CAFE ESPECIAL Köln in Köln

I would even give the service 6 stars :) Thank you!

The food was delicious and they also have vegan cheese! The atmosphere is lovely and the staff are friendly, attentive, and helpful! I'm happy to spend money on this!

Probably best Mexican restaurant what I ever visited

6 out of 5 stars! :). Incredibly delicious and very generous portions! Absolutely recommended!!

Hello, a very friendly welcome. All the staff were super friendly and served quickly. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced for the portion size. Exemplary service from the entire staff. Thank you so much! ☺️👍🏻 Five stars for the overall experience, with the special distinction of being highly recommended and absolutely worthwhile.

Very friendly staff, delicious food, and short waiting times. We really enjoyed our stay. Thank you for being there for us! 😃

Very beautiful and atmospheric!

Delicious appetizers; I had the chicken wings and the beef wraps as a main course. I can highly recommend it! The non-alcoholic cocktails are also very good!

Very tasty food and friendly service.

Yesterday, my team and I went there for dinner. From the outside, it's rather unassuming, located directly opposite the Messe/Deutz train station. Luckily, we had reserved a table in advance, because it got incredibly crowded. The food was absolutely delicious, and despite the place being packed, the service was super friendly and efficient. Towards the end, it got quite noisy due to several large groups, but that's to be expected at Christmastime. I highly recommend Café Especial. We had a fantastic evening and spent an average of €35. Absolutely top-notch. I'll be back!

The food tastes great, but unfortunately the restaurant is incredibly loud and cramped. And hot. That's just a personal issue, though, and I guess that's just the nature of Mexican cuisine. If that doesn't bother you, you'll have a fantastic evening.

Everything as it should be. A charming Mexican restaurant with great food and friendly service.

Friendly service, great atmosphere, delicious beer 👍

Great place and not too expensive. Very friendly service.

Fast and friendly service, very tasty food

Great atmosphere Explosion of flavor ♥️ Friendly staff Chic ambiance ♥️

Before the Mumford & Sons concert, we spontaneously decided to grab a bite to eat here. We didn't have a reservation but managed to get a table. I had a chimichanga, and my wife had the chili. Both were absolutely delicious. The chili was nice and spicy. The service was very friendly and attentive. Just a heads-up: cocktails aren't available until 5:00 PM.

CAFE ESPECIAL offers a pleasant atmosphere and friendly service. The food was served quickly and hot, which was a definite plus. The taste was solid and generally good, though not exceptional. The drinks took a little while to arrive, but were eventually served fresh and attractively. All in all, it's a nice restaurant that impresses with its fast service and cozy atmosphere. A little more attention to detail with the drinks service could make the experience even better.

Excellent value for money. Very tasty food (the spicy version could be spicier ☺️), good portions 👍, attentive and good service 😀

A very nice restaurant with super friendly staff. The food is simply delicious. I'll definitely be back.

We really enjoyed it! The atmosphere, the very friendly and attentive staff, and the decor were all fantastic. The food was incredibly delicious and a huge portion. Unfortunately, I can't remember what we had, but I did manage to take a picture. We were there in the afternoon; it must be absolutely packed in the evening, so reservations are highly recommended!

The ribs that I took...omg very good. I loved that they were a little spicy and not just simple bbq, and the portion is very big. I also took a virgin banana cocktail which was incredible. I love also how they give you nacho chips before the ordered meal (that is always a plus!)

There were two of us, and we both ordered the Chimichanga – highly recommended! However, at €25.50 per portion, it was really expensive. We shared an appetizer and a large bottle of water, and the bill came to over €73.00. That's a lot of money! If it weren't so expensive, we would definitely come more often, but as it is, it's simply not possible. The restaurant itself is very nice, but unfortunately, it's incredibly cramped. The staff struggles to get through. The noise level is very high.

I went last month for a business lunch. The menu was good, with a good selection, the food was good quality, and the staff were very welcoming and knowledgeable. All in all, a good experience.

