Bed & Breakfast Cologne

Perfect! If I only had only one word to describe B & B Cologne, it would be PERFECT! The B & B is on the third floor in a quiet neighborhood. It has its own, private lift which makes moving luggage/people up & down a breeze.  It is a lovely, charming, beautiful place ideally located near everything (train station, Cathedral, St. Martins, St. Maria im Kapitol, The Old Town, Christmas Markets, Hofbrauhauses, museums & shopping)!  Our room and adjoining full, private bathroom (#1 – Downstairs) were large, clean and comfortable and included many original art works. The breakfast, which should be renamed the Ultimate Morning Feast, is EXTRAORDINARY! Our first morning, we sat and ate for an hour and a half! Any of these might make you consider staying with Mike & Mietze (his gorgeous British shorthaired cat), but the most exceptional thing about B & B Cologne is Mike and the way he makes you feel like an honored guest in his wonderful home. Mike is the epitome of what a welcoming host should be and I doubt you will ever experience anyone as warm, friendly and kind as him in your travels. We have trotted the globe and never have we experienced the level of hospitality Mike lavishes on his guests. We were his last guests before he closed for the Christmas Holidays. You might think we would not receive Mike’s full attention due to other stresses of the season let alone preparing for the arrival of his own family for the holidays, but indeed we did. Upon arrival, he greeted us with cupcakes and café macchiatos. When we returned that evening from a full day sampling the Christmas markets, Mike welcomed us back with the best Gluhwein and Eierpunsch in the city. Trust me on this one, as we sampled both concoctions at 6 different Christmas markets!  During our stay, Mike gave us a detailed maps and lots of helpful hints that were spot on to help us make the most of our time in Cologne. He called restaurants to secure reservations and checked hours or operation at different attractions we were interested in. In short, he makes you feel like you have died and gone to B & B heaven! If you are planning a stay in Cologne, there is no better place than with Mike and Mietze at B & B Cologne!

We stayed for 3 nights with elderly parents and were concerned that we found somewhere they would feel comfortable and at home. We have stayed in a wide range of 4* & 5* hotels across Europe previously and thought we would give this B&B a try after looking at the reviews. It provides outstanding accommodation and the host Mike is brilliant, so funny and helpful. He runs a consultancy which checks the service and performance of restaurants in Cologne so is able to give great advice on where to eat. I would describe it as unique and as good as it gets!

My husband has already left a review of this B&B(above), but I just felt I had to leave my own comments. From the moment we arrived, despite it being late evening, we were made to feel so welcome. This was a surprise trip for my parents (in their 70’s) and Mike, the host, ensured that they felt both at home and special from the start. He had even considered which the most appropriate room for them was and they couldn’t have been happier. We all thought that the experience was unique and that Mike could not have been more welcoming or a better host. So, young or old alike, you couldn’t fail to appreciate the quality of this experience. Add to this the fact that we were perfectly located for easy access to Cologne and everything it had to offer, and it made for a perfect break. My father described the accommodation, the food and the wonderful host as “magic”. We will all remember this trip for a very long time. Thank you Mike.

I have often read of places where people have commented that they felt like they were staying with a friend but this wasn’t the case with B&B Cologne because I don’t have any friends that would spoil me as well as Mike!

The sensational breakfast reveals so much about the host; the attention to detail, beautiful presentation and ridiculously varied offering of home cooking (even the jam is home made) show his artistic flair. This is also the case with the fantastic apartment that is so tastefully decorated but still has a very comfortable feel; while there is loads of terrific and interesting artwork (much of which is by Mike himself) it in no way feels like a museum. I really had a room with a view; one window shows Kölner Dom (cathedral) and the other the city’s first protestant church (forgotten the name – sorry). I had just come from two terrible nights’ sleep at the All Seasons in Frankfurt (be warned!) and I was so happy to have such a fantastic sleep in such a quiet room.

What I think I like most about this B&B is the energy of the place that is of Mike ‘s making. I especially loved spending time on the leafy deck with a beer or coffee and delightful company and conversation. I could easily see myself spending a week here (unfortunately I only had 2 nights) and think that it would also be absolutely ideal for the business traveller. Don’t be put off by sharing Mike’s home – there is plenty of privacy and Mike is an expert on reading people and respecting people’s need for space. He manages to balance being super-attentive while also being unobtrusive. Normally I am turned off by the idea of living in someone else’s space but the lay-out of the place really lends itself to a B&B. Mike is an incredibly genuine person who sincerely enjoys making your stay as enjoyable as possible. It is obvious that he loves creating this environment for his guests.

Location is also unbeatable; it’s close to all the main points of interest and there is nothing better than having the benefit of some local knowledge. I ate really well and saw the less touristy parts of Cologne that I would probably not have seen without Mike’s guidance. So make sure you take Mike’s advice. I especially enjoyed seeing the new urban development at Rhine Harbour, the old cargo handling area, which is now home to the wonderful “crane buildings” (Pandion Vista, Kranhaus1 and KranhausPlus).

If you are coming or going to Frankfurt, and have the time, I would suggest taking the slower train via Koblenz that takes about 2.5 hrs. It winds along the Middle Rhine Valley adjacent to the river and the scenery and pretty villages really are lovely and worth the extra time. Also, when arriving into Cologne train station if you take the metro to Heumarkt then the apartment is only 300 m away and because the station is above ground you won’t have to drag your bag up/down stairs. Walking from the station also takes less than 10 mins. I took a taxi (6 – 7 Euro) and was a bit embarrassed because it was so close. Taxi to airport is only 26-28 Euros.

After a short walk along the river Rhine from central station to B&B cologne we were welcomed by owner Mike in a spacy, quiet penthouse, and shown to our own floor for the night, with a light, roomy bedroom, seperate luxurious shower, and even a walk-in closet. (which of course, having brought only a small travellers-bag we did'n't need, but had we known this...)
Home made cakes and a latte awaited us on the terrace, after settling in. And we were asked when we would like to have breakfast served next morning, anywhere between 7 and 11 would be fine.
Much has been said on this page about the breakfast, and it's all true.
This, as you will have noticed, is a positive review. Every help we needed was gladly given.
And of course a B&B is not the first reason to visit a town, but we did come away loving Cologne just a l bit better, and looking for an excuse to return in the foreseeable future.
One last bit of advice; you might want to consider taking out extra time in the morning to do justice to the festive, sumptuous breakfast.

If you're looking for a stylish and relaxed B&B, then Cologne Filzengraben should be at the top of your list. The homemade cakes are divine, the HUGE and lavish breakfasts make you feel like royalty, and the apartment is so beautiful you may be tempted just to hang out there all day (this is also welcomed).
Michael is the perfect host. Every care and attention goes into your stay.
The location is great, quiet and a short walk from everything Cologne offers.
We had a very relaxing and special weekend and truly felt we were staying with a dear friend.
We loved Cologne and we loved staying with Michael.
Book it now, this minute. You won't be disappointed.

True hospitality is there. You may experience warm welcome, clean, calm and modern interior of rooms and common space, fireplace, terrace, and fantastic breakfast. Beds are super comfortable to guarantee peaceful sleep. I wish to come back again.