Cologne eats and drinks around its Brauhäuser. At Früh, Päffgen and the Malzmühle the Köbes, the Brauhaus waiter, brings a fresh 0.2-litre Kölsch without being asked until you cover the glass with a coaster. Kölsch is protected by the EU as a geographical indication, and the Brauhaus menus run from Halve Hahn (Gouda on a rye roll) and Himmel un Ääd (black pudding with mashed potato and apple) to Rhenish Sauerbraten and Reibekuchen. Away from the old town, the Belgian Quarter has one of the city's densest runs of cafes and restaurants, and Venloer Strasse in Ehrenfeld mixes vegan cafes, snack bars and Turkish restaurants. At the fine-dining end, Ox & Klee in the Kranhaus at the Rheinauhafen holds two Michelin stars, and Maximilian Lorenz cooks German dishes, among them a venison Sauerbraten, with one star. Mevlana on Keupstrasse in Mülheim serves Turkish food daily from 06:00 to 02:00.

Where to eat in Cologne

All 25 restaurants

  1. Mandalay

  2. Tanoshii

    Order King crab, listed among the high-quality specialities

  3. Nennillo

  4. C.C. Kowalski

  5. Tigermilch

    Order Pisco sours and other pisco cocktails

  6. Bali

Fine dining

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Signature dishes in Cologne

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Cologne Südstadt Culinary, The Food Tour

Food tour in Südstadt

Cologne Südstadt Culinary, The Food Tour

★ 4.5 (679)3 hoursfrom €500

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Map of Cologne

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When to come hungry in Cologne

Peak food season
Late April to 24 June for white asparagus, summer for beer gardens and the Rheinauhafen festivals, and mid November to 23 December for the Christmas markets, where stalls sell Reibekuchen with apple sauce.
Local dining hours
Brauhäuser open from late morning and serve food through the day (Brauhaus Sion daily from 12:00, Peters Brauhaus from 11:30). Fine-dining rooms are dinner-led, for example Maximilian Lorenz Tuesday to Saturday 18:00-22:00. A few late spots, such as Pommes Imperivm on Heumarkt, stay open to 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tipping
Tipping is voluntary. Rounding the bill up or adding about 5 to 10 per cent for good service is usual; tell the server the total you want to pay when handing over the money.

Cologne food, FAQ

What food is Cologne known for?

Cologne's signature dishes include Kölsch, Halve Hahn, Himmel un Ääd, Sauerbraten, Reibekuchen (Rievkooche). See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Cologne?

TableJourney editors map Cologne by district. Altstadt, Belgisches Viertel, Neustadt-Süd and Kwartier Latäng, Südstadt are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Cologne?

Editor picks in Cologne include Ox & Klee, Maximilian Lorenz, Sahila, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Cologne?

TableJourney covers 8 editor-picked food tours in Cologne, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Cologne have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Cologne dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free, halal, kosher venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.