The food was okay, nothing special. In my opinion, the price was too high for what it offered.

We've been coming for a whole week now. The homemade food is incredibly good, the atmosphere is great, and the staff are simply exceptional. We appreciate that they speak Spanish and are so friendly. The Argentinian waitress deserves a raise!

Staff is unprofessional, especially the blond waitresses, she has pretended to not speak German, but she understood some of the questions at the beginning. She was very rude, we didn't stay because of her. That's a shame really, not only her shame, also from the restaurant. I do not recommend !!! (05.11.2025 around 22h)

Great service, inviting location, large portions. I plan to come back.

Great restaurant, beautiful decor, super friendly staff & incredibly delicious Mexican food. Highly recommended, even with kids ❤️ We'll definitely be back.

Very good. The food and the service.

A truly amazing experience! The food was incredibly delicious and arrived super quickly; you can tell the heart and soul of the food here is what they cook. The service was incredibly friendly, especially the waitress with glasses and the one with curly hair. Both were incredibly kind, patient, and always had a warm smile on their faces. They also gave us some super delicious recommendations! The atmosphere is truly cozy; you immediately feel at home. All in all, a truly lovely visit—I'll definitely be back!

We always eat here when we're in Cologne. But this time the food was anything but good!! Everything was absolutely overcooked!! Basically inedible! The Kölsch beer wasn't poured well, bland and lacking in carbonation; I'd even say it was stale. The communication with the service was a disaster!!! The chairs were completely broken, I can't even describe the restroom, it was borderline terrible. A real shame. We were surprised the place was so empty (it's usually always full). We won't be going there again, and I can't recommend it anymore!!!

A very authentic Mexican restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. The best place for mezcal and tequila. Great staff!

Great service, the food is incredibly delicious. Even at peak times, you don't have to wait long for your food; everything is very professional and hassle-free.

The Macho Nachos were super delicious, and my beer was really good too! We were here a year ago, and the main courses were amazing back then, too. It totally reminded me of authentic Mexican food, and the service was top-notch!

Too hard meat which had an extra intense smell, tacos were soft

Great tasty food. We were there during ANUGA fair, when is the busiest time during every two years. The stuff managed to handle all the customers.

Must visit, super nice people, spectacular food

I highly recommend eating and drinking here. The Baby Colada (Virgin Colada) is sooooo delicious. Not like at some other restaurants where most of it is just ice cubes. It's really creamy, and the nachos todos are super delicious and, in my opinion, enough for two people. The ambiance is authentic, and the chef and the atmosphere are exceptionally friendly. Thank you for the great service. We'll be back again and again ❤️👍🏻🤤

In my opinion, the value for money isn't right. The plates were dirty, and so were the restrooms. We were only asked for drinks once. We waited 10 minutes for a greeting upon arrival. It's not a problem when things are hectic, but it doesn't make a pleasant impression to be standing at the "waiting to be seated" counter for so long, completely unnoticed.

Food was good and plentiful, restaurant was too crowded and noisy, and the cleanliness of the restrooms left much to be desired.

Cozy and delicious food. Friendly and helpful service.

Great mexican menu choices, quite spicy but cooled down with the sour cream and beer. Lovely staff in this very popular, busy resteraunt not far from the train station, arena and exhibition centre. Order a picture of Kolch and tequilla on the side to do the real mexican flavour.

Mass processing with time constraints and very loud.

The food was quite good, but nothing special. I had a burrito for €14.50. In my opinion, that's a very high price for such a small portion. The service inside was good, but the outside was anything but pleasant due to the construction site on the main road. The service, however, was really good. I still wouldn't go back.

Nice food , fast service, recommended

Friendly service. The avocado smash bread was very good with delicious fresh avocado 🥑. The flat white and other drinks were excellent. We weren't so impressed with the banana bread, though.

