Food in Germany

I wouldn't do it without asking them. I think just taking the food would be presumptuous. If you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet in your own country, do you take food with you for another meal.

I have seen signs in the breakfast rooms at some hotels offering to let you take rolls with you (for a nominal price) or even offering to pack a sack lunch for you. However, there is nothing that says you can't gorge yourself at breakfast so that there is no need for lunch.

As a former small hotel manager and restaurant manager, all I can say is that it is considered very bad taste and tacky to take food with you. You can stop at any bakery and pick up brotchen for 30 cents or a croissant for under a 1 euro. Fruit is for sale all over the place and sandwichs are cheap too. A large bratwurst from a stand will cost around 2.50€. Farmers markets are common, sandwiches can be had from bakeries or from butchers at a very low cost.

Agnes, please don't do it. I have seen people on bus tours of European countries do that and it is so grossly ill-mannered. Some come to the breakfast buffet with plastic bags at the ready and they sneak food into them when they THINK no one is looking. If you cannot afford to buy yourself lunch, think twice about the trip. Seriously.

Good grief!

NO

the only time I have taken anything along with me (in the car) was ONLY because I took more than I could eat-unknowingly. Once after we had gotten food from the buffet, they came and brought us hot scrambled eggs and sausages new to the buffet. They told us to have some please. I did bring the muffins I had taken earlier with me, instead of discarding them. I could see if you were one of the last customers at a buffet and you asked for a muffin or something...but make a sandwich? That is tacky.

Or perhaps if you asked if you could bring something with you as you were not hungry at that early a time? but I would ASK. I know many people that do not eat very early, just want coffee.

Nope.

Agnes,

The Hotels in Germany usually DO provide a "bountiful breakfast", but I have to agree with Lee and the others - it would be a really good idea to ask. They may be willing to pack a bag lunch for a small fee.

As someone else mentioned, there are usually lots of bakeries and small shops, so it's not hard to find an inexpensive lunch.

Where are you going in Germany?

Happy travels!

I think Lee got it right. Offer to pay and ask. It might be an additional source of income to them and save you a some searching for food later. They might be uncertain about having enough to cover the guests and decline.

I was at a small hotel in Munich. A couple walked in off the street and asked if they could buy breakfast. The hotel seemed only too happy to sell them breakfast. I suspect if they asked to buy a pack lunch from the breakfast bar, it would have been the same.

Regards, Gary

Usually the bountiful breakfasts are enough to where you only have to pick up a light lunch. We've usually either found a brat stand and picked up a cheap lunch like Jo has mentioned, or just run into a store and picked up some bread, fruit, and chocolate for an impromptu picnic.

Thanks for the replies. I think I've got the message.

Agnes