In love with Ehrenfeld: on a walk with Malou Lovis Kreyelkamp

When Malou Lovis stepped onto the stage of Season 13 of The Voice of Germany, hardly anyone had her on their radar. At best, die-hard indie fans knew her as a singer and songwriter from Cologne-Ehrenfeld’s FLINTA music scene. After the finale in December 2023, she was a household name across Germany.

With her self-penned song “Glacier Rivers”, she not only won the season but also captured the hearts of millions. It’s an unforgettable track in which Malou reflects on her coming out and takes a clear, uncompromising stand against homophobia and queerphobia.

A Veedel walk through the heart of Ehrenfeld with Malou Lovis:

• Stop 1: Café Fridolin
• Stop 2: Körnerstrasse
• Stop 3: zwoo coffee roastery
• Stop 4: Ehrenfeld station
• Stop 5: Goldmund literary café

Upwards and onwards: Malou Lovis Kreyelkamp‘s career

Malou Lovis grew up in a small rural village in the Münsterland region. She moved to Cologne to study social work at TH Köln. Alongside her studies, she wrote her own songs, sang in the university choir and performed at smaller events. The turning point came when a friend encouraged her to finally apply for “The Voice of Germany” – a decision that turned her life upside down.

After winning the show, everything moved fast: a record deal, her first EP releases, a support tour with Tokio Hotel, a sold-out tour across Germany and her debut album “things i wrote down last night“. The sound? Neo-soul and indie, with hints of New York and Los Angeles, yet unmistakably shaped by Venloerstrasse in Cologne-Ehrenfeld.

Standing still just isn’t her thing: Malou thrives on a challenge, and her next one is international. At the end of February, she competes with her song “When I’m with You” in Germany’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her goal: to represent Germany at ESC 2026 in Vienna.

Ehrenfeld at heart: Malou Lovis Kreyelkamp on her Cologne roots

Some time ago, Malou moved from Cologne to Berlin-Neukölln. Her record label, management and much of her musical network are based there. The constant commuting became too exhausting. And yet her heart still beats for Cologne and especially for Ehrenfeld, where her girlfriend lives. “So I’m still commuting,” she says with a laugh, “just in the opposite direction now.”

Whenever she’s back in her Veedel, she enjoys wandering through the streets of Ehrenfeld, stopping for coffee and letting the day unfold. That’s exactly what we did: letting her share what she loves most about Ehrenfeld.

Stop 1: Bürgerzentrum Ehrenfeld / Café Fridolin

For me, Café Fridolin at the Bürgerzentrum Ehrenfeld community centre is the perfect starting point for a walk through Ehrenfeld. The moment you step inside, there’s a special atmosphere. It’s not about the trendiest look or the fanciest, most expensive coffee, it’s about encounters. About community. That’s exactly what makes Fridolin one of my favourite places in the Veedel.

Over the years, I’ve met countless friends here. Many of them even worked at the café for a while. Maybe that’s why it has always felt a little like home to me. You sit down with a coffee and immediately sense it: people from very different walks of life meet here as equals.

When there’s a DJ set in summer and you’re sitting outside in the centre of Ehrenfeld, you feel at home.
Malou Lovis Kreyelkamp

That’s also down to the place itself. The Bürgerzentrum Ehrenfeld is more than just a building. It’s a vibrant cultural hub. Concerts, theatre, events, activities for children – there’s always something happening here. And you can feel that creative, open atmosphere in the café, too.

I also have a very special memory of this place: I once stood on stage here in the concert hall. It was one of my very first concerts in Cologne. I sang in the TH Köln choir, and we performed here. It was a truly special moment for me.

I lived just around the corner for quite a while. Especially in summer, I would often spend time in the nearby park. I’d bring lunch from home, sit out on the grass and then carry on working or writing songs. And almost always, a quick stop at Fridolin was part of the routine – ideally on the terrace in the beer garden. When there’s a DJ set in summer and you’re sitting outside in the centre of Ehrenfeld, you feel at home.

Stop 2: Körnerstrasse

For me, Körnerstrasse is one of the most beautiful spots in Ehrenfeld. The moment you turn the corner, the atmosphere shifts. It becomes more colourful, more vibrant. Many of the buildings are painted, graffiti tells stories, and colourful bunting stretches across the street between the façades. Music drifts out of cafés and open windows.

This corner of the Veedel instantly gives me a sense of community. It is as if people are collectively shaping their street into something special. You can see it everywhere: in the cafés and independent shops that are run with so much love, in public bookcases where neighbours swap novels, in small and large decorations, in artworks tucked into flower boxes and in messages painted onto house walls.

Whenever friends or family come to visit, a walk along Körnerstrasse is always on the agenda. It’s one of those places that perfectly captures the character of Ehrenfeld: creative, open and warm-hearted.

I love coffee! And my favourite thing is meeting here for a cup and then simply drifting along – no destination, no time pressure. When the lights slowly come on in the evening, a very special atmosphere settles in. Especially in summer, when the streets are full, it feels a little like being at a music festival or a street party. The only difference is that there’s no fixed date for it. Here, every single day feels special.

Stop 3: zwoo coffee roastery

One of my best friends lives in Dortmund and she takes coffee very seriously. Alongside her studies, she works as a barista and knows every roast, every bean. And she says: “This is the best coffee in all of Cologne!”

Is that true? I couldn’t possibly say. But I do think it’s exceptionally good.

What I love so much about this place is the concept. There’s no classic café setup with tables and chairs, no real “inside” space. Instead, you order your coffee at a small street-side window. Many people even bring their own cups and have their drink poured straight in. Or they stop by to pick up their freshly roasted weekly supply.

You stand outside in front of zwoo, strike up conversations and meet new people in an open, relaxed atmosphere. No hours spent at tiny two-seater tables, just street life and true Veedel community.

Stop 4: Ehrenfeld station

I lived in Ehrenfeld for a long time, and almost every journey into the city centre or to concerts and events outside Cologne began here. For me, Ehrenfeld station is a place of connections. A place of new beginnings.

On the Bartholomäus-Schink-Strasse side of the station, you’ll find one of Cologne’s key live music hubs. In the old railway arches, one stage follows the next: Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld, Yuca, and a little further towards the Gürtel, Bumann & SOHN and Artheater.

I’ve probably seen more concerts at Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld than anywhere else in Cologne. So many powerful performances by FLINTA* artists, but also bachelor concerts by students from the music academy, whenever I knew someone on stage. CBE is truly one of my favourite live venues in the city.

Stop 5: Goldmund literary café

Goldmund was probably the very first café in Cologne I ever knew. My late uncle used to meet friends here once a week. They were part of a small circle that met there to speak French. And when I visited Cologne with my family a few years ago, I absolutely had to see the place Uncle Dieter had always raved about. We were all instantly taken with this cosy literary café. The moment you step through the door, it feels like you’re in a film.

Later, I moved to Ehrenfeld myself. At some point, my best friend started working at Goldmund. For me, it felt like coming full circle. Whenever I return to Cologne now, I always check whether she’s there. In the summertime, I also love meeting friends in the large beer garden right next to the railway line.

I’ve often come here on my own, sat down with a book and simply read. I don’t do that in any other café. For me, Goldmund is much more than just a café lined with books. It’s a place where culture comes alive: readings, concerts, parties and yes, I believe even the French meet-up still exists.