The best steaks I ever ate. For over 36 years El Gaucho has served its guests with genuine, Argentinian angus steaks, prepared on a central, open charcoal fire. Watch and enjoy the taste of these Argentinian specialties - just like gauchos in the pampas. El Gaucho not only stands for quality dining, but is also a part of authentic Argentinian culture in Germany.

The El Gaucho is the first and oldest Argentinian restaurant in Germany.

Barbarossaplatz 4a
D-50674 Cologne
Tel.: +49 221 246797
Fax: +49 221 2402936
www.el-gaucho.de

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Every Cologne brewery has its own beer hall, but Gaffel, Paeffgen and Muehlen have the best beer and food (especially Gaffel).

They are also far enough away from the train station and cathedral to be less full of tourists.

Gaffel - Alter Markt
Paeffgen - Friesenstrasse
Muehlen - Heumarkt

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Fruh is the best-known and most widely available Kolsch and the bar near the cathedral, (Fruh am Dom), is one of the oldest brauhuses, having survived bombing during WW2. It's a traditional German pub serving good beer and wholesome German food, and a great place to start the day.

Am Hof 12-16, 50667 Köln Altstadt/Dom;
www.frueh.de

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If you want to visit an authentic part of Cologne and don't want to go to all the touristy places where everybody else goes, visit the Suedstadt - a laid back quarter with pretty art nouveau buildings and friendly residents, most of them students and young families. Once you've passed the nasty construction site of the new underground line they're building at the Chlodwigplatz, you will find multi-cultural cuisine, nice cafes and pubs, and cute little shops.

A very special place is the Fiffi Bar, where the 1960's furnishing is decorated with kitschy dog accessories. If you fancy a nice park and beer garden, go to the Volksgarten 9 (Volksgartenstrasse). And if you're up for some football on the big screen during the World Cup, visit the Hammond Bar, a charmingly worn-out place where you can always have a glass of Kölsch together with incredibly nice, football-crazy people.

U-Bahn: Chlodwigplatz (Lines 6, 15, 16, 17);
Fiffi Bar: Rolandstrasse 99; tel: 0221 340 6211;
Hammond Bar: Metzer Strasse 25; tel: 0221 932 9229; www.hammondbar.de

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A very nice beer garden, where you can drink the local 'Kölsch'. It also features a restaurant/cafe, concert hall and the very popular, slightly trendy club Studio 672.

Venloer Str. 40
50672

www.stadtgarten.de/Studio.htm

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This is a great place for traditional German food and atmosphere. You sit alongside strangers on wooden tables and the waiter continuously brings you glasses of beer, until you ask him to stop....most men's idea of heaven!

As far as the food is concerned, I'd recommend the sausage and bratkartoffeln (basically sauteed potatoes) that I had and the schnitzel and sauerkraut both looked pretty good too.

The Germans might not be renowned for their cuisine, but Peter's will definitely make you change your mind.

Cologne old town, on one of the little streets that heads up from the Rhine

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A teeny neighbourhood restaurant in Nippes. It’s a slow food kitchen so don't be in a rush, but they do wonderful dishes. I was brought here by a local and was very happy.

Nippes, Siebachstr. 50
tel: 0160 776 99 80

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Cologne’s best curry house. The bhuna washed down with a cold glass of lassi is particularly recommended. Thali also does a range of veggie options. You can sit outside on the pavement in the summer and enjoy an al fresco curry. Mains are between eight and 13 euros.

Engelbertsrasse 9

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This restaurant offers a really good deal for a three course meal - it costs about 12 euros if you go before 7pm and about 15 euros after 7pm. Portions are small but really delicious and service is great

Ottostraße 69, Ehrenfeld;
tel: 0221 55 6261;
Nearest tram stop is nussbaumerstrasse on line 5 or 13

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