TL;DR: This Trainvave Guide is a comprehensive tutorial on ICE Dining Car Guide: Eating on German Trains (Bordrestaurant & Bordbistro). Yes — every long-distance ICE has a Bordrestaurant (sit-down restaurant car) and a Bordbistro (counter service), plus a snack trolley on most routes. Here's the menu, prices, payment methods, opening hours, and how to reserve a seat.
Platform survival: Station navigation, boarding, and rules.
A condensed visual summary of the most important takeaways from our ICE Dining Car Guide: Eating on German Trains (Bordrestaurant & Bordbistro) guide.
No gates: German stations have no ticket barriers. Validating before boarding is key.
Yes — every long-distance ICE has a Bordrestaurant (a sit-down restaurant car) and a Bordbistro (counter service), plus a snack trolley on most services. You can eat a hot meal at your table, grab a coffee and sandwich from the Bordbistro, or bring your own food and ask for free tap water. This guide covers what is on the menu, what it costs, how to pay, when service runs, and how to reserve a seat.
Does the ICE have food? (Quick answer)
Short version: yes. Every ICE in Germany has:
- Bordrestaurant — a real restaurant car with hot meals, a steward who takes your order at the table, and a daily special.
- Bordbistro — a smaller counter with coffee, sandwiches, beer and snacks (no seating — take it back to your seat).
- Snack trolley — on most routes over two hours, a trolley comes down the aisle with drinks and snacks.
If none of that suits you, you can bring your own food and drinks, and the Bordbistro will give you free tap water on request.
What you get: four ways to eat on board
| Service | What it is | Seating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bordrestaurant | Sit-down restaurant car, hot meals, steward service | Tables, first-come first-served | A proper meal at a table |
| Bordbistro | Counter with coffee, sandwiches, beer and snacks | None — take away | Quick snack between meal services |
| Snack trolley | Moves through the train on long routes | None — at your seat | Drinks and snacks without leaving your seat |
| Bring your own | Food and drinks you pack | Your reserved seat | Saving money, dietary needs |
The menu (Speisekarte): what is typically served
The Bordrestaurant menu changes, but a representative selection looks like this. Prices are approximate and current as of mid-2026 — verify against the menu posted on the train:
| Category | Dish / Drink | Price (approx., EUR) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main | Schnitzel Wiener Art | ~16.90 | Daily special often |
| Main | Veggie Bowl | ~12.50 | Rotates |
| Main | Pasta of the day | ~11.50 | Rotates |
| Side | Fries / potato salad | Included with main | — |
| Drink | Coffee / espresso | ~3.20–4.50 | Fair-trade labelled |
| Drink | Beer (0.33 l) | ~4.50 | Regional brands |
| Drink | Soft drink | ~3.50 | — |
| Snack | Brezel (pretzel) | ~2.50 | Bordbistro |
| Snack | Chocolate bar | ~2.00 | Bordbistro |
The Tagesempfehlung (daily special) is usually the best value on the menu. Vegetarian and some vegan options are available; ask the steward if you have dietary needs.
How to pay
Both the Bordrestaurant and the Bordbistro accept a wide range of payment methods:
| Method | Bordrestaurant | Bordbistro | Trolley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash (EUR) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| EC-Karte (girocard) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| American Express | ✓ | ✓ | Sometimes |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| DB voucher (DB-Gutschein) | No | ✓ | No |
| Foreign currency | No | No | No |
Contactless and mobile payments work at most Bordbistros. Foreign coins and notes are not accepted, so bring EUR or a card.
Opening hours
- Bordbistro: open throughout the journey whenever the train is moving.
- Bordrestaurant: typically serves hot meals around 11:00–14:00 (lunch) and 17:00–21:00 (dinner), with a smaller all-day offer in between. Service starts shortly after departure and stops shortly before arrival.
- Snack trolley: passes through on most routes over two hours, usually once or twice per trip.
Exact times vary by route and day — check the menu posted at the Bordrestaurant entrance when you board.
