The Palm House, built in 1901, is home to the Cafe at Orangerie Aukamm and provides guests a light, open-air feel with its tall timber framing and large windows. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
With three kids under 5, my wife and I rarely escape the trenches of toddler warfare. But Wiesbaden’s Bierstadt district has a few family-friendly cafes that provide a bit of respite.
One of our favorite spots is the Aukamm Orangerie about a 15-minute walk from the military housing area of the same name. The path to the Orangerie is easy to miss because the sign is tucked away on the right side of Emil-Pfeiffer-Weg. We happened upon it by chance last year when walking downtown to visit a festival. The complex is also easily accessible by car and has plenty of parking.
The cafe and nursery sit on a historic site dating back to the early 1900s. The grounds once served as the municipal spa gardens of the city of Wiesbaden.
The Palm House, built in 1901, is the focal point of the six-acre facility and houses the cafe and event center.
The English country house-styled building with its tall timber framing and expansive windows, provides a light, open-air feel inside, although there’s also plenty of shaded outdoor seating.
We felt at ease in the relaxed environment, despite being the only guests with a toddler and infant.
Plum cake is among the varied offerings from regional bakeries available at the Cafe at Orangerie Aukamm in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The Palm House is the focal point of Orangerie Aukamm in Wiesbaden, Germany. Inspired by an English country house, it dates to 1901. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
A cappuccino and Amazonas cocktail served at the Cafe at Orangerie Aukamm on Aug. 18, 2025. The Amazonas is a fruity and slightly herbal blend of pineapple, orange and passionfruit juices with a splash of Blue Curacao syrup. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The cafe has a standard menu offering a rotating variety of cakes delivered daily from regional bakeries and an assortment of fair-trade, organic coffee and espresso drinks.
My wife ordered a cappuccino and a slice of plum cake. She said her drink was a typical cappuccino, but well-made and pleasant nonetheless, while her cake was moist and fruity without being overly sweet — a traditional, well-executed “Kaffee und Kuchen” staple.
I opted for a waffle with mango sauce and the Amazonas cocktail from the alcohol-free menu.
The drink was sweet with a slight herbal twist and gave me a tropical vibe with its blend of pineapple, orange and passionfruit juices, and the greenery bordering our table.
A splash of rum or tequila would’ve set it off nicely, but I kept it spirit-free considering it was early afternoon on a Monday.
Waffles with mango sauce are one of a few treats made in house at the Cafe at Orangerie Aukamm in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The Cafe at Orangerie Aukamm's vegan apple streusel cake, shown here with added whipped cream, rivals its traditional butter-laden counterpart in both taste and texture. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Workers staff the bar at the Cafe at Orangerie Aukamm in Wiesbaden, Germany, Aug. 18, 2025. Operating under the regional nonprofit association for disabled assistance, the cafe is primarily staffed by employees with disabilities. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The Orangerie Aukamm in Wiesbaden, Germany, sells a variety of organic, sustainably grown produce and plants. Many of the offerings are grown on site in a greenhouse complex. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
My treat took a bit longer to reach the table, but the warm, buttery scent of a freshly prepared waffle filled the air as I waited a bit impatiently.
The presentation wasn’t remarkable, but the taste and pillowy texture more than made up for it.
Our first round left my wife and me wanting more, so we indulged with two slices of the vegan apple streusel cake.
While streusel is usually prepared with a heap of butter, neither of us would’ve guessed the cake was vegan by taste alone.
It didn’t stay vegan, though. We added a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
The ice cream selection is modest with about six different flavors, but the classic scoops of vanilla and mango sorbet hit the mark for my 2-year-old and his ever-discerning palate.
Tomatoes grow alongside a variety of peppers in one of the many greenhouses at Orangerie Aukamm in Wiesbaden, Germany. The roughly 6-acre site used to be the municipal spa gardens. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Orangerie Aukamm visitors can wander the wildflower field and pick an arrangement to take home for a small fee. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Workers tend the grounds of the roughly 6-acre Orangerie Aukamm complex Aug. 18, 2025. A subsidiary of the nonprofit association for disabled assistance took ownership of the facility in 2003 and staffs it mostly with employees who have disabilities. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Operating as a subsidiary of the nonprofit association for disabled assistance in Wiesbaden and the Rheingau-Taunus district, the cafe and greenhouses are primarily staffed by workers with disabilities.
The only thing nicer than the staff and environment was the price. Two drinks, a couple scoops of ice cream, and four sweet treats came in at just over 30 euros.
The Orangerie also sells a variety of organic produce and plants, many of which are grown in the greenhouse complex.
On our way out, I took a stroll through the flower field where patrons can pick their own flowers for a small fee deposited in a cash box at the entrance.
The tranquil complex provides a nice afternoon getaway in Aukamm’s backyard that will remain a regular go-to for my family.
Cafe at Orangerie Aukamm
Address: Weinreb 23, 65191 Wiesbaden
Hours: Monday-Friday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. from April to October
Prices: baked goods 3-5 euros; coffee 3-4 euros; drinks 3-7 euros.
Information: Phone: +49 (0)611 23874968; Online: orangerie-aukamm.de
