Cologne’s epicurean delights date back to the Roman period, which saw all kinds of new influences reach the region that never made it much further north. Add to that the centuries of German cooking with its own regional traditions and today’s interest in world cuisine and healthier eating and you’ve got a lot of choice when hunger sets in. Here are six top options.
Don’t let the stark, almost industrial interior fool you: the service is warm and welcoming and the food at this Michelin-starred establishment is bursting with familiar traditional ingredients. Only they’ve probably never tasted this good before.
Experience the best of Kölsch hospitality and traditional dishes at this landmark brewery and restaurant. Needless to say their own beer goes very well with many of the dishes such as sausages, pork knuckle or the Rhenish Sauerbraten.
Smart yet relaxed, the delicious freshly cooked dishes based on regional cuisine and using the best quality sustainable ingredients make this family-run restaurant a great success with the locals. Dine here and you’ll know why.
Don’t eat meat? Don’t eat food with additives? Don’t want to miss out on a good meal? Then head for this vegan Vietnamese eatery. Their vegan versions of popular Asian dishes as well as the occasional Western dish keep customers coming back for more.
Putting the street style into street food—or should that be "phood"?—even their name is a little cheeky. With its cool, clean design and hip-hop attitude, this is the place to come in Cologne when only the world's favourite fast food can satisfy. Hamburger heaven.
Whether they actually invented Cologne's "slow food" movement is less important than how seriously they take it: they literally bought the farm to ensure local, organic produce. There are delicious meat dishes on the menu, but they love their vegetables so much, veggies and vegans dine like royalty here.