Cologne hotels

Even as a teenager, I admired the elegance of people in blazers and suits gathering in front of the glass facade of the Hyatt Regency Cologne on the right bank promenade of the Rhine. I pictured them going to business meetings in the exhibition halls less than a kilometre away, but even more vividly, I imagined what it looked like inside this hotel that's among the best in Cologne. Many years later, it finally happened, and I myself stayed in one of the 306 rooms (including 17 suites). I would have happily stayed forever in the modernly furnished room with a kingsize bed, desk, and views of the Rhine and the cathedral.

Now I hope to one day catch a glimpse of the 177-square-metre Presidential Suite with a living and dining room plus a river view. My favourite restaurant in this luxury hotel in Cologne is the Glashaus, where you can find the most delicious sushi in town (available between Tuesday and Sunday) and a Sunday brunch with a view of the city.

One of the best hotels in Cologne, which has been part of the cityscape since its opening in 1863, is the Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom. It is a member of the "Leading Hotels of the World" and "Selektion Deutscher Luxushotels" (Selection of German Luxury Hotels) associations. I have long been fascinated by the concierges dressed in blue suits stationed in front of this unique hotel in Cologne, who took my luggage as soon as I arrived as a guest for the first time.

I felt even more like a princess when the door to my Cathedral View Suite swung open. The pillow menu on the huge bed delighted me as much as the cathedral panorama from the window of the separate living area. Every detail of the suite spoke of contemporary elegance, from the royal blue sofa to the curtains of the same colour. In the evening, the scents reminiscent of my last trip to East Asia drew me into the onsite restaurant, taku. What was served to me seemed more like art than mere food. The restaurant has been awarded a MICHELIN star.

Even the large coat of arms of Cologne on the façade of the building reveals that the Hotel Ludwig is a traditional Cologne hotel. It has been in existence for over 60 years and I find it to be one of the best hotels in Cologne. This is partly due to the cheerful welcome you can expect here (a touch of Cologne humour included, of course), and partly due to its stellar location. You can reach the main train station and top attractions like the cathedral, the Rhine promenade, shopping streets, and the old town in just five minutes.

The 53 rooms and the Ludwig Suite are modern and comfortably furnished, with a desk where one can work peacefully because, despite the central location, the rooms are very quiet. I especially like the balconies—some of which even offer views of Cologne Cathedral. I enjoy sitting there in the morning, listening to the city waking up below me, or in the evening when the surrounding rooftops are bathed in golden evening light.

The silhouette of the Cologne Cathedral stands out against the evening sky as I sip on a mojito and listen to lounge music. This is my first memory of one of the top-rated hotels in Cologne, the Savoy, centrally located in the city centre and with an incomparable rooftop bar. But this is not the only part of my stay at the Savoy that impressed me. Many of the best hotels in Cologne have modern, luxurious decor, but lack personality.

Here, however, the singles, doubles, superior rooms, and suites are all characterized by colourful prints depicting human bodies and faces as well as the Paris Eiffel Tower and other world-famous landmarks. The hotel's spa area is also a sanctuary of peace, with its saunas and steam baths, where you can relax in a softly lit Asian-inspired atmosphere. And if the weather outside is unpleasant, I have a special tip for you: "English Tea Time" is served in the fireplace lounge, boasting delicious scones and clotted cream, along with a selection of teas.

Although the Hotel Stadtpalais is located on the right bank of the Rhine, a short train ride away from the centre, it is still one of the best hotels in Cologne for me. It is also an ideal accommodation option if you want to attend an event at the Lanxess Arena, Germany's largest event hall. When I entered the hotel for the first time, the dark stone walls reminded me of a historical bathhouse.

In fact, the Hotel Stadtpalais is located in the protected landmark of the former Kaiser Wilhelm Bathhouse from 1913, which, thanks to artistic elements, makes this one of the most unique hotels in Cologne. It has 113 rooms and two junior suites, which I particularly liked. Even in the smaller suite measuring 50 square metres, I felt at home and had a balcony where I enjoyed my first coffee in the morning. Speaking of culinary delights: I recommend the KWB Restaurant at the Stadtpalais, where you can taste local specialities surrounded by the walls and tall windows of the former bathhouse.

