Gaffel am Dom in Köln

Roast shank fabulous!!!! 05/21/25We return after two years, with a telephone reservation for 14 people and we are rudely rejected. They deny the reservation despite the proof of the call!?!! Too bad! Obviously it was not difficult to find an excellent alternative. Bad...but not terrible! Goodbye!

This spacious brewery belonging to the "Gaffel" brewery, located directly next to Cologne Cathedral and the main train station, offers its guests a good place to linger for a while and/or enjoy a delicious Kölsch beer. The menu features a truly good selection of dishes, including many brewery and Cologne classics. So far, we've mostly eaten one of the schnitzel variations here, which were generally delicious despite the generous portion size, although the side dishes and sauces were often a bit salty. The schnitzels have always been a decent size and very tender and juicy. In the Sauerbraten, all the components, especially the sauce, tasted truly delicious, but the meat could have been a bit more tender. However, I find the portion too small for the price, as it's not very filling. The Zwiebelrostbraten (onion roast beef) was also very tasty and truly tender. Based on my previous experiences, I consider the dishes offered, which are prepared in bulk and sometimes served very quickly, to be of good brewery quality overall. The brewery, with its rather unspectacular outdoor terrace on the station forecourt or along the main road, offers plenty of seating in a rustic atmosphere. It's a great place to chat with other guests or watch football together. On certain dates, such as Carnival, there are various events with DJs or live music. The waiters are generally very friendly and prompt. Based on the overall impression, I'd definitely recommend this restaurant for a visit, even though traditional restaurants generally offer a bit more in terms of food, in my opinion.

A must-see, good food, excellent beer and a magical atmosphere.

One of the many Kolsch pubs in Cologne, and probably the best! The Gaffel Kolsch is superb and ranks number one in our opinion..

Only drank Kölsch, but the food at the brewery looks good

I'm visiting Cologne as part of a month long European vacation and I decided to stop for lunch at your location just in the middle of the Dome and the Köln Hbf. Since I am an 80 y/o lung cancer survivor I was feeling short of breath and sat down for a second to inhale my breathing medication. One rude, unpleasant woman came out from your store and demanded in a loud voice in a completely unfriendly, uneducated and disrespectful manner that I "immediately move away from the chair". Of course after that disproportionate response I was not able to get my lunch at a place where these kind of people are allowed to serve customers. If I were in the USA I would say she was acting like a white trash MAGA woman. I suppose Germany as well as every other country has elements life this jerk occupying positions of customer service that are not fit for their level of education. Sent from my iPhone

A typical brewery :-). We were there on a Friday. We reserved a table well in advance, as Björn Heuser always hosts a sing-along concert on Fridays starting at 10:30 p.m. The place was packed, and the atmosphere was great. It was a lot of fun! We'd love to go back!

The roasted pork leg is delicious!

Never returning in Cologne, worst people, this restaurant had the rudest waitresses I have ever met in my life and I have been to 80 countries. So sad to see how they treat people with zero empathy or even a decent behaviour.

We had a nice waiter again and the food was very good

Delicious food, friendly staff, nice location.

The atmosphere is nice, but we saw some small rodents inside when we passed by at night. We still wanted to go and see it the next day, but of course we didn't eat. The waiter was very rude. When I didn't ask for an extra drink, he asked for the bill, as if to say get up. Please reconsider your staff's behavior!! ———- EN The atmosphere is nice, but we saw some small rodents inside when we passed by at night. Despite that, we still decided to visit the next day — though of course, we didn't eat anything. The waiter was extremely rude. When I declined to order an extra drink, he immediately brought the bill, as if telling us to leave. Please reconsider the behavior and attitude of your staff!

It's simply a Cologne tradition: upon arrival at the main station, the first thing we do is head for a Kölsch at Gaffel. It's always busy, but the service is quick and friendly. Of course, it doesn't stop at just one Kölsch. The food was reasonably priced and worthy of a brewery. As always, we felt very comfortable. Thank you for that!

