Coffee with a View & Castles

After the opulence of the Kurhaus, we wandered over to the nearby Trinkhalle and Kurhaus Kolonnaden—a stretch of beautiful arcades with fountains, historic architecture, and a laid-back vibe. There we grabbed an ice cream and a coffee, just soaking in the calm elegance of the place.

Refueled, we headed back to the hotel and hopped in the car to check out the Neues Schloss, perched just above Baden-Baden. Sadly, it was a bit of a letdown—closed for renovations and looking more abandoned than under active restoration. At least the terrace view over the city helped soften the blow.

From there, we made our way to the real star of the afternoon: the Altes Schloss zu Hohenbaden, the castle ruin that’s been dramatically looming over Baden-Baden all along.

We started by hiking through the ruins to the Ritterplatte, a jagged rock formation just above the castle. The views were absolutely breathtaking—green valleys, distant hills, the entire town below. I couldn’t resist jumping over a few gaps to get as close to the edge (safely!) as possible. And there, in true coffee-lover fashion, I pulled out my AeroPress and brewed a cup of locally roasted coffee. Sitting up there with fresh coffee and that view? Pure luxury.

After that perfect moment, Sanjay and I headed back down to explore the castle ruins themselves. The place is full of hidden staircases, winding paths, crumbling towers, and windows that frame the landscape like paintings. We climbed higher and higher until we reached the highest view tower—absolutely worth it. The whole experience felt like stepping back in time.

Back down in town, we wrapped up the day at M10, a cozy spot with local flavor. We shared a cold cut platter full of regional delicacies, followed by a mixed Maultaschen platter—comfort food at its finest. Paired with a glass of Badener Rosé and Pinot Gris, it was the perfect way to toast our last evening in Baden-Baden.Read more