The food was delicious, albeit a bit pricey. I also felt the drinks weren't of the right quality for the price. It's very loud inside, but the service is very friendly and courteous. The ambiance is lovely, and the location is top-notch.

Probably the oldest Mexican restaurant in Cologne; The friendly staff also speaks Spanish among themselves, which is quite authentic, and it's simply fun to treat yourself to a break here!

Super delicious food Large selection of drinks Attentive service Large pub charm with Mexican elements

The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and each table has enough space, although the acoustics are mediocre, so it can get a bit noisy. The food tastes good and is served in reasonable portions, but we had to wait a very long time. We waited about half an hour for our appetizer, and then another three-quarters of an hour for the main course after we'd finished the appetizer. Drinks could only be ordered by speaking to the waiter. There was a complete lack of initiative here. There were also repeated mix-ups... We were served drinks we didn't order, and food we ordered was forgotten. When it came to the bill, the drinks we didn't order were still on the bill, and no one apologized. The complimentary tequila offered with the bill wasn't served, nor was any attempt made to serve it, which wasn't necessary but again demonstrated a lack of willingness. Since the service was virtually nonexistent, this is especially recommended.

Unfortunately, the service was completely inadequate. At first, the waiters were surprised that we weren't ordered drinks and food immediately after being seated, and they practically pushed us around. However, with each round of drinks, one order was missing, which was then delivered about 10 minutes later. While the starter arrived after a reasonable amount of time, we were left waiting for about an hour in front of the used plates of the starter and without any further drinks. Upon explicit request, the main courses were served in a short time – after the said hour. The owner refrained from explaining the reason or even offering an apology. In return, several main courses were cold, not warm, contrary to the menu's description. The microwave says hello. A follow-up question as to whether the food was tasty was also omitted, apparently due to a lack of interest. The final straw was the bill, which, unsurprisingly, included more drinks than had been ordered and consumed – but unfortunately, there was no apology here either.

Arrived by chance while walking, good atmosphere, menu with a lot of choices. The menus are in German and not very quickly in English. The service is quite slow. You have to look for a server to order. Other than that, the seats are quite generous. The food is not bad, it even feels more like you're in Germany. In short, they're peasants and it's quite a change. I find the prices a little expensive, but I recommend it.

This is not mexican. I’m Mexican. Not even close. You can expect the worst kind of tex Mex. It took over 45 min to get our drink & meal order. And then an order 35 min for the food. A friend ordered the chicken salad and it was raw. The guacamole has garlic, not authentic. The music is alright, it’s Latino genre.

Quite loud and hectic, but the food is delicious

I enjoyed this place. While I don’t know if it’s super traditional Mexican, I really enjoyed my burrito and sitting outside on the street. Worth it to check out.

Warm welcome, warm cuisine, a festival of taste and colors, I loved it!

Sorry, but it used to be much better.

Sooo delicious and super friendly staff ❤️

Yes, very tasty food and nice location

Great food! And after 10 p.m., that's how it should be.

A very good restaurant; you feel like you're in Mexico. We'd be happy to come back. It's best to make a reservation...

Extremely loud. Food below average. Staff okay. Unfortunately, I can't really say anything positive.

Ordered the chicken fajita salad and it was nad hoenstly Shredded lettuce with a lottt of oil on it and some chicken spiced. For 18,50€ Pricy not tasty.. The staff and atmosphere were good though

Food was really good, portion size was more than big enough (neither me or my partner could finish it) and staff was friendly. Certainly recommended if you're close by and like Mexican food!

Very tasty.. really recommendable and very friendly service

I was here when I was 18! Still a great place with delicious food and great drinks. They have Corona on tap! 🍻

This Mexican restaurant is perfect for any occasion: whether you're looking for a larger meal, a quick snack (delicious nachos!), or just a drink. You'll feel right at home here. It gets crowded during concerts at the LANXESS Arena (reservations are essential).