Were there yesterday, the schnitzel was an absolute disgrace, small, tasted of old fat, the sauce tasted like ready-made food for 22.50, simply outrageous, service was top-notch, Kölsch was always served and the staff were absolutely attentive, but you should eat somewhere else.

For me the best "Currywurst" in a brewery...served with nice sayings from the waiter

We had lunch, authentic German style beer hall. Service is good.

Nowhere can you drink a more authentic Kölsch than in Cologne. So, I quickly sipped two delicious Kölsch beers while passing through. And had a great Köbes, what more could you want?

Great brewery, everything was excellent.

The staff was kind and fun to talk to. Delicious food and awesome beer. Would definitely recommend.

Very good service. Fast and delicious.

Here you'll find typical Cologne hospitality. Highly recommended!

A typical Cologne brewery. Quite loud due to its size and usually busy. Especially recommended on Friday evenings with Björn Heuser.

萯姧迯媔哋which Cong脃怶 Skin Pei Wuyuan, 忲喥极槎, kind of 蔟迮视, 怸柸ふ

Great service, praise to Said, very friendly, warm person, waiter filled us very well Great food, praise to the kitchen Toilets clean and tidy Radler very tasty LG from Koblenz

Went there for the first time today. Very nice, personable and friendly service. We (my sister and our mother) were served by Said today and were completely satisfied. The food and drinks came very quickly and were delicious. Praise to the kitchen, we had nothing to complain about. We will come again. We felt very comfortable. Thank you for that. 👍😊🩷

Disgusting tourist rip-off. Don't expect just a little bit of kindness. Come with money, leave with regrets. You have a table with ten people inside and when you smoke outside you are asked to stand and not sit at your own tables even though 50% are free.

Come as a tourist or leave it. Locals are disrespected or scared away. It's a shame tradition has come to an end. Not recommended. Köbes feel like gods and send paying guests away.

Great beer served is tall shot glasses.

Even though it looks like the restaurant is fully booked upon arrival, we found a free seat almost immediately. I thought the prices were a bit higher, but only before I tasted it. The food was excellent and the price matches. The service is pleasant and accommodating, and even though they serve beer in 0.2l glasses, we didn't suffer from thirst. I can only recommend and I would love to stop here again sometime.

The Gaffel at the cathedral is a real piece of Cologne. Located directly opposite the cathedral, it combines a traditional brewery feeling with a lively atmosphere. Here you can meet both tourists and real Cologne residents - all united by a freshly tapped Kölsch. The menu offers typical brewery classics. Whether it's Himmel un Ääd, knuckle or sauerbraten - the portions are large, the quality is solid and the service is quick. The waiters are friendly and typically Cologne, which adds even more charm to the whole visit. The ambience is rustic and cozy, just as you would imagine a brewery to be. Despite the size, it doesn't feel like mass production. If you get a seat by the window, you also have a fantastic view of the cathedral. Conclusion: Gaffel am Dom is a must for anyone who wants to experience real Cologne. Cologne, hearty cuisine and a good portion of the Cologne way of life - you can hardly get more Cologne than that. Ideal for tourists, but also for Cologne residents who love the brewery feeling.

This month we also ended up in Cologne. And for us, a visit to Cologne includes a delicious meal with a fresh Kölsch at Gaffels am Dom. And that has been the case for several years. But today we were disappointed. Not from the food, which was, as always, very tasty and plentiful. Okay the fried potatoes could have been a little hotter but it was still tasty. This time the service staff was disappointing. No good appetite, no asking if it was okay, but cleared away before you were finished. We have never experienced anything like this here before. The staff is otherwise super friendly and jokes. We hope that things will be different on our next visit.

Cheap beer, good beer and great staff. Huge sitting area and enough space!

Her spiser du til kl. 14 et specielt middagstilbud, hvor jeg valgte en svine Schnitzel med Bratkartoffel og agurkesalat

Sandra served us, and was very patient and helpful to us. Food was wonderful and a great Hall experience in the shadow of Köln Dom

Super friendly and fast staff would be happy again! :)

Strong!!!! We were there 30 minutes early, checked on waiter Kurt, assigned a table and then everything ran by itself. The food took a while but that was completely ok. It was May 1st AND it was the women's CUP FINAL in Cologne. We were very (!!!) satisfied with 5 people. Always happy to come back. Reservation is definitely an advantage

Typical Cologne brewery, good home-style food and a Kölsch that tastes good. Very friendly staff. I can recommend it with a clear conscience.

