Cooking together, serving plant-based meals at low cost or for free, and bringing the neighbourhood together – that’s what neighbourhood canteens are all about.
Neighbourhood canteens for everyone!
Such initiatives already exist in many places, with a variety of concepts and names such as ‘Kitchen for All’, ‘Neighbourhood Kitchen’ or ‘Solidarity Canteen’.
Through our project ‘Neighbourhood Canteens for Climate Protection and Social Cohesion’, we have continued to support the establishment of such canteens across Germany in close collaboration with the Kantine für Alle (Canteen for All) run by Ernährungsrat Kassel und Region e. V. (Kassel and Region Food Policy Council).
Are you part of a solidarity-based cooking project, or would you like to start one? If so, you’re warmly invited to join the Neighbourhood Canteens network. We keep in touch through network meetings, a mailing list and a nationwide map.
Please do get in touch if you’d like to join us.
What we’re currently doing:
The project funded by the Postcode Lotterie has come to an end, but the idea lives on. Whilst we await decisions on new funding, we’re continuing to carry out key aspects of our work as far as we’re able.
Consulting: If you’d like to set up a neighbourhood canteen or are facing a challenge with an existing one, we’re happy to help with advice, our experience or relevant contacts.
Public relations: We raise awareness of the neighbourhood canteen concept. In doing so, we aim to highlight the potential that neighbourhood canteens hold for a socio-ecological transformation of the food system, for strengthening neighbourhood structures, and for ensuring a fairer food supply.
Skill-sharing and networking: Our toolkit for neighbourhood canteens brings together the experiences and insights of various canteens and makes them accessible to everyone. Furthermore, we aim to create spaces for exchange. Further ideas and formats are already being planned for 2026.
What our project has already achieved:
We have developped various building blocks to strengthen neighbourhood canteens, raise their profile and facilitate dialogue between initiatives.
Networking: Through talks, workshops, direct contacts and our newsletter, we have created spaces for dialogue, mutual support and networking.
Skill-sharing: With our toolkit for neighbourhood canteens, we have developed a concept that offers guidance and practical support to both new and established initiatives. The toolkit is based on the experiences and insights of various canteens and will continue to be refined through practical application in the future.
Consulting: We have supported initiatives with tips, practical knowledge and contacts when they have faced questions or challenges relating to canteen projects.
Public relations: Another key focus was public relations. Through social media, traditional media and political communication, we have highlighted the potential of neighbourhood canteens and campaigned for political support.
A toolkit for setting up and operating neighbourhood canteens (in German)
Neighbourhood canteens have the potential to make climate-friendly, nutritious food affordable and thus accessible to as many people as possible. In this way, they also promote social cohesion by establishing the act of cooking and eating together as opportunities for social interaction. However, setting up and operating such canteens can be challenging due to various obstacles, and so far there has been little support available at a national level.
Together with Kantine für Alle Kassel, we have created an online toolkit that brings together the experiences of existing canteens and other relevant information on on both the set-up process and long-term operation. It covers topics relating to group organisation, legal structure, premises and hygiene regulations, as well as tips on funding, public relations and networking.
Online-toolkit for neighbourhood canteens (in German)
Betrieb einer Quartierskantine
Past events
related to neighbourhood canteens
2. Neighbourhood canteens network conference
22 August 2026 | Karlsruhe at System Change Camp
More information coming soon.
Neighbourhood canteens network conference
13-15 March 2026 | Kassel
From 13 to 15 March 2026, more than 30 dedicated individuals from various initiatives gathered in Kassel for a weekend of workshops and discussions centred on the theme of ‘cooking in solidarity’.
From cooking spoon to funding pot
Financing and funding opportunities for your own neighbourhood canteen | Online event on 4 December 2025
On 4 December 2025, we met again to discuss a chapter currently being written on the financing of neighbourhood canteens. The numerous registrations, queries and contributions made it clear how much interest there is in this topic. After a brief overview of our experiences to date in determining financial requirements and various fundraising options, your comments added important aspects to the discussion that we had not yet considered.
We thank you for your suggestions and your commitment, which are helping our toolbox to grow and become more diverse!
Visit to the System Change Camp
Joint workshop with Kantine für Alle and ada_Kantine | Frankfurt am Main from 18 to 23 August 2025
From 18 to 23 August 2025, we joined forces with Kantine für Alle from Kassel and ada_Kantine from Frankfurt am Main at System Change Camp, which took place in Frankfurt am Main this year. After a brief round of introductions with other initiatives and interested parties, a lively discussion developed in small groups on the following questions: What can we learn from existing projects? What obstacles are we currently facing? How can we make food production more socially responsible and climate-friendly?
Networking meeting
Kantine für Alle and ada_Kantine introduce themselves | Online event on 30 July 2025
On 30 July 2025, we hosted an online networking event. Our close cooperation partners, Kantine für Alle from Kassel, part of the Ernährungsrat Kassel und Region e. V. (Region Food Council) and ada_Kantine from Frankfurt am Main, introduced themselves and provided exciting insights into their work.
Workshop at the 2025 Annual Congress of Food Councils
In collaboration with Kantine für Alle | Hannover on 15 March 2025
Right at the start of the project, we were able to present our project at the annual congress of the Food Councils Network and exchange ideas with activists from various cities and regions. The annual congress is a platform for bringing together Germany’s food councils and offering them the opportunity to discuss various topics related to the food transition.
Would you like to subscribe to our neighbourhood canteen newsletter? You can do so here. The newsletter is currently only available in German.
The project was funded by Postcode Lotterie.