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Quick Answer: Yes, you can eat and drink on trains in Germany — including alcohol. There is no legal ban on consuming food or beverages on Deutsche Bahn trains. ICE trains have an onboard Bordrestaurant (dining car) and a Bordbistro (snack bar). Regional trains have no catering. You are welcome to bring your own food and drinks on any DB train. The main rule is social consideration: strong-smelling food and loud eating are frowned upon.

Eating and drinking on trains is one of those questions that seems simple but has layers of practical nuance once you start thinking about the specifics. What food is actually available onboard? Can you bring your own beer? Is it rude to eat a full meal in 2nd class? What about hot food? This guide covers everything you need to know about food and drink on German trains.

Is It Legal to Eat and Drink on German Trains?

Yes, completely legal. Deutsche Bahn has no rules prohibiting passengers from eating or drinking in any class or any train type. This applies to:

  • Food you bring yourself
  • Drinks including alcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
  • Hot food and cold food
  • Snacks throughout the journey

The only practical limits are social norms (strong smells are antisocial) and the Quiet Zones (Ruhebereiche) in 1st class ICE carriages, where eating noisily or drinking heavily is socially discouraged, though still not prohibited.

Alcohol on German Trains

Alcohol is permitted on all Deutsche Bahn trains. There is no ban equivalent to the UK’s dry train policies or stadium alcohol bans. You can:

  • Bring your own beer, wine, or spirits on board
  • Purchase alcohol at the Bordbistro/Bordrestaurant
  • Drink throughout the journey

DB sells beer and wine at the onboard service on ICE trains. Beer is typically €3.50–€4.50 per bottle/can. Wine is sold by the glass or small bottle.

The one exception: DB and transport authorities reserve the right to remove visibly intoxicated or disruptive passengers. This is standard across European rail systems and rarely applied unless behaviour is actually problematic.

Regional trains and alcohol: No prohibition either. Friday evening regional trains in particular often feature passengers with their own drinks — this is completely normal in German culture.

ICE Train Food: The Bordrestaurant and Bordbistro

ICE trains (and many IC trains) have two levels of onboard catering:

Bordrestaurant (Dining Car)

A sit-down restaurant car with table service, available on most ICE routes. The menu typically includes:

  • Hot main courses (pasta, meat dishes, seasonal specials)
  • Salads and cold starters
  • Desserts
  • Full drinks menu including alcohol

Prices are restaurant-level: main courses typically €12–€20, drinks €3–€6. The quality is decent but not exceptional — think reliable train food rather than fine dining. The Bordrestaurant is a good option for longer journeys (Frankfurt–Munich at 3h 15min, or Berlin–Hamburg at 1h 42min) where you want a proper meal without feeling rushed.

You can book a table in the Bordrestaurant in advance through DB Navigator or bahn.de — useful on busy routes.

Bordbistro (Snack Bar)

A counter-service snack bar, available on virtually all ICE trains. Offers:

  • Hot and cold sandwiches (Belegte Brötchen)
  • Soups and small hot dishes
  • Coffee, tea, espresso drinks
  • Soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits
  • Packaged snacks, chocolate, crisps

The Bordbistro is the most practical option for most journeys. Coffee is typically €2.50–€3.50 for a standard cup; a filled roll costs around €4–€6. Prices are higher than at the station but not unreasonable given the convenience.

Location: The Bordbistro is usually in wagon 11 on ICE 3 and ICE 4 trains. The DB Navigator app shows the train layout so you can book a seat near the bistro if you prefer easy access.

What to Expect on Regional Trains

Regional trains (RE, RB) have no onboard catering whatsoever. No bistro, no vending machines, nothing. If you are taking a regional service — including day trips on a Bayern-Ticket or Quer-Durchs-Land-Ticket — bring everything you need from the station or a supermarket before boarding.

Tips for regional train travel:

  • Buy food and drinks at the station Reisezentrum (travel centre) kiosks, or at any supermarket near the station
  • REWE, Edeka, Aldi, and Lidl are common near major stations
  • Many stations have a Backhaus or bakery — ideal for rolls, pretzels, and coffee
  • The Bahnhofsbäcker (station bakery) is typically cheaper than platform convenience stores

Bringing Your Own Food: What’s Allowed and What’s Socially Acceptable

Legally, you can bring any food. Socially, Germany has strong unwritten norms about train etiquette:

Completely Fine

  • Sandwiches, wraps, rolls
  • Fruit, vegetables, snacks
  • Coffee in a travel mug or paper cup
  • Packaged snacks (crisps, nuts, chocolate)
  • Water, soft drinks, beer, wine in reasonable quantities
  • Children’s snacks

Socially Frowned Upon

  • Strong-smelling hot food (kebab, fish, heavily spiced dishes)
  • Eating loudly or messily
  • Spreading food across shared surfaces
  • Bringing large amounts of alcohol and drinking heavily in a non-celebratory way

The general German train etiquette principle is: your food choices should not meaningfully affect the experience of those around you. A strong-smelling doner kebab in a packed ICE at 7am will get you disapproving looks. A sandwich and a beer at midday is entirely unremarkable.

