Say bonjour to bohemian flair and studenty vibes! Though La Sorbonne and Cologne University may be worlds apart in terms of architecture, it’s true that the small area of Cologne city centre known locally as the Kwartier Latäng was actually named after Paris’s student district, Quartier Latin.
Everything you need to know about Kwartier Latäng
Cologne’s Latin Quarter, taking in Zülpicher Straße, Südbahnhof station and Rathenauplatz square, is abuzz with student life too. There are more snack bars and kiosks than park benches, café-goers engrossed in cultured conversation and theatres that engross audiences with culture. Plus plenty of people having a good night out, as you’d expect.
Fun fact: In the late 19th century, what is now the Latin Quarter was located in muddy swampland outside the city gates. The district came into being when Cologne expanded and the borders of the city moved.
Unmissable Rathenauplatz square – an oasis of green
This is where the locals meet – Rathenauplatz is the green oasis of the Latin Quarter. Neighbours congregate beneath the trees, children run around the playground, boule balls roll in the sand and ping-pong balls whoosh over the net.
Gen Zers and pensioners chill side by side with a bottle of beer on a bench or at the beer garden that’s run by a group of locals. A tip from us: Make sure you try something from their menu – like the vegan meatballs or the potato omelette.
Opposite, a majestic-looking building on Roonstraße has heads turning: Cologne’s Great Synagogue. The building was destroyed during Kristallnacht in 1938 and reconstructed in the late 1950s.
Insider tip: Be sure to join one of the fascinating tours of the synagogue, home to Germany’s largest Jewish community. Afterwards, treat yourself to one of the fantastic dishes at the kosher restaurant Mazel Tov (booking required).
Hungry? Here come our top three eateries
The closer you get to the main thoroughfare of the Latin Quarter, the bigger the buzz. There’s always something happening on Zülpicher Straße and around the Bahnhof Süd station. If you get off a train there feeling hungry, you won’t be for long!
A quick bite to take away, a cosy sit-down place or perhaps a spot of fine dining?
We got you! For the sophisticated stuff, head to La Societé on Kyffhäuser Straße. You’ll find everything else at the dozens of snack bars, cafés and restaurants.
Can’t cope with so many culinary choices? Let us make it easier for you! Just choose from our top three:
- Dine on delicious Middle Eastern cuisine at the mosaic tables of Habibi.
- Munch your way through the vast schnitzel menu at Oma Kleinmann.
- Breakfast all day long at the very instagrammable and very friendly St. Louis Breakfast Club and enjoy a mimosa signature drink with your meal..
And that’s just a few of the options. For a district with such modest proportions, the number of countries you can dine your way around in the Latin Quarter is surprisingly large.
Fancy a spot of shopping?
There might not be many of them but what shops the district does have go way beyond the usual high-street offering. Being so close to the university, books are a must of course. Taschenbuchladen, on Zülpicher Straße, is a charming place with a good selection and an unrivalled range of (post)cards – from standard to quirky. Paper fans will also like Papelito, where you can browse through gorgeous stationery (I mean, where can you still get premium paper by the sheet?) and you’ll always find a nice gift for yourself or someone else.
If exquisite vintage fashion is your thing, make sure you drop by Entlarvt, where you’ll find one or two sequins and feathers; at Cherry Pieces on Engelbertstraße, they sort things by colour, resulting in a dazzling display of second-hand designer items.
Our tip: Fabulous vintage jewellery! Tausend fliegende Fische, on Roonstraße/Engelbertstraße, has been selling a select range of fashion and beautiful jewellery for years. The quaint Schauplatz boutique opposite follows suit.
Our top five for an unforgettable night
This could be hard. If you thought it was difficult to choose what to eat, wait until you see the nightlife! We’re here to help with five recommendations:
- Takeaway beer and people-watching: If the weather’s being kind, grab a beer from a kiosk and head to the wall near the railway bridge on Zülpicher Straße or Späti opposite the Herz Jesu (“Sacred Heart”) church.
- Stiefel – A slightly worn charm complete with murals, graffiti, stickers and table football. This gastropub previously played host to jazz musicians, then punks and now it’s students.
- Rosebud Bar: Where fine cocktails titillate your taste buds in a laid-back atmosphere.
- Live music and dancing: Head to MTC, Stereo Wonderland, Blue Shell or Luxor – they all host gigs ranging from indie to established acts plus a variety of themed parties.
- Gilbert’s Pinte – The oldest student bar in the Kwartier Latäng. It’s located on Engelbätstraße and you can watch Bundesliga and Champions League football matches here.
Culture more your thing?
If you’re looking for something more discerning, you need the Atelier Theater on Roonstraße. They stage plays, comedy performances, cabaret and exhibition previews almost every day from Wednesday to Sunday.
Then there’s Theater in der Filmdose on the corner of Zülpicher Straße and Kyffhäuser Straße. This combined theatre and café is a popular place to meet, at any time of the day, to sit inside or out and either contemplate what you’ve just seen or simply watch the goings-on.
Movie buffs love Off Broadway on Zülpicher Straße. With that name, it’s no surprise this is an arthouse cinema but it is a surprise to discover its magical courtyard.
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