Be careful with your belongings!! I had a dinner with a big group last week and I forgot my sunglasses there. The very next day dropped to pick it and our waitress confirmed that she found it and left at manager office. However, at manager’s office didn’t manage to find it. They even tried to blame me to forget them there and that maybe I didn’t left them on the restaurant but somewhere else. Never imagined such behave and definitely I’ll never will be back there. Awful!

About 5 minutes walk from the cathedral, nice staff, clean space, limited seating, clean toilets

The waiter could have been nicer and more attentive when my beer glass was empty...

Fui por una recomendación y fue bienvenido y encontró una mesa en una noche ocupada sin reserva. El servicio fue fantástico, nos trajeron cervezas y nos ayudaron con la elección del menú. Optado por el enorme plato para 4 , valía los 130€ , nos costó terminarlo . Propina de servicio opcional, estábamos muy contentos de pagarlo. Buen ambiente , fácil de encontrar cerca de la catedral , buen comienzo de nuestro primer viaje a Colonia .

Staff is polite and helpful Food is a large portion But very tasty 😋 😋 I can recommend the ambience is simply beautiful

Very nice to sit in the evening and enjoy delicious food and the service, Shaban Sulaj, was super fast and super nice. All in all, a nice evening to end 👍😎

My first ever visit to Köln. ( I passed through on a train in 1969!). I have Paulicarus and Boothroyd Bear with me to show me the way around. They have been to 11 of the 12 biggest German cities. (Only Essen to tick off.) Stopped here for our first Kolsch. It is served in 0 2L glasses. Worked out at £10 a litre / £5.70 a pint so similar price to a premium beer in Manchester. Sat outside with great views of the Cathedral. Lovely interior. Mainly tables for eating but there is a bar drinking area. Very efficient service. Your beer is automatically replaced if you do not cover your empty glass. Likely to return for food. . .. so we did on our last day before heading to the airport. A super waiter fed us, topped up our beer and cured my hangover from last night in the locals bar in Severin.

It takes a very long time before you get service. 10-15 minutes to get another glass of kölsch, 35 minutes to pay. Very loud.

Dish: Sauerbraten with dumplings and red cabbage. Everything tasted good, but the meat was a huge disappointment as it was dried out.

Always very tasty. The waiters are very attentive and friendly. I like to come here every time I go to Cologne.

Delicious food, great atmosphere and the staff is awesome! I deducted one star because the menu has become worse. Many good dishes have been eliminated, but more vegetarian options have been added. Sorry, this is a brewery where you expect hearty food and not a hipster shop

Went there for dinner for the first time yesterday. Really good meal. We ate a knuckle. Shortcoming. The small bag of mustard costs 50ct extra. The Köbes was attentive and very friendly. Björn Heuser, was definitely an experience. Had a very nice evening. Would love to come back.

Delicious food and very friendly staff 👍🏻

Friendly staff who served quickly despite the large number of guests. The food is really good, but the special extra is missing for a 5 star rating. The proximity to the train station is great.

High-quality beer hall at a restaurant in a tourist area Last fall, my friend came from Japan, so Because I want to see Cologne Cathedral. After seeing Cologne Cathedral Kölsch beer when you come to Cologne So, a long-established beer brewery I went to a beer hall. Very German atmosphere at the beer hall There is a beer tank inside the shop. I'm getting excited just looking at this I ordered this day sauerbrausten The meat is so tender that you don't need a knife. Knudel is also chewy I wanted to eat this again! The beer is also fresh, clear and dry. Refreshing Keru There is no doubt here Don't repeat 😊 Despite being busy The service at the hall is also very good 😊 Also, the food is delicious, You can drink as much beer as you like🍺

Ondanks de grootte, is de service perfect. Waren binnen een 15minuten geholpen met eten en drinken. Zijn grote brouwketels aanwezig. Is tevens een invalide toilet in het café aanwezig, pal naast ingang.

