties, kids’ birthdays and creative workshops. The staff are friendly and attentive, whether they are serving you at your event or when you visit the restaurant. APROPO also offers cooking classes in their dedicated cooking studio and hosts salsa and karaoke events as Friday night entertainment.

There is something fun for every age group, kids and adults alike. A separate playing room full of toys as well as a trampoline and sand pit is sure to be very attractive for families coming with young children. It would give many busy parents a break and time to enjoy brunch or coffee, and that’s the main idea behind Olga and Lilia’s food startup. There are few holistic concepts in Düsseldorf, which cater to the needs of the entire family, and I’m glad that two women thought of this and put their idea into practice.

• Address: Selbecker Str. 39, 40472 Düsseldorf
• Instagram: @apropo_duesseldorf

Goldsheim Coffee

Have you been to a stylish, coffee and cake lovers paradise in Golzheim called Goldsheim Coffee? Six years into operation, this trendy café offers a good range of healthy and delicious breakfast and brunch options, great coffee and divine-looking cakes. Owner Katja Lohpens is very serious about serving her coffee right! Their cortado is my personal favourite. 

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The food is pretty good too! ? I love beetroot hummus and poached eggs, and if I’m not making it at home, I know I can always get a pretty good one at Goldsheim in Golzheim. There are several enticing vegetarian options, so if you are not keen on meat or fish, this is a good breakfast and lunch spot.

I enjoy going to places which have friendly and attentive staff (well, actually who enjoys rude people!). Goldsheim Coffee is a place where I have encountered polite, courteous staff on every visit. I like going there with friends, and work colleagues, for a quick breakfast date with my husband or for a cake with my kids. This is a good hangout place for many occasions. There is also a small play corner if you have young children, where they can keep themselves busy with their own ‘kitchen’. This café, I’m told, can also be rented for private events and can host easily 40 people. If you are a coffee lover, why not have your coffee morning meeting there?

• Address: Kaiserswerther Str. 239, 40474 Düsseldorf
• Instagram: @goldsheimcoffee

As you can see, I found some ‘gems’ in Düsseldorf that are run entirely by women. While some clearly stand out for their food (from the owner’s home country), there is something in common among each of these places – they are all welcoming, relaxed places where you get good service and attention. The women owners are doing a great job in the ‘hospitality’ industry and I’m so glad I found them!

Please let us know if you know of any others. We’d love to add them to our list and visit them.