Schaarschmidt's

The story

Schaarschmidt's Leipzig: Michelin-Recognized Saxon Cuisine in Leipzig's "Good Living Room"

Leipzig’s "Good Living Room"

Since June 1992, the Schaarschmidt family has run a restaurant that Leipzigers call their “gute Stube” – a living room away from home. Located in the historic Gohlis district, the restaurant occupies a townhouse on Coppistraße, where three levels of intimate rooms seat up to 60 guests. The Michelin Guide has recognized it with a Recommended status for 2026, praising its “unique, cozy atmosphere” and a menu that blends Saxon tradition with international finesse.

Rooms with Character

The restaurant is divided into a bar area, a library (max. 24 seats), and a small gallery (max. 14 seats). Every corner is filled with warmth: dark wood, soft lighting, and personal touches – the owner even sketches the framed portraits of famous Leipzig figures that adorn the walls. In summer, the ivy-covered garden offers about 40 more seats, a secluded oasis in the city.

Dishes with History

The menu is a living archive of Saxon culinary lore. “Gerichte mit Geschichte” – dishes with a story – are the restaurant’s signature. The “Oberbürgermeisterente” (Lord Mayor’s Duck) recalls Carl-Friedrich Schaarschmidt, Leipzig’s first freely elected mayor in 1831; the duck is boned, stuffed with apple, orange, and dried fruit, and served with apple-spitzkohl and green dumplings. The “Vogelhochzeit” (Bird Wedding) is a boned partridge stuffed with quail, a nod to the 19th-century Leipzig tradition of eating songbirds. The “Oelsnitzer Sperk” is a boned quail on lentils, served with a book that tells its story.

Beyond these historic creations, the kitchen offers a full range of classics: Saxon beef olive, pike-perch “Spreewald” style, and flambéed Crêpes Suzette prepared tableside. The wine list holds over 200 labels, carefully chosen to complement the robust, earthy flavors of Saxon cuisine.

Tradition, Not Nostalgia

Schaarschmidt’s is not a museum. It is a place where the past is tasted, not just remembered. The service is personal and unhurried, the atmosphere genuinely welcoming. The Michelin nod confirms what locals have known for over three decades: this is a restaurant that honors its roots while making every guest feel at home.