Rooftops in Cologne: the cathedral seen from above
The metropolis on the Rhine
The fourth-largest city in Germany by population and the largest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne spreads across both banks of the Rhine: the old town and most of the lively districts on the left bank, Deutz and the exhibition centre on the right bank. Raised to the rank of Roman colony in AD 50, it is the oldest of Germany's major cities. A city of trade fairs and media, it is known for its carnival, the “fifth season”, and for Kölsch, the local beer served in narrow glasses.
A skyline dominated by the cathedral
Begun in 1248 and completed in 1880, the Gothic cathedral rises to 157 metres; a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the most visited monument in Germany. It stands a stone's throw from the railway station and the Hohenzollernbrücke, the busiest railway bridge in the country. Largely rebuilt after the Second World War, the city has kept its twelve great Romanesque churches, including Groß St. Martin and its massive bell tower on the riverbank. The Colonius tower (266 metres), the KölnTurm and the three Kranhäuser, the “crane houses” of the Rheinauhafen, complete the skyline.
Where to rise above Cologne
At the top of the towers
In the Mediapark, Osman 30 occupies the 30th floor of the KölnTurm, 110 metres up: gourmet dining, a terrace when the wind allows and cocktails late in the evening. On the right bank, KölnSKY, on the 27th floor of the KölnTriangle, faces the cathedral from the other side of the river; this event venue opens its glazed halls to the public for set-menu dinners and brunches, on certain dates and by reservation.
The rooftops of the centre
In Altstadt-Süd, the Bar Botanik has settled on the 11th floor of a former brick water tower turned hotel, with a glazed conservatory and a terrace that runs around the roof. In the Friesenviertel, the 8th floor of the 25hours Hotel The Circle, a round building, brings together the Monkey Bar and its terrace facing the cathedral, and the NENI, a mezze restaurant in a large glazed hall. North of the station, the Sky Lounge spreads 350 m² of terrace across the roof of the SAVOY hotel, very close to the cathedral. On the Heumarkt, the Bellevue restaurant extends its 5th floor with a terrace facing the rooftops of the old town, Groß St. Martin and the Rhine. Finally, the SonnenscheinEtage has turned the 14th level of a car park in the centre into a sandy beach, with palm trees and deckchairs.
Gastronomy and cocktails on high
For every budget
Expect to pay €11.50 to €13 for a spritz or a classic cocktail at Osman 30 and the NENI, €14 to €16.50 for the Monkey Bar's creations and €18 for the Bar Botanik's herbal cocktails. At the SonnenscheinEtage, the €5 entry fee includes a drink. On the plate, you go from the French cuisine of Osman 30 to the mezze of the NENI, from the tartes flambées of the Sky Lounge to the Bellevue's brunch and barbecues, and on to the menus of KölnSKY.
A rooftop for every occasion
As a couple or with friends
For a tête-à-tête, Osman 30, KölnSKY and the Bar Botanik play the elegance card. With friends, the Monkey Bar and the Bar Botanik welcome you without a reservation, the SonnenscheinEtage lends itself to summer afternoons and the NENI to large tables.
Getting around easily
Trams and the Stadtbahn serve most of the addresses: Friesenplatz stop for the Monkey Bar and the NENI, Christophstraße/Mediapark for Osman 30, Poststraße for the Bar Botanik, Heumarkt for the Bellevue and Breslauer Platz for the Sky Lounge. KölnSKY overlooks the Köln Messe/Deutz station, a quarter of an hour's walk from the cathedral across the Hohenzollernbrücke, and the SonnenscheinEtage is five minutes' walk from the Neumarkt.
Tips for enjoying Cologne's rooftops
Choosing your season and time
The Sky Lounge and the SonnenscheinEtage open only in the warmer months and in fine weather; in winter, the SonnenscheinEtage roof may host a Christmas market. The other addresses have indoor rooms and open all year round; KölnSKY welcomes the public only on announced dates. Book for the Sky Lounge, the NENI, Osman 30 and the Bellevue's brunch; at the Bar Botanik and the Monkey Bar, the minimum age can be as high as 21. Check the opening hours before setting out, and arrive in the early evening to watch the sun set over the rooftops.
Photo : Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE