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German Phrase

Gibt's hier ein Restaurant?

/ɡɪpt͡s hiːɐ̯ aɪn ʁɛstoˈʁaːnt/
Meaning"Is there a restaurant here?"
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Meaning

You are asking whether a restaurant is located nearby. The question is neutral and can be used in any setting where you need a place to eat, from a train station to a tourist spot.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you arrive in a new town, are walking around a city centre, or simply can’t find a place to have a meal. It works equally well in casual conversation with locals or when speaking to staff in a hotel lobby.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Gibt'shiereinRestaurant?

1

Impersonal verb geben

‘geben’ is used impersonally with ‘es’ (es gibt) to indicate existence. The ‘es’ can be dropped in spoken German, forming the contraction ‘Gibt’s’.

2

Contraction ‘Gibt’s’

‘Gibt’s’ = ‘Gibt es’. It’s common in informal speech and writing, but avoid it in very formal contexts.

3

Word order

In a yes‑no question the verb comes first, followed by the subject (here the omitted ‘es’) and then the adverbial ‘hier’.

4

Indefinite article

‘ein Restaurant’ uses the indefinite article because you’re asking about any restaurant, not a specific one.

🗨In Conversation

A

Gibt's hier ein Restaurant?

Is there a restaurant here?

Ja, gleich um die Ecke, neben dem Bahnhof.

Yes, just around the corner, next to the train station.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Gibt hier ein Restaurant?

    The impersonal ‘es’ is required; without it the sentence sounds ungrammatical.

  • Gibt's hier ein Restaurant

    Don’t forget the question mark; it signals the interrogative intonation.

  • Gibt's hier ein Restaurant, ja?

    Adding ‘ja?’ turns the sentence into a tag question, which is uncommon in German. Use a simple yes‑no question instead.

↔Alternatives

  • Gibt es hier ein Restaurant?

    Is there a restaurant here?

  • Ist hier ein Restaurant?

    Is there a restaurant here?

  • Können Sie mir ein Restaurant in der Nähe empfehlen?

    Can you recommend a restaurant nearby?

  • Wo finde ich ein Restaurant?

    Where can I find a restaurant?

de

Cultural Tip

In German‑speaking countries it’s polite to start with ‘Entschuldigung’ or ‘Entschuldigen Sie bitte’ before the question, especially when speaking to strangers. The contracted form ‘Gibt’s’ is perfectly natural in everyday conversation, but in formal settings (e.g., a business email) use the full ‘Gibt es…’. Also, Germans often appreciate a brief ‘Danke’ after receiving directions.