Little Link is one of the best places in Cologne for top-notch non-alcoholic drinks with creative beverage options that are every bit as flavoursome as their alcoholic counterparts. Photo: Little Link

More than just the next best thing – Cologne’s top spots for non-alcoholic drinks

Salted grapefruit cordial, goat’s cheese syrup, vanilla ice-cream foam – all proof that non-alcoholic drinks can be classy and sophisticated too. We reveal where you can find them.

Non-alcoholic beverages have long moved on from their “next best thing” status. Ingenious concoctions, made with creative ingredients, they’re every bit as flavoursome as their alcoholic counterparts – provided the people making them know what they’re doing. And they definitely do in these seven Cologne bars where sublime atmosphere blends with exquisite flavour experiences from fruity to tangy to fizzy.

The Bär – divine drinks infused with living-room vibes

Located in the heart of the Ehrenfeld neighbourhood, gin and cocktail bar The Bär has a colourful interior that quickly makes you feel at home with its comfy couches, armchairs and patterned wallpaper. With a vibe this cosy, the drinks taste even better – and that includes the ones that don’t contain alcohol! Owner Marcos Rivas agrees non-alcoholic beverages have long moved on from merely being the “next best thing”: “More and more people are choosing non-alcoholic options. For many of our guests, our mocktails are a conscious choice that doesn’t mean having to compromise on flavour or style.”

Almost all the cocktails on the menu are available with or without alcohol – even the espresso martinis. Classics like virgin mojito get a makeover here with fruity variations featuring passion fruit, raspberry or mango. But Marcos tells us one of the top favourites is the tangy “Cucumber Cooler” – a blend of elderflower, cucumber juice, lime juice and tonic – followed by the creamy mango sour – an exotically fruity combination of mango, lemon juice, vegan aquafaba and ginger ale. Chocoholics will want to try “Choco Love”, a mix of orange, lime, chocolate syrup and ginger ale and, in Marcos’ words, “a perfect blend of sweetness and tanginess”.

The Bär, Thebäerstraße 10, 50823 Cologne. Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 7pm – midnight; Friday and Saturday, 7pm – 2am

Little Link – big on quality

  • A glass of “Raspberry Ginger Lemonade” sits on the bar counter at the Little Link Bar in Cologne.
  • View of the bar at Little Link in Cologne. Numerous bottles of spirits can be seen in the background.
  • Three bartenders stand next to each other behind a bar and mix drinks.

Stephan Hinz has won loads of prizes for his bar, including the 2024 fizz Award for “Most successful food & drink outlet owner”. With Little Link’s combination of experimental mixology and first-rate quality, the accolades come as no surprise. Their cocktails are anything but run-of-the-mill – you’ll even come across ingredients like pumpkin or saffron. And the non-alcoholic ones are no exception. “For us it’s a no-brainer to prepare our non-alcoholic drinks with the same care and attention as all our other ones. With or without alcohol, we base them all on a range of house-made components and varied, fresh ingredients,” Stephan explains.

One of the signature drinks here is the raspberry ginger lemonade, a mix of house-made raspberry purée, cardamom, vanilla and lemon, topped with ginger beer. “Another popular choice is our ‘Herbal Citrus Booster’, containing bergamot, orange blossom, rosemary, agave, lemon and soda,” the bar team tell us.

They’re also keen to provide food options that pair well with their offbeat beverages. Guests can choose from a range of “sexy sliders” – juicy mini burgers with a variety of fillings, served until 11pm. If you just need something yummy to keep you going, house-made grilled cheese sandwiches are available until late at night and come in vegetarian and vegan versions too.

Little LinkMaastrichter Straße 20, 50672 Cologne. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 5pm – 1am; Friday and Saturday, 5pm – 2am; Sunday, 5pm – 12.30am

Woods – unconventional cocktails amidst warm wood furnishings

Right in the middle of Cologne’s urban buzz hides a bar that exudes elegance and calm: Woods. As the name suggests, wood and woods are very much the theme here. The interior has a gorgeous wooden ceiling, wooden light fittings for that extra special mood and lots of little details to round off the warm and welcoming atmosphere perfectly.

Woods specialises in the sort of cocktails you won’t find everywhere. Many of them come either with or without alcohol, like “The Fox” – a mouth-watering mix of cranberry juice, a non-alcoholic aperitif called Crodino and liquorice.

