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Gay Cologne
Cologne is a large city situated on the River Rhein in Germany and is best known for its impressive Cathedral that survived WW2 and Kölsch beer. It also has a large and thriving gay scene, probably second only in Berlin to Germany. There are many gay friendly elements in the city, with LGBTQ+ travellers being welcomed at hotels across the city, and multiple queer events taking place throughout the year.
Cologne Hotel Deals
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Cologne Gay Bars
GayMapper brings you information about gay bars and cruising bars in the city. Here are the top choices, read more about these bars or click below to see listings of all gay venues in this city.
Nachteule
Young Crowd
The cozy bar between Cologne's Rudolfplatz and Neumarkt invites you to linger, talk and celebrate. Not far from the gay scene on Schaafenstraße, it is open to everyone, regardless of whether they are straight, gay, lesbian, women or men.
Although it invites you to a cozy get-together and talk on the weekend, it always offers changing events and parties.
Rico
Food
We offer European coffee specialties based on the Viennese coffee manufacturer Julius Meinl. We get our fresh milk from the Hielscher Hof in the Bergisches Land. We also offer lactose-free milk.
We obtain our loose high-quality teas from the cöln tea house in the immediate vicinity of our cafes on Benesisstrasse.
We get the right tea water from a spring in the Eifel - soft, clear, not chalky & tasteless.
You get good, delicious coffee, tea or cocoa in connection with one of the most delicious breakfasts in the cathedral city of Cologne with us every day.
Everything is rounded off with delicious cakes (also gluten-free), as well as quiche, tarte flambee, salads, soups and sandwiches.
A number of unusual non-alcoholic drinks, juices, shakes, smoothies (also vegan) complete the range in addition to some types of beer from Germany, Belgium and Spain.
For wine lovers we have put together a small selection of wines from the regions of Spain, Germany and France.
Our sparkling wines are Cremant from the Loire and excellent champagnes.
For lovers of Gin & Tonics, we have a number of premium brands to choose from, such as Windspiel Gin, LAW Ibiza Dry Gin, Gin Mare etc.
Test us, we warmly welcome you to be our guest.
Zum Pitter Cologne
Outdoor Seating, Drag
Our "Zum Pitter Cologne" has been the first point of contact for gays and friends in the middle of Cologne's lively and popular old town for many years.
With us you can forget the worries of everyday life, meet very nice people and just feel good. It is not for nothing that our guests often refer to Zum Pitter Cologne as the "living room". A compliment that we are very happy about ...
This is of course primarily due to our friendly (and good-looking ...) staff, who lovingly take care of every guest every day. And our parties are also legendary: Here, with delicious SION Kölsch and good-mood music, people celebrate, flirt and dance until late in the morning. In a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, of course.
A visit to Pitter Cologne is a must for every gay person visiting Cologne. Because our "regulars" are the most personable gays in town. Without any doubt...
Schampanja
Older Crowd, Pub Vibes
For more than 30 years the alternative in Cologne's Bermuda Triangle, the pub that somehow never changes but is different every evening and which in its long history has never been closed for an evening and usually long beyond the opening times.
Come by and get to know the shop that you can't describe.
Pullermanns
Men Only, Cruising
Everyone knows the address, after all, the "Bumslokal" in Mathiasstraße 22 since 1972 (Platzjabbeck, Hands or Boners).
Here you live out your fetish and celebrate your sexuality. Here you can meet old and new friends at the bar or chat with the bartender. And if you are free enough, you can even do both at the same time. Be free is our motto. Here at Pullermanns, the leather man meets the suit wearer, the bear and the skater boy sit together at the bar.
Whether born in 1940 or 1990, whether completely in rubb*r or completely n*ked, anything goes. The only (but very important) rule of the game is openness, mutual tolerance and acceptance.
Gay friendly hotels in Cologne
GayMapper brings you a curated selection of accommodation in gay destinations around the world, which are in preferred locations and are welcoming to LGBTQ+ travellers. Grab a great deal on your hotel stay when you book via GayMapper!
4* Ruby Ella Hotel
Near Gay Nightlife, Boutique
Ruby Ella brings a bit more personality to Cologne’s hotel scene, with a stylish location near Friesenplatz and within easy reach of the gay bars around Rudolfplatz and Schaafenstraße.
