Sky Beach Köln
km 689 Cologne Beach Cl.Beer gardens & restaurants
Biergarten Alteburg
This idyllic beer garden is surrounded by the old city walls amid lots of green and is a little hard to find. It’s a peaceful place to enjoy freshly-tapped Kölsch and other drinks as well as tasty food from the varied menu. Special attractions are the works of art and changing exhibitions.
›› Bayenthal, Alteburger Str. 139, Tel. 9 37 83 29, www.alteburg.com
Biergarten am Aachener Weiher
With a lake view, you can get comfortable and enjoy fresh beer and good food here on warm summer evenings. It’s usually quite busy. Beach chairs, sun beds and hammocks provide the perfect resting places to enjoy the last rays of sunshine at the end of the day.
›› Neustadt-Süd, Richard-Wagner-Str., Tel. 500 06 14, www.biergarten-aachenerweiher.de
Biergarten am Rathenauplatz
The nicest place in Cologne to enjoy a fresh beer is right in the city center. The many trees in the square offer lots of shade in summer, so that this beer garden is full even on the hottest days. Especially popular with families due to its special children’s menu and location next to a playground.
›› Neustadt-Süd, Rathenauplatz, Tel. 8 01 73 49
Biergarten Fühlinger See
Despite the word See (lake) in the beer garden’s name, visitors don’t get a view of the water here. But it’s still a great place with its 300 seats and lots of green to stop off for refreshment after a cycle ride or a spot of lake-side sports. Drinks and food are self service.
›› Seeberg, Oranjehofstr., Tel. 70 82 86
Biergarten Schwimmbad
Great location with a view of the Rhine where you can enjoy over 20 different kinds of beers, tasty snacks and a relaxed beer garden atmosphere. There’s also a large playground next door to entertain the kids.
›› Nippes, An der Schanz 2a, Tel. 7 60 28 43, www.koeln-biergarten.de
Biergarten Stadtwald
This beer garden is run by the Holiday Inn and, with 120 seats, it has enough room for Cologne people seeking refreshment. You can relax with a beer after work with a view of the Stadtwaldweiher (city forest lake) or try a game of boule next door.
›› Lindenthal, Holiday Inn, Dürener Str. 287, Tel. 4 67 60, www.koeln-hi-hotel.de
Bootshaus Alte Liebe
This house boat on the Rhine is a true Cologne classic and its red and white exterior is visible from afar to customers who are pampered with fresh Kölsch and good solid food. Several fires and collisions with other boats have failed to dent the boat’s indestructibility. Alte Liebe (old love) never dies.
›› Rodenkirchen, Rodenkirchener Leinpfad, Tel. 39 23 61, www.bootshaus-alte-liebe.de
Club Astoria
This former Belgian army officers mess and hotel reopened in 2007 and soon became one of Cologne’s most popular places for an evening out. The beer garden of this gastronomic palace has a view of the Adenauer small lake and lush greenery of the city forest and has good food.
›› Müngersdorf, Guts-Muths-Weg 3, Tel. 9 87 45 10, www.club-astoria.eu
Decksteiner Mühle
Very pretty, well-cared for and partly covered beer garden in the middle of an oasis of chestnut trees. You can enjoy a perfect glass of Gaffel Kölsch while the historic mill wheel gently turns.
›› Lindenthal, Gleueler Str. 371, Tel. 43 38 44, www.decksteiner-muehle.de
Em Birkebäumchen
If you’re searching for a nice beer garden, don’t expect to see typical wooden benches here, Instead you can enjoy food and drink here sitting on comfortable chairs. Culinary highlights are the grilled specials, which are freshly barbecued every night.
›› Lindenthal, Neuenhöfer Allee 65a, Tel. 43 39 07
Fährhaus
House specialties are carefully selected fish dishes such as sea bream and monkfish, which are also served on the pretty half-timbered building’s terrace. A chilled beer or a glass of wine makes the fish taste twice as good and there’s a feast for the eyes with the sweeping Rhine panoramic view.
›› Rodenkirchen, Steinstr. 1, Tel. 9 35 99 69, www.faehrhauskoeln.de
Groov Terrasse
Sit in the beer garden surveying the Rhine, then for a change hire a pedal boat, play mini golf, have a swim or a walk and then a dance, maybe at the Under 40s Party – you can do all that here. And there’s another special attraction, a Sunday afternoon tea dance, almost like in grandmother’s day.
›› Porz, Am Markt 4, Tel. 0 22 03/8 55 44, www.groov-terrasse.de
Haus am See
If you’re overcome with hunger and thirst after a day out, you can refresh your energy reserves here. From the large terrace you can have a great view of the nearby lake while enjoying tasty food, cakes and chilled drinks.
