How to Choose a German Restaurant Name + 31 German Restaurant Name Ideas to Inspire You (2023)

From beer gardens to Bavarian-style fine dining, German cuisine is popular throughout the United States. So, if you’re looking to open a German restaurant of your own, it might not be a bad idea.

No matter your restaurant type or style, one of the first steps in the restaurant opening process is choosing a name. It’s the name that will lead people to your business. Your restaurant name will be all over your branding and marketing, leading people to your restaurant. That means it has to be a name you like that represents your business effectively. 

Here are the four main steps of finding the right German restaurant name as well as real-life restaurant names to inspire your exciting new business venture. 

How do I choose a German restaurant name?

Here's a brief run down of how to start brainstorming name ideas so that you pick the perfect German restaurant name for you. 

• Write down your vision for your restaurant, focusing on your mission and core values

• Make sure your name isn’t already taken

• Play around with a name generator to spark new ideas

• Reach out to your community for support and inspiration

Let’s dive into further detail about each of these steps below (and then get into some cool German restaurant name examples too!)

What are good German restaurant names?

In general, a great restaurant name should be unique to your business. It should stick in the minds of your patrons, conveying your brand and personality

Your restaurant name should also be simple for potential patrons to understand. It should inform people what goods and services you offer. Also, your restaurant name should be easy to spell and remember so potential guests can readily find you on Google. 

Here are some tips to start you on the path to discovering the right name for your new German spot.

Write down your restaurant's mission, purpose, and core values

Your vision for your German restaurant is the main driver behind your business. A big part of that is understanding your mission and core values. 

A mission statement is a strategic way to showcase the purpose of your business to customers. Your mission statement describes who you are, why you’re here, and what you plan to accomplish as a new business in your community. 

There is, however, much more to a restaurant name than just your mission statement. Let’s do a little exercise. Grab a pen and paper and write down the following:

• Your core values and mission

• The intended personality and vibe of your restaurant

• Your menu concept

• Adjectives to describe your restaurant

• Your name (and the name of your business partners, if any) 

• Any family names that are important to you

• Your restaurant's location (the neighborhood, town, or city)

This exercise pulls out words and phrases that describe your German restaurant, which can make up all or part of its name. This list will also come in handy when building your restaurant business plan, helping you identify your restaurant goals and budget.

When you can’t think of anything else to add, read back over your list of superlatives, adjectives, and descriptors, circling your favorites. These will be the building blocks for your German restaurant name.

Choose a name that isn’t taken already

To avoid copyright issues or accidentally sending your customers to another business, make sure your restaurant’s name is unique.  

Once you've settled on a handful of contenders, run each of the possible names through the following resources:

• Google search

• Google My Business

• The Yellow Pages 

• The Better Business Bureau

• The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark database search

Be thorough with your research, as copyright infringement can be very costly, especially for a new restaurant. To learn more about copyright infringement, visit Copyright.gov.

Use a restaurant name generator to spark new ideas

Name generators can get you out of writer’s block by inspiring you to try different word combinations you haven't yet considered. 

Some of the following generators ask for guidance in the form of keywords. Others assemble random combinations of words. Either way, having your keyword shortlist on hand is helpful when using these resources. 

Sure, some of the suggested names and combos will be unusable. Nevertheless, name generators will help you identify the sort of names you like (and which ones you don't!)

Restaurant Name Generators

• Namelix Restaurant Name Generator
• Buzztime Restaurant Name Generator
• Fantasy Name Generators' Restaurant Name Generator
• Business Name Generator
• Kopywriting Kourse Restaurant Name Generator

Ask your community for German restaurant name ideas

Most people who start restaurants want to build something special for their community. So why not involve your community from day one by asking for input on your name? 

You can start by telling friends and family about your concept. Sharing your vision will make it easier for them to brainstorm original name ideas. Thankfully, you determined your mission and values, so this part should be easy!

Another effective way to reach your community is through social media. Using strategic social media posts - especially on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok - can generate hype around your new German restaurant and its potential name.

So, how can you build engagement around your social media posts? First, make sure you grow community awareness on whatever social media platform you use. People need to see your post! Then, create incentivizing posts, like polls or raffles, to get folks to suggest names. One fantastic idea is to offer future discounts or a free meal on opening day to all the people who help you name your restaurant.

31 Actual German Restaurant Name Ideas to Inspire You

Sometimes, you can hit a roadblock when thinking of German restaurant names. You are not alone - this happens to lots of restaurant owners! One way to get re-inspired is to take a page from existing restaurants, helping you spark new name ideas for your business.

Here are 31 of the best German restaurant names around the country.

Simple German Restaurant Names

1. Döner Bistro – Leesburg, VA

2. Rolf's – New York, NY

3. Bavarian Lodge – Lisle, IL 

4. The Heidelberg – New York, NY

5. BERLINS – Los Angeles, CA 

6. Leopold’s – San Francisco, CA 

7. BRONWYN Restaurant – Somerville, MA 

Creative German Restaurant Names 

1. Kurt’s & Vrenny’s – Duluth, GA

2. Stadt Garten – Detroit, MI

3. Rasselbock Kitchen & Beer Garden – Long Beach, CA 

4. Funkenhausen – Chicago, IL 

5. Lutz Cafe & Pastry Shop – Chicago, IL 

6. King's BierHaus – Houston, TX 

7. Bavarian Inn – Lena, WI 

8. The Frankfurter – Seattle, WA 

Rhyming + Alliterative German Restaurant Names

1. Schaller's Stube Sausage Bar – New York, NY

2. Max Bratwurst und Bier – Queens, NY

3. Brat & Bräu – Los Angeles, CA 

4. Berliner Berliner – San Francisco, CA 

5. Hügel Haus – Ellison Bay, WI 

6. The Bavarian Bierhaus – Glendale, WI 

7. Plattduetsche Park – Franklin Square, NY 

8. Schmankerl Stube – Hagerstown, MD

Fun German Restaurant Names

1. Prost! – Chicago, IL 

2. The Radler – Chicago, IL 

3. Wurst Haus – Lake Jackson, TX 

4. Zeitgeist – San Francisco, CA 

5. The Saur Kraut – Sugar Land, TX

6. Willkommen by Black Hammer Brewing – San Francisco, CA 

7. Wursthall – San Mateo, CA 

8. Pumpernickel's – Northport, NY 

German Restaurant Name? Check.

Once you’ve chosen your German restaurant name, it’s time to build your business plan and plot the way towards restaurant success. Before you know it, you’ll be the go-to German spot in town.