City-Guide
Oberhausen sights are waiting for you!
In recent years, Oberhausen has successfully transformed itself from a 20th-century industrial powerhouse to a tourist destination. Shopping, the Legoland Discovery Centre, the Oberhausen Gasometer and a choice of city tours based around different themes. There is never a dull moment here. We have put together a ‘Best of’ compilation of Oberhausen sights… and for the ‘real’ insider tips, ask us when you get here.
Ruby’s Café Bar: snug feel inside, boho vibes outside
You’ve come to the right place at Ruby’s Cafe Bar if you want to enjoy a cosy evening – alone or in company. Comfy armchairs, large couches for chilling in, dimmed lighting, a couple of neon signs here and there, chandeliers and a floral wall spread hip living-room vibes.
And good music is included. The drinks selection ranges from coffee specialities to cocktail creations. And you can pair them with fresh cakes or little snacks. If you’d like to indulge in a hookah to really relax, you’ll love Ruby’s. On summer’s days, you can choose whether to enjoy the cosy bar ambiance or that summer feeling. The boho style of the covered terrace invites you to lose track of time with a cool drink.
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Desna Hookah’s: shisha round the corner
Have you had a tough day at work? Worn out by your many discoveries during your holiday in Oberhausen? Then the time has come to sit back and relax.
Ideally, with a drink, some soul food and … shisha. You get all this at Desna Bar, an owner-run lounge just a stone’s throw from the elaya hotel oberhausen. The armchairs, sofas and dimmed lighting invite you to lose track of time and get comfy over a bite to eat, just like at home. With pizza, snacks, finger food and burgers. You can then relax at Desna with a cocktail creation or hookah. The tobacco menu features plenty of different types, including grape and mint, double apple, mango tango or cold peach.
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Tijuana Café | Bar | Restaurant: Viva la México!
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The Mexican name says it all. Tijuana Café is located at Westfield CentrO (number 61 Promenade to be precise) with indoor and outdoor seating plus sea views.
If you’re a cocktail fan, set the alarm function on your watch for Happy Hour at the Tijuana. Every day until 10pm you get 50% off all cocktails, with and without alcohol. From 10pm onwards, the jumbo sizes are reduced by half. You can, of course, also order beer, wine or soft drinks. A big appetite and the company of several others are recommended if you order the Tijuana Combo Tower with spare ribs, buffalo wings, tortilla chips and fries for four people or the Big Starter Platter with chips and dips and chicken nuggets for two. And as you would expect, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas and fajitas are also prominent on the menu.
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Marina Oberhausen: Good neighbours
The Heinz Schleusser Marina was officially opened in 2014. It is named after local politician Heinz Schleusser, who played a major role in Oberhausen’s structural transformation.
Exemplifying this change in the cityscape is the 10,000m2 marina, which is located on the Rhine-Herne Canal and has moorings for around 60 pleasure craft. The ambitious project has been conceived not only with boat owners in mind, but also to have a wider appeal to the general public. For example, it is home to Sealife Oberhausen, Germany’s largest freshwater and saltwater aquarium, and AQUAPark Oberhausen, the world’s first aquatic amusement park with a coal-mining theme. The Westfield CentrO and a bistro are also nearby.
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Topgolf: For love of the beautiful game
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The Topgolf course in Oberhausen is the ideal leisure facility for people who like to give their arm and leg muscles a work out and swing a golf club for the sheer fun of it – no previous experience required.
Conveniently, there is no dress code, there are no expensive fees, and play goes ahead regardless of the weather. After you and your group have been registered and equipped with a set of clubs, you then choose from more than 12 games, ranging in level from beginner to professional. Topgolf is equipped with 102 heated and weather-protected golf bays and is open 365 days a year. There are also theme days, such as Topgolf in Love, Monday Night League or 80s Tuesday. Topgolf offers choice of burgers or other refreshments that you can order for delivery to your bay; alternatively, tuck in on one of the terraces, at one the bars or seated in front of the mega screen.
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Kaisergarten: one destination, lots of attractions
The Kaisergarten can be found at the heart of Oberhausen and is one of the most beautiful and popular green spaces in the city. At around 28 hectares, the recreational area includes countless attractions, such as Schloss Oberhausen, a trendy sports complex, the spectacular footbridges by artist and architect Tobias Rehberger, and extensive green spaces for strolling.
The Kaisergarten’s main attraction, framed by two picturesque ponds and the last preserved old course of the Emscher, is the animal enclosure. A species-appropriate habitat for indigenous animals has been created here. Visitors receive insider information, including at the NaturErlebnisSchule (nature exploration school). The focus of the zoological facility is the care, breeding and presentation of mice, raccoons, etc.
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Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen: Connecting all cultures
If you are a lover of fine art and culture in general, then you’ll definitely be drawn to the Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen. The gallery, which is housed in the neo-classical palace complex, contains loan items from all over the world.
These are grouped according to four main categories: the Ludwig Collection, which displays items and works of art from antiquity to the present; the Popular Gallery, which focuses on comics and cartoons; the Lichtbild Gallery, which is dedicated to photography, featuring images from Germany and abroad; and fourthly, the Landmark Gallery which has as its theme the structural changes that have taken place within the region viewed from an international perspective. The Ludwigsgalerie not only connects people and art, but also bridges the gap between nature and architecture, as it is set within the romantic Kaisergarten.
