Hoppenworth & Ploch Altstadt Café — Restaurant in Frankfurt

Around 10am on 27 September 2025, I visited the café and, before placing my order, asked whether takeaway was available. I was told it was, with no mention whatsoever of a cup deposit (I noticed subsequently that it is mentioned on the menu board). So, I ordered a matcha latte, a small cappuccino, and a small bottle of water to go. At the till, I tapped the 10% tip button and paid a total of €16.72. I did think it was a bit pricey, but I was short on time and with company, so I was given token number 32 and waited for my drinks. Despite only two people ahead of me, it took 20 minutes for the coffee to come out. That’s when I finally understood the long queue I’d seen the day before. When my drinks were finally ready, they were served in dine-in cups rather than takeaway ones. I mentioned I’d ordered them to go, and was told to wait a moment—another five minutes passed. When I asked again how long it would take, the staff member asked a colleague to switch the drinks into takeaway cups. The colleague poured the coffee into plastic cups with little care and, with a rather irritated tone, thrust the card reader at me, demanding payment for the cup deposit. She evidently assumed I had changed my mind rather than it being the café’s mistake. Since no one had explained anything about a deposit when I ordered, I wasn’t sure whether it had already been included in the original payment. I hadn’t received a receipt either—no one asked if I wanted one—so I couldn’t check. Already running late, I paid the €2 deposit again. Knowing I wouldn’t be returning to the café to return the cup, I decided to drink quickly and reclaim the deposit. After nearly 30 minutes, I finally drank my coffee. It wasn’t anything special, and it was slightly below lukewarm in temperature and could be finished in five seconds. I understand the environmental push for zero waste, but had they simply explained the deposit policy when I ordered, I wouldn’t have chosen to buy anything there. The café is located in Römer Square, a tourist-heavy area, so I understand that margins rather than customer service might be the priority, but this was...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at a charming little cafe for lunch, where I was thoroughly impressed by both the food and the service. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with a warm smile from the staff and a cozy atmosphere that immediately put me at ease.

I decided to try one of their paninis, and I was not disappointed. The bread was perfectly toasted, the ingredients were fresh and flavorful, and the sandwich as a whole was incredibly satisfying. To wash it down, I ordered a cup of coffee, which was expertly brewed and served to me at just the right temperature.

The cafe itself was small, but that only added to its charm. The decor was inviting and welcoming, and I appreciated that the staff had gone out of their way to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. One of the things that really set this cafe apart for me was the fact that it was dog-friendly – I was able to bring my furry companion along with me, and he was treated with the same kindness and hospitality as any other customer.

All in all, I would highly recommend this cafe to anyone in search of a delicious lunch and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff were all incredibly kind and attentive (especially thanks for Mr Muhammed), and I will definitely be returning...

Disappointing Experience at Hoppenworth & Ploch

We had a very frustrating experience at this café. Everything is unnecessarily complicated, and no one explains how their system works. First, we went inside to order coffee to go, only to be told that there’s a separate window outside, around the corner, for takeaway orders. Fine, we went there—but then, they handed us coffees in regular cups meant to drink on the spot. No one informed us or asked if we wanted actual takeaway cups.

When we clarified, they told us that takeaway cups cost an extra 1 euro. After paying for those, we realized they don’t include a lid—apparently, that’s another 1 euro extra. To make matters worse, another customer had to inform us that you can return the takeaway cup to get your money back. Seriously, what’s the point of a takeaway cup if you’re expected to return it later? We just wanted to grab a coffee and go, but instead, we wasted nearly an hour trying to navigate this overly complicated process.

To top it all off, the coffee itself was mediocre at best, and their “large” size is laughably small. Overall, I have no idea why this place is rated so highly. We won’t...