10 verified stops · Germany
The 10 best Kölsch and craft beer stops in Cologne
Cologne is a Kölsch city, with its protected beer served in a slender 0.2 l Stange. <strong>Day 1</strong>: five stops on foot in the old town, from Früh am Dom to MühlenBar. <strong>Day 2</strong>: five stops through Friesenviertel, Kwartier Latäng, Südstadt and Ehrenfeld by tram, from Päffgen to Braustelle.
10 verified stops · Altstadt, Friesenviertel, Kwartier Latäng, Südstadt & Ehrenfeld · Updated October 2026
10 Kölsch and craft beer stops in Cologne
Day 1: Früh → Craftbeer Corner → Tipsy Monk → Malzmühle → MühlenBar, on foot. Day 2: Päffgen → Hellers → Johann Schäfer → Bierlager → Braustelle, by tram.
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1. Brauhaus Früh am Dom
Kölsch Brauhaus — Altstadt-Nord · Am Hof
Am Hof 12-18, 50667 Köln
Monday–Thursday 11:00–23:00 · Friday 11:00–24:00 · Saturday 10:00–24:00 · Sunday 10:00–23:00
A traditional Kölsch Brauhaus by the cathedral. Früh Kölsch is brewed off site and served from wooden barrels in the Schänke, with the Köbes keeping the slender Stange filled.
Traditional Kölsch house, wooden barrels
FRÜH Kölsch from wooden barrels
1 h
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2. Craftbeer Corner
Craft beer bar — Altstadt · Martinstraße
Martinstraße 32, 50667 Köln
Tuesday–Thursday 18:00–24:00 · Friday 17:00–01:00 · Saturday 15:00–01:00 · closed Sunday and Monday
Cologne's first taphouse: 15 craft taps and a roof terrace with a cathedral view. A stop for changing beers from Germany and abroad, beyond the traditional Kölsch houses.
Craft taps, roof terrace
15 rotating craft taps
1 h
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3. Tipsy Monk
Craft beer bar — Altstadt · Salzgasse
Salzgasse 2-4, 50667 Köln
Monday–Thursday 17:00–24:00 · Friday 17:00–02:00 · Saturday 15:00–02:00 · Sunday 15:00–22:00
Formerly Delirium Café Köln, renamed Tipsy Monk in early 2026. There are 30 rotating taps — IPAs, sours and Belgian classics — plus 100+ bottles, a daily online taplist and board games.
Rotating taps, bottles, board games
IPAs · Sours · Belgian classics
1 h
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4. Brauerei zur Malzmühle
Brewpub — Altstadt · Heumarkt
Heumarkt 6, 50667 Köln
Monday–Thursday 12:00–23:00 · Friday–Saturday 12:00–24:00 · Sunday 12:00–23:00
Family-owned and brewing Mühlen Kölsch on site since 1858. Pair the house beer with traditional Brauhaus cooking at Heumarkt.
Family brewery, Brauhaus kitchen
Mühlen Kölsch
1 h
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5. MühlenBar
Craft beer bar — Altstadt · Heumarkt
Heumarkt 6, 50667 Köln
Tuesday–Thursday 18:00–01:00 · Friday–Saturday 17:00–02:00 · closed Sunday and Monday
A separate bar inside the Malzmühle building, at the same address as the brewery. MühlenBar focuses on international craft beers and tastings, rather than the traditional Brauhaus meal.
International craft beers, tastings
International craft beers
1 h
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6. Brauerei Päffgen
Kölsch Brauhaus — Friesenviertel · Friesenstraße
Friesenstraße 64-66, 50670 Köln
Daily from noon; closing time not published — check before visiting
A traditional, family-owned Kölsch house brewery since 1883. Päffgen brews across the street at Im Klapperhof 35 and serves its Kölsch only from wooden casks. Open daily from noon; check the unpublished closing time.