The hotel occupies the former site of Cologne’s Capitol TV studios, and the interiors have fun with that history, mixing retro television glamour with neon, chrome and colourful contemporary design. Rooms are deliberately streamlined but comfortable, with rainfall showers, good beds and soundproofing, while the lively 24-hour bar and lounge gives you somewhere appealing for a drink before heading out.
Friesenplatz station is almost outside, while the Belgian Quarter, shopping streets and central sights are all easy to reach.
GayMapper tip: a particularly good choice if you want stylish surroundings, easy access to the gay scene and something with more character than a conventional four-star chain hotel.
4* Steigenberger Hotel Koln
Near Gay Nightlife, City Centre
For gay nightlife location, Steigenberger Hotel Köln is one of the easiest choices on the list. It sits directly on Rudolfplatz, putting the bars of Schaafenstraße and the surrounding gay district just a short walk away.
The hotel itself is a fairly large, modern four-star property with spacious rooms, many offering views across the city. There’s also a restaurant, bar and fitness facilities, although the location is really the main reason to choose it.
Rudolfplatz’s tram and underground connections make reaching the Cathedral, main station and Old Town straightforward when you want to explore beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
GayMapper tip: particularly good if your Cologne weekend is likely to involve rather more nightlife than sightseeing.
4* art'otel cologne
GayMapper Favourite, Near Gay Nightlife
art'otel Cologne combines a stylish riverside setting with a location that works well for both sightseeing and Cologne’s Old Town gay scene. The hotel sits beside the Rhine near the Chocolate Museum, with Heumarkt around a ten-minute walk away.
Contemporary rooms feature bold artwork by Korean artist SEO, while the hotel continues the design theme throughout its public spaces. There’s also a restaurant and bar, fitness facilities and a rooftop terrace that’s particularly appealing in warmer weather.
The Cathedral and main shopping streets are a little further north but easily reached on foot or by public transport.
GayMapper tip: a particularly good all-rounder if you want something more interesting than a standard chain hotel without sacrificing a central location.
4* Maritim Hotel Koln
Near Gay Nightlife, City Centre
You certainly won’t struggle to find the Maritim: the huge glass-fronted hotel sits directly on Heumarkt, right beside the Rhine and within easy walking distance of the Old Town gay bars.
Inside, it’s a large traditional city hotel rather than a boutique retreat, with more than 450 rooms, several restaurants and bars, plus an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and fitness facilities. Some rooms also offer views towards the Cathedral or Rhine.
The Cathedral, shopping streets and main station are all within walking distance, while trams from Heumarkt make getting elsewhere in Cologne easy.
GayMapper tip: not the trendiest hotel in town, but the Heumarkt location is extremely hard to beat if you want the Old Town gay scene close by.
5* Hilton Cologne
Luxury, City Centre
Hilton Cologne puts you right in the middle of the city, just a couple of minutes from the main station and Cologne Cathedral. It’s particularly convenient for a short break where sightseeing and transport connections matter more than having the gay bars outside the door.
Rooms are spacious and contemporary, while the hotel also has a fitness centre, sauna and its Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery for drinks and meals.
The Old Town, Rhine and main shopping streets are all easily reached on foot. For the bigger gay nightlife cluster around Schaafenstraße, you’ll want to walk a little further or hop on public transport.
GayMapper tip: a reliable upscale choice if convenience, space and a very central location are the priorities.
5* Excelsior Hotel Ernst
Luxury, City Centre
If you fancy making a Cologne city break rather more special, the Excelsior Hotel Ernst is the city’s classic grand-hotel choice. It sits directly opposite Cologne Cathedral and only a couple of minutes from the main railway station.
Rooms and suites lean towards traditional luxury rather than cutting-edge design, backed up by polished service and some serious dining. The hotel’s restaurants include Michelin-starred taku, while the Hanse Stube specialises in French cuisine with a Rhineland influence.
You couldn’t be much better placed for sightseeing, although Cologne’s main gay nightlife areas around Schaafenstraße and Heumarkt require a walk or short journey.
GayMapper tip: choose it for old-school five-star indulgence and that unbeatable Cathedral location.
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