We were there with a group of 10 people and had reserved a table for Sunday. As we had requested, we sat outside. Unfortunately, I had underestimated the noise level of the busy street directly in front of the restaurant, which sometimes affected our conversations. Otherwise, the service was good and attentive but not intrusive. We were all able to eat together at the same time. The price/performance ratio was reasonable. I would come back if the opportunity arises.

The nachos were very good, although I would have preferred cheddar cheese on each layer. For my main course, I had the Chicken California, but unfortunately, I didn't like the seasoning in the chicken at all.

A lovely Mexican oasis hidden away in Germany. Can highly recommend the Chili Colorado in a burrito.

Very nice ambience, friendly service, delicious Mexican food

I went back after years, the food was still very good, and I got a table even without a reservation on Sunday. The service was again very attentive. Excellent food, normal prices, ALWAYS very friendly staff... Only one small drawback: it's too loud... I've been back now and again... still delicious food, it was very empty on the weekend, so definitely reserve a table, as it always gets busy. The ambiance is always lovely to look at.

Casa Especial is definitely not authentic Mexican. It's acceptable Tex-Mex, perhaps, but unfortunately quite tasteless, and very expensive. €14.90 for a small bowl of guacamole with a few nachos (which were also stale)? And main courses start at €22. It's very popular, but I wouldn't go there again. The service was okay.

Ordered a burrito, plate was hot, rice was cold, beans and burrito were clearly microwaved. A 20+ euro burrito and it wasn't fresh. Service was good.

The food was delicious, but rather poorly presented. It wasn't particularly cozy.

We were there on a Friday evening. We sat outside because it was too loud inside. There were a total of 12 employees there, and none of them managed to use a tray for the drinks, apologize when they spilled something, or even clean it up. I've rarely experienced such poor service – it really ruined the evening and the mood for me and my husband. No one asked for more drinks, if everything was okay, etc. They were far more concerned with reapplying makeup, chatting among themselves, or making their t-shirts even more revealing. Extremely unsuitable for service staff. The food was delicious, but very expensive. I wouldn't eat there again.

We only stopped here for drinks while we waited and were very satisfied. The café is atmospherically decorated, and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Since we didn't forget, the review applies to our drinks. There are monthly specials, so it's worth a repeat visit. We'd be happy to come back.

Café Especial in Cologne is a beautiful, lively and authentic Mexican restaurant. The welcome was warm and getting a tabler was uncomplicated. However, reservations can be recommended. The service was very friendly. The food was very flavorful and fresh, just delivering food and first drinks took to long time, therefore deduction of one point. The atmosphere was authentic, vibrant, lively and friendly if you like this style of restaurant. A nice trip into mexican food world.

Worst Mexican or Tex-Mex I have had. The food had zero taste, except for the citrus flavor as every dish had orange all over it. The beans were both completely pureed but also had whole beans. The rice was dry. The guacamole was a tiny portion. The salsa tasted like pizza sauce. Although the restaurant was not busy, the waitress hardly came to our table and it was a very long wait to pay. When we told her we were not happy with the food, it was clear she could care less. You also cannot order alcoholic drinks until the evening. Such a shame because the restaurant is cute with a great location. Will never come back.

The food is very tasty and comes pretty quickly, it's just a bit more expensive!

I like it better every time. Top food and drinks.

Unfortunately, the service wasn't that good. They didn't ask for another round of drinks... The food was good. Unfortunately, cocktails weren't available until 5:00 PM... Not even a Spritzer...

Nice spot and handy location from station. Food was tasty although expensive!

Nice place… nice food.. nice staff. Thank you

Not as nice as it used to be. On a Friday night, I waited a full 40 minutes for drinks. The food was okay.

The quality of the dishes has declined significantly, but the price has increased significantly. Unfortunately, I no longer recommend it.

The nachos were a nice appetizer. The food was okay, but nothing earth-shattering. The price-performance ratio isn't right. Anyone charging €24 for a burrito should make sure it's more than 10 cm wide. The warm Kölsch beer wasn't satisfactory either. The service was friendly but very inattentive. If you don't make yourself noticed, you won't get anything. All in all, a disappointing visit, so I won't repeat it or recommend it.