›› Lindenthal, Bachemer Landstr. 420, Tel. 43 43 21, www.haus-am-see-koeln.de
Hellers Volksgarten
In the middle of greenery, directly on the side of a small lake, this beer garden is a true summer paradise. The place brews its own beer, so it comes fresh from the barrel and the menu has something to suit every taste from hearty meals to Mediterranean cuisine.
›› Neustadt-Süd, Volksgartenstr. 27, Tel. 38 26 26, www.hellers-volksgarten.de
Herbrand´s
Cologne’s biggest beer garden with 400 seats in a green setting. A bunch of odd steel blocks as high as a house make a talking point over beer and food.
›› Ehrenfeld, Herbrandstr. 21, Tel. 9 54 16-26, -46, www.herbrands.de
Hyatt Biergarten
This hotel beer garden is a popular after work meeting place not just for Hyatt Regency guests. It’s right by the Rhine with a great view of the old city and has excellent service and relaxing jazz music.
›› Deutz, Kennedy-Ufer 2a, Tel. 8 28 12 34, www.cologne.regency.hyatt.de
Landhaus Zündorf
This idyllic half-timbered building is on the edge of the Groov leisure island with a view of the picturesque Groov lake, which you can explore in a pedal boat after a perfect meal and Gaffel Kölsch. Great place to spend a relaxing afternoon.
›› Zündorf, Markt 4, Tel. 0 22 03/8 12 03, www.landhaus-zuendorf.de
Marienburger Bootshaus
A house boat that advertises itself as Cologne’s oldest pub-restaurant on the water. The boat offers a nice view of the Rhine and the Cathedral and if you’re not standing at the railing enjoying the sight, you can savor food and drink on the sun terrace.
›› Rodenkirchen, Heinrich-Lübke-Ufer, Tel. 37 80 61
Monheimer Hof
Cozy beer garden opened every year in May by the May King and May Queen during a day of celebration. Relaxed atmosphere right through the summer with lots of freshly-tapped beer. Soccer fans can watch games live on the big screen.
›› Nippes, Riehler Str. 231, Tel. 76 74 90, www.monheimer-hof.de
Rheinterrassen
You can forget everyday stress relaxing on the spacious sun terrace and on a hot sunny day make the day sweeter with good food and chilled drinks. Always one of Cologne’s most popular places.
›› Deutz, Rheinparkweg 1, Tel. 8 80 95 31, www.rhein-terrassen.de
Stadtgarten
Despite being in the middle of the city, you can escape the big city hustle and bustle in this beer garden, which is surrounded by an idyllic park landscape. As soon as the thermometer reaches summer temperatures, a cocktail bar opens to slake thirsty throats with delicious drinks.
›› Neustadt-Nord, Venloer Str. 40, Tel. 95 29 94-0, www.stadtgarten.de
Underground
This bar with two rooms used for regular concerts and parties also has a beer garden. The rear courtyard beer garden with graffiti and a snack bar mainly attracts an alternative and student crowd.
›› Ehrenfeld, Vogelsanger Str. 200, Tel. 54 23 26, underground-cologne.de
Zum Treppchen
This popular beer garden is right by the Rhine bank and is surrounded by wonderful half-timbered buildings. To enjoy the great view, you’ll have to pay a little more than usual for the drinks and perfect food. But it’s worth a visit anyway.
›› Rodenkirchen, Kirchstr. 15, Tel. 39 21 79
Beach clubs
km 689 Cologne Beach Club
In this beach club with a fantastic view of the Cathedral, you’ll switch down a gear. Visitors lounge on the deck chairs and white sun beds, dip their toes in the sun-warmed sand and sip refreshing drinks.
›› Deutz, Rheinparkweg 2, Tel. 65 00 43 21, www.km689.de
Sandburg
When summer comes, the gates of Sandburg open, spreading a little vacation mood around Mülheim. An impressive 3,000 sq meters of fine sandy beach offers stressed out city dwellers long-awaited relaxation. People chill on beach chairs with cold drinks listening to lounge music until late in the evening.
›› Mühlheim, Hafenstr. 10, Tel. 35 59 94 15, www.sandburg-koeln.de
Sundown Beach
A little touch of the South Seas has been created in north Cologne. “Little” in this case is relative because up to 5,000 guests can get into a pure vacation mood on the 30,000 sq m beach made from thousands of tons of quartz sand. The professional beach soccer pitch is new.
›› Esch, Am Baggerfeld 4, www.sundownbeach.de
Roof top bars
Sky Beach Köln
You can enjoy cocktails and good conversation on the roof of the Aral parking garage while marveling at the view of Cologne from a bird’s eye perspective. Perfect for a quick vacation after a stressful day at the office, or just for chilling out.
›› Altstadt-Süd, Cäcilienstr. 32, oberstes Parkdeck Aral Parkhaus, www.skybeach.de
