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Introduction
Many visitors are content to while away most of the evening drinking kölsch (the famous local beer) in one or more of Cologne's many brewhouses (singular, brauhaus), which resemble something between a bierkeller (beer cellar) and a traditional British pub. Nightclubs and style bars are dispersed around the town. Look in the Altstadt around Buttermarkt and Salzgasse, or go a little further out to the Belgische Viertel, between Rudolfsplatz and Friesenplatz, where you will find the biggest concentration of fashionable places to drink and eat. Other good places are the Univiertel (University Quarter) around Barbarossa Platz and Zülpicher Platz.
To find out what's on in Cologne, pick up a free copy of the monthly bilingual Köln im.... (www.koeln.de/koeln/was_ist_los), available from the tourist office.Bars
Früh am Dom Früh am Dom is another classic labyrinthine brauhaus in Cologne, where sooner or later everyone ends up - it's always busy but still manages to provide excellent service and top quality food (try the Braühaustopf). Make the most of the chance to drink kölsch, the light, refreshing local beer delivered by the expert bartenders beneath chandeliers and besides antique wooden screens and furniture.Am Hof 12-18 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 261 3211. Web: http://www.frueh.de Rosebud Rosebud is a long-established cocktail bar and is still the place to see and be seen in Cologne. Its excellent jazz-inspired music is worth the detour. Expect plum and scarlet-soaked colours with zebra print bar stools, as some kind of cross between a Parisian cafe and a Moulin Rouge boudoir. Sip vodka martinis, whether shaken or stirred, and allow yourself to feel truly glamorous.Heinsbergstrasse 20 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 240 1455. Web: http://www.rosebud.de Pepe This cute and quirky place prides itself on the drinks it serves, whether alcoholic or not, with bartenders keen to offer an opinion. When it comes to gin alone, Pepe racks up a count of more than 200 different types. Its accompanying restaurant serves an eclectic mix of food from New Zealand lamb to Hokkaido soup with pumpkin seeds and a Thai vegetable curry.Antwerpener Strasse 63 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 510 1414. Web: http://www.pepe.de Clubs Underground From Wednesday to Saturday each week, Underground channels fresh new acts from near and far into its too-cool-for-school arenas. From pop to punk and reggae to retro rock, its ever changing line-up of performers makes sure to keep things edgy. Underground throws open its beer gardens in the summer and and there's open mic sessions every now and then.Vogelsanger Strasse 200 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 542326. Web: http://www.underground-cologne.de/ Alter Wartesaal Alter Wartesaal, set in a former waiting room in the vaults beneath Cologne's Hauptbahnhof (central station), has been beautifully converted into a very popular club which hosts mostly house, soul and techno nights. It's worth a detour just to look at the facade by night, even if you have no intention of going in. The golden arches backlit against the sky make a striking entrance and revellers make the most of the party atmosphere inside.Johannisstrasse 11 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 912 8850. Web: http://www.wartesaal.de Studio 672 Studio 672 is located in Stadtgarten, a multi-function venue which also serves as a concert hall and café-restaurant. The music is techno, reggae and dancehall. In the summer, the beer gardens open up to give the place an outdoor vibe. With more than 400 events taking place each year, you're bound to find something you like somewhere within this interesting, multidimensional complex.Venloer Strasse 40 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 952 9940. Web: http://www.stadtgarten.de Live Music LANXESS arena The largest multifunction hall in Germany, LANXESS arena has hosted the likes of Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Rod Stewart. It's big, it's bold and it's busy but it's the sort of place where you can have a good time if you book your tickets well in advance.Willy Brandt Platz 3 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 8020. Web: http://www.koelnarena.de Papa Joe's Jazzlokal Small pokey and always buzzing, Papa Joe's Jazzlokal is one of the oldest jazz clubs in Germany with traditional and swing bands playing every night and Sunday afternoon. Admission is free and Sunday afternoon jazz sessions take place throughout the winter months.Buttermarkt 37 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 257 7931. Web: http://www.papajoes.de Luxor "Life without music would be a mistake," quotes this live music venue and local favourite in Cologne. Its ever-changing line-up features rock, pop, house and indie. Luxor prides itself on its moderate prices, good music and great atmosphere. This isn't a place for restraint. The place parties through the week as well as at the weekendLuxemburger Strasse 19 Cologne Germany Tel: (0221) 924 460. Web: http://www.luxor-koeln.de |
