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Cologne Nightlife

Many visitors are content to while away most of the evening drinking kölsch (the famous local beer) in one or more of Cologne's many brewhouses (singular, brauhaus), which resemble something between a bierkeller (beer cellar) and a traditional British pub. Nightclubs and style bars are dispersed around the town. Look in the Altstadt around Buttermarkt and Salzgasse, or go a little further out to the Belgische Viertel, between Rudolfsplatz and Friesenplatz, where you will find the biggest concentration of fashionable places to drink and eat. Other good places are the Univiertel (University Quarter) around Barbarossa Platz and Zülpicher Platz.

To find out what's on in Cologne, pick up a free copy of the monthly bilingual Köln im ... [month] (www.koeln.de/koeln/was_ist_los), available from the tourist office.

Bars in Cologne

Brauhaus Peters

Brauhaus Peters is the most attractive brauhaus in Cologne, with six lovely rooms (the glass-domed art nouveau style is the most popular) serving good food and great beer.

Mühlengasse 1
Tel: (0221) 257 3950.
Website: www.peters-brauhaus.de

Früh am Dom

Früh am Dom is another classic labyrinthine brauhaus in Cologne, where sooner or later everyone ends up - it's always busy but still manages to provide excellent service and top quality food (try the Braühaustopf).

Am Hof 12-18
Tel: (0221) 261 3211.
Website: www.frueh.de

Rosebud

Rosebud is a long-established cocktail bar and is still the place to see and be seen in Cologne - excellent jazz-inspired music is worth the detour.

Heinsbergstrasse 20
Tel: (0221) 240 1455.
Website: www.rosebud.de

Clubs in Cologne

Alter Wartesaal

Alter Wartesaal, set in a former waiting room in the vaults beneath Cologne's Hauptbahnhof (central station), has been beautifully converted into a very popular club which hosts mostly house, soul and techno nights.

11 Johannisstrasse
Tel: (0221) 912 8850.
Website: www.wartesaal.de

Studio 672

Studio 672 is located in Stadtgarten, a multi-function venue which also serves as a concert hall and café-restaurant. The music is techno, reggae and dancehall.

Venloer Strasse 40
Tel: (0221) 952 9940.
Website: www.stadtgarten.de

Live Music in Cologne

LANXESS arena

The largest multifunction hall in Germany, LANXESS arena has hosted the likes of Pavarotti, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Rod Stewart.

Willy Brandt Platz 3
Tel: (0221) 8021.
Website: www.koelnarena.de

Papa Joe's Jazzlokal

Small pokey and always buzzing, Papa Joe's Jazzlokal is one of the oldest jazz clubs in Germany with traditional and swing bands playing every night and Sunday afternoon.

Buttermarkt 37
Tel: (0221) 257 7931.
Website: www.papajoes.de

Stadtgarten

Stadtgarten is an excellent multi-function venue which serves as a concert hall (regular jazz, latin and other sounds), nightclub (Studio 672 - techno, reggae and dancehall) and café-restaurant. In summer, it is also the most popular beer garden in Cologne.

Venloer Strasse 40
Tel: (0221) 952 9940.
Website: www.stadtgarten.de

Classical Music in Cologne

Hochschüle für Musik

Students stage top-class jazz, blues and classical concerts plus dance evenings alongside guest performers at the Hochschüle für Musik.

Dagobertstrasse 38
Tel: (0221) 912 8180.
Website: www.mhs-koeln.de

Kölner Philharmonie

Extraordinary architecture and excellent acoustics are the hallmarks of Cologne's Philharmonie concert hall. Every Thursday lunchtime at 1230, a free 30-minute rehearsal concert is performed.

Bischofsgartenstrasse 1
Tel: (0221) 204 080.
Website: www.koelner-philharmonie.de

Opera in Cologne

Oper der Stadt Köln

Oper der Stadt Köln, the Cologne Opera company, has a high reputation for its classical and contemporary works.

Offenbachplatz
Tel: (0221) 2212 8400.
Website: www.buehnenkoeln.de

Theatre in Cologne

Studiobühne Köln

Cologne has a lively theatre scene, but the vast majority of productions are in German. Venues such as the Studiobühne Köln regularly host international and foreign language events.

Universitätsstrasse 16A
Tel: (0221) 470 4513.
Website: www.studiobuehne-koeln.de

Theater am Sachsenring

The Theater am Sachsenring is another popular venue in Cologne for international and foreign language theatre. More information about theatres in Cologne can be found at www.koeln.de/cologne_tourist_information/arts_and_cultures/theatre.

Sachsenring 3
Tel: (0221) 315 015.
Website: www.theater-am-sachsenring.de

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