Family Kölsch house, wooden casks
Päffgen Kölsch from wooden casks
1 h
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7. Hellers Brauhaus
Brewery — Kwartier Latäng · Roonstraße
Roonstraße 33, 50674 Köln
Tuesday–Saturday from 17:00 · closed Sunday and Monday
An independent organic brewery that brews at Roonstraße 33, in Kwartier Latäng. The Brauhaus opens Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00; it is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Independent organic brewery
Organic house beers
1 h
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8. Brauhaus Johann Schäfer
Modern craft Brauhaus — Südstadt · Elsaßstraße
Elsaßstraße 6, 50677 Köln
Monday–Wednesday 17:00–22:00 · Thursday–Friday 12:00–22:00 · Saturday–Sunday 11:30–22:00
A modern Südstadt Brauhaus with its own beer recipes: Südstadt Pils, Hell and Weizen. The beer garden opens Friday from 15:00 and Saturday–Sunday from noon, weather permitting.
Modern Brauhaus, seasonal beer garden
Südstadt Pils · Hell · Weizen
1 h
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9. Bierlager
Craft beer bar & bottle shop — Südstadt · Bonner Straße
Bonner Straße 38, 50677 Köln
Monday–Thursday 16:00–21:30 · Friday 12:00–23:00 · Saturday 11:00–23:00 · closed Sunday
A craft beer bar and bottle shop with rotating taps, 70 chilled bottles in the bar and 200+ in the shop. Tastings and tap takeovers bring changing brewery selections to the Südstadt.
Craft bar, bottle shop, tastings
Rotating craft taps · 70 chilled bottles in the bar · 200+ bottles in the shop
1 h
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10. Braustelle
Microbrewery — Ehrenfeld · Christianstraße
Christianstraße 2, 50825 Köln-Ehrenfeld
Tuesday–Thursday 18:00–23:00 · Friday–Saturday 18:00–24:00 · closed Sunday and Monday
Brewing in Ehrenfeld since 2001, with kettles in the guest room. Try Helios, an unfiltered Kölsch, Ehrenfelder Alt and Pink Panther with hibiscus.
Microbrewery, kettles in the room
Helios (unfiltered Kölsch) · Ehrenfelder Alt · Pink Panther (hibiscus)
1 h
Cologne craft beer — FAQ
What is Kölsch, exactly?
A pale, hop-accented, top-fermented full beer that may only be brewed in and around Cologne. The city's brewers signed the Kölsch Convention in 1985, and the name is protected across the EU as a geographical indication. It is poured into a slender 0.2 l glass called a Stange, and in a Brauhaus a Köbes keeps the glass filled.
Do I need a car?
No. Day 1 covers five old-town stops on foot; Day 2 links Friesenviertel, Kwartier Latäng, Südstadt and Ehrenfeld by KVB tram. The 24hTicket for the Cologne city zone costs 9.60 EUR for one person or 19.20 EUR for up to five, valid for 24 hours from validation. Never drive after drinking.
Which stops offer craft beer alongside Kölsch?
Craftbeer Corner (15 taps), Tipsy Monk (30 taps and 100+ bottles), MühlenBar (international craft beers and tastings) and Bierlager (rotating taps, 70 chilled bar bottles, 200+ shop bottles) are the craft bars. Hellers is an independent organic brewery; Johann Schäfer uses its own Pils, Hell and Weizen recipes; Braustelle brews Helios, Ehrenfelder Alt and Pink Panther. Früh and Päffgen are traditional Kölsch houses; Malzmühle brews Mühlen Kölsch on site.
Which days should I book?
Friday and Saturday are the best pair: all ten stops open on both days, though many open only in the afternoon or evening. Tuesday–Thursday also work if you follow the listed hours. Sunday closures: Craftbeer Corner, MühlenBar, Hellers, Bierlager and Braustelle. Monday closures: Craftbeer Corner, MühlenBar, Hellers and Braustelle. Päffgen opens daily from noon but does not publish its closing time. Check hours before visiting.
How old do I have to be to drink beer in Germany?
16 for beer and wine, 18 for spirits — set by the German Youth Protection Act (Jugendschutzgesetz, § 9). Carry ID if you look young.
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