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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.
Exile on Main Street
Young Crowd, Drag
An attractive design and a friendly and attentive team bring a pleasant atmosphere that draws guests in the spell.
It is also possible to celebrate birthdays at Exile in a private area.
All kinds of wishes can be discussed.
Postings from advertisers / companies / bars only with prior arrangement with the management and personal communication.
Requests for lost property can be done outside of the operating times at the telephone number or via a private message to the facebook site.
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.
Deck 5
Men Only, Cruising
Jörg and his team entertain you here in Cologne's old town south on Mathiasstrasse. Only a few steps away from the Heumarkt you will find the most famous scene bar in Cologne. Our little pub is known and loved for the "CRUISING BAR nights" and the cozy atmosphere.
Open every day from 8:00 p.m.
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.
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!
3* Motel One Neumarkt
Near Gay Nightlife, Great Value
Motel One Köln-Neumarkt hits a particularly useful sweet spot between Cologne’s main sights and its biggest gay nightlife cluster. Schaafenstraße is only a short walk beyond Neumarkt, while the Old Town and Cathedral are easily reached in the other direction.
As you’d expect from Motel One, rooms are compact but smartly designed, with a stylish lounge and bar giving the hotel a little more personality than the price point might suggest. The design also includes plenty of references to Cologne and its Cathedral.
Shopping on Schildergasse is practically outside the door and Neumarkt’s excellent tram connections make the rest of the city easy to explore.
GayMapper tip: probably one of the best combinations of price, location and style in central Cologne.
4* Hotel Lyskirchen
Near Gay Nightlife, City Centre
Hotel Lyskirchen has a very useful Old Town location, just a few minutes from Heumarkt and within easy reach of the gay bars around the southern end of Cologne’s historic centre.
Rooms have a clean, contemporary feel and there’s more on offer than you might expect from a central city hotel, including an indoor pool, gym and sauna. The Rhine and Chocolate Museum are just around the corner, while Cologne Cathedral is around a 15-minute walk away.
It’s particularly well positioned if you want to mix sightseeing with evenings around the Heumarkt gay scene without relying heavily on public transport.
GayMapper tip: one of the most convenient choices for the Old Town side of Cologne’s gay nightlife.
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* Pullman Cologne
Near Gay Nightlife, City Centre
Pullman Cologne is a polished four-star-superior option in the city centre, around a ten-minute walk from the gay bars on Schaafenstraße and similarly well placed for Cologne’s shopping streets.
Rooms are spacious and contemporary, while the hotel also has a gym and sauna. LAB12, its top-floor bar, gives you somewhere for a drink without immediately having to head out for the evening.
Friesenplatz and Rudolfplatz are both close by, so the location works particularly well if you want to spend time around both the Belgian Quarter and the gay nightlife while remaining comfortably central.
GayMapper tip: a good step up from the budget and mid-range choices around Rudolfplatz without moving away from the nightlife.
4* URBAN LOFT Cologne
Boutique, City Centre
URBAN LOFT Cologne brings a more youthful, design-led feel to the area north of the Cathedral, with colourful contemporary interiors, local art and plenty of communal space.
Rooms are relatively compact but cleverly designed, while downstairs you’ll find a 24-hour lounge, local coffee, coworking areas and a gym. The hotel is close to Cologne Central Station and around ten minutes on foot from the Cathedral, making it very convenient for sightseeing and rail arrivals.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t one of the better choices specifically for gay nightlife — both Schaafenstraße and the Heumarkt scene are further away.
GayMapper tip: choose it for modern design and easy access to the station and Cathedral rather than proximity to the gay bars.
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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