RheinZeit in Köln

Got three cocktails to go. The employee misunderstood three times, sent us to the bar to pick them up ourselves, and then got annoyed that we wouldn't tip. The cocktails themselves were worse, though. €12.50, neither of us enjoyed them, and they barely tasted alcoholic. By far the worst cocktail I've ever had—and for that price, too.

Very good and delicious food.. I'd gladly go back..

Prices are ok, but food was unfortunately cold but still tasty

We weren't served after 15 minutes, even though the waiters walked past our table several times. We then walked a few meters to the next restaurant and received excellent service.

Maybe we were unlucky... The food was presented without enthusiasm, and the waiters were equally unenthusiastic. What a shame about the evening.

The food and drinks were okay, but the service was abysmal. Inattentive, unfriendly, and so aggressively begged for tips that I wouldn't eat there again.

After a stroll through Cologne, I stopped here for lunch. The service was good, everything was served quickly, and the terrace seating was very pleasant. However, the sea bream with potatoes (a fish dish) is not recommended at all, and I wouldn't eat there again.

A beautiful, rustic restaurant on the Rhine. The outdoor area is highly recommended in nice weather. The dishes were all averagely good and the value for money was reasonable. The service was prompt and attentive despite the large number of guests.

I don't understand an average rating of 4.4 stars. The food is relatively expensive, probably because of the supposed view. First, the wrong dish was brought. Instead of apologizing, they told me I'd have to pay double. It was meant to be a joke, but it didn't go down well. Overall, it didn't taste that good, and the mushroom cream sauce had exactly 4/4 mushrooms...

We had made a reservation in advance for two people. We were able to choose our seats. The staff was very prompt and friendly. Drinks were also brought very quickly. We both ordered meat, which was high quality and cooked very well. Unfortunately, my side dish (fried potatoes) was only lukewarm, and my companion's baked potato was cold. The salad was also really good.

Unfortunately, it was rather negative on two different days. The cocktails were unfortunately far too strong and barely drinkable. The spare ribs were unfortunately very tough and cold when they arrived at the table. Curry ketchup was smeared all over the bratwurst and fries, which was neither discussed nor noted on the menu. The bratwurst was also cold. Soft drinks are also available in 0.5L, which unfortunately weren't on the menu either. The staff has little overview of the guests, so the food arrived before the cutlery. The drinks were brought in advance. The only positive thing is the location on the Rhine and the heaters outside under the umbrellas.

Tricky for tourists. The food is certainly good, however: 1) 0,75 lt bottle of water €9,90 (even more costly than Montmartre in Paris) 2) at the moment of payment they strongly push for tipping (see the attached picture, it's in English, not German). Being European myself, I think that tips should be granted for outstanding service of if the customer is particularly picky. Differently from the US where tipping is mandatory, in Europe we have fair wages and welfare support. I felt like the aggressive request for tipping was reserved only for tourists, but I may be wrong. Since the service was normal and the water was soooooo expensive, we didn't tip. Needless to say, the waiter was visibly upset and he did not even reply to our "thank you" and "goodby".

I've never eaten so badly. The sirloin steak was a disaster. The fries were cold and unseasoned. The goulash soup was just water and oil with tough, bad meat. The baked potato was cold and unseasoned. The salad tasted stale. Never again.

The food was good and tasty. Nothing particularly special. My red wine was really warm, making it difficult to taste. The staff was downright rude, snappy, and only interested in attracting new guests instead of serving us. And they asked for a tip.

The flammkuchen and the lasagna are very good.

Good food, but not superb. The best part was the service. Attentive and fast. We went on Saturday night, and there was still some space. Prices were average for the area.

Nice location, but the food wasn't really warm. The quality was okay.

The food was ready before the drinks!!!!! And then everything was cold. Unfortunately, the taste was unbearable. This was definitely our first and last time here.

