Rhine mussels steamed in white wine with onion, celery, leek and parsley. Served in the deep pot, with crusty bread and cold Kölsch, from September through April.
Cologne's position on the Rhine made river and coastal seafood a historical part of the city's diet, and the Rhenish tradition of cooking mussels in Mosel or Rheingau Riesling persists in Brauhäusern. The mussel season runs September to April (months with an R in German), tied to North Sea and Belgian-Dutch coastal harvests delivered overnight by truck. Peters Brauhaus and Brauerei zur Malzmühle plate the canonical version with rye bread for soaking the broth.
3 editor picks for Muscheln in Weißwein in Cologne, ranked by editorial score. All Cologne signature dishes · Muscheln in Weißwein across every city.
Lommerzheim ★ 4.4
deutz · Siegesstr. 18, 50679 Koln
Lommerzheim in Cologne-Deutz has served Kölsch and the city's most argued-over pork chop since 1959 in a room unchanged since opening; cash only, no pretence.
Brauerei zur Malzmühle ★ 4.3
altstadt · Heumarkt 6, 50667 Köln
Brauerei zur Malzmühle on Cologne's Heumarkt has brewed Mühlen Kölsch since 1858 and once served Bill Clinton; consistently fresh pours in the Altstadt.
Peters Brauhaus ★ 4.0
altstadt · Mühlengasse 1, 50667 Köln
Peters Brauhaus in Cologne's Altstadt serves hearty Rhenish brewery food alongside Peters Kölsch 350 metres from the Cathedral in a wood-panelled room.