Cologne’s best ice cream shops

As mercury rises, so does our need for ice cream – it’s a law of nature. Thankfully Cologne has a large number of ice cream shops to fill that need. Here’s my list of go-to parlours, from traditional or quirky to premium or sustainable.

Mario Pereira has not one but two Breda outlets and they’re right next to each other on Rudolfplatz in the heart of the city centre: nice and central and always busy. Open year round, Breda sells classic varieties such as strawberry, lemon and vanilla alongside a range of more innovative flavours including rum truffles and cookies. With more than 20 flavours to choose from, there’s something for everyone here. When I’m in the city centre, I head to Breda whenever I feel a hankering for a cold and sweet treat.

My favourite: Melon
Price per scoop: EUR 1.20
Address: Pfeilstrasse 8, 50672 Cologne
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10 am – 10:30 pm, Sun 11 am – 10.30 pm
Web: www.facebook.com/pages/Breda-Eiscafe/196986146997147

The guys from TörtchenTörtchen have long cemented their reputation as cake professionals; their next project involves ice cream, which they sell from their shop that opened in the Südstadt in March 2019. The menu lists flavours you won’t find anywhere else; I fell in love with tonka bean, strawberry-lime-and-mint and caramel with fleur-de-sel. Incredibly moreish! The milk they use comes from a dairy in the Bergisches Land west of Cologne, earning Schmelzpunkt – which translates to “melting point” – brownie points for using regional produce. Sustainability also plays a role: the serving cups are compostable. We like!

Don’t miss: Tonka bean, and strawberry-lime-and-mint
Price per scoop: EUR 1.50. Ask for a free taste (actually a mini-scoop). Kids’ scoops are EUR 1. Ask for a macaroon topping (various flavours, EUR 1.70 each).
Address: Merowinger Strasse 9, 50677 Cologne
Opening hours: Mon – Fri noon – 6 pm, in summer noon – 8 pm
Web: www.facebook.com/Schmelzpunkt-Köln-2293260750963723/

Stecco Natura serves its ice cream in popsicle form rather than as scoops. Choose from over ten flavours artfully arranged in the small display case of this shop on Bonner Strasse. The range includes vegan fruit sorbets as well as classic dairy-based varieties such as white chocolate, almond and nougat. They’ll also customise your ice cream on request. The cold stuff is manufactured in Sicily without any artificial flavourings or emulsifiers: quality you can taste!

Don’t miss: white chocolate dairy ice cream sprinkled with almonds
Popsicle: EUR 3.50 and up
Address: Bonner Strasse 40, 50677 Cologne
Opening hours: Sun – Thu noon – 10 pm, Fri – Sat noon – 11 pm
Web: www.facebook.com/stecconaturaeisbonnerstrassekoeln/

All-natural homemade ice cream is the name of the game at Keiserlich. And the flavours are nothing short of innovative: mascarpone-and-rhubarb, olive-oil-and-orange, and cinnamon-and-oatmeal are just some of the delicious options on offer here. Keiserlich uses regional and natural ingredients, a difference you can definitely taste; the fruit sorbet is the fruitiest I have tasted to date! Keiserlich operates four ice cream shops across the city, one more attractive than the other.

My favourites: Olive-oil-and-orange, and passionfruit
Price per scoop: EUR 1.50
Locations:
Sülz: Wittekindstraße 42, 50937 Cologne
Sülz II: Hermeskeiler Platz 4, 50935 Cologne
Junkersdorf: Kirchweg 134, 50858 Cologne
Agnesviertel: Neusser Platz 2, 50670 Cologne
Website listing opening hours of all shops: www.keiserlich.com
Facebook-Seite: www.facebook.com/keiserlich/

If traditional ice cream is your thing, make sure to drop in at Eis-Engeln in Nippes. This family-run parlour selling delicious ice cream has been around for as long as 63 years. Their ice cream is freshly made every day – and at EUR 1 per scoop, it’s one of the most affordable options in Cologne.

My favourites: All the classics (e.g., lemon, nut)
Price per scoop: EUR 1
Address: Cranachstrasse 22, 50733 Cologne
Opening hours: Tue – Sun 11 am – 9 pm, closed Mondays
Web: www.facebook.com/pages/category/Cafe/Eis-Engeln-447438815329655/

For ten years, Karim and Emilia ran what is now Der Eismacher under the name Gelatissimo for ten years until, in March 2018, they decided to relinquish the franchise and head for pastures new: organic ice cream. Each season the menu features up to 100 different flavours, with the list changing almost daily. There are always some unusual options on offer such as Giotto, curd-honey-and-walnut, and macaroon. And if you bring your own cup, you’re rewarded with a 10 per cent discount.

My favourites: lemon and macaroon
Price per scoop: EUR 1.20
Address: Severinstrasse 53, 50678 Cologne
Opening hours: 11 am – 8 pm daily