1st Class vs 2nd Class: Food and Drink Differences

In 1st class on ICE trains, DB sometimes offers complimentary welcome drinks or snacks — this varies by route and service level. As of 2026, a basic non-alcoholic welcome drink (water, juice) is typically offered on some long-distance ICE routes for 1st class passengers, but this is not guaranteed on all services.

The Quiet Zone carriages in 1st class (marked with a headphone symbol) are areas where passengers are expected to minimise noise. Eating is permitted but heavy-smelling food or noisy eating is particularly discouraged here.

In 2nd class, there are no special food provisions — the same rules as anywhere else apply.

Practical Tips: Eating and Drinking on German Trains

  • Buy coffee before boarding — station coffee is better and cheaper than on the train. Bring a good travel mug.
  • Supermarket near the station — for long-distance journeys, a REWE or Edeka near the station offers far better value than onboard prices.
  • The Bordbistro accepts cards — you do not need cash on ICE trains. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at the Bordbistro and Bordrestaurant.
  • Book a Bordrestaurant table in advance — on popular Friday/Sunday services, the dining car fills up. Book via DB Navigator if you want a guaranteed table.
  • Keep rubbish tidy — there are waste bins in each carriage. Leaving rubbish on your seat is considered poor etiquette.
  • Spills: ask the conductor — if you spill something, the Zugbegleiter (train conductor) can provide towels or direct you to cleaning supplies.
  • Children: bring snacks — DB trains do not have microwaves or heating facilities for baby food. Bring what you need from home for children.

FAQ: Eating and Drinking on German Trains

Can you drink alcohol on German trains? Yes. There is no ban on alcohol consumption on Deutsche Bahn trains. You can bring your own or buy from the Bordbistro/Bordrestaurant on ICE trains. Disruptive or aggressive behaviour due to intoxication can result in removal from the train, but casual drinking is completely normal.

Do German trains have food? ICE trains have onboard catering — a Bordbistro (snack bar) on virtually all services, and a Bordrestaurant (dining car) on many routes. Regional trains (RE, RB) have no catering at all. Bring your own food for regional journeys.

Is it rude to eat on a train in Germany? Not inherently. Germans are generally tolerant of discreet eating. The key rules are: avoid strong-smelling food, eat quietly, and keep your area clean. In Quiet Zone carriages (marked with headphone icons), be more mindful of disruption to others.

How much does food cost on a German ICE train? Bordbistro prices: coffee €2.50–€3.50, filled rolls €4–€6, beer/wine €3.50–€5.50, packaged snacks €2–€4. Bordrestaurant main courses: €12–€20. Significantly cheaper to bring your own food from a station supermarket.

Can I bring hot food on a German train? Yes, legally. The practical question is whether it is strong-smelling. A warm Brezel from the station bakery is perfectly fine. A heavily-spiced takeaway with strong aromas will create a poor experience for fellow passengers.

Do German trains have water fountains or sinks? Most ICE trains have toilets with hand-washing facilities but not drinking water fountains in the carriages. The Bordbistro sells bottled water. Bring your own water bottle.

Can I eat at my seat in 1st class? Yes. Eating at your seat is permitted in both classes. In 1st class Quiet Zone carriages, be mindful of strong smells and noise. Some 1st class passengers use the fold-down table for laptop work — eating alongside working is common and unproblematic.

Are there vending machines on German trains? On some older IC trains, vending machines with drinks and snacks exist. On ICE trains, the Bordbistro is the primary option. Regional trains typically have nothing.

Summary

  • Eating and drinking (including alcohol) is permitted on all German trains
  • ICE trains have a Bordbistro (snack bar) and Bordrestaurant (dining car) on most services
  • Regional trains have no catering — bring everything from the station
  • You can bring your own food and drink including alcohol
  • Avoid strong-smelling food out of courtesy to fellow passengers
  • The Bordbistro accepts card payment; cash is not required
  • Buy coffee and food at a supermarket near the station for significantly lower prices