At some point, every weary traveler has been there. You arrive at your destination dog tired and hungry as can be. The hotel kitchen has long since closed and the only option the front desk can give you is pizza delivered to your room, but you’re craving something else. If you only have a night or two in a city, you may want to try something local and something unlike what you can snag at home.

 

A photo of the fairy tale turret topped castle that inspired Walt Disney. Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau, Germany.
Walt Disney was Inspired by Stunning Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau, Germany

 

In our case, we had decided to take a last minute visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (it was swarming with tourists, but totally worth the trek), thankfully for us after screeching into town via the autobahn and barely making our car rental drop off time, we stumbled across Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany.

 

A photo of the autobahn during the drive to Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. You can see the German Alps peeking out above the road.
Zoom Zoom – Cute Little German Alps Peek Out From Z Autobahn During the Drive to Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

 

We arrived in Stuttgart at 10:00pm, on a Sunday night and to say we knew our options would be slim is an understatement. Like a mirage in the middle of a dark black night filled with locked restaurant doors, Ambiente Africa called out to us like a beacon of all that is tasty yummy food in the world.

 

A photo of the sand filled Savannah room with animal print tables and glowing candles at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany.
Get Sand in Your Shoes – The Best Seat at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany is in the Savannah Room

 

Despite it being late in the evening, Ambiente Africa’s owner, Daniel Tesfamariam gleefully greeted us at the door. (Ambiente Africa is run by a mother, son and daughter trio who all hail from Eritrea in East Africa.)

 

A photo of a bright blue cocktail topped with a slice of watermelon that is called the Kilimanjaro at Ambiente Africa restaurant in Stuttgart, Germany. The Kilimanjaro is made with amarula cream liqueur, orange and banana juice. (Kilimanjaro - Amarula, orange und bananensaft)
You Could Get Used to This Summit – The Kilimanjaro Cocktail at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany

 

Reading the menu is a bit like taking a mini trip across the African continent. There are more familiar options like couscous, rice and spice, but there are also loads of unexpected dishes like gari (a mashed starchy tuber that comes from cassava) and ingera (a soft pita like bread that’s made out of millet).

 

We love classy cocktails and strong coffee. Curious about some of the other crafty drinks we’ve taste tested around the globe? Here are some of our favorite places to sip tasty beverages around the world.

 

There are also exotic dishes made out of everything from antelope, crocodile, kudu, oryx, ostrich, rattlesnake and even zebra meat.

 

A photo of a white creamy drink called the amarula colada cocktail at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany. The drink is made with amarula cream liquer, white rum, cream, coconut and pineapple juice. (Amarula Colada - Amarula, weisser rum, sáhne, cocos, ananassaft)
In Stuttgart’s Concrete Jungle, You’ll Find an Amarula Colada Cocktail Filled Oasis Called Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany

 

Since we aren’t picky eaters, but weren’t quite up for deep fried silkworms that evening, we asked Tesfamariam for a suggestion. Without hesitation he asked the kitchen to whip up an order of the house speciality for us, the #51 shikor patata sga.

 

A photo of the house specialty, the #51 shikor patata sga made with sweet potatoes, lamb, spicy tomato sauce, eggplant, carrots, peppers, fresh tomatoes, chili, garlic and sweet banana at Ambiente Africa restaurant in Stuttgart, Germany. (#51 shikor patata sga - süßkartoffeln mit lamm rind oder hühnerfleisch in tomatensoße mit auberginen, karotten, paprika, frischen tomaten, chili, knoblauch und süßer banane)
Platter Up – The #51 Shikor Patata Sga at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany

 

We were so glad we ventured out. Tesfamariam’s team execute the sweet potatoes in a way that perfectly compliments the lamb.

 

In addition to Ambiente Africa, here’s a list of other neat little local restaurants we love around the world.

 

The spicy tomato sauce mixed in with the eggplant, carrots, peppers, fresh tomatoes, chili, garlic and sweet banana in the most delicious way possible.

 

A photo of an African beer with guava in a coconut at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany.
You Crack Me Up – An African Beer With Guava at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany

 

Even if you’re not an adventurous eater, Ambiente Africa’s delightful cocktail menu can be a safari for your tastebuds. The drinks feature everything from amarula cream liqueur to Dzama rum straight from Madagascar.

 

A photo of the mama Africa drink at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany. The mama Africa cocktail is made out of Dzama rum from Madagascar, coconut, melon liqueur, Triple Sec, orange, passionfruit and pineapple juice. (Mama Africa - Dzama rum, cocos, melonenlikör, Triple Sec, orangen, maracuja und ananassaff)
Mom, You’re One in a Melon – The Mama Africa Cocktail at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany

 

Our personal favorite was the mama Africa which consists of Dzama rum, coconut, melon liqueur, Triple Sec, orange, passionfruit and pineapple juice.

 

A photo of the inside dining room at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany. There are colorful cushions and mats as well as embroidered goat skins and hand carved sculptures inside the restaurant.
Colorful Cushions, Embroidered Goat Skins and Hand Carved Wooden Sculptures in the Dining Room at Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany

 

If you’re looking for drinks, food and service that will fill both your heart and your soul, even if it’s late in the evening, Ambiente Africa is worth making a visit to.

 

An exterior street view photo of the outside of Ambiente Africa restaurant in Stuttgart, Germany.
Ambiente Africa in Stuttgart, Germany

 

Ambiente Africa
Address: Werastrasse 1
70182 Stuttgart, Germany
Hours: Tuesday Through Saturday 5:00pm Until Late, Sunday 3:00pm Until Late *Kitchen stays open until 11:00pm. Closed on Mondays.
Phone:+49 711 2365511
Email: ambiente_africa@hotmail.com
Pricing (All in Euros): Specialties €12.60 to €16.50, Exotic Meat Platters €27.90 to €37.90, Appetizers €5.50 to €12.60, Salads €5.80 to €8.10, Meat Dishes €12.60 to €12.90, Fish €14.50 to €18.90, Vegetarian Dishes €8.90 to €12.90, Dessert €3.90 to €6.70, Beer €2.50 to €3.20, Cocktails €8.00 to €9.50