A range of snacks from around the globe
You can work up quite an appetite as you visit the museums, sights and shops of Cologne. But where can you grab a snack if you’re near the cathedral and you don’t fancy a brewery pub or the central station? Well, there’s actually a wide choice of international cuisine to be had quite close to the cathedral. These are my four suggestions for good places for lunch or a snack, with something for (almost) everybody.
Variety is the spice of life on Andreaskloster
Andreaskloster is a lane tucked away where St. Andreas Church meets Komödienstraße. Home to shops and restaurants, it’s a popular place for lunch on weekdays with a variety of international eateries to choose from:
Die Vitamin-Oase
As the name suggests, this is an oasis for fans of vitamins. The focus is on fresh fruit, pick ‘n’ smoothies, pide sandwiches and a range of salads.
Andreaskloster 14, 50667 Cologne
Open: Mon – Fri, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.dievitaminoase.de
Punto Pasta
This is the place to go for home-made pasta specialities, served with an assortment of sughi (sauces). There are different fish, meat and vegetarian options available depending on what’s on the menu that day.
Andreaskloster 14, 50667 Cologne
Open: Mon – Fri, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.puntopasta-koeln.de
Ballucci
This cute little café serves original Breton galettes and crêpes, in a range of sweet and savoury versions, plus other specialities.
Andreaskloster 14, 50667 Cologne
Open: Mon – Fri, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
www.facebook.com/CafeteriaBallucci.de
Grüne Seele
Always has various paninis, wraps and salads plus, as an occasional treat in the winter, baked potatoes with a selection of toppings and salads to choose from.
+++ Unfortunately, Grüne Seele is closed +++
An den Dominikanern 9, 50668 Cologne
A selection of soups a stone’s throw away from the Kölnische Stadtmuseum
Die Suppenbar, just a few steps away from the Kölnische Stadtmuseum, has fresh soups ranging from the good old-fashioned to the more exotic, with a different choice every day. Open on weekdays, it also serves up other dishes, salads and home-made quiches, cakes and puddings – made (just like the soups) exclusively with natural ingredients and free of preservatives. My favourite is the African lentil soup – it’s delicious and filling! All of the soups come in small or large portions and can be eaten in or out. By the way, you can also get the soups, quiches and salads at Café Weltempfänger in Cologne’s Ehrenfeld district.
Komödienstraße 99, 50667 Cologne
Open: Mon – Fri, 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
www.diesuppenbar-koeln.de
A Chinese drive-in with a difference
Kim’s China-Imbiss, a small place, hidden away in the City Parkhaus multi-storey car park, may not look like much. But it has great-tasting Chinese food, prepared in a matter of minutes, for a fair price. Even though they have a large selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, I usually tend to go for fried rice with chicken or chop suey with tofu – they never fail to impress! The brilliant thing about this place is that you can get everything without flavour enhancers – you just have to ask. And the food doesn’t need them anyway. You can get a takeaway here or eat in and enjoy the Chinese snackbar charm – if you can manage to find a seat!
Unter Goldschmied 29, 50667 Cologne
Open: Tues – Sun, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
www.facebook.com/pages/Kims-China-Imbiß/154024054630330
+++ Unfortunately, Kim‘s China-Imbiss is closed +++
Italian bread specialities in the “Opernpassagen” arcade
This isn’t as close to the cathedral as the others but I think it’s worth the walk – palladio in the Opernpassagen arcade (Breite Straße) with a range of Italian bread specialities. Cold or hot, the bruschetta and focaccia with their scrumptious toppings are hard to beat and are available to eat in or out. My favourites are the bruschetta speciale, which comes with a different topping every day, and the vegetarian focaccia primavera, with rocket leaves, tomato, cucumber , radicchio and sheep’s cheese – yummy! There are also fresh salads and pizzas made from real Italian flour plus a wide range of Italian breads to buy to take home. Buon appetito!
Opernpassagen, Breite Straße 29, 50667 Cologne
Open: Mon – Sat, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
palladio-opernpassagen.de
Leave a Comment