Modern German brasserie€€altstadt
Wartesaal am Dom inside Cologne's main station serves Rhineland brasserie cooking and Sunday brunch in the grandly proportioned 1914 station waiting room.
Order: Rhine-sourced fish of the day and a glass of Rheingau Riesling in the restored vaulted space
Tip: The architectural setting is as much the draw as the food; worth visiting for the room alone at lunch.
Vegan buffet€belgisches-viertelMon-Sat 12:00-22:00
Sattgrün on Friesenwall in Cologne is the city's leading fully vegan restaurant, serving a daily-changing organic menu for lunch and dinner from regional.
Order: Build a plate from the hot buffet: grain bowls, roasted vegetables and daily soup
Tip: Lunch crowds peak at 12:30. Arrive before noon for the fullest buffet selection. Pay by weight at the counter.
Cafe bar€belgisches-viertel
Hallmackenreuther on Brüsseler Platz in Cologne is the iconic Belgian Quarter terrace cafe, open from breakfast to midnight daily; the neighbourhood.
Order: Bagel or club sandwich at lunch, transitioning to cocktails and snacks as the evening starts
Tip: The square is busiest on warm evenings; arrive by 19:00 for a terrace seat in summer.
Vegan cafe€altstadt
Little Green Kitchen on Unter Kahlenhausen in Cologne's Altstadt serves contemporary vegetarian and vegan food in a small, relaxed room; popular lunch spot.
Order: Seasonal soup with house bread and a slice of the daily vegan cake
Tip: Limited seating; takeaway is also available. Good for a light vegan lunch close to the Altstadt.
Turkish 24-hour€ehrenfeldOpen 24 hours, 7 days
Tadim Damak on Venloer Strasse in Cologne's Ehrenfeld is a 24-hour Turkish cafe serving lahmacun, pide and chicken shish at very low prices around the clock.
Order: Lahmacun, the thin Turkish flatbread with minced meat and herb topping, with ayran on the side
Tip: Open 24/7 every day. The freshly baked flatbreads are best straight from the oven, around midnight to 02:00 on weekends.
Currywurst and fries€altstadt
Pommes Imperivm at Heumarkt 59 in Cologne's Altstadt serves Currywurst mit Pommes from a compact counter; open until 03:00 on Friday and Saturday nights.
Order: Currywurst scharf with the house-made curry ketchup and a cone of fried potatoes
Tip: Open until 22:00 most nights, until 03:00 Friday and Saturday. Close to Malzmühle and Heumarkt tram stop.