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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.
Barcelon Colonia
Cocktails, Outdoor Seating
"Ramiro Montano Rocha" has artistically redesigned three pillars in the bar and in the Lopft above, with elaborate tile mosaics in the style of "Gaudi" and with great attention to detail. For this purpose he brought tiles from Barcelona to Cologne. Art is written "BIG" in BARCELON. 4x a year we offer young but also seasoned artists the opportunity to present their works on our premises. The past exhibitions have proven to be very successful and were very well received by our guests interested in art.
Our guest structure is mixed. No matter whether male, female, trans, younger or older, everyone is very welcome here. Gin and tonic, cocktails, long drinks, fine wines, selected spirits and various types of beer round off our range of drinks. The spacious sun terrace extends our space when the weather is nice. We are open for you on Saturdays from 4 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 2 p.m. Then it's "coffee clap in Barcelon". Delicious cakes and coffee specialties are then in the foreground.
The Barcelon-LOFT can be booked for private parties for groups of 30 or more people. Just talk to us if you are interested.
Curious? ... then we look forward to your visit :-)
Iron Cocktail Lounge
Young Crowd, Cocktails, Dancing
IRON Cocktail Lounge Classic cocktail bar in the middle of Cologne. Large selection of own creations, homemade drinks, classics, unique gin & tonic creations, well-stocked extensive selection of whisk (e) y, gin, vodka, tequila and much more.
Of course, only premium spirits and freshly squeezed citrus juices are used. Large wine and champagne menu. At the weekend, high-quality drinks and a party atmosphere with selected DJs from 11 p.m. Would you like to organize something special or make a reservation? Whisk (e) y or gin training? No problem, just write! We look forward to you!
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.
Baustelle 4U
Pub Vibes
Baustelle4U, the pub for everyone, whether gay, old, young, fetish man, sneakerboy, bear or trans, everyone is welcome with us.
Our unusual interior design with changing decorations creates a cozy, informal atmosphere. Due to this, our varied music with known and special and our nice staff, we have become a steadily growing size.
In the evenings and at night there is singing, swaying, quilting and jacking, especially on Saturdays, Sundays, Fridays and of course at the Cologne events Carnival, CSD and November 11th.
During the day you can relax with delicious homemade cakes from the master confectioner, in summer with a sweeping view on the sun terrace under plane trees.
With our neighbors, Gentle-Bears, Barcelon, Amadeus and Station 2b, we form a great unit for entertaining bar hopping.
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.
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* 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.
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* 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.
Hostel die Wohngemeinschaft
Near Gay Nightlife, Great Value
For something much less conventional, die Wohngemeinschaft sits right in Cologne’s lively Belgian Quarter and within easy walking distance of the gay bars around Schaafenstraße and Rudolfplatz.
Each room has its own imaginative theme, so you could find yourself sleeping in anything from a spaceship-inspired room to something resembling a boat cabin. Downstairs, the café and bar are part of the experience too, with live music, cultural events and a sociable local crowd.
Shared bathrooms feature in some room types, so this won’t suit everyone, but the location and character make it far more memorable than a generic budget hotel.
GayMapper tip: a fun choice for sociable travellers who’d rather spend their money going out than on a conventional hotel room.
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.
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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