Derendorf and Pempelfort.
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Photo: greg |
Derendorf was formally the tradesmans area of the city so it’s particularly good to still see numerous specialist retailers and crafts people here.
The shopping area stretches along Nordstrasse from Jülicherstrasse to Fischerstrasse/Kaiserstrasse and includes many side streets notably Schwerinstrasse, Duisburgerstrasse and Rossstrasse.
In this area you can buy just about everything you could possibly need on a day to day basis without ever having to venture into the city.
Your basic supermarkets are all around but the real joy of grocery shopping here is the organic butcher Ansteeg, the well stocked greengrocers Star Frucht, the 120 year old bakery Behmer, the organic bakery Schüren, the deli Mediteranné and the organic supermarket Super Bio Markt all on Nordstrasse. The Germans love their flowers and there’s no shortage of florists in this area from elegant blooms at Blumenreich on the Sternstrasse 61a to the countryhouse look at Blüten and Meer on Schwerinstrasse 25.
Venture down the side streets and hidden court yards and you’ll find bike shops, antiques dealers, jewellery designers, tailors and fashion designers, interior designers, book stores, beauticians, children’s crafts studios, wine merchants to opticians for every budget from basic to the extraordinary designer range at Kittel on Schwerinstrasse 3, next door to Da Forno one of Düsseldorf’s oldest ice cream palours. This is the place where many Düsseldorfers first tasted this cool Italian treat we all take for granted these days.
Exceptional addresses also include the magic shop Mondschnuppe Pfalzstrasse 2 ; the kite shop Drachenladen, Münsterstrasse 71; truffles made on the premises at Chocolatieur, Venloerstrasse; the traditional picture framer and guilder Orofino, Gniesbauerstrasse 15; master violin builder Thilo Kürten, Schwerinstrasse 22; the age-old hardware stores Geissen, which feels like a museum with it’s drawers and hidden treasures, Nordstrasse 32, and Weber where you can find just everything including the oldest locksmith for miles, with keys and locks that look like they must surely guard royal treasures, Collenbachstrasse 5; and the café and specialist bakery Maushagen, Jülicherstrasse 9, which has quirky opening times only at the weekend.
There’s always something new to discover, so take time out and go for a wonder. Then sit in one of the many street cafes and enjoy an ice cream or cappuccino and watch the world go by.
Simply charming.
German link: Nordstrasse...