The food was average, however the service was poor. My daughter's pizza arrived about 30 min before the other food, some items weren't what we ordered. They objected when I wanted items that didn't arrive removed from the bill. This was when I finally got someone who would allow me to pay

We went there yesterday before seeing the musical. A waiter came quickly and asked for drinks, which were brought promptly. The main menu is very extensive, but I think the prices are a bit high. There's a daily special on the wall, but from the looks of it, it seems to be the same every day. We opted for the Hawaiian schnitzel (€9.90) and the sirloin steak (€14.90). Both came fairly quickly, with fries on the side and a solitary grilled tomato as decoration. Both plates came with a gravy (pre-made, judging by the taste), which, with coarsely ground pepper, was supposed to make the pepper sauce for my steak. Why this sauce was also on the Hawaiian schnitzel (without the pepper) isn't really clear. Unfortunately, it didn't work with either dish. The sirloin steak was two centimeters thick, so it would be difficult to order it cooked to perfection (which they did ask for). So it was cooked through at one corner, and the rest was rather rare, though it wasn't medium. Somehow, the restaurant also belongs to the Beef Club on the other corner; at least plates from both restaurants were carried out onto the terrace of the other restaurant. It wasn't nice, though, as garbage bags and empty drink crates were occasionally carried outside between the occupied tables. All in all, unfortunately, nothing I need to repeat again.

Absolute disaster – never again! We were greeted with an extremely pushy "greeting" at the door. Before we could even order, the daily specials were repeatedly taken from our table without a word – while we were just deciding what we wanted to eat. Added to that was a waiter who clearly had never attended a friendly training course. The food? Terrible. The meat was of a quality I wouldn't even expect at a discount store – and the preparation didn't improve. The fries were limp, unseasoned, and the salad didn't arrive until the middle of the main course, when I was already halfway through. The drinks were also bad: stale Coke and poorly made KiBa. I've rarely eaten such a bad meal. I gave up halfway through the plate – not because I was full, but because it was simply inedible. For me, one thing is for sure: never again!

We had currywurst with fries, the sausage was cold, and the fries were still raw. Because of our complaint, the employee brought us another portion of fries, which were also still partially raw in the middle.

Great food, terrible service. It takes at least fifteen minutes every time you get a waiter at your table.

We ate very delicious grilled knuckle of pork here!

Fast service, yes, but... The food wasn't even home-style. I'm a simple country girl, but for that money, you can skip the meal. The Kölsch beer had been sitting out for a while. It's not possible. We won't be coming here anymore. Sorry.

The German pork knuckle here is absolutely delicious — tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. The cocktails are also great, perfectly balanced and refreshing. The restaurant has a fantastic view, especially from the riverside tables. Just note that the outdoor riverside seating closes a bit later in the evening, so I recommend coming earlier to fully enjoy the beautiful Rhine River scenery.

Very good atention for the staff, and the food was amazing! Thank you

We went there for cocktails on a weekday evening. The waiter, Ali, was completely disinterested, and it was obvious he had no joy or interest in serving others. The cocktails were unloving, and the service took a long time. A mojito with giant ice cubes instead of crushed ice, for example, was served with a card. If we tried to pay with a card, we were directed to the restaurant. Ali, of course, immediately pointed out that the bill didn't include a tip. I didn't leave a tip either. The service, in particular, was noticeably poor.

The pig's trotters are okay for tourists (though I'm not sure if they're authentic). The main attraction is the location, where you can enjoy the riverside scenery while eating. But the tipping part is really confusing... The haggling is really uncomfortable. Didn't they know how dirty the restroom was? And they still have the nerve to ask for a tip...

The view of the water was very nice. The food was the best we've had in Cologne so far. Excellent value for money.

Surprised. But not positive!!! Unfortunately, it's not possible to award 0 stars. We went to the restaurant today to dine and enjoy a lovely evening. Unfortunately, we were bitterly disappointed. The service barely speaks German, which isn't a problem for me, but when there are problems and they can't be communicated, it's limiting. There was a fly in the appetizer. After pointing this out to the waiter, who didn't understand me at first, the dish was taken away and not replaced. The explanation given was that there were no flies in the kitchen and this happened after the dish was already on the table. When the main course was served, the cooking levels were incorrect. After asking again, and the waiter again couldn't understand my problem, a second waiter was called over, who promptly took the dishes away and replaced them. After the new dishes were served, we noticed that there was wire in one of the steaks. When we asked the waiter again, we were told it was the wire from the brush used to clean the grill. In this case, too, the food was not replaced. When we lost our appetite and wanted to pay (the food was half eaten), we were forced to pay the full price. The waiter tried to appease us with a free coffee, but this is not even remotely justified given the extent of the misconduct. If we hadn't discovered the wire from the steel brush, it could have led to internal injuries to our throat/pharynx or stomach. Such irresponsible and dangerous behavior in a public catering setting is unheard of. The waiters' reactions were equally low-key. I strongly recommend avoiding this establishment and not eating there.

