At Broadband TV News, we know that finding a place to eat is as important as where to sit in the conference hall. Following on from our popular Robert’s Restaurants feature at IBC, we want to repeat this service during the ANGA Cable show in Cologne, but we are of course not living in the city, so getting up-to-date information on its restaurant scene is a bit more difficult to come by.
However, with the help of Holger Crump and Thomas Fuchs of Fuchs Media Consult, we managed to put together a few helpful hints for decent places for dinner. Use the Speak Your Mind box at the foot of the page to add your suggestions!
Our first place is a restaurant within walking distance from the Messe ground. It is Cafe Especial, “an original Mexican cantina”, which is located across from the Köln Messe/Deutz railway station on Neuhöfferstraße 32. Large selection of tex-mex food and according to some Americans the closest thing to ‘real tex-mex’ this side of the Atlantic.
During lunch and dinner it can get quite busy, so it is best to call ahead for reservations at +49-(0)221 814755. If you can’t get in, have a drink at the bar – and choose from a selection of 70 (!) tequilas. During a warm evening the terrace on the street outside is a great place to spend some time. Needless to say, several Mexican beers are also available (in bottles) alongside the obligatory Kölsch.
Want a taste of a pub that looks like somewhere politicians hang out? Come to the Ständige Vertretung (or “StäV” for short; which stands for permanent representation) on the Fishmarkt (phone + +49(0)221/66 99 02 21 ). When in 1991 the
German government moved from Bonn to Berlin, two local Bonn pubkeepers, Friedel Drautzburg and Harald Grunert, decided to open up a pub annex restaurant in Berlin, called Ständige Vertretung.
The place immediately became very popular – with indeed many politicians who felt homesick enjoying their drinks and food in the new cafe. Anyway, the formula was so successful that the twosome decided to launch a nationwide chain of Stävs – now even one in Cologne, very close to the ‘original’ in Bonn. The food is typical German pub fare, but go for the beers and the atmosphere.
Here, you can also order the food that supplements the beer – for example Halver Hahn (literally: half a chicken), which is actually a thick slice of rye bread with cheese and mustard, or black pudding and raw onions, ordered under the name of Kölscher Kaviar. Hiding behind the name of Himmel un Ääd is fried black pudding with potatoes and applesauce.
Now, on the other side of the spectrum is the Italian Ristorante Alfredo in Tunisstraße 3 (phone +49(0)221/257 73 80). This legendary place has been around for a long time in the city and is one of my personal favourites. For the past ten years, Roberto Carturan has been at the helm. Carturan is not only a master of the kitchen, but also an achieved baritone. Apparently, he gives a sample of both his talents during Friday’s ‘music-culinary soirees’. Food is great, but with prices to match. Be sure to make a reservation as the restaurant only has around 40 places.
Lovers of Indian food will enjoy a visit to the Royal Punjab in Venloer Strasse 4 (Phone +49 221/990 85 31). This simple, but very good and inexpensive restaurant serves up all the papadums, chicken tikas and lamb you want. And of course a large vegetarian section on the menu. This is not a fancy place, but locals praise authenticity and value for money.
NOTE – If you have any personal favourites or recommendations for eating out in Cologne, please drop us a line with your suggestions – we gladly incorporate them here.
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