Stuttgart Trending 5

Pizza vending machines, e-scooters and some fun events!

Pizza ATM

Pizzas are without a doubt one of the most popular foods in Germany and now you may be able to get one from a vending machine. What. Not technically in Stuttgart, but in Kirchheim am Neckar. Close enough.

Already a popular concept in France, these machines store around 40 freshly made but cooled pizzas (not frozen!). With a simple button, the machine moves the pre-made pizza into the oven inside and Voila, you’ve got a fresh, sizzling hot pizza in a matter of minutes!

If you think about it, this kind of makes sense. 6 p.m. and 4 a.m are the peak hours, which means people are out to get these pizzas because they can’t get them elsewhere. Delivery service and even restaurant opening hours are not so flexible in Germany, so the best way to get a pizza during those hours is…well, unless you already have a frozen pizza in your freezer, almost nonexistent. There are only two running at the moment, but the owners have already ordered four more, most likely to appear somewhere in Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart. So keep your eyes peeled, pizza lovers.

Street fest at Theodor Heuss Strasse

To celebrate the European Mobility Week and this year’s theme “Safe Walking and Cycling,” Stuttgart is joining in with some fun. The Theodor Heuss Strasse will be closed and car free for a special festival run by the city on Sept. 22, 2019. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., more than 30 clubs, promotors and organizations will get together on the street with various stalls, from food, activities, games and music.

There will also be a picnic between Charlottenplatz and Wilhelmplatz, which came with some opposition, naturally. On the issue of well expected traffic jams, the mayor Fritz Kuhn apparently said “You can handle a day.” I don’t know about you, but that’s quite a German response.

Public transport throughout the city, for example the VVS tariff zone 1, will be free. This applies to the S Bahns, U Bahns, buses and also the Zacke. The Stuttgart city tour buses will not be running this Sunday, but there will be a one hour walk tour called “Stuttgart kurz und knackig.” The tour will be run by the Stuttgart Tourism Board and will take participants around the must sees of the city, including the opera, the Old and New palace and the famous squares. For more info on the tour, visit here for German and here for English.

You can find more information on the Mobility Week at Karlsplatz and Marktplatz on Sept. 22 too. For more info, visit here (only in German).

E-scooters

They’re everywhere! Lime, the scooter rental company, landed in Stuttgart. If you’re over 14 years old, you can take a ride on these cute, bright lime colored scooters all around the city. Download the app, search for available ones closest to you, scan the QR-code, the app will guide you to your destination and when you’re done, you park it and that’s it. To rent the scooter, it’s one euro and then it charges 15 to 20 cents per minute, depending on the city. I’ll be honest though, I haven’t tried it and most likely never will, but if you’re interested, that’s basically how it’s done. Has anyone tried?

Ratskeller gets an facelift

Every city has a Rathaus (city hall) and almost every Rathaus has a Ratskeller, which is a restaurant/bar within or very close to the hall and serves traditional and classic dishes of the area. The Stuttgarter Ratskeller closed a few years ago for a major facelift, which is a relief because the old one was, well, quite old. Now we have some details. According to Mahlzeit, the city got Stuttgart’s very own Dinkelacker on board, in addition to Denise Schuler, whose family has led the catering at Wilhelma.

Schuler is not a stranger in the city’s gastronomy scene. She most recently opened a new restaurant in Das Gerber with another popular beer maker Rothaus. And I have to say, it’s nice; the interior, the drinks, the service and the food. The newly renovated Ratskeller will have a similar concept; traditional dishes, vegetarian and vegan dishes made from regional and seasonal ingredients. There will also be an outdoor area, something I’ve always wondered about. The Marktplatz is such a wonderful space, full of people, shops and events, and spacious and historical. I’m hoping they will come up with something that will work well with the area. Expected to be ready in the spring of 2021.

Speis & Trank

• 

• 

One of my favorite events of the year is back! Actually, it just started last year, but it was so good. Speis & Trank is run by the same people behind the now very popular and famous Tisch & Tafel, but focusing more on food and drinks, literally. Events like these are so fun to visit, especially when you know you’ll be able to find and try out new brands. I’ve checked the website (but the team also uploads the brands that will be featured at the event on their instagram) and I’m pumped to see so many newcomers. I’m doing a giveaway on my instagram, so if you don’t follow me, go follow and try your luck on some free tickets! Tickets are 10 euros and the event will be held 19,20 October at Alter Kelter, Fellbach. For more info, visit here.

Check other Stuttgart Trendings

• My current favorite Thai place, have you tried it yet?
• The new Zalando outlet, Wilma Wunder and more here.
• Foodsharings in Stuttgart.

Lime photo by Kris Krug, Lime. Rest of the photos by rachelsanghee. September, 2019.