Brauhaus Sünner im Walfisch in Köln

Fantastic brewery to sample products from Cologne. I must highlight the excellent service, especially from our waitress, 10/10.

Oversalted, overpriced, burnt, unfriendly. Pretty much any alternative, like Bieresel, is a significantly better choice. The place is geared towards tourists, and it shows. I've also never experienced any discussions about replacing cracked glasses in a restaurant before. Take care.

We sat upstairs. Unfortunately, it was so loud that conversation was difficult (85 dB, we measured it). Perhaps that's just how it has to be in a brewery?!? The food was great, and so was the service. Still, it was a shame.

Highly recommended for their upscale, home-style cooking. However, you should make a reservation just to be safe, as tables are very popular. I felt completely at home; you're guided through the evening in a confident and friendly manner, and despite the stress, the team's warmth doesn't slip away 👍 By the way, the Espresso Martini is highly recommended as an aperitif 😉

We came here with guests from abroad who wanted to eat "typically Cologne." Sünner im Walfisch is indeed a good place for that: rustic decor, located in the heart of the old town, quaint rooms, and some classics like Sauerbraten, Himmel un Äd, and Hämmchen on the menu. We had a reservation, which is definitely necessary on weekends. Seated at our table, we were immediately brought our menus and our drink orders taken. The service was very prompt and authentically friendly throughout the evening. Kudos for that! Because the tables are quite close together, it can get quite noisy at peak times, making conversation difficult. We'd classify that as "typical of a brewery." The meal itself was solid, but not memorable. Unfortunately, the meat in the Sauerbraten was only lukewarm. The sauce contained too much beetroot, making it overly sweet. The dumpling was hot, firm, and had a nice crispy coating. The red cabbage was also solid, but not a taste sensation. At €25.90, I thought the dish was a bit pricey, but still within reason. The Cologne tapas plate looked appealing and probably tasted good, although I didn't try any. Our guests were satisfied, and so were we. As Cologne residents, however, we probably wouldn't stop here without a visitor.

One star deducted because the tables are too small and too close together. Great food, very attentive service, and otherwise simply the oldest brewery in the world. The beer is also recommended.

Two visits: first was excellent, second was not. First: efficient and pleasant service and, probably, the best bratwurst I've ever had. Second: chicken schnitzel was ok, but the service was not. Efficient? Yes. Pleasant? No. It seems that using your beermat to correct the wobble of your table, when that beermat has your beer tally on it, is a capital offence. For context, it was not busy, the waitress was the only person serving my area and I'd had two 200ml beers. Despite this, I received an overlong lecture on how bad it was to destroy the tally beermat. A short clarification of local custom would have been fine, but a long/repetitive lecture was tedious, annoying, and she made it clear that, in her opinion, it was the action of a dishonest person. She 'forgave' me, on this occasion, but I'm sure she'd call the police the next time I attempted to steal more €2 beers (this is how it felt). Youth lacks experience and so can be over zealous and over simplify - that's forgivable, but there's a limit and this waitress passed it! In summary: great bratwurst, but not worth being lectured by a child and being accused of the theft of cheap beer.

No complaints with the food and great staff.

A very nice and cozy brewery. 🍻😊👍 Very friendly and typically Cologne service. 🍺😄👍 The food was excellent. 😋👍👏 Highly recommended! 💯🥳🤩

A quaint restaurant in the old town. The food is delicious and the prices are absolutely reasonable. Service is excellent—friendly and prompt. Reservations are definitely recommended.

Perfect dinner for our group. The Kölsch and food was superb.

A rustic brewery, hearty food, and waiters with the famous Cologne charm who serve fresh Kölsch faster than you can blink.

Hey, if you're in Cologne, you absolutely have to go there. The food was so incredibly delicious, and the people were super friendly, with a true Cologne dialect. I was absolutely thrilled.

Quirky, if a little touristy Brauhaus. We only stopped for drinks.

A good tavern, ideal for watching football and having some delicious beers. Dinner is expensive, but the currywrusts are reasonably priced.

Quaint Cologne pub/brewery feeling 🕺🏼

This was our first time here. Everything is typically Cologne. They greet you informally, with a Kölsch dialect, and always have a quick joke on their lips. We really enjoyed it. The food exceeded my expectations. I had Cologne tapas. Simply wonderful, fresh, and delicious. We felt at home and will definitely be back. Thank you very much.

