Cologne's Best Restaurants: A Foodie's Guide To The City

Cologne, Germany, is a city steeped in history and culture, with a dynamic food scene that offers a unique blend of traditional German fare, street food, and upscale dining options. The city boasts a surprising variety of eateries, from hidden gems to local favourites, that will satisfy even the most discerning foodie. Whether you're craving German specialties, international cuisine, or just a quick bite, Cologne has something for everyone.

For those seeking traditional German cuisine, Gilden im Zims, Früh am Dom, and Peters Brauhaus are popular choices. If you're in the mood for street food, Cologne offers an array of options, including Lord of the Grillz for steak, Krua Thai 2 for Asian cuisine, and Mashery - Hummus Kitchen for Mediterranean delights. The city also has a vibrant international food scene, with top-rated restaurants serving Italian, Middle Eastern, Asian, and French cuisine.

Cologne's Belgian Quarter and Südstadt neighbourhoods are known for their excellent restaurant options, but delicious food can be found all over the city. So, whether you're a local or a visitor, get ready to indulge in the culinary delights that Cologne has to offer!

Best Street Food in Cologne

• Meet & eat market: an intimate market on Rudolfplatz square in the heart of the city, where locals and tourists gather every Thursday between 4pm and 9pm to eat, drink and enjoy each other’s company.
• Dos Pedros: a food truck that brings the flavours of Mexico to Cologne’s Sudermannplatz square. On the menu are beef tacos, potato tacos, quesadillas and ceviche.
• Goodman’s Burger Truck: an honest fast food truck with a huge selection of succulent organic beef burgers, crunchy fries and hearty vegetarian burgers and vegan chicken nuggets.
• Rievkoochebud: a special type of potato fritter that enjoys culinary cult status in Cologne.
• Bambule’s Chili: chilli creations from around the world, including Anatolian beef chilli with sucuk and chick peas or Balinese satay chilli with soya mince and satay sauce.
• Bumann & SOHN: a bar and beer garden in Cologne’s Ehrenfeld neighbourhood, where a constant supply of new street food trucks park up.
• Cologne Street Food Festival: a feast full of food and foodies, held in the Ehrenfeld district and with a summer edition at Fühlinger See lake.
• Eat Play Love: a Cologne street food event with a festival flair, where street food culture plays a starring role.
• Market in the Stadtwald park: a food market on Kitschburger Straße, where people can sample as they amble every Saturday.

Best Pizza in Cologne

Cologne is a city with a lot of variety when it comes to food. Here are some of the best pizza places in the city:

• Pizzeria Caminettoour - This restaurant offers a wide selection of authentic Italian dishes and is known for its crispy pizzas.
• Pizzeria il Futuro - This traditional pizza restaurant has a warm and cosy atmosphere and bakes its pizzas in a wooden oven, making them super doughy and delicious.
• Pizza Hut Köln/Schildergasse - This well-known pizza restaurant serves crispy pizzas straight from the stone oven, accompanied by homemade pasta.

Best German Authentic Cuisine in Köln

• Restaurant Belgischer Hof - This restaurant offers a variety of artfully plated French dishes as well as a long wine list. The atmosphere is fun and the service is excellent.
• Pottkind - This fine dining restaurant offers a fixed menu with an open kitchen, vegetarian options, and wine pairings. It has gained recognition for its exceptional food presentation and flavors.
• Restaurant La Société Köln - This elegant and cozy restaurant offers a variety of artfully plated French dishes as well as a long wine list. The atmosphere is fun and the service is excellent.
• NENI Köln - This restaurant offers unique dishes and an extensive Michelin Star-winning menu. It has a sleek and modern space with Asian influences, which serves up inventive fusion cuisine.
• Le Moissonnier - This long-standing and acclaimed French restaurant has already earned two Michelin stars. The restaurant pays meticulous attention to classic French Cuisine, but also remains distinctly innovative.

Best Asian Food in Cologne

• Great Wall Restaurant
• Drachen City
• Yummy town
• China Restaurant Peking
• Great Wall Restaurant
• Hoeninger Weg
• Perlenpfuhl
• Komödienstraße
• Thai Imbiss Eigelstein - Koln
• Zen Japanese Restaurant - Lindenthal
• Bangkok Thai Restaurant
• Bun Pho Vietnamesische Kuche
• Japans Ramen Restaurant Takumi Cologne
• Ginger Restaurant
• 1980 Cafe & Banh Mi
• Grand The Sushi Circle
• Mongo's Restaurant Koeln

Best Tapas in Cologne

• Tapas Bar La barra -cava y mas- This restaurant is located in the heart of the city and is known for its excellent tapas and wine selection.
• Casita Mexicana Koln- This Mexican restaurant offers a variety of tapas and street food options, and is a great choice for those seeking a more casual dining experience.
• Meson El Cordobes- This restaurant serves up delicious Spanish and Mediterranean dishes, and is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike.
• La Bodega Tapas Bar- This tapas bar offers a range of Mediterranean and European dishes, and is known for its great tapas and friendly service.
• Cologne Sportspark- This restaurant offers a unique blend of Mexican and barbecue cuisine, and is a great choice for those seeking a casual dining experience.
• Quer durch's beet- This restaurant offers a variety of Italian and German dishes, and is known for its tapas and friendly service.

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