Typical German food bar right at the foot of the Cologne Cathedral. You could say that it has two parts, one with tables to eat and other higher tables where you can have a beer. The waiters are always attentive, the moment you sit down they serve you a beer and they continue to refill your glass as long as you don't tell them otherwise or put the coaster on top of it (which means you don't want any more beer). The place belongs to Gaffel Kölsh, one of the most typical beers in Cologne and, in my opinion, the one with the best flavor.

Were there for the first time today. The food and drinks were super delicious, the atmosphere was great and the service was friendly and good

Very solid experience at this Brauhaus. I went twice on my trip and the food was great both times. A delicious (and huge) grilled pork knuckle; very flavorful and melt-in-your mouth Himmel und Ääd (blood sausage with buttery mash and chunky apple sauce). Taking a point off for the service, which was mixed. When I went in the evening, the server was quite amiable and spoke some English and tried to be helpful. When I went at lunchtime the server was curt, didn’t speak much at all, and had an attitude like he’d rather be doing anything than serving you (and this at 11:30am around opening!) I think with a bit of server training and accountability, this restaurant could be one of the best in the Dom area.

I went there in April 2024. The food is nice especially the dessert but it is absurd how the waiter charged me 10% tips without asking me. When I checked the amount before paying, the waiter did not show me the tip, after I paid and the receipt was printed, I saw the tip on the bill, and the waiter is reluctant to remove it from the bill and said it is normal to tip. Terrible.

We went to this brewery for the first time today at Easter with my in-laws. The waitress was very friendly and the service was great. The food was very tasty, maybe we will go there again next year.

I got the feeling that the waiter was trying to take advantage of my friends because they were tourists that didn’t speak German.

If Cologne...then the gaff at the cathedral 👍 Everything is just right here!

Very unfriendly older lady in service and reception... just cleaned out. Had lunch before, which was not too bad then, now a total disappointment, so never again

The service in the brewery was very good. The food was a joke. I ordered schnitzel Viennese style for €19.90. The size of the schnitzel could also be from the children's menu.

I made reservations for our company there twice in different weeks: once in the guest room (approx. 50 people) downstairs and once in the cathedral room (approx. 80 people). I can only say that all guests (national and international) really enjoyed it. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was great and the Köbes/the Köbes (or is it Köbesse?) were super nice. We would love to come back!

Despite the size, the service is perfect. We were helped with food and drinks within 15 minutes. There are large brewing kettles available. There is also a disabled toilet in the café, right next to the entrance.

I must say, I had the best goulash ever here, it was spicy but not too much, the flavor was definitely there, the meat melted on my tongue! The beer, yes, that was perfect, a real German brauhaus, we sat down and within a minute there were 2 beers for us without asking anything, good prices. The server was very friendly, nothing compared to früh! I would do both again if I am in the area.

Super Lage am Dom, schöne Inneneinrichtung. Typisch kölsches leckeres Essen, unbedingt auch mal die Vorspeisen testen ! Das Kölsch ist richtig schön kalt. Service Personal freundlich, überhaupt kein Vergleich zu den 90 er Jahren

Excellent stop in Cologne, Been frequently visiting this establishment for 5 years.

Even though we had a lot of luggage and a bicycle with us, we were served in a friendly manner. Great location with a view of the cathedral. The Cologne train station is unique.

Food was good, but there are better places nearby.

Very tasty food, rustic atmosphere. If you have sensitive ears, you must bring earplugs.

We had a great evening with you. I received very positive feedback from all of my birthday guests without exception regarding your brewery, the great atmosphere, the food and, last but not least, the Köbes, which was extremely positively rated by my guests. All in all, it was a great birthday party - and I would like to thank the Gaffel team for that. We would love to come back!

Adam (waitress) best man! Very honest and best service!