I really like their Kölsch. The food was very tasty. The staff was very friendly. I am looking forward to being back

A small booth at the bar. People from Cologne, Eupen, Duisburg, and the USA. It was wonderful!

Highly recommended! Cologne's first restaurant!? The food is perfect, a la Cologne... The drinks are never out of Kölsch... The service and the rustic ambiance: perfect, perfect, simply Kölsch!

Really nice. A typical Kölsch beer. The oldest brewery in Cologne. Good food. Prices aren't excessive. As a Cologne native, I felt very comfortable. And so did the tourists. I saw and felt it. Thank you. I haven't had the Sünnerkölsch in a long time, but it's a really delicious Kölsch. I was able to look around a bit and looked out a little window upstairs! Great.

By far the best Kölsch pub in a prime location with fresh, delicious food. The service is warm and attentive; it's like coming home every time. A must-visit on any visit to Cologne!

The food is excellent! The service is attentive and friendly. Always worth a visit!

Wonderful brewery with delicious Sünner Kölsch and hearty, delicious cuisine!

Good, friendly service, delicious food, and above all, delicious sun-baked food in a historic setting. We'd gladly return!

I love the small drinker’s bar in this place, and the beer is great.

The best schnitzel I've ever eaten, top-notch service, the atmosphere is a bit loud, but that's probably to be expected in a brewery. I'd be happy to go back!

Quaint little pub with delicious Kölsch beer.

Never tried rhe dood but big plates of food were being served. The beer and schnapps were decent. Staff very friendly.

A truly fantastic restaurant! From the moment we arrived, we felt very comfortable – the service was attentive, friendly, and yet pleasantly unobtrusive. The food was absolutely fantastic, with truly generous portions. We couldn't have finished a starter or a main course, it was so filling. I would also like to particularly highlight the pleasant atmosphere – in warm weather, the dining room is air-conditioned, which makes the experience even more relaxing. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable visit. We will definitely be back and are already looking forward to our next visit!

rustic restaurant, great staff, delicious food, thank you very much

Simply a beautiful place in the old town.....

Delicious, local food. Great service. Delicious Kölsch beer. My favorite brewery in Cologne. 100% recommendation. Keep up the good work.

Great atmosphere, great staff and great drinks, including Kölsch of course. Recommend also the limoncello, either on its own or in a spritz

The Sünner is a very tasty Kölsch.

Great service and wonderful food.

We were attending an event in Cologne and spontaneously got a table for 6 on Saturday evening. The food was good and arrived fairly quickly. So, everything was fine.

Highly recommended....top food, great service 👌👌👌👌

Yes, better make a reservation or go out to eat earlier

A very unpleasant woman yelled at me for not capping my half-drunk beer (a local custom I didn't know about, but I wasn't finished). I wouldn't go back. You can't treat people like that.

Looks delicious, not a typical tourist local

The rest of the place was very nice. It was even air-conditioned.

We made a reservation, which I think makes sense if you want to be seated. We ordered, and the food arrived super quickly. It was delicious, and the location and ambiance are great.

Delicious drinks, great food and very friendly service.

Extremely unpleasant experience. They refused to accept card payment and rudely hinted that I could “work it off” in the kitchen. I will never come back.

We stopped by for a few Kölsch beers. It was delicious, and so was the waiter (female). Unfortunately, we didn't eat there, but we'll make up for it. We'd love to come back.

Sünner-Kölsch (from the brewery on the other side of the Rhine in Cologne-Kalk) is, of course, "controversial." I enjoyed it. We sat again on two bars at the large oval wooden table in the bar area and, as usual, immediately struck up a conversation with the waitress. I once again had the impression that the staff there is generally very motivated. And understanding that, as Brewery Trail hikers, we only want to try/sample one or two bars at each station. What I learned there: There are no "Köbesinnen" (female Kölsch waiters) or whatever other such thing has been invented; the profession is called Köbes (presumably a waitress) and applies to both genders. Aha! Actually a place to get lost!!!

Great food, relaxed atmosphere, drinks come quickly, one of the best breweries in the old town.

Food is great. Beers ok, wine poor, service clinical and a bit slow

Overall, yes: friendly service, nice brewery, but the food was mediocre at best. I find it outrageous to charge over €20 for a completely dry schnitzel from a deep fryer.

We were there on Saturday evening with a table reservation. Our American guests really enjoyed it. The food was incredibly delicious, with generous portions, and despite being very busy, the service arrived really quickly. The service was attentive and really quick. I definitely recommend it.

