I'm certain the Hansa is much nicer, but it is also more expensive, 79-119€ single vs. Espenlaub's 39-79€ single. I like the Espenlaub's location much better (I live a block away from it and the other two hotels I later mention) because it is a very short walk into the center of Stuttgart (the Schlossplatz) versus the somewhat longer walk from the Hansa and you pass the three Stuttgart central palaces on the way. The Espenlaub is also across the street from a stop for four U-bahn lines whereas the Hansa has an U-bahn stop for one line a few blocks away, so for the Espenlaub during the day the longest you should have to wait would be about 2.5 minutes (possibly 4 minutes) versus a guaranteed 10 minutes for one line during most of the day.

My preference would be for the City Hotel, single 79-89€, which is a block away from the Espenlaub on a quiet street, or Wirt am Berg a further block away on an even quieter dead end street (single 50-70€). If you decide to stay in these hotels or the Espenlaub, I'd be happy to recommend some restaurants nearby that we enjoy.

Among other means, hotel rooms are bookable through www.stuttgart-tourist.de .

My wife and I will be staying at the City Hotel Oct 1-2. Those restaurant suggestions could be quite helpful....so if you wouldn't mind.......

Restaurant suggestions:

LaPiazza- our most frequented restaurant with excellent Italian pasta, large daily menu besides their large regular menu, if available, the truffle dishes are excellent as they aren't chintzy with the truffles Head down Uhlandstrasse (the street on which the hotel is). In two blocks the restaurant is on your left at Urbanstrasse (you can't go further unless you go into the library). Corner of Charlottenstrasse and Urbanstrasse, I believe 17 Charlottenstrasse.

Schellenturm- (Weberstrasse 72) this Weinstube has an excellent ambience being in the only remainly tower of the former town walls. Order their Swabian dishes. From your hotel, go down to the first corner a few meters away and turn left on Gaisburgstrasse. Cross Charlottenstrasse and continue on along Olgastrasse. Cross Olgastrasse and at the second street by the English church turn right and there is the Schellenturm.

Weinstube zur Kiste- (Kanalstrasse 2) Stuttgart's oldest Weinstube with good Swabian food. It's behind the SE corner of Charlottenstrasse and the highway by Charlottenplatz, a block further than LaPiazza and the other side of the street. Kanalstrasse is not really a street.

Der Zauberlehrling- (Rosenstrasse 38) for food almost as good and somewhat less expensive than a Michelin-starred restaurant. Follow the directions for Schellenturm, but after crossing Charlottenstrasse on Olgaeck, it is a short ways down the first street to the right.

For an excellent lunch, the restaurant upstairs in the Markthalle, I can't remember its name.

Cube- in the glass cube art gallery on the Schlossplatz upstairs on the top floor. Make sure to make a reservation for a window-front table for the view. The food is quite good.

The restaurants in the Parliament building, Staatsgallerie, and History Museum are all quite good, as is the Vinothek in Hotel am Schlossgarten.

Stuttgart's best restaurant is the Michelin-starred Zirbelstube in Hotel am Schlossgarten. Lunch won't be that expensive and excellent.

For Greek food, consider the Greek restaurant across the street from the Budenbad stop of the U-15 heading toward the Fernsehturm (TV tower). I can't remember its Greek name or walk up two Staeffele (stairways) to get there, Sünderstaffel and I believe the Georg-Elser-Staffel (much easier walk down).

All of these restaurants are a short walk from the City Hotel.

There are 5 other Michelin-starred restaurants in Stuttgart, and at least another 14 nearby, and many other excellent restaurants.

Thanks Marcopolko.

Some nice sounding places. I hope I can visit some of them while in Stuttgart...my wife would especially love the wine places! I have to find time away from the volksfest in order to visit them, though. Thanks again.

Also, are you aware of any good "beer bars" (serving hard to find or rare beer from the area)?

"Also, are you aware of any good "beer bars" (serving hard to find or rare beer from the area)?"

We just usually drink at home, or in restaurants or cafes. Go into the glass cube Stuttgart Art Gallery on the Schlossplatz. An interesting thing as you enter is the well stocked bar on the left, I think unique for an art museum!!!!! Although they have lots of possibly hard to find liquor and wine, I don't know about beer, but they would be worth asking. You can also sit out in one of their tables in front of the museum.

Of course, you could also visit any grocery store or drink market for a good selection of the more local beers, but probably only warm.