“Our bestseller is ‘Levante’, a fruity combination of mango, basil, jalapeno, saffron, soda and non-alcoholic gin as the base. Other favourites are ‘Ziegenpeter’, which contains a goat’s cheese syrup that’s creamy without being too heavy, thyme, apple and non-alcoholic gin as the base, and ‘Pinnochio’, which is a blend of our house-made chocolate and banana purée, spices, verjuice and a delicious vegan vanilla ice-cream foam,” says manager Simon Bach. If you’re having trouble deciding, the expert bar staff are happy to help you find the perfect drink for your taste buds.

It’s not just what you get inside that’s special at Woods, but how you get inside – guests have to ring a doorbell and are then welcomed in person.

Woods, Friesenstraße 49, 50670 Cologne. Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 6pm – midnight; Friday and Saturday, 6pm – 1am; Sunday, 6pm – 11.30pm

Rosebud – vegan drinks made from the very best ingredients

The Rosebud cocktail bar in Cologne’s Latin Quarter has been a stalwart of the bar scene for over 30 years. With its iconic green and purple neon rose, it’s become something of an institution with a reputation for uniting the traditional and the modern in charming style. Rosebud has been run by friends Alexander Schleeweiß, Philipp Hainke and Robert Siegel since 2019 and they’ve managed to create something that combines creativity, stylish ambience and a touch of local flair.

The bar offers a good range of high-end drinks and affordable cocktails as well as a menu designed to promote sustainability – a subject close to the Rosebud team’s hearts. All of the drinks are vegan and don’t contain any animal-based ingredients like egg whites or cream. They’re strong on non-alcoholic options here too: Black Bee, a refreshing combination of cold brew, dark berries, honey and tonic water, is just one example.

Rosebud, Heinsbergstraße 20, 50674 Cologne. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 7pm – 2am

Suderman – non-alcoholic cocktails accompanied by live music

Suderman, in the Agnesviertel district, has been adding pizazz to Cologne’s bar scene since 2015. It didn’t take long to establish itself as a hybrid of stylish cocktail bar and laid-back corner pub. It’s a place where sophisticated ambience and down-to-earthness converge, where you can enjoy top-quality drinks in a relaxed setting. At the weekends, live music by a range of different DJs adds to the overall experience.

“Many of our guests come for the atmosphere and to socialise. They might not actually want to drink any alcohol or they might have to drive. Our aim is to give them a great all-round experience too,” manager Felix Engels explains. And that includes non-alcoholic drinks that taste of more than just mixed juices and syrup. “With a little finesse, you can create exciting, sophisticated cocktails even without an alcohol base,” he adds.

Examples include “Kino im OG”, with a non-alcoholic vermouth base, a salted grapefruit cordial and grapefruit foam, and “Der Nachbar”, a fusion of labdanum, sage and notes of coffee. “At weekends, we also do a roaring trade in non-alcoholic Bloody Marys – one should never underestimate the classics,” says Engels with a grin.

Suderman Bar, Sudermanplatz 3, 50670 Cologne. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 6pm – 1am, Friday and Saturday, 6pm – 2am

Toddy Tapper – Sri Lankan aromas and spirits

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Toddy Tapper has been taking guests on a journey into the world of Sri Lankan flavours since 2016. Founded by acclaimed bartender Indika Silva and located in the Agnesviertel neighbourhood, this bar is named after the workers in his home country of Sri Lanka who climb to daunting heights to harvest the precious palm nectar from coconut trees – “toddy tappers”.

The non-alcoholic cocktails are infused with spices such as cumin, turmeric, cardamom and tamarind, resulting in a unique taste experience. Heritance, for instance, is a harmonised blend of passionfruit, Asian tamarind, coconut and citrus fruits that will have you asking for more. The bar’s alcoholic creations are made with Arrack – a spirit distilled from palm nectar, sugar cane and rice.

Toddy Tapper, Schillingstraße 27, 50670 Cologne. Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 7pm – midnight; Friday and Saturday, 7pm – 2am

Samuel’s Shep – inventive creations you won’t find anywhere else

Samuel’s Shep – in what used to be Shepheard – may not look like much from the outside but inside awaits a sophisticated yet cosy cocktail bar. The new owners have created a winning combination of unique concoctions and friendly atmosphere. Leather sofas and dim lighting make for a romantic ambience – perfect for a special evening. The menu features a wide selection of cocktails and the expert bar team are happy to help you make your choice.

The inventive house creations are particularly worthy of a mention and a delight to the taste buds with or without alcohol. Among the highlights are Palomita – a refreshing mix of house-made rosemary syrup, fresh grapefruit juice and fizzy grapefruit – and Bitter and Truth, with fresh lemon and orange juice coupled with Crodino, a non-alcoholic aperitif from Italy.

Samuel’s Shep, Rathenauplatz 5, 50674 Cologne. Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 7pm – midnight; Friday and Saturday, 7pm – 2am

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