A must for all malt beer lovers. The Sünner Malt is amazing, and I highly recommend the Sauerbraten.

Perfect for a Kölsch break on a hot day. The bartender had a smile on her face that also signaled: I like my job

Wir waren am Samstag Mittag mit 21 Mann/Frau hier und haben es uns hier im Sünner gut gehen lassen. Das Bier perfekt, das Essen war auch sehr lecker, hätte ein wenig mehr gewürzt sein können, ansonsten sehr köstlich. Die Bedienung hätte vlt ein wenig freundlicher sein können...

I'm disturbed... there's a mouse running around the place and the drinks are completely non-carbonated. Absolutely not recommended!!!

Mouse in the restaurant, no employee cares about you… that’s what I call service

We were expecting a kölsch environment, where the waiters give you another beer as soon as they see yours is empty, however the service was quite poor. The weitresses were chatting in a corner and we had to go call them twice to get served beer. There were few mices running around the room (we were sitting upstairs) but we were said it's normal in the altstadt. That said, the food is good.

There are mice and the waiters are aware of it and justified it, in a very bad way...shameful

Great brewery, honest cuisine, delicious food, and super friendly staff who are always a laugh. Highly recommended.

Was there today for lunch, awesome Kölsch, awesome halver Hahn, fantastic service, food arrived faster than the DB, steak was juicy and crisp, medium on point, ambience was perfect 👍👍👍

The food was amazing and the waiter was incredibly nice to us!! If I ever come back to Cologne, I’ll sure come here again!! Greetings from Spain

Super delicious food at reasonable prices. We had very friendly and efficient service. You can reserve a table online, and it worked perfectly. We'll be happy to come back.

Terrace in the courtyard...pleasantly quiet and shaded. Food (pizza and pasta dishes were very tasty), but it took a while to refill drinks.

You'll find friendly staff, delicious food, and clean, spacious rooms. All in all, a great stay.

Super tasty food, schnitzel and burger are recommended! The waiter was very chagi, asked for the menu and the best man did not bring it, when we asked for a menu from another waiter, the first waiter came back 1 minute later to take our order. We say that we have not looked yet because we only just got the menus, he gives US an eye roll and walks away. He avoided eye contact with us for the rest of the evening and we were unable to order any more drinks from him. No tip, too bad boy. Very tasty food though! Xx

Great traditional beer house. We came at lunchtime on a weekend and luckily got a table as a big party since it wasn’t busy yet. It was filling up though. Food is a bit pricey but you pay for the place and it is good German food. The service is very good, staff were very helpful in English. The atmosphere in this timber-framed building is great!

I was there with my nephew. Very suitable for children; there's a children's menu to color in, and they gave me free pens. My nephew had the bratwurst with fresh mashed potatoes and peas and carrots, and I had the "Heaven and Earth" with black pudding. Both dishes arrived at the table in no time, and we both enjoyed them very much. The service could have been a bit more attentive to us, but that's a matter of taste. I'm used to being asked if everything is okay and not always having to raise my hand. But we weren't ignored or anything, so I'm giving it 5 stars. It used to be like that everywhere, and it still works today. I can't comment on the restrooms, as I didn't use them. Judging by the general condition of the place, I assume they're also very clean and well-maintained. The price was okay. The food is reasonably priced, but the drinks are quite expensive. About €3.50 for a Kölsch Stange with apple spritzer, which is then full of ice cubes... It's a real cheek!

A quaint old Cologne restaurant with the appropriate flair. Very attentive staff, very friendly and courteous service. We felt very welcome in this lovely atmosphere. A visit is definitely worth it.

Great atmosphere, delicious food and beer...you couldn't ask for more.

During a spontaneous midweek visit with six people, we received a friendly welcome. The menu features brewery classics, but they are of very good quality. The 600g pork chop is a special recommendation, but only for those with a very large appetite. The schnitzel with sambal sauce is also really good. We were very satisfied, and the Sünner Kölsch is also delicious. The prices are rather high, but that's unfortunately normal these days, not just in Cologne. Very good and friendly service.

Decent restaurant and food was typical German but it also felt more touristy and over priced than the usual German restaurant.

Very fine food with Sünner Kölsch beer. Very friendly staff. Worth a visit, even though it's not in the front row - but the food is all the better for it.

