White asparagus, Germany's most anticipated seasonal vegetable. Cologne Brauhäuser and brasseries build full Spargel menus around it from late April to St John's Day on 24 June.
White asparagus is grown under mounded earth to prevent sunlight reaching the spears, keeping them pale and tender. The German season runs from late April to 24 June (St John's Day) when growers traditionally stop cutting to let the plants recover. Cologne's Brauhäuser and Brasserien run full Spargel menus during the window, often pairing the asparagus with butter sauce, new potatoes, and either smoked ham (Schinken) or Wiener schnitzel.
3 editor picks for Weißer Spargel in Cologne, ranked by editorial score. All Cologne signature dishes · Weißer Spargel across every city.
Nippesser Wochenmarkt ★ 4.8
nippes · Wilhelmplatz, 50737 Koln
Nippesser Wochenmarkt at Wilhelmplatz in Cologne's Nippes runs Mon-Fri 07:00-13:00 and Saturday to 14:30; one of the most authentic neighbourhood markets.
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.
maiBeck ★ 4.3
altstadt · Am Frankenturm 5, 50667 Köln
maiBeck in Cologne's Altstadt near the Frankenturm is a Michelin-selected room for creative German-European cooking; the terrace lunch is excellent in summer.