If you’re in Frankfurt for business, and the situation demands you charm other visiting work associates, the city has enough to show you in good light. There are multiple entertainment options here, even for delegates looking for group activities to build a stronger bond. From the many available venues in Frankfurt, some are selected for the best possible aerial views of the city and its vicinity, such as the Rhein Main area and the State of Hesse; others are chosen to get a feel of the local culture and traditions. If an informal setting is better suited to engage the whole group, look up ongoing festivities that add a lively persona to Frankfurt, year round.
CRUISE
Another way of experiencing Frankfurt while entertaining guests is to board a river cruise. Short relaxing trips on River Main, from where one can admire Frankfurt’s skyline, are available throughout summer. These are often coupled with entertainment and epicurean delights offered on-board. Day trips to the majestic Rhine valley with various stops at picturesque towns like Rüdesheim and its impressive vineyards, can also be booked. Check with your concierge for information on river cruises.
Frankfurt Tourism has river cruises starting from the landing stage at Eiserner Steg, which last from 50 to 100 minutes. We suggest two cruises departing from here. The first is the one that goes towards Griesheim in the south passes by the Western harbour, and the bustling urban areas of the city. The other cruise goes past the beautiful banks of the Main, with a detour to Frankfurt Osthafen. This cruise also stops at Gerbermühle where one can embark or disembark. It is possible to book one part or the entire boat for a session on the water. (Open Saturday and Sunday: 12pm-4pm February and November, 11am-5pm March-October; cost per person: €9.45/₹660 for 50 minutes, €12.45/₹870 for 100 minutes; frankfurt-tourismus.de.)
MUSEUMS
I am very fond of the rich art and cultural landscape of Frankfurt, one of the most important cities for contemporary, modern and ancient art. In many museums you can also find a lovely restaurant or a cosy cafe or both, often with outdoor terraces and gardens. These, for me, are interesting places to take guests to. While it may not be ideal to walk through all the galleries with your colleagues, a glimpse of the highlighted pieces would be a nice start to a cultural evening. In fact, it would be an engaging off-site MICE outing curated around art.
In the district of Sachsenhausen, by River Main, is Städel Museum that displays 700 years of art under one roof. It is possible to plan a conference at the museum’s Metzler Foyer, Metzler Hall, and Städel Garden with the help of the in-house event management team. (Open at 10am Tuesday-Sunday, until 6pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, until 9pm Thursday and Friday; €14/₹977; staedelmuseum.de.) Holbein’s Cafe-restaurant here serves light cuisine with regional and international influences.
Schirn Kunstshalle at Römerberg promises an engaging few hours. It offers a private guided tour through the ongoing exhibition, as well as creative workshops for groups. A session here is bound to tickle the right side of the brain. (Open 10am-7pm Tuesday and Friday-Sunday, until 10pm Wednesday and Thursday; entry fees vary as per exhibitions; schirn.de.) If you’re looking for a fun, quirky vibe, visit Schrin Cafe by Badias here.
MMK Museum of Modern Art Frankfurt is one of the world’s prominent museums for contemporary art. This is also located in Frankfurt’s city centre, and like the others, also offers private guided tours and workshops that encourage participation from delegates. (Open 11am-6pm Tuesday-Sunday, until 8pm on Wednesday; €16/₹1,111; mmk-frankfurt.de.) Elaine’s Deli in the building believes in serving “good coffee, delicious cakes and healthy food”.
FESTIVALS
Most of the events in Frankfurt happen outdoors, and there is something to celebrate all year round in this Main metropole.
Apple Wine Festival that celebrates the Hessian national drink, runs from August 11 to 20 in Robmarkt. There is a variety of apple wines made using traditional recipes, in addition to trendy blends and apple wine cocktails. For those interested in brewing their own apple wine, there are special utensils and equipments to take home. (Open 11am-11pm Monday-Thursday, until 12am Friday-Saturday; free entry; frankfurt-tourismus.de.)
Museum Embankment Festival is one of the biggest European cultural festivals that takes place on the last weekend of August, 25-27). It has a number of art and craft stalls, food kiosks and live music. Participating museums offer special discounts to their exhibitions. (Open 3pm-1am Friday, 11am-1am Saturday, 11am-12am Sunday; frankfurt-tourismus.de.)
Frankfurt Christmas Market around The Römer in the city centre is one of the largest winter festivals in Germany with stalls vending food, wines, gifts and decorations. It is a wonderful way to end the year on a most festive note from November 27 to December 22. (Open 10am-9pm Monday-Saturday, from 11am on Sunday; frankfurt-tourismus.de.)
EAT AND DRINK
To enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Frankfurt and the Rhein Main area, Long Island Summer Lounge is one of the best available options. And as the name suggests, it is only open during the summer months. There is no fixed date for this, and Long Island Summer Lounge says, “We start as soon as the weather is good.” This unique set-up that is on the roof of the Stock Exchange multi-storey car park, close to Alte Oper (opera house) in the city centre, is considered to be one of the most beautiful sundecks in the whole of Germany. It radiates an exclusive, elegant ambience, where one can enjoy a variety of cool drinks, creative cuisine with the freshest ingredients, upbeat music and an absolutely incomparable view of the city skyline. This is truly a perfect venue for an unforgettable summer evening. (Open 4pm-1am Monday-Saturday, 2pm-1am Sunday; admission fee €5/₹350; longislandsummerlounge.de.)
James the Bar at The English Theatre Frankfurt is a fun place for after work drinks and snacks. Divided into two levels, a gallery occupies the top floor, while the ground level is where performances take place. This space can also be booked for small and large gatherings and can be customised to suit the event’s requirements. Its in-house technical equipment help make presentations with ease. This is also the only venue in Europe that performs in the English language too, on such a wide scale. In fact, it would be absolutely unique to request for a drama workshop for the group, one that the theatre hosts occasionally. This, of course, can be arranged on availability. (Open 6pm-12am Tuesday-Saturday, 5pm-11pm Sunday; english-theatre.de/bar/james-the-bar.)