Thank you for the hospitality, wonderful restaurant 🍽️ very tasty food, excellent beer in the best German tradition, friendly staff also speaks English!🇩🇪🤝🇺🇦 I recommend it, I liked it very much!

Lots going on and very loud in the room, the food could have been better but the salad and tartar starter were good and 4 stars ⭐️!

These guys don’t know what restaurant business is about It wasn’t like that last year The manager has zero knowledge about management Food was late for and hour and a half with no even any kind of apologetic manner The manager was hiding and pushing waiters to deal with it Such a loss it used to be a great place

Krolsh or krolsh nothing wrong with that

The food and service were excellent!!! Always happy again :-)

Very unfriendly service that makes you feel like you are not wanted there. If you order a juice spritzer, you will be served a non-alcoholic beer instead. Extremely loud pub, sometimes you can only have a conversation while shouting - I wouldn't recommend it for eating, it's obviously aimed at guests who drink a lot of alcohol. The menu is also completely out of date, I haven't seen it anywhere in a long time that is so meat-heavy and has extremely few drink options. The food is good quality but.

Very nice and good brewery, good and friendly service, good food, always happy

If you're a fan of over-fried potatoes for almost 30 euros, this is a good place. The potatoes come with a rubber truck tire called "steak" 1/5 star ⭐

Great store. Live music on Fridays from 10.30 p.m. Always in the mood, the Könes are awesome 🔨

Typical brewery with typical prices for the location. Great for groups. Unfortunately the knuckle wasn't very crispy, but the rest of the food was solid.

Always happy to come here. Drank delicious Kölsch and ate great “Himmel un Ääd”. Super nice staff, attentive and quick. Always happy to come here🍺. We can only recommend it.

We were here before our visit to the stadium and, as usual, it was very pleasant. Kölsch was freshly tapped and delivered quickly. What more could you want 😉

The waiter almost threw the bottle at our faces and also insulted us by only offering 7 euros as a tip. I’m Chinese, with my boyfriend’s family from Spain, and we didn’t know how things work here—especially since we didn’t even receive any service. Please inform customers before they take a seat if you require at least a 20% tip to dine at your place. Thank you.

Immer wieder gerne. Trotz vollem Lokal Bedienung freundlich und zuvorkommend. Essen sehr gut. Kölsch lecker. Leider war Keller nicht geöffnet.

For me, this Rhenish Kölsche rudeness of service is not a cult but simply rude. I have no idea why you can't just be friendly. Food typical brewery, delicious!

The beer is salty and delicious. The amount is huge! Don't let your guard down! I felt the taste of the German soul.

It is a restaurant that I visit every time I go to Cologne, with its wonderful atmosphere, pleasant and delicious food, and very delicious beer. It is usually quite crowded and therefore a bit noisy, but it is one of the best examples of German cuisine.

You can't be in Koln and not go!

Unfortunately, Cologne is a tourist city and you can tell this straight away in the Gaffels am Dom, no matter when I'm there it's always busy. The food is delicious, but it's a shame that the butter is too cold and hard to spread on the röggelchen. During my last visit, the service was in a bad mood and possibly didn't feel like working.

Ideal place to celebrate with friends!

Quaint brewery restaurant. Food was very good. Kölsch as well. The waiter took some getting used to but was competent.

Great location. Lot of the atmosphere depends on how much people are in. But at its best it is quite traditional brewery restaurant.

This place is a miracle. Usually bars and restaurants close to the main tourist attractions in cities are not that good, but this place is really good. The food, drinks, service, decor, everything was very good. It was a huge surprise. And the bathroom is very clean too (something rare to see in very touristy places).

Very good Kölsch but the food is nowhere near as good as it used to be. But still a very quaint and nice atmosphere.

When we are in Cologne we would love to come to you! Great service, delicious food, always a tip top! I own a Kölsch pub on the Moselle, of course with a gaff!😀

Vibe is good but beer is a bit pricey.

We had jail and were deliciously spoiled. Great value for money. Thank you,

A quaint, cool Cologne pub with super-friendly and attentive waiters! Highly recommended. A must-visit when visiting Cologne!