The key addresses in Köln — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
Between Alter Markt and Heumarkt, the Altstadt Pub is an original pub with original furnishings and a quirky touch. It attracts a mixed crowd from all ages and backgrounds, with cold dishes and beers such as Becks being served at moderate prices. Thanks to long opening hours, spontaneous visits are possible during the day and at night.
The Mumu in Schaafenstraße is an institution of the Cologne gay scene and functions as a bar and café. Colourful interiors create a cheerful atmosphere, cocktails, beer and coffee are served, plus light snacks. Regular parties, concerts, and themed events attract queer partygoers.
The EX-Corner in Schaafenstraße is a classic of Cologne's gay scene, whose large window fronts provide a view of the street. Dim lighting and music from pop to house to karaoke characterize the evenings, and the focus is on the daily happy hour with cocktails. The men-only bar fills up quickly on weekends, and in good weather also on the street.
On Aachener Straße is the 674FM, a concert and party club for experimental music and sound objects. Guests can get close to the artists in an intimate setting, and the programme offers regular events with international acts. Monthly Sunday brunches with special performances complete the schedule; the nocturnal blue characterises the rooms.
At the Stavenhof in the Altstadt-Nord is the Anno Pief, a cosy bar with Cologne charm and rustic furnishings. The menu includes local beers, cocktails and soft drinks, plus traditional delicacies at the regulars' tables. As an open meeting place for the queer community, the place is suitable for an after-work beer as well as for longer evenings.
In the Ehrenfeld district, the ARTheater combines bar, café, club and stage. The bar offers beers and cocktails, along with hearty snacks and light meals. The programme includes live concerts, theatre performances, readings, comedy shows and open stages, for example in the 'Art for Cash' format. An outdoor area serves as a retreat, and sustainability plays a role.
The Atelier Kaffee is located in the Kwartier Latäng, right next to the stage of the Atelier Theater. During the day it invites you to coffee in various varieties, tea and snacks, in the evening for drinks after the shows. Cosy seating areas and the theatre flair make it a meeting place for cabaret and comedy guests who want to extend the evening.
At Steinweg 4 in the old town is the Backbord, a cult pub with maritime flair and shipping motifs on the walls. Fresh Kölsch, other beers, cocktails and spirits will be served, as well as international snacks and pub dishes. The atmosphere is relaxed, the audience is mixed, and smoking is allowed.
The queer party series Backstage Diaries takes place at the Artheater in Ehrenfeld, spread over two floors: one for techno, the other for pop with hits, mashups and indie. Live performances and DJ sets from Britney to Beyoncé will be provided by performance artists such as Timothée aka Pierlucien, QueerMum and Miss Ivanka T. Everyone is welcome, queer and straight alike.
On Pipinstraße in the old town is Barcelon, a gay bar with a mixed crowd and a relaxed vibe. The drinks menu offers 45 types of gin, cocktails, long drinks, wines, spirits and beers; a sun terrace provides additional space in good weather. On weekends and public holidays, the bar opens early and serves cakes and coffee specialties.
In the south of the old town, in the middle of pubs and restaurants, lies the construction site 4U, a gay bar with a warm atmosphere. Kölsch, cocktails and other drinks will be served. During the week it remains relaxed, on weekends there is dancing and singing; at carnival or CSD, the mood continues to rise. Happy hours and outdoor seating invite you to linger.
The Reineke Fuchs club in the Belgian Quarter is hosting Beatz & Boyz, an LGBTQ party series with a young, gay crowd and a Funktion-One sound system. On the large dance floor, the music ranges from dance and electro to black music and special beats. The bar offers imported beers and charcuterie dishes; admission starts at 20 euros.
In Vor-St.-Martin-Straße is Bei Udo, a bar with café character and rustic furnishings near the Rhine promenade. The bar includes classic Kölsch beers and coffee variations, as well as light dishes such as bistro classics and homemade cakes. The location in the old town makes the place the starting point for an evening, whether for a quick drink or a longer chat.
At Luxemburger Straße 20 is the Besser Bar & Lounge, a mixture of bar and lounge with soft seating areas and dimmed lighting. The focus is on cocktails mixed with fresh ingredients, accompanied by snacks and small dishes. As a meeting place for Cologne's LGBTQ+ scene, it regularly offers cocktail tastings and live music.
At Bolzengasse 7 in the old town is the BETT (cologne) em Bölzjen. The bar offers a wide range of drinks at fair prices, plus live music and sports broadcasts on large screens. The friendly staff and the central location make the place a lively meeting place for locals and visitors.
The Bilderschreck in Cologne's Klettenberg district is a mixed bar with café character and a colorful clientele, which includes many LGBTQ+ guests. The menu includes Kölsch, other beers, cocktails as well as simple dishes and snacks. It is open until the early hours of the morning, and the Klettenberg station is just around the corner.
At Friesenstraße 43 is the Bliss.bar, a party club for the queer community. Dark lights, powerful bass and a colorful crowd characterize the dance floor. The program ranges from themed parties to live DJs with house and techno to drag shows and pride specials. The bar serves cocktails, local beers and shots, plus there are intimate lounges for breaks.
In the Altstadt-Süd, the Blue Lounge Tanzbar is a meeting place for Cologne's LGBTQ+ scene. Lounge sofas, dimmed lights and a large dance floor characterize the room, plus cocktails, beers and soft drinks. In the evenings, music from pop to house to chart hits is played; drag shows and theme nights take place regularly. The location is well suited as a start before clubbing.
Gay bars in Cologne are almost all close together, around Rudolfplatz. Schaafenstraße, Mathiasstraße and Moltkestraße branch off from there, which together form the so-called Bermuda Triangle. The district bears its name because many visitors only find their way out in the early hours of the morning. Bar after bar is lined up here for a few hundred meters, with cafés and smaller clubs in between. So if you want to go out in Cologne, you don't need to travel long distances from one location to the next.
Schaafenstraße itself is considered the centerpiece and has one of the highest densities of gay bars in all of Germany. The audience is mixed. From after-work beer to dancing the night away, everything is there. While some shops focus on karaoke or drag shows, others remain the classic pub for chatting. In the week before the CSD, the Schaafenstraßenfest transforms the whole street into an open-air stage. As a carnival city in the Rhineland, Cologne is happy to party anyway, and you notice that in the scene all year round. The following addresses range from the cosy corner bar to the club for the long night.
