Enjoy Gluten-Free in Cologne: Top Spots

Enjoying Gluten-Free in... COLOGNE

Gluten-free food doesn't have to be monotonous or boring; it can be just as diverse, creative, and delicious as its gluten-containing alternatives. Numerous restaurants, cafés, and bakeries across Germany prove this. Some of the very unusual combinations will even win over your "non-gluten-free friends." This way, everyone can enjoy a relaxed evening without gluten and unpleasant surprises.

Here, we have compiled our personal Top 10 of the best gluten-free establishments in Cologne for you. If your favorite spot isn't on the list, let us know – we'll gladly expand the list with more top addresses.

Cafés

Raute-1 Café Gesund & Süß – gluten-free, sugar-free & lactose-free

A small, cozy café right in the city center that not only offers completely gluten-free delights but also prepares them without sugar and lactose. So, it's an absolute insider tip for anyone with multiple intolerances. The cinnamon cake, in particular, was divine. They also serve really good coffee from "van Dyck," a Cologne coffee roaster, or many caffeine-free options like Chai or Turmeric Latte. The only downside: there's no customer restroom – meaning longer stays aren't possible.

Benesisstr. 46/48, 50672 Cologne | Mon-Sat 12:00-18:00 | Sun 13:00-17:00
https://www.gesundundsuess.de/

ecco – Gluten-Free Brunch / Lunch and More

In the heart of the Südstadt, ecco has been around for 10 years, with a new concept in recent years. This primarily includes a healthy menu. Every day, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free delicacies are freshly prepared and offered buffet-style during the day. From 3:00 PM, you can order à la carte as usual. The kitchen and service staff are super well-trained and can seemingly offer something suitable for everyone. Be sure to check out their very well-stocked coffee and tea menu!

Kartäuserwall 7-11, 50678 Cologne | Mon-Sun 10:00-00:00 | Brunch/Lunch Mon-Sun 10:00-15:00
http://ecco-restaurant.de/

Edelgrün – Clean eating made easy

The three guys from Cologne wanted to do better than others and quickly founded Edelgrün. Their aim with all dishes is to process food as little as possible, completely avoiding flavor enhancers, preservatives, refined sugar, and colorings. Everything you get served here is packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, good fats, and most dishes are completely gluten-free. My personal tip: wild herb quinoa salad with avocado, beetroot, and walnuts.

Venloer Straße 233, 50823 Cologne | Mon-Thu 12:00-22:00 | Fri-Sun 10:00-22:00
https://edelgruen.bio/

Restaurants

Freddy Schilling – Burgers for everyone

The popular hamburger manufactory has two locations in Cologne. Recently, Freddy also offers gluten-free buns. The meat here is never extended and is therefore gluten-free, as is everything that goes between the bun halves. The quality speaks for itself from the first bite. The fries, optionally made from potatoes or cassava, are also fantastic, with plenty of gluten-free, homemade sauces for dipping.

Mongo´s – Buffet and Mongolian Grill

It's no coincidence that Mongo's is recommended in almost every restaurant guide. The concept and atmosphere alone speak for themselves. There's an extraordinary selection of meat, fish, vegetables, and side dishes at the buffet. Everyone can put together their own bowl, choose one of the many delicious, homemade sauces, and get unlimited refills. For the very brave among you, there are even insects, and for those who prefer to stay seated, you can also order from the menu at the table. For me personally, the absolute highlight is the many delicious sauces and dips... Mango-passion fruit cream, love it!

Ottoplatz 1, 50679 Cologne | Mon-Thu 12:00-00:00 | Fri-Sat 12:00-1:00 | Sun 11:30-00:00
https://www.mongos.de/de/restaurants/koeln

PizzaPasta e basta – Traditionally Italian

Anyone who has been to Italy will be reminded of the "Bella Italia flair" when looking at the menu. In addition to the classics, there are also some more unusual variations, such as homemade tagliatelle with rabbit ragout from the Eifel with lots of vegetables and herbs. The highlight here is that all pizza and pasta dishes are also available gluten-free, and children are served with particular care. The food was really good, and I can only recommend the homemade dessert variation to everyone.

Klettenberggürtel 15, 50939 Cologne | Wed-Mon 17:30-22:00 | Sat & Sun 12:00-14:30 additionally lunch
http://pizzapasta-e-basta.de/

Raute-7 Vapiano – Live Cooking Across the Board

The basic idea of Vapiano is based on a simple yet ingenious concept that is suitable for almost all culinary delights. Here in Germany, the focus is mainly on Mediterranean cuisine. So there's a lot of pasta, pizza, and salads. The great thing is that everything is freshly prepared in front of you, and there are separate workstations for gluten-free orders to keep the risk of contamination as low as possible. What I found a bit of a shame was that there was only one type of gluten-free pasta... But it tasted absolutely delicious! I personally also find the interior and atmosphere very inviting and can therefore only recommend Vapiano.

Bakeries & Co.

Onder de Linden – Organic Bakery

Simply fantastic! This is where every gluten-free eater's heart goes out to! From pastries to rolls to countless bread variations, everything is exclusively gluten-free. Contamination is therefore excluded. Since opening hours are very limited, it's best to pre-order or buy at bakeries in Alnatura and Naturata markets. A list of sales outlets and the philosophy of the founder Eric Onder de Linden can be found on the homepage. My conclusion: Simply outstandingly good!

Berliner Str. 923, 51069 Cologne | Thu 14:00-19:00
www.onderdelinden.de

Hommage – Buckwheat Crêpes

The small, lovingly decorated Hommage café is like a peaceful haven amidst the bustling shops on Friesenstraße. The buckwheat crêpes are like an homage to French cuisine – you can choose from sweet and savory variations. The "Pink Hummus" is my personal tip for you. It's creatively filled with beetroot, hummus, bell pepper, and fresh herbs. If you prefer something sweet or are a coffee lover, you'll also find something to enjoy here. Trying things out here is simply fun!

Friesenstraße 75, 50670 Cologne | Mon-Sun 8:00-18:00
www.facebook.com/hommage.koeln

Stecco Natura – Ice Cream on a Stick

This isn't just ice cream, but ice cream on a stick with style and lots of flavor! You can choose between incredibly delicious fruit-based or milk-based varieties. Great importance is placed on high-quality raw materials and processing; all fruit ice cream varieties contain at least 60% fruit, and the creamy ones contain pistachios from Bronte or almonds from Noto. All varieties are gluten-free and some are also lactose-free. I would recommend any ice cream fan to venture into the extraordinary flavors, such as ricotta and pear or Sacher torte with mandarin.

Bonner Str. 40, 50677 Cologne | Thu-Sun 12:00-21:00 and on all sunny days
https://www.stecconatura.de/

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