A former industrial harbour transformed into a showcase district of glass architecture. Ox & Klee's two Michelin stars sit in the middle Kranhaus tower above the Rhine.
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.
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.
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.
Gaffel Haus Rheinufer at Am Leystapel 7 in Cologne's Altstadt is a riverside Brauhaus pouring Gaffel Kölsch with Rhine views and traditional Brauhaus food.
Weinfest am Rhein at Rheinauhafen in Cologne is an annual August riverside wine festival bringing German wine regions to the waterfront for outdoor tastings.