This website uses cookies to remember your preferences, measure audience engagement and site statistics.
Privacy policyChampagne city guide
Cologne is probably better known for Kölsch than Champagne, but that doesn’t mean you have to choose beer for the whole trip. The city has a lively wine and restaurant scene, with Champagne fitting easily into an afternoon aperitif, dinner or a night out. Cologne has more than 1,000 restaurants, over 100 bars and a large pub scene, so there is plenty to explore beyond its famous breweries.
Cologne has a very particular drinking culture. Kölsch beer is part of the city’s identity, and traditional brewery restaurants are still a big part of going out here. But Cologne also has a surprisingly interesting wine scene, with wine bars ranging from natural wine to more traditional selections. The city was even an important centre of the wine trade north of the Alps during the Middle Ages.
For Champagne lovers, Cologne is also interesting because of what lies beyond the city. The Moselle wine region is within reach for a longer trip, and it is one of Germany’s most important regions for Riesling. The vineyards follow the Moselle, Saar and Ruwer rivers, with many steep vineyard slopes and a wine-growing history going back around 2,000 years.
The Ahr Valley is another wine region worth knowing if you are staying in the wider area. It is particularly known for Spätburgunder, Germany’s name for Pinot Noir, and has a very different wine landscape from the Moselle with vineyards clinging to steep rocky slopes.
So yes, have the Champagne you came looking for. But Cologne is also a good excuse to try a German Riesling, Spätburgunder or Winzersekt while you’re here.
Cologne is a particularly fun city if you enjoy the contrast between local drinking traditions and Champagne. You can have a Kölsch in a traditional brewery restaurant one evening and Champagne in a wine-focused spot the next.
And if you’re visiting during Carnival, expect the city’s drinking culture to go into another gear entirely. Cologne Carnival is one of the defining events of the city, with pubs and bars around the Old Town becoming particularly lively.
Featured partners are marked. Everything here is on our map.
Join the Champagne Hunters community and we’ll send you a free PDF with 5 easy Champagne cocktail recipes and perfectly matched bites for every occasion.
By signing up, you agree to receive emails from Champagne Hunters. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Our map grows because Champagne hunters like you add the places they love. No sign-up needed.
Add a spotChampagne is available at selected restaurants, wine bars, hotels and other drinking spots around Cologne. Check the Champagne Hunters map for venues currently offering Champagne by the glass or bottle and add your own findings too!
Cologne is better known for its Kölsch beer culture, but it also has a varied and growing wine scene. You’ll find traditional wine bars, natural wine spots and restaurants with extensive wine lists.
Riesling is a good place to start, especially if you want to explore wines from the nearby Moselle region. If you prefer red wine, look for Spätburgunder, the German name for Pinot Noir.
Winzersekt is German sparkling wine made by a winegrower from their own grapes. If you enjoy Champagne, it’s a useful term to look for when exploring German sparkling wine.
Yes, although the best-known wine regions are not directly in the city. The Moselle and Ahr wine regions can be explored as longer day trips or as part of a wider trip through western Germany.
If you want to experience the local side of the city, try a traditional Rhenish dish in a brewery restaurant. Sauerbraten, Himmel un Ääd and other hearty regional dishes are closely connected to Cologne’s Kölsch culture.