I've been going to this restaurant on and off for over 20 years, but this was my last time. The food was poorly presented and only lukewarm. Service was also inconsistent. It was far too expensive.

Nice atmosphere, good selection of drinks at reasonable prices. The staff could have been a bit more attentive, but they were friendly. The food tasted okay, but nothing special. The portions were manageable. The prices for the food – even by today's standards – were too high for the quality and portion size. The value for money isn't quite right. This may be due to the location right next to Deutz train station. I'd come back for a drink, but I'd prefer other places for food.

Café Especial in Cologne is a good place to go if you want unpretentious Mexican food. I've never had a bad meal here. The fajita chicken salad is really good. The desserts and coffee are also simply delicious. The cocktails could be a bit more energetic, and if you order a spritzer, you should definitely always order it with ice. The service varies in quality but is usually on point.

(My review only refers to the waiter with the bald head and glasses.) Unfortunately, my visit to this restaurant was a huge disappointment. I was completely ignored and treated disrespectfully by the waiter. There was no friendliness or attention whatsoever – I felt completely unwelcome. My inquiries were met with annoyance or no response at all, and overall, I felt completely unappreciated as a guest. I left feeling very dissatisfied and disappointed – this is not how paying guests should be treated. I will definitely not be coming back.

To be honest, I'm really disappointed and angry about my visit to this restaurant. The waiter (a bald, young man) ignored us from the very beginning – while he immediately brought tacos (on the house) to other guests who arrived AFTER us, we were completely ignored. And not just once, but several times. He walked right past our table at least five times and didn't acknowledge us once. I honestly ask myself why? Is it because of my appearance? Black hair, black beard – does that make me less welcome? I'm German, but I felt completely excluded at that moment. I would have expected anything in a Mexican restaurant, but certainly not such disrespectful, almost exclusionary treatment. This experience was anything but pleasant. I didn't just feel mistreated, I felt downright discriminated against. Truly sad – because that has no place in the restaurant industry. No matter how good the food is: that's not how you treat people.

I was very disappointed with my visit to this restaurant today. From the very beginning, I had the feeling that the waiter – a young man with no hair – was deliberately ignoring me. While he walked past our table several times, he brought tacos (on the house) to newly arrived guests – but didn't acknowledge us once, even though we were there before them. I'd like to believe it wasn't a coincidence. Unfortunately, I got the impression that my appearance (black hair, black beard) might have been the reason we were treated differently – even though I'm German. This experience hurt me personally. In a Mexican restaurant, I would have expected openness and hospitality – instead, I felt excluded. It's a shame, because the food itself was actually good. But the disrespectful treatment overshadowed everything. And there was a waiter with glasses who was very rude!!!!

We didn't try any of the food, but the food served at neighboring tables looked good.

Service could definitely be better; the portions were large and good, but nothing special. Good location, nice ambiance.

Unfortunately, we are very disappointed with this restaurant – or rather, the food. My son and I each ordered different dishes (Enchilades verdes and Quesada grande). When the food arrived, we had to guess which was which – they both looked the same. The menu says the quesada is filled with cheese... no, the cheese was a dried something on an unidentifiable mush. The food was lukewarm. The rice was very dry (reminded me of instant rice from a prominent manufacturer). In short: It was disappointing and we didn't like it. It was bland and tasteless, too. The restrooms aren't exactly great either – both in terms of cleanliness and ambiance. The waiters are nice, friendly, and attentive to the customer. The beer garden is nice, but it's located on a very busy street across from Deutz train station. But we knew that beforehand. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll eat there again. What a shame.

Cocktails were really great despite the late hour.

The food was very good. We sat outside, which may have caused us to wait a bit to order.

It's so popular, you'd better make reservations for the evening.