Vegetarian & vegan restaurants in Cologne: the Pottkind chef’s favourite spots

At Cologne’s gourmet restaurant Pottkind, guests sit down to a menu that only unfolds once they’re at the table. This spring, however, there’s a clear direction: from 2 April to 2 May, vegetables take centre stage – with the kitchen going fully vegetarian for an entire month.

It’s not the first time Pottkind has dedicated itself entirely to vegetarian cuisine, but this year there’s a key difference: timing. “In previous years, we used Lent as a thematic starting point for this menu cycle. This time, we’re moving closer to spring and all its green vegetables and fresh flavours,” explains restaurant manager Lukas Winkelmann. And it’s not just the timing that’s new, the menu itself has been completely reworked.

Pottkind in Cologne – the essentials:

• opened in Cologne’s Südstadt district in 2018
• led by head chef Enrico Sablotny and managing director Lukas Winkelmann
• the name comes from the Ruhr region, the duo’s home
• awarded a Michelin star since 2021
• reservations can be made via the restaurant’s website

The aim, however, remains unchanged: to show that high-end cuisine doesn’t need fish or meat to be exciting. “Our six-course carte blanche menu is designed to convince even the most die-hard meat lovers that vegetarian cooking is anything but a compromise,” says Winkelmann. The vegetarian menu is priced at 135 euros, with wine pairing available for an additional 70 euros.

While Pottkind goes fully vegetarian at certain points throughout the year, Cologne has no shortage of places serving outstanding plant-based food year-round. These four restaurants are among Winkelmann’s personal favourites and go-to addresses for anyone who values quality.

Vunky on Eigelstein: seasonal plant-based menus

“Vunky was something Cologne really needed,” says Winkelmann. Compared to the other spots on this list, the restaurant is a relatively new addition to the city’s vegetarian and vegan scene: for just over a year, Kaddy Saidykhan and Tom Mackenroth have been serving plant-based cuisine here.

At lunchtime, guests can choose from a range of à la carte dishes, while in the evening Vunky offers a regularly changing three- to five-course menu. On Sundays, there is also a three-course breakfast menu. There is a strong emphasis on regional and seasonal ingredients.

For Lukas, Vunky is a real asset to Cologne’s food scene: “I love the restaurant’s interior design – they have a great eye for detail. The dishes are refined without feeling overcomplicated: fresh, full of flavour and beautifully presented.” His prediction? Vunky is here to stay.

Address: Eigelstein 127–129, 50668 Cologne – reservations online
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 12–3pm and 6–11pm, Saturday 6–11pm, Sunday 10am–3pm

Mashery Hummus Kitchen in the Latin Quarter: Middle Eastern street food in many forms

What began as an occasional street food stall has grown into an established restaurant: since 2018, Julian Wirtlerand Rhaya Ayoub-Wirtler have been running Mashery Hummus Kitchen.

At the heart of the menu is – of course – hummus, the rich chickpea purée of Middle Eastern cuisine. “The hummus is the undisputed star here and more than lives up to its reputation,” says Winkelmann. At Mashery, it’s served with a range of toppings, from garlic mushrooms and jackfruit shawarma to fried aubergine or shakshuka. There’s also a a regularly changing hummus of the week.

“But the rest of the menu – from sandwiches to falafel – is just as impressive and ranks among the best Middle Eastern street food in Cologne,” Lukas adds. In other words, it’s well worth a visit, even if you’re not just there for the hummus.

Address: Roonstr. 36, 50674 Cologne – reservations online
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 12–10pm

Trash Chic in Kalk: street food classics, fully vegan

Burgers, gyros, chicken nuggets or German staples like currywurst and schnitzel – at Trash Chic, everything is vegan, yet for Lukas it easily holds its own against the originals. “The gyros with tzatziki and chips is just as satisfying as the classic version.”

The menu is rounded out by a weekly changing special, ranging from vegan fish and chips to Königsberger Klopse. One standout is the “Taxiteller”, a typical dish from the Ruhr region: a mix of gyros and currywurst with chips and a serving of tzatziki.

But it’s not just the food that stands out. “Vegan fast food meets punky pub vibes – it sounds wild, but it works.” Over the years, Trash Chic has become something of a cult spot. The bar has been around since 2003 and has been run as a collective since 2020, not by a single owner, but by a jointly organised team. “Our aim isn’t to generate profit, but to cover costs and create a meeting place for people in Kalk,” the collective explains.

It’s especially worth a visit in the warmer months, says Lukas: “In summer, the outdoor seating really comes into its own – making the trip across to the right bank of the Rhine more than worthwhile.”

Address: Wiersbergstr. 31, 51103 Cologne – reservations by phone: +49 221 82822968
Opening hours: food served daily except Monday from 5–10pm – the bar stays open late

Nobiko in Kalk: fully vegan Japanese cuisine

Japanese cuisine isn’t normally associated with vegetarian food. Many people first think of raw fish in sushi or meat-based ramen. Nobiko in Cologne-Kalk has been taking a different approach since 2016: everything here is entirely plant-based.

Expect homemade udon noodles in a wide variety of styles, all packed with umami. For Lukas, the restaurant is a real hidden gem in the Veedel: “This kind of forward-thinking, always convincing and fully vegan Japanese cuisine you’d normally expect to find in a more central, urban, hip neighbourhood.”

Alongside a selection of signature dishes, there are seasonal menus that change throughout the year – in summer, for example, featuring refreshing cold udon dishes. According to Lukas, the standard here surpasses many traditional ramen and noodle bars: “To this day, I haven’t had a single dish I didn’t love.”

Address: Josephskirchstr. 25, 51103 Cologne – reservations by phone: +49 221 16868666
Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday 5–10pm, weekends from 2pm