Ox & Klee is a creative modern fine-dining restaurant in Rheinauhafen, Cologne.
Ox and Klee in Cologne's Rheinauhafen Kranhaus holds two Michelin stars; Daniel Gottschlich's eight-course tasting menu is the city's most ambitious table.
Must order: The Ox nine-course tasting menu with the non-alcoholic Back to Zero drinks pairing
Tip: The vegetarian Klee menu is equally ambitious; request the Back to Zero drinks pairing for a non-alcoholic experience at €130.
Address: Im Zollhafen 18, 50678 Köln, Cologne
Pottkind in Cologne's Rheinauhafen is a Michelin-selected restaurant serving modern Rhenish cuisine with regional produce; one of the city's quietest gems.
Order: Counter seats at the open kitchen for the best view of the five-course carte blanche
Tip: No à la carte; the five-course menu changes several times a year. Tuesday to Saturday evenings only.
Maximilian Lorenz in Cologne's Altstadt-Nord holds one Michelin star for modern Rhineland cooking that references regional tradition with precision.
Order: Eight-course omnivore menu built around a whole animal or the six-course vegetable menu
Tip: Card payments only; the wine list features exclusively German bottles, arranged by producer region.
Sahila in Cologne's Altstadt-Süd holds one Michelin star for its pan-Asian tasting menu; intimate and one of Cologne's most personal fine dining rooms.
Order: The seven-course menu pairing tikka masala with cauliflower alongside dakos with feta and olive
Tip: A vegetarian version of the full menu is available on request when booking.
taku in Cologne's Excelsior Hotel Ernst near the Cathedral holds one Michelin star for contemporary Asian cuisine; established and consistent fine dining.
Order: The six-course menu with wine pairing; the 4-course option at €121 is the more affordable entry point
Tip: Located in the Excelsior Hotel Ernst, one of Cologne's grand hotels from 1863. Dinner only, Tuesday to Saturday.
La Société in Cologne's Kwartier Latäng holds one Michelin star, a refined French-influenced kitchen on Kyffhäuserstrasse in an elegant room.
Order: The seven-course menu at €190; a vegetarian version is available on request
Tip: Closed for annual summer break late July to early August. Wine by the glass from €15.
Pottkind in Cologne's Rheinauhafen is a Michelin-selected restaurant serving modern Rhenish cuisine with regional produce; one of the city's quietest gems.
Order: Counter seats at the open kitchen for the best view of the five-course carte blanche
Tip: No à la carte; the five-course menu changes several times a year. Tuesday to Saturday evenings only.
Zur Tant in Cologne-Porz holds one Michelin star for classic-French cooking on the Rhine's right bank; worth the 20-minute taxi ride from the centre.
Order: The five-course seasonal menu combining Rhine-valley produce with French-Mediterranean technique
Tip: Open Friday to Monday only. The riverside Piccolo bistro is a lower-cost alternative to the gourmet room upstairs.
