As soon as the sun starts coming out towards the end of Winter, Frankfurt goes through a stark transformation. It goes from gloomy and cold to cheery and charming in the blink of an eye and the riverfront – and the way city dwellers use it – plays a significant role in this shift.

To me, better weather means being able to go to Meral as often as I can, as it embodies memories of past travels and the arrival of the longer days of Spring and Summer.

So what is Meral? Meral is a kebab shop – but there are so many already, how does this one stand out? Meral is a kebab shop on a boat moored at the quay on the south side of the river that not only serves the most common delicacies but also sells Fish Döner. Yes, just as you would in Istanbul, here you can have a fish sandwich along with your walk by the river, and you can even pair it with an Efes beer. There are four different fish-based sandwiches to choose from, all of them delicious,  but my go-to is the one with baby calamari (doused in lemon juice, please!)

Meral is the perfect companion to an after-work beer at Maincafe, a riverfront Sunday bike ride or a Museum tour. You can have it on the go, or you can bring your blanket and have a picnic on the lawn in front of it. Enjoy!