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Xiao: a real gastro experience
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At Xiao, they don’t just serve Asian specialities – you also get a complete gastro experience. As soon as you see the restaurant’s cubic architecture, you know you’re in for something amazing.
From outside, the enormous floor-level windows offer a view of the interior – in the evening in particular, the establishment is really shown to advantage. Plenty of wood elements, warm colours, pleasant materials and an unusual lighting concept provide a friendly atmosphere inside despite the high ceilings. The wow effect continues with the food – a sensational buffet experience. You can take a culinary voyage right through the cities and cuisine of Asia – from sushi and wok dishes to more than 35 different vegetable, meat and fish varieties.
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Hackbarth’s Restaurant: Creative cuisine in a modern setting
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Hackbarth’s Restaurant has been a fixture in the Oberhausen gastronomy scene for more than twenty years.
In the 2023 edition of Falstaff Restaurant Guide Deutschland, the establishment scored 86 out of 100 points and was awarded two out of four forks. In addition to the selection of crossover tapas, the menu mainly consists of meat and fish dishes, tantalising the palate without being restricted to a single culinary category. The chic ambience is another factor contributing to the 2023 Varta Guide’s recommendation. It’s also worth regularly checking out the 36-euro menu card at Hackbarth’s: sometimes a particular national cuisine is chosen to feature on the menu, sometimes the (ex-)trainees are given free rein in the kitchen, and occasionally it’s a surprise menu. Hackbarth’s also offers cookery courses.
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Tijuana Café | Bar | Restaurant: Viva la México!
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The Mexican name says it all. Tijuana Café is located at Westfield CentrO (number 61 Promenade to be precise) with indoor and outdoor seating plus sea views.
If you’re a cocktail fan, set the alarm function on your watch for Happy Hour at the Tijuana. Every day until 10pm you get 50% off all cocktails, with and without alcohol. From 10pm onwards, the jumbo sizes are reduced by half. You can, of course, also order beer, wine or soft drinks. A big appetite and the company of several others are recommended if you order the Tijuana Combo Tower with spare ribs, buffalo wings, tortilla chips and fries for four people or the Big Starter Platter with chips and dips and chicken nuggets for two. And as you would expect, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas and fajitas are also prominent on the menu.
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Westfield Centro: Everything under one roof
Are you impressed by superlatives? We have one for you here – the Westfield Centro, one of Oberhausen’s most famous attractions.
The shopping and leisure centre is the largest of its kind in Europe. 125,000 square metres of gross sales area on two levels, more than 250 shops, the nine-screen CineStar with seating for more than 2,500 movie fans and approximately 50 eateries. Quite impressive, isn’t it? Whether you want to start your retail therapy tour with coffee and a donut, snack on a burger or a BBQ, or finish off with a full Italian or Japanese meal, the cuisine on offer is every bit as varied as the shopping opportunities. We think you will find the jewellery, décor, sports and fashion outlets particularly inspiring. The Westfield Centro also perfectly caters for your everyday shopping needs.
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Bunkermuseum: aerial warfare then and now
The museum is located in a former civil defence bunker from the Second World War.
Across 300 square metres in the basement, the city of Oberhausen, in partnership with the Schloss Oberhausen commemorative hall, displays historical exhibitions and art installations – with a particular focus on the history of aerial warfare and bunker construction. The site has been left exactly as it was found. The permanent exhibition ‘Heimat Front – from the Blitzkrieg in Europe to aerial combat along the Ruhr’ focuses on the history of aerial warfare in the Ruhr area and in Europe during the Second World War. This is illustrated with historical examples from the region and England. Attention is also given to current conflicts and their impact on people.
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Burg Vondern: two-island complex in Oberhausen
Burg Vondern can be found in the district of Oberhausen-Osterfeld and was first documented in the thirteenth century. After countless previous owners, the castle became the property of the city of Oberhausen in 1947. The two-part complex has been listed since 1987.
The manor house and double-winged outer bailey with castle courtyard in the south-west were once a fief of the counts and dukes of Cleves. In fact, the name derives from the Middle High German word ‘vonder’ or ‘funder’, meaning something like ‘small bridge over a watercourse’. The outer bailey with its distinctive towers forms the centrepiece of this striking complex. The manor house served as the focal point of community life. To this day, numerous events take place at the castle, including the Ritterfest and concerts like Sunday matinees.
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Lichtburg Filmpalast: a great cinematic experience
Saal Star, Saal Sunset, Saal Gloria, Saal Studio – the names of the rooms at Lichtburg Filmpalast hint at the fact that this is a fantastic cinematic experience. Since 1931, the art-house and festival cinema has been operating with state-of-the-art technology.
Alongside current blockbusters, there are also sneak previews, film classics, children’s cinema, original versions, queer specials and special showings – for the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, for example. If you would like to know what goes on behind the scenes at the Filmpalast, you can even book a cinema tour. On every first Thursday of the month as part of the WAZ-Café, special films are presented along with coffee and baked treats. There are numerous catering outlets in the immediate vicinity of the cinema, from espresso bars to wine bars.
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