Cologne’s best breakfasts to go

When it’s one of those days and you just don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast, often the only option is the corner bakery or the kiosk at the train station. And because regular coffee or white-bread rolls can get dull sometimes, I’ve put together some infinitely more exciting options for you that I discovered on my last photo-and-breakfast safari through Cologne. All of them throw in a great start to the day for free!

Köski Royal in Braunsfeld on the corner of Aachener Straße and Kitschburger Straße is more than a traditional Cologne büdchen, or kiosk. Within spitting distance of the Braunsfeld/Maarweg stop on tram lines 1 and 7, Köski benefits from all the love and style attention paid to it by proprietor Charlotte Mieß Paulssen, who took it over a year ago. Besides delicious coffee, Charlotte sells home-made quiche, cookies, croissants, various cakes and Portuguese pastel de nata egg custard tarts.
But Köski doesn’t just keep your stomach happy, it’s also a must-see for interior design enthusiasts – check out Charlotte’s range of home decorations.

Kitschburger Straße 247, 50933 Cologne
Web: www.facebook.com/Köski-Royal-155679471929349
Opening hours: Tue to Sun 7 am to 6 pm, closed Mon

If you prefer to start your day with a healthy smoothie, Spatz should fit the bill. There’s two locations in the city, both offering the same menu. Besides smoothies and ginger shots, there’s also healthy bagels with various toppings, energy balls, and chia pudding. All are free of industrially refined sugar, and if you have any food issues such as gluten intolerance or prefer vegan breakfasts, Spatz will serve you well.

Braunsfeld location
Aachener Strasse 503, 50933 Cologne
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 10 am to 5 pm, Sat 10 am to 4 pm

City centre/Belgian quarter location
Antwerpener Strasse 38 (enter from Brüsseler Strasse), 50672 Cologne
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 9.30 am to 5 pm, Sat 10 am to 6 pm, Sun 10 am to 4 pm

Web: www.facebook.com/spatz.deli

On Venloer Strasse in the heart of Ehrenfeld, customers can get a close-up look at the bakers kneading the dough at Zeit für Brot, and it’s a mouthwatering sight to behold. The selection of breakfast options is huge, and there’s a variety of sandwiches for take away laid out in the display case. Whether it’s cheese that’s your thing, or maybe cold cuts or even vegan fillings, you will not walk out disappointed. Sweet buns of various kinds, chocolate rolls or savoury filled cheese straws round off the selection. My personal favourite of the savoury kind is their vegan sandwich with potato and rosemary; in terms of sweets, my money is on the white chocolate bun.

+++ Unfortunately, Zeit für Brot is closed , or under a new name Die Mehlwerkstatt +++

Oatmeal, water, salt are the three main ingredients of Haferkater’s porridges. And if that sounds boring to you, get yourself down to Haferkater right now and sample one of their freshly made porridges topped with all manner of delicious items: stewed fruits of the forest, honey-nut granola, dark chocolate, home-made apple sauce, coconut flakes… or savoury options such as goat’s milk cream cheese. My favourite is the Bärenkater porridge topped with goji berries, honey, mulberries, chia seeds, cranberries and banana.

Trankgasse 11, 50667 Cologne (shopping area in the main station)
Web: www.facebook.com/Haferkater
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 6 am to 8 pm, Sat to Sun 7 am to 8 pm

In the heart in the city centre on Friesenplatz is newcomer Kaffeesaurus, a light-filled space with a large display case offering fresh ciabatta sandwiches, bagels and croissants, all hand-made in Kaffeesaurus’ on-site bakery. Fresh coffee with beans from their own roastery round off the offering. This place is great news for late risers: Kaffeesaurus serves breakfast right up until it closes. Of course, everything’s also available to take away. Among my favourite to-go options are filter coffee, the salmon-stuffed bagels and the gluten-free vegan brownie.

Friesenplatz 15, 50672 Cologne
Web: www.facebook.com/Kaffeesaurus
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8 am to 7 pm, Sat 9 am to 8 pm, Sun 9 am to 6 pm

What better start to the day than a good breakfast with some seriously good coffee? Right: nothing. Heilandt is a real pro when it comes to coffee and in Cologne, everyone knows it. But they don’t just have coffee, there’s also panini, yoghurt with fresh fruit and sweet options such as cakes, tartlets and croissants. So in addition to German-style afternoon “Kaffee und Kuchen”, you can also drop by in the morning to pick up a take-away coffee with banana bread or a panini to make your morning commute bearable. My breakfast favourite is their banana bread, best enjoyed warm from the oven, and the oat milk cappuccino.

Sülz location
Sülzburgstraße 1, 50937 Cologne
Opening hours: Mon 10 am to 7 pm, Tue to Fri 8 am to 7 pm, Sat 9 am to 7 pm, Sun 10 am to 7 pm

Belgian Quarter location
Bismarckstraße 41, 50672 Cologne
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8 am to 7 pm, Sat 10 am to 7 pm, Sun 10 am to 7 pm

Web: www.facebook.com/heilandt

Amazing sandwiches, croissants, cake, ciabatta and vegan “Bircher” muesli served in a jar – all that and more is served at Café Einspänner in Südstadt. If you happen to be boarding or changing trams at Chlodwigplatz, why not drop in to this place a stone’s throw away? Doors open at 7 am, so if you’re an early bird or commuting to work, this is the place for you. For the real Cologne experience, order a cappuccino and watch the barista create “latte art” in your cup with image of the Cathedral right there on top. Incredible! My breakfast of choice here: the vegan Bircher muesli and filter coffee.

Adresse: Bonner Straße 13, 50677 Cologne
Web: www.facebook.com/einspaenner.koeln
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 7 am to 7 pm, Sat 9 am to 6 pm, Sun 10 am to 6 pm