Before we talk about food, let's talk about beer. The best Cologne beer is Kölsch, light and light, highly fermented (the yeast in it rises, not drowns). This beer is brewed at local breweries according to a special recipe. Both men and women drink it from thin, tall glasses with a capacity of 0.2 liters (Stangen).
Beer is served almost everywhere, but to try real Cologne Kölsch, head to a traditional German pub (Brauhaus) In the Old Town you will find many such institutions decorated with dark wood. People gather at simple wooden tables, served by slightly arrogant waiters (Köbes) They instantly replace empty glasses with full ones, sometimes without even asking questions. You will have to stop them when you feel that you are not able to drink beer anymore. When you pay the bill, the waiter will slowly rummage through your pocket, looking for change. Typically, visitors get bored of waiting, and they leave change to the waiters.
Traditional brasseries are a great place to sample local specialties. Cologne specialty - Halve hahn. This is bread and butter, with onions and gouda cheeseA more “serious dish” is pork leg with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes (Haxe mit Sauerkraut und Kartoffelpüree) No meat lover can resist this.
In cafes, bars and restaurants, the cost of the service is usually not included in the bill. Accepted to leave as tip 10% of the invoice amount if you are satisfied with the quality of service. Credit cards are not accepted everywhere, therefore, before placing an order, specify whether your credit card will be accepted.
In summer, residents of Cologne like to have picnics in parks - in Reinpark, Stadtgarten and Volksgarten. Most Cologne parks have barbecue areas where you can grill your own steak with the locals. But usually people buy sandwiches, cakes and fruits on street stalls, and then go with them to the lawn. If you want real delicacies, head to the Kaufhof supermarket, where there is always a large selection of snacks and wines.
