The First

The First is a Michelin-recognised, Italian-influenced restaurant in Blankenhain whose philosophy emphasises Mediterranean flavour profiles married with regional ingredients to create surprising taste experiences; it frames dinners as special events, aiming to make each tasting menu an occasion through precise cooking, seasonal sourcing and thoughtful wine accompaniment. Service is completed by sommelier Thomas Stobbe, who curates pairings that span Italy from South Tyrol to Sicily and include fresh whites, matured reds, elegant sweet wines and sparkling selections. The restaurant received a star the year after Marcello Fabbri joined as head chef in 2023. The dining room opens onto a light-filled winter garden within a modern, refined interior; seating is limited and the atmosphere is designed for intimate, elegant tasting experiences. Marcello Fabbri is head chef, bringing a long personal history of excellence after previously earning a Michelin star in 2003 as head chef at Anna Amalia in Weimar. Contemporary Italian cooking is presented as changing five-course tasting menus that combine seasonal, regional ingredients, including vegetables from the restaurant's on-site vegetable garden. Specialties include signature fish preparations and creative desserts and sorbets.