Very nice place with delicious pizza

The location is good, the food too, but the waiter suggested the tip amount himself… is that how it's done here?

Unfortunately, it was very disappointing, and we will never go there again. We ordered two drinks and a meal. The wrong drink arrived, but it was immediately changed upon request. Cutlery was forgotten, and again, it was only replaced upon request; no apology. My companion found a hair in her meal—a definite no-go. My cocktail started separating into its individual components again, so it was a cheap component. We then had to find a waiter to pay for this disaster because no one was paying any attention to us.

She insisted on a bigger tip than what we gave and got angry when we refused.

Came here for wheat beer and good food, didn't get either. No english, expensive, not accurate menus.

I visited this restaurant because of the 4-star rating. I wish I'd spent my money on something more worthwhile. The service was poor; four waiters stood around while you waved and called out, showing no interest. The food wasn't worth the price at all. The pasta was okay, but for €17, I could have gotten the same quality for €10. The classic tarte flambée with bacon and onions didn't taste good at all. With every bite, you felt like you had a kilo of bacon in your mouth. 🙃🥲 For me, this is a clear tourist rip-off restaurant. Never again, and to be honest, I wouldn't recommend anyone go there except for the drinks.

Very nice outdoor terrace with a great view. Even in sunny weather, there was a light, pleasant breeze. We had some Kölsch beer, tarte flambée, and chicken schnitzel. Overall, the food was good. The service was okay; even though it wasn't very busy, we sometimes had to wait. Card payments are accepted, but you have to go into the restaurant for that. I don't understand why.

Nice ambience, but the cocktails are terrible... undrinkable.

Disaster!!!! Our visit to this restaurant was unfortunately nothing but disappointing. There were six of us there and we had difficulties from the start. The waiter spoke almost no German, so we even had to type our order into a device ourselves, including checking that everything was recorded correctly. Despite our best efforts, a beer arrived instead of the Lillet we had ordered. Instead of taking our drink order first, the waiter insisted on writing down the food first, which was inconvenient, as we had planned to start with drinks. Later, he brought drink coasters, which he simply threw into the middle of the table without a word. The food was served with considerable time lag; initially, we didn't even have cutlery on the table, but the food did. My drink was still missing and didn't arrive even after asking four times. The food also left a lot to be desired in terms of taste: the schnitzel and the grilled skewers were dry and tough; only the salad was fresh and good. The two cocktails were barely drinkable, so we left them alone. The hygiene conditions also left much to be desired; the restrooms were dirty and unkempt. The finale was the shocker of the entire visit: When paying, the waiter asked if the tip was missing...! And he did this several times! ...considering the overall experience, this was an absolute disgrace! All in all, the evening was very disappointing. A restaurant we definitely won't visit again and I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

The service staff was completely overwhelmed. It's our fault, the guests, that we're there and the service is overwhelmed. Abysmally bad and should have been rated negative. If the food had been good... Nothing worked!!! Sorry, every euro was too much.

Very greasy and rather industrial for spare rips. They bring you the dish even though the aperitif isn't even finished yet. Not even peanuts or other snacks with a cocktail listed at €12. Quite disappointed.

A beautiful, touristic place in Cologne is located on the waterfront, not far from the cathedral.

Well, the view is nice, but the restaurant doesn't seem to have much else to offer. We've been waiting an hour for our food. The table next to us also asked about it - "relax" was the only answer. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it. **The food arrived lukewarm. RheinZeit definitely turned into a Rhine Falls.

