Little Link ★ 4.8
Little Link on Maastrichter Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel is an award-winning cocktail bar; named Germany's most innovative bar for seasonal drinks.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Cologne for grown-ups.
Where to drink
ONA MOR ★ 4.7
ONA MOR on Roonstrasse in Cologne's Kwartier Latäng is listed on Cologne Tourism for craft cocktails and DJ nights in a lively neighbourhood bar room.
Toddy Tapper ★ 4.7
Toddy Tapper on Schillingstrasse in Cologne's Agnesviertel is a South Asian-inspired cocktail bar mixing drinks with coconut toddy and tamarind infusions.
Seiberts Classic Bar ★ 4.6
Seiberts Classic Bar on Friesenwall in Cologne is one of the city's classic hotel bars, featured in the 150 Bars book with an elegant cocktail list.
Rosebud Bar ★ 4.6
Rosebud Bar on Heinsbergstrasse in Cologne's Kwartier Latäng has operated since 1991; a neighbourhood bar with a curated cocktail list and reliable crowd.
Monkey Bar Cologne ★ 4.5
Monkey Bar in Cologne's Friesenviertel at Im Klapperhof mixes cocktails and hosts DJ nights; a reliable Belgian Quarter evening starting point.
Brauerei Paeffgen ★ 4.5
Brauerei Paeffgen bar on Friesenstrasse is the city's oldest independent Brauhaus; hand-brewed Kölsch served by kobes from the historic chestnut garden.
Gaffel am Dom ★ 4.4
Gaffel am Dom at Cologne's main station forecourt pours Gaffel Kölsch from 10-litre table taps facing the Cathedral; Friday sing-alongs from 22:30.
Brauhaus Sion ★ 4.3
Brauhaus Sion bar at Unter Taschenmacher in Cologne's Altstadt has poured Kölsch since 1318 in a lovingly renovated room; quieter than Früh am Dom.
Spirits Bar ★ 4.3
Spirits Bar on Maastrichter Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel specialises in spirits by the glass with over 200 whiskies, gins and rums on the shelf.
Stadtgarten Open-Air Bar ★ 4.2
Stadtgarten Open-Air Bar on Venloer Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel is the cultural venue's outdoor beer garden; live music nights and summer Kölsch.
Hellers Brauhaus ★ 4.2
Hellers Brauhaus on Roonstrasse in Cologne's Kwartier Latäng is an organic Kölsch brewery and bar; Heller Kölsch from the tank in a lively student.
Fruh am Dom ★ 4.1
Früh am Dom bar at Am Hof near Cologne's Cathedral pours Früh Kölsch from 08:00; the city's second-largest brewery pub with a terrace facing.
Brauerei Malzmuhle Bar ★ 4.1
Brauerei Malzmühle bar at Heumarkt in Cologne's Altstadt pours Mühlen Kölsch in a traditional setting; less touristy than the Dom-adjacent Brauhäuser.
Braustelle Tap Room ★ 4.0
Braustelle Tap Room on Christianstrasse in Cologne's Ehrenfeld is the craft brewery's tap room, pouring Helios Kölsch and seasonal specials from 18:00.