Reserving a seat
A normal seat reservation (about €5.50 in 2nd class, free with 1st-class tickets) reserves your passenger seat in a coach — it does not reserve a table in the Bordrestaurant. Bordrestaurant tables are first-come, first-served. If you want a table at peak times, board early or ask the steward when you get on. Book a seat reservation through the DB Navigator app or bahn.de.
Free tap water trick
German law requires restaurants to provide tap water (Leitungswasser) for free. Ask at any Bordbistro counter and bring your own bottle or cup — a small but real way to save money and avoid buying drinks on a long trip.
Step-by-step: eating on an ICE
- Find the Bordrestaurant coach using the Wagenstand display — it is usually in the middle of the train.
- Read the menu posted at the entrance and look for the Tagesempfehlung.
- Sit at any free table — Bordrestaurant tables are not covered by your seat reservation.
- Order at your table and the steward brings the food.
- Pay by card or cash — all major cards and Apple/Google Pay are accepted.
- Use the Bordbistro for a quick snack between meal services.
- Watch for the snack trolley on longer routes.
- Ask for free tap water at the Bordbistro counter.
Related guides
- ICE First-Timer Checklist — boarding, coach position, and ticket checks.
- DB Navigator App — book seat reservations and tickets.
- Seat Reservations Explained — when a reservation is worth it.
Deutsche Version dieser Anleitung: Bordrestaurant & Bordbistro im ICE (DE). Versión en español: Guía del vagón restaurante del ICE (ES). 中文版本: ICE 餐车指南 (ZH).
Step-by-Step Instructions
Find the Bordrestaurant coach on your train
Check the Wagenstand (coach position) display on the platform — the Bordrestaurant is usually around coach 28 or 29 in the middle of most ICE trains. Walk through the coaches or wait at the right platform section so you step straight into the restaurant car.
Read the menu posted at the entrance
Each Bordrestaurant posts the current menu on the door and at every table. Look for the "Tagesempfehlung" (daily special) — it is usually the best value. Prices are shown in EUR and include sides.
Take any free table — reservations are separate from seat reservations
Bordrestaurant tables are first-come, first-served. A "Sitzplatzreservierung" for your passenger seat does NOT include a Bordrestaurant table, so just sit at any free table or ask the steward.
Order at your table — a steward takes your order
Service is sit-down. A steward comes to your table to take your order for hot meals, drinks and snacks and brings the food to you. You pay when you order or when the food arrives, depending on the car.
Pay by card or cash — cards are accepted
EC-Karte (girocard), Visa, Mastercard and Amex are all accepted, as is cash in EUR. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at most Bordbistros. Foreign currency is not accepted. Keep the receipt if you need it for expenses.
Visit the Bordbistro if you want a quick snack
The Bordbistro is a smaller counter with coffee, sandwiches, beer and pre-packaged items. There is no seating — take it back to your seat. It is open throughout the trip, so it is the easiest option between the Bordrestaurant meal services.
Check the snack trolley on long routes
On most ICE routes over two hours a trolley passes through the train with sandwiches, drinks and snacks. It takes cash and card. Listen for the announcement or watch for it coming down the aisle.
Ask for free tap water at any Bordbistro counter
Under German law, restaurants must give you tap water (Leitungswasser) for free. Just ask at the Bordbistro counter and bring your own bottle or cup to refill — a simple way to save money and stay hydrated on a long trip.
Menu (Speisekarte)
Mains (Hauptgerichte)
| Dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Schnitzel Wiener Art Breaded veal/pork cutlet, daily special often | 16.90 EUR |
| Veggie Bowl Rotates seasonally | 12.50 EUR |
| Pasta of the day Rotates daily | 11.50 EUR |
| Fries / potato salad Included with any main | 0.00 EUR |
Drinks (Getranke)
| Dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee / espresso Fair-trade labelled | 3.20 EUR |
| Beer (0.33 l) Regional brands | 4.50 EUR |
| Soft drink | 3.50 EUR |
Snacks (Snacks)
| Dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Brezel (pretzel) From the Bordbistro counter | 2.50 EUR |
| Chocolate bar From the Bordbistro counter | 2.00 EUR |
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