The ambiance right on the Rhine is lovely. Unfortunately, the food was absolutely not tasty. We were a group of seven. Everyone sent back more than half of what they ordered. The schnitzels were all dry and had different sauces. Some were missing the pineapple, which is what makes a Hawaiian schnitzel. We won't be back. The beautiful location right on the Rhine can't be blamed for that, but the price-performance ratio just isn't right.

French fries were burnt and hard!!! Unfriendly staff, five of us got our food at completely different times!

The gentleman who served us was very friendly. Even after we had to ask for two fresh glasses because they still had mouth prints on them, and even after we practically disinfected and polished the cutlery ourselves because some of it still had food residue on it. Everyone can have a bad day, right? But then finding a large piece of plastic in the tarte flambée is probably just too much of a good thing. Overall, the food was mediocre. The tarte flambée dough wasn't homemade and the toppings were a bit thin (which is why the plastic was immediately noticeable). Unfortunately, we weren't lucky, but perhaps you'll have better luck on your visit.

Absolutely great food! Nice service. Highly recommended.

Very nice atmosphere and delicious drinks and food. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

Beer was dead, water was 4 euro and some pinguïns infront. Walk 100 meters more and eat some real food.

All drinks were super expensive, paid almost 4 euros for water. Penguins in front, ordered different sizes than those that were given. Walk a few steps further for real food.

A place across the river. We ordered the schnitzel and pasta. The pasta was good, but the schnitzel was so tough it was awful. I couldn't cut it with a knife. The other dishes might be good, but I wouldn't recommend the schnitzel.

Absolute disaster! Order was taken incorrectly, and the quality is terrible. This is the toughest Wiener schnitzel I've ever had...

Of course, you pay for the location, but all in all, it's absolutely reasonable. The food itself was excellent, but could have been seasoned a bit better. The service was super friendly and very attentive.

The food was really good, and despite the busy times, the restrooms were still clean. The staff was also friendly.

Overall good, prices a little high. The food was good. Fast service.

Personally, I really liked it. The atmosphere was good, the waiter was very friendly and smiling.

I like this restaurant I go there every Saturday it is very tasty I recommend it

So it must be very good and well placed!

The staff did not seem friendly. Ordered white wine twice, but did not receive it. I ate spareribs with fries: the price was okay, fries were fresh but quite small. Wet wipes for the hands would have been nice to choose from. Soft drinks were served in a glass without a bottle so you do not know what brand your drink is. The location was nice.

Delicious food in a beautiful riverside location. Here you can taste the local dishes, I tried the Himmel un Ääd

Good food. Friendly staff. Very warm and stuffy inside. Very loud and lively outside. The quality is decent, but not cheap.

Every year. Don't forget to make a reservation 👌

Staff very friendly, steak only recommendation who and for a special occasion it is definitely worth it

The steaks were very good but the waiters were a bit lacking

Absolutely the worst place I have ever been in. Soap dispenser squirts in the direction of face.

We're currently at RheinZeit! Our waitress, Sanny, is very friendly! She has a pleasant demeanor and is very motivated. We'd love to come back and highly recommend this steakhouse. 👍

WARNING!! Tourist trap, Showing prices on the street that are not in the menu. The food is ready industrial food that is heated up. The menu says schweinshaxe 1500gr but it was way too small. And of course the staff came with the classic answer, that it is before cooking. It was never 1500gr. So beware they are being deceived from start to finish.... An absolute disaster...

I think the pictures say it all ;) It was delicious, as always, and the staff was very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend it ;)

The food was good 👍🏾, especially the service from Nexhat – he was very friendly and accommodating.

Great ambiance near the Rhine. The best part, though, was the service, and Nexhat deserves special mention here. Extremely competent and friendly...we'll be back.

I've never experienced anything like this before. Such unfriendly employees!!!! I usually give 3 to 5 stars, but here? No! The restroom isn't well-marked, and I thought I'd found it. I accidentally headed toward the warehouse. Then an employee came over and started rudely talking to me. I just said (in a friendly tone) I'm just looking for the restroom. I'm sorry. And the employee said in a cheeky tone: That's totally unacceptable. Get down immediately. The other employees weren't friendly either. No goodbye, no nothing. Impossible. We just had a drink and then left. After that, I lost my appetite. The boss could teach his employees kindness.

