Aqua in Wolfsburg: Lower Saxony's only 3-star restaurant shines again!

Aqua in Wolfsburg: Lower Saxony's only 3-star restaurant shines again!

The “Aqua” restaurant in Wolfsburg remains a true temple of enjoyment and is defending its three Michelin stars for the 16th time in a row. Chef Sven Elverfeld, who runs the restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton hotel, holds the flag high for top gastronomy in Lower Saxony. In the current edition of the Michelin Guide, “Aqua” is named as the only three-star restaurant in the state. The award confirms the high level of cooking effort that Elverfeld and his team put in every day. The restaurant is considered the epitome of culinary excellence and attracts connoisseurs from near and far who don't want to miss out on these delights.

But it wasn’t just “Aqua” that earned praise and recognition. Also fresh on the list of fine dining options are “Jante” and “Votum” from Hanover, both of which were awarded two stars. Chef Tony Hohlfeld from “Jante” and Benjamin Gallein from “Votum” impressively show that the state capital is also very popular in terms of cuisine.

New starry sky in Lower Saxony

This year, Michelin stars were awarded to a total of nine restaurants in Lower Saxony. In addition to those already mentioned, you can also find the newly opened restaurant “Hilmar” in Aerzen, which was able to regain its star after falling off the list last year. The 41-year-old star chef Stephan Krogmann now leads the kitchen team there and brings a breath of fresh air into the gourmet world. In Bad Sachsa, “Joseph’s Fine Dining” is happy about a star, as is “Marie” in Hanover.

• Aqua – Wolfsburg (Drei Sterne)
• Jante – Hannover (Zwei Sterne)
• Votum – Hannover (Zwei Sterne)
• Hilmar – Aerzen (Ein Stern)
• Sterneck – Cuxhaven (Ein Stern)
• Handwerk – Hannover (Ein Stern)
• Seesteg – Norderney (Ein Stern)
• Friedrich – Osnabrück (Ein Stern)
• IKO – Osnabrück (Ein Stern)
• Kesselhaus – Osnabrück (Ein Stern)

However, it should be reported that the closure of the “Apicius” in Bad Zwischenahn in April 2023 should be seen as a painful loss for the culinary landscape of Lower Saxony. Notoriously known as a place for foodies, the “Apicius” also had to give up its star. Tim Extra, a former chef there, has announced plans to open a new, more diverse and affordable restaurant at the same address later this summer. A step that brings great expectations of a breath of fresh air into the region.

No stars for Bremen

A comprehensive look at current gastronomic events reveals that no restaurant in the neighboring state of Bremen was awarded a star this year. Things are different in Lower Saxony, where connoisseurs don't have to forego their costs. Despite the painful loss of “Apicius”, there remains a multitude of high-quality gastronomic offerings waiting to be discovered by gourmets. The Michelin Guide remains one of the most important guides in the world of fine dining and is constantly changing.

In a country where culinary know-how is extensive, it will remain exciting to see what new accents and delicacies will be presented in the future. The Michelin lists 340 star restaurants not only in Lower Saxony, but also nationwide. Of these, 10 enjoy the highest level of recognition with three stars, while 50 restaurants have two stars and 280 have one star.

For all lovers of fine cuisine, the Gadget Michelin remains a reliable compass in the diverse world of gastronomy. The cleanliness of reviews and the stringent awarding of stars are also a guarantee in Lower Saxony that the highest culinary art continues to have a place of honor in people's lives.

For further information on the latest awards and culinary highlights, those interested can read the articles at NWZonline, Hessian/Lower Saxony Aller Zeitung and NDR read up.