It's only a ten-minute walk from Cologne Central Station to the Hotel Santo, which, with its contemporary elegance, is also one of my top hotel picks in Cologne. The lobby of this 4-star hotel with a small bar next to the reception desk felt so inviting to me that I decided to order a drink there before exploring the city. I also liked that there are not only single and double rooms but also a superior version of each with additional space.

Despite its central location, the accommodation is quiet—ideal for relaxing but also for working at the small desk provided in each room. This combination makes it one of the best hotels in Cologne. Since I find it convenient to be able to make coffee while working at the desk, I was pleased to find a Nespresso machine, standard in every room. And when I got hungry, it was only a few steps to the diverse restaurants of the city centre.

A stay in the historic 1868 Cologne Water Tower had been at the top of my wish list: it has been home to one of the best hotels in Cologne since 2021—the Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. The water tower rises 35 metres into the air not far from the Chocolate Museum, a top attraction in Cologne. It's hard to find a more unique hotel in Cologne. Here, you'll stay in elegant, ultra-modern rooms with drawings of the old townhouses above the beds. In my opinion, the room windows are an architectural masterpiece.

Through a front of square panes, you can see the arcade windows of the historic water tower, with the Cologne city skyline beyond. Many of the suites are two-storey and themed, such as the "Cathedral Suite." I found it hard to leave my Aqua Deluxe room, and yet, it was worth it—for an evening drink at the Bar Botanik on the roof, whose 360-degree panorama of Cologne is one of the most beautiful in the city.

I became curious about the chic hotel in Cologne called Ruby Ella, located west of the centre, when I learned that it is housed in a former production building of late-night talk shows. This heritage is reflected in the design of the 24-hour bar. There is a table with a microphone, lamps with records, cinema folding seats, and guitars on the wall. I couldn't get enough of the bar, but the best was yet to come: the rooms, whose names already reveal the focus of this hotel—considered one of the best in Cologne—which is on comfort and coziness.

There are "Nest Rooms," "Cosy Rooms," or "Lovely Rooms," in addition to the "Wow Rooms" and "Loft Rooms" that span up to 91 or 105 square metres respectively. The playful touches in the room design made me smile. For example, with lamp cords shaped like the spires of the Cologne Cathedral and the television tower adorning the wall.

Another accommodation option that belongs on my list of the best hotels in Cologne is The Qvest Hideaway, also located west of the city centre. When I first saw the majestic building, it surprised me because the neo-Gothic structure from 1897 is one of the few in Cologne that survived World War II. I entered the 6-metre-high lobby with its original vault and felt like I was in a church. Except that I was greeted warmly there and handed a room key. My room, one of a total of 34 (including suites), reminded me more of an art exhibit.

Near the pointed arched window stood the bed dressed in black and white—a colour scheme that defined the room design. The dark bathroom tiles are even said to resemble the Paris Metro. I recommend taking a tour of the building because this luxury hotel in Cologne is a secret art and design paradise. Many walls are adorned with exquisite artworks, and a chapel connected to the lobby serves as a photo gallery.

Behind the name Maison Marsil is a beautiful boutique hotel in Cologne, centrally located near Neumarkt and a short walk from the top restaurants and shops. It is named after Marsilius, the patron saint of Cologne, as is the street Marsilstein where it is located. The charm of the modern design is apparent the moment you step inside this hotel and, at the reception desk, you can expect a warm Cologne welcome. Both business travellers and families with children are accommodated, as some of the rooms can be used as group rooms.

I liked the various photos on the walls around the queen-size bed in my room—some smiling faces, some shots of people at a distance. This accommodation was full of pleasant surprises, making it one of my new favourite hotels in Cologne. I even discovered a spacious balcony to the front of the room, where I could take in the views over the city rooftops.