The burger was really good but we also ordered the steak which was overcooked and hard to cut into. the pasta was ok but I wouldn’t get it again to be honest. We weren’t in a rush but they took a long time to take our order and we had to go to the kitchen to ask for forks because we kept asking for them and they didn’t bring them. extra point for tiramisu

Very good, even if the service was a little slow. A comprehensive menu and a beautiful view of the Rhine!

The food is simply cold. The chicken is completely dry and inedible. The restroom is unusable; everything is broken. A complete disaster.

Long time to have order launched and even longer to receive it. The chicken pasta has a strange taste. The burger is a cheeseburger actually, but it is good. No chance to give special requests as “no onion”, they will say it is impossible to respect it, which in the end came with onion anyway. The pork knee quite dry. The snitzel good.

Attention, read the review before you make the same mistake as we did. For me it's just a tourist trap. The cocktail was the worst I've ever had. The deck was just inedible. I've never eaten anything so bad in my life. We left it but still got a bill of 70 € 😭😭

Very friendly service, everyone was very helpful and in a good mood. The food was delicious and prepared quickly.

Very unfriendly, disorganized and long waiting times

The food was ok, but unfortunately our visit ended rather unpleasantly. When we decided not to tip, the waiter started to curse at us. Very unprofessional. We will not come back here!

Unfortunately, the lack of service didn't adequately appreciate the superb location with a view of the Rhine and the reasonably priced, truly delicious, and flavorful food. The side salad wasn't served. After we were almost finished with our food, we were asked if we wanted more salad. We also requested ice cubes with the lukewarm water. We asked three times, but unfortunately, the service ignored us. I consider the service not only ignorant, but also very poor. Unfortunately, they didn't really make an effort or even seem friendly. At the end, we were asked if everything was okay. I explained to the waitress that, unfortunately, it wasn't. We explained to the waitress that we had asked several times. Unfortunately, despite our complaint, there was no word of regret or apology. When we wanted to pay, we were told we had to pay €81. This didn't seem appropriate to me, given the dishes we had consumed. As I looked at the waitress questioningly, the price suddenly changed to €52.50. We were then asked if we wanted a receipt. Of course, we wanted a receipt. We were then no longer allowed to pay on the terrace, but had to do so inside. No words.!!!! I'm sorry for the great location and the excellent chef. But I can't recommend this place. Such blatantly bad service, I've rarely experienced it. Avoid this restaurant!

Once and never again. The food was already cold before we received cutlery. The drinks only arrived after we had finished eating. The service was disastrous. German is a foreign word...and this in the middle of Cologne.

We ordered 1 beer and 1 water. 2x they brought the wrong thing. Then 2 plates of food came while we had not ordered anything. Then again the wrong drink and then the waiter was nasty. Still got 1 beer and a water and immediately asked for the bill. We do not eat here.

The food was cold, even after we pointed it out, but it just stayed cold. The staff barely spoke German. Never again!

The price/performance ratio wasn't right. The service left a lot to be desired. The food portions were more like a child's portion. What a shame! The steak wasn't cooked to the requested standard.

We visited RheinZeit and ordered the gebratene Gambas (6 pcs), the Schlachtplatte for two with fries and sauerkraut (including various sausages and Leberkäse), and a T-bone steak. Shortly after placing our order, we were pleasantly surprised with warm, freshly baked bread — a lovely touch and very tasty. The T-bone steak was grilled to the perfect level of doneness and remained juicy and flavorful. The sausages and Leberkäse from the Schlachtplatte were also well-prepared and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the Gambas were overcooked, making them dry and a bit disappointing. Cola was served inconsistently — sometimes with lemon, sometimes without. The main drawback of the experience was the attitude of the staff. When we arrived, we wanted to sit at the last table at the edge of the terrace to enjoy the view of the Rhine. However, the waiter refused, claiming it wasn’t his service area, and walked away. We had no choice but to pick from the tables he offered. Later we noticed that the same staff was serving all the tables, including the ones we were initially denied. While the food was generally good, the unwelcoming service left a negative impression.

