In Part One I mentioned some cultural, shopping and outdoor possibilities to make your Amphi visit more enjoyable but we cannot live on love/music and fresh air alone, can we?;) Let's see how and where we have good opportunities to feed the inner wolf.
There are a lot of places to eat in Cologne except the old town (Heumarkt). Check out the quarters of Züplicher Platz - Kyffhäuser Str., cafes between Rudolfsplatz - Moltkestr., and places at Chlodwigplatz.
If you are ok with somewhat fancy and not too cheap (10-15 euros per dish) options you can dine at the restaurants frequented by the local creative elite (yes, also hipsters) but which are also really good restaurants indeed. Every dish is delicious and I shall recommend the famous Salon Schmitz and Goldmund. Try Schmitz’s quiche, ice cream and a home riesling sekt (German sparkling wine). Goldmund has high level restaurant food but also offers a giant open library. Feel free to read anything you spot on the shelves.
A cheaper, really healthy and good quality family option is a German-Italian cuisine chain 'Va Piano '. There is one close to the festival area (Köln Deutz). Another hidden insider place in Deutz is Hotelux, offering real Soviet cocktails, meals and tapas. It has propaganda posters bar but also a salon with luxurious Kremlin decoration a garden and… you can even take a selfie with (well… almost) real Lenin.
Sushi? Momotoro is a real and traditional Japanese (RSVP!), but Fischhof is a good (and cheaper) Korean-Japanese alternative - try their tempura!
If you want to eat real Kölsch food try to visit the restaurants around Eigelstein street or just follow the official guide. (Find out what 'Himmel un Äd' is ;) For the beer I personally prefer Kölsch beer at Malzmühle.
What? You do not eat meat? Oh, no problem!
There are a lot of vegan options in Cologne, but Trash Chic is my favourite vegan rock pub and a offering some cool vegan meals with real rock-n-roll attitude.
Habibi is a very popular Lebanese place really close to Art of Dark offering good falafel and hummus but not only that. You could go on a secret date at the garden of “Off Broadway” cinema, just nearby.
The most cosy, budget and homestyle cafes with attitude are Duddel with their cat worship and second hand furniture and Wohngemeinschaft hostel where all the rooms are decorated as if they were been rented by different people.
That's all for the foodie part - look out for Part Three, that will provide some information about the alternative scene in Cologne and little extras.
