"Jean-Claude Bourgueil held three Michelin stars from 1987 to 2006; book his one-star Kaiserswerth room to impress clients."
About Im Schiffchen
Jean-Claude Bourgueil has run Im Schiffchen on Kaiserswerther Markt since 1977, which makes it one of the longest-standing serious kitchens in Germany. From 1987 to 2006 it held three Michelin stars; today it carries one, on the first floor of a baroque brick house in the old centre of Kaiserswerth, about ten minutes north of the Düsseldorf city centre. As of January 2026 Bourgueil has sold the restaurant and stayed on to cook part-time, so this is a chance to eat the work of a chef who shaped German fine dining while he is still at the pass. See where it sits in our Düsseldorf dining guide.
The Kitchen
The cooking is classical French haute cuisine of a kind few kitchens still attempt: precise, rich and built on luxury produce rather than fashion. The signatures are a sturgeon mousse crowned with caviar and a run of refined lobster preparations, served à la carte and through tasting menus, with an average spend around €85 a head before the cellar climbs. The wine list is deep in Burgundy and Bordeaux, and service is old-school formal. This is not a kitchen chasing the modern tasting-menu crowd; it is one keeping a tradition alive. For the global field, read our guide to the best French restaurants worldwide, and for the contemporary star nearby, compare Setzkasten.
The Room
The room is formal and hushed, a first-floor salon in a baroque house with white linen, well-spaced tables and the calm of a serious restaurant that has nothing to prove. The light is low, the sound level conversation-easy, and a jacket is the right call. It is intimate enough for a quiet table and grand enough to signal occasion, with views over Kaiserswerther Markt. Service is attentive and unhurried, the kind that lets a long business dinner breathe. Reserve a window table and allow the full evening.
Best for Impress Clients
Book Im Schiffchen to impress a client. The address carries weight, the room is quiet enough for a real conversation, and the classical French cooking signals seriousness without needing to be explained. A chef who once held three Michelin stars at the pass is a story your guest will remember. Reserve a window table, let the sommelier lead the wine, and give the evening its full length. See more rooms to impress clients or to close a deal.
Not for
Not for diners who want a quick, casual or modern meal. Im Schiffchen is formal, classical French haute cuisine in Kaiserswerth, priced and paced for a long evening, so anyone after speed or a relaxed vibe should look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked
Is Im Schiffchen worth it?
Yes, for classical French haute cuisine with real history. Im Schiffchen has been Jean-Claude Bourgueil’s restaurant since 1977, held three Michelin stars from 1987 to 2006, and carries one today. Average spend is around €85 a head before wine, and the signatures are a caviar-topped sturgeon mousse and refined lobster dishes. You are paying for precision, luxury produce and a chef who shaped German fine dining.
What should I order at Im Schiffchen?
Order the classics that made the kitchen’s name. The sturgeon mousse crowned with caviar is the signature opener, and the lobster preparations are the dishes to build a meal around. If you want the full picture, take a tasting menu and let the sommelier pair from the Burgundy and Bordeaux list. The cooking is classical French, so trust the traditional luxury plates rather than looking for novelty.
What is the dress code at Im Schiffchen?
Smart and formal — a jacket is the right call for men, and the room expects you to dress for the occasion. This is a hushed first-floor salon in a baroque house, not a casual bistro, and the service matches. Reserve ahead, allow a full evening, and treat it as the special-occasion dinner it is built to be.
Who is the chef at Im Schiffchen?
Jean-Claude Bourgueil, who has run Im Schiffchen since 1977 and held three Michelin stars there from 1987 to 2006. As of January 2026 he sold the restaurant and stayed on to cook part-time, so he is still at the pass. See more classical rooms in our best French restaurants guide.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Im Schiffchen
Reserve ahead and allow a full evening. Ask for a window table over Kaiserswerther Markt, and let the sommelier lead the wine.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressKaiserswerther Markt 9, Düsseldorf-Kaiserswerth
NeighbourhoodKaiserswerth (first floor, baroque house)
CuisineFrench haute cuisine
PriceAround €85 per head before wine; tasting menus
Dress CodeJacket / formal
MichelinOne star (held three stars 1987–2006)
ReservationWebsite / phone; book ahead