I stopped here by chance on June 1, 2025. Super friendly staff, delicious food, and delicious Kölsch beer. The atmosphere is simply cozy, if you like a rustic feel. If you're coming with a group, it's advisable to make a reservation in advance. I was traveling alone and felt very comfortable 😊

A beautiful, solid brewery with lots of woodwork. The food is good, the service is prompt, and the beer is, of course, delicious. A little insider tip when all the other breweries are already full, as this one is somewhat hidden away.

not a place I can recommend just qn average place

Great historic brewhouse. Real Cologne! Delicious German food.

Very good regional cuisine. The service staff were friendly and approachable, as you'd expect in Cologne. Here's to a Kölsch.

The whole company was there. The restaurant was completely packed and very loud! My food arrived quickly and was of excellent quality! Unfortunately, other colleagues were less fortunate with the wait.

My favorite place in Cologne! Authentic ambiance, good food, and friendly and attentive staff!

Absolute recommendation, we only drank various Kölsch, but the service and the atmosphere in general was just very good 👍 the dishes that passed us all looked tasty (other guests confirmed the good taste) many thanks for the lovely evening and thanks to the "chef" for the recommendation of the apricot

Good food, delicious Sünnerkölsch and Sünnerschnapse

Service is really great, highly recommended as a stag party group

Disgusting food. The burger is not recommended. Everything is overpriced.

A true insider tip in the heart of the old town, not far from the Rhine. Super friendly service, right down to the owner himself. The Brauhaus Kotelett is a must-see, or at least a must-try. Legendary. The variation of Himmel und Ääd is simply brilliant and well-thought-out, a complete success. A genuine taste experience paired with Cologne-style friendliness. Highly recommended.

Very good food and excellent service.

Service & ambience really top but for 3 small pieces of meat, a handful of fried potatoes and a handful of grilled vegetables 28 EUR, that's outrageous!

The two of us came spontaneously without a reservation to have something to eat and drink. The welcome was Kölsch warm and the service was really great 🍽️ The food was delicious and the Kölsch also tasted good 🍺 We would be happy to come back - an all-round pleasant experience!

A very German restaurant, with good food. Friendly staff who speak English.

Real Kölsche Brauhaus food - without many tourist groups! We ate here with a larger group after our civil wedding. The service was great and the food came to everyone at the same time and everyone really enjoyed it. Clear recommendation! The communication in advance was also problem-free and very friendly. We'd love to come back.

We celebrated a lovely event here at the weekend with a larger group and felt very well looked after at the Sünner. Communication and early booking went smoothly. The service on site was also very attentive and the food was extremely tasty. We'd love to come back!

Nach mehr als 20 Jahren waren wir wieder ein Mal im Walfisch - für Nostalgiker hat sich nichts verändert. Blanke Tische, altehrwürdiges Holz und tatsächlich noch ein echter Köbes (wenn auch in Teilzeit). Bedienung war freundlich und schnell, Sünner Kölsch wohlschmeckend und die Speisekarte brauhauslike. Wir waren nicht enttäuscht.

Excellent Brauhaus in Cologne, typical, very popular place; the cuisine on offer is based on meats and vegetables, of excellent quality and well cooked; excellent white wine from the area, the Kolsch is delicious, but if you don't want too much remember to cover the glass! Must try

Very nice brewery in the middle of the old town

My favorite Kölsch gastro. Every year again. Service was super friendly and the food was excellent.

Impolite and rude, very bad service here.. go somewhere else!!!

The waitress spilled beer all over me and chose not to apologise. I told another waitress who said “I didn’t see anything”. I then spoke to the owner who said “how should we fix this” while touching me as if he wanted to fight. Ironically, I work as security, but chose not to participate in his desperate approaches to pick up a fight outside or whatever he wanted? Such a weird and unpleasant experience. Disgusting. I cannot recommend this to anyone

Went there with great expectations and left with great disappointment. Not recommended as a new customer. Regular guests are given preferential treatment and new guests are deliberately left out because they won't come back again anyway. Certainly not after an evening like this. Waited 90 minutes for food. Fries horribly fried in old fat. Prices ok. Quality works like that. Little homemade cooking. A lot of it is instant and frozen. That's why they shamelessly make guests wait 90 minutes for their food. But you can earn a lot from drinks during that time. The only positive thing was the friendly service, otherwise not recommended!

Rudeness. The food is also so-so. Pay a lot. If you're okay with it. Welcome!

Very tasty, great location, old half-timbered house, there's a lot to see

We ate very well and they treated us very well, they work with enthusiasm, I think it's run by a family and you can tell, it's made with love