We shared this 400g burger between two people – absolutely filling and delicious! After years, we finally met up with friends and were looking for a place where we could have a quiet chat. We happened upon this place – located right on the Rhine with a lovely, open outdoor terrace. Inside, it's quiet, warm, and truly cozy. Perfect for having good conversations in a relaxed atmosphere. We really enjoyed our time here!

The restaurant is next to the river and next to other restaurants so it has a nice view and atmosphere. The food was delicious with good portions. If ou are a meat fan, it is a great place to eat and drink german beer!

I went there with my parents, and we haven't had such a bad meal in a long time. The meat from the Western-style grill was tough as a shoe sole; you couldn't even chew it. The piece of beef was so overcooked it felt like biting through gristle. My side salad hung in the curve like a sip of water, and the cucumber slice was dried out...sad that something like that even leaves the counter. Everyone should have an eye for that. My mother's Wiener schnitzel was dry. My dad's Himmel un Äd was "okay." The women's restroom was dirty. The service was good, the gentleman was friendly. Nevertheless, we don't recommend it, despite the beautiful location on the banks of the Rhine. The food was far too bad for that.

Pretty ok place for lunch or grabbing a beer with friends. As a tourist place, just normal to eat out for average price

One of our party got a needle in the meat 😪The staff didn't care 🤔After they took out the food they came back and thought he had eaten enough 😂So they wanted full payment 🤔Then they took 15% off and then offered his food. But no excuse. We were a party of 12 people who were otherwise half satisfied with the food the meat was dry and no difference what type of meat was ordered. But would not advise anyone to eat there unfortunately 😪

The food was good and a great location looking out over the Rhine. Only thing I would say is service is really not good. Waited 15 minutes for menus and then nearly half an hour before someone came to take our order despite asking multiple times. Wouldn’t say avoid as food is great, but just be prepared to take your time

Sorry, but I was totally disappointed today. Why do they put gravy on Himmel un Ääd? The chef seems to like it. The black pudding was served in a kind of puff pastry coating. Why? And they also forgot the apple compote at the beginning. Drinks and the view are good—but that's it! What a shame! It was definitely tastier here in the past!

Well I can only stay away from here The food is from yesterday, it was warmed up The schnitzel could have been thrown against the wall, the wall would have lost the chips you could have used as toothpicks Cold and just not edible It's only gotten worse Here 2 years ago you could still eat here, now you can't eat it anymore The schnitzel was still undercooked and as I said, it was definitely from yesterday, only warmed up briefly I would advise against this shop

The schnitzel was completely dry and very hard. The service left a lot to be desired. They speak little to no German and can barely understand you. You also wait almost 30 minutes for your food, even when the place isn't busy. Overall, I definitely wouldn't recommend it, as the price-performance ratio is really poor—a lot of money for nothing decent. My recommendation here is to hire better staff. QUALIFIED STAFF!!

Ordered the mashed potato and fried blood sausage - taste was vibrant but it was salty as hell - would skyrocket my Blood pressure . Couldn’t eat the sausage for the same reason . Mr Chef , what’s with the salt overload in this dish ? Mashed potatoes was awesome tho

The service hardly speaks German, the food was terrible this time, the schnitzel was cooked too hard, the fries were cold... all in all, I can't recommend it anymore, the quality of the place has declined considerably since 2025

The sausage was very tasty, spaghetti and fries quite bland. The service makes you a bit impatient. Cola tasteless. Very cozy though!

Unfortunately, the wait for staff was incredibly long. It felt like being ignored.

You sit outside with a view of the Rhine. That was the best part. The food (see tarte flambée and bratwurst with fries was standard). An Aperol for €9 tasted okay, but also on the high end in terms of value. It's always bad, though, when it's not busy and you want to drink two or three Kölsch beers, and despite calling and waving five times, you're ignored because the waitress is talking to four women and needs five minutes to get water and apple juice. Better to go to a Cologne brewery. I don't understand how the 4.5 stars average out.