Koln: any good pubs on Messe side of river?

Oh dear? I saw this in Ron Pattisons web site and planned to visit... Any other pubs/bars at all on this side of the river? On a related point, what sort of beer do they serve in the buffet cars on Deutsche Bahn ICE trains?

Bruce

Regrettably, Ron's site is just a touch out of date here. The owner packed it in at the end of 2004. He was 74. He died a few months later, to the great sorrow of those who treasured his tavern, where all were treated equally.

Lommi certainly was a textbook example of "endearingly scruffy." See

Pils, usually "national" brands. Sometimes Erdinger Weisse.

Thanks Steve. I've visited the "tourist side" quite a few times. I was wondering if the Messe side had any pubs. I am coming from the airport and connecting with an ICE train down to Nuremberg from Messe station. If not, I'll buy a couple of bottles of koelsch and drink them on the train.

The Deutz side of the Rhein has various pubs and restaurants, but none of any great distinction - at least, not any more.

Sad to hear that it is no more.

I had one of my most enjoyable experiences in Europe there ... after arriving in Koln by train, I got out at the main station and started wondering around, looking for the hostel where I had my reservation.

After a long while, I found out the hostel was across the bridge, so I hoofed it across (carrying my backpack). It was a warm May day, and I was pretty hot by the time I found the place and checked in.

Once I dumped my backpack, I went out to look for some Koelsch, and the first place I saw was this ratty looking place across the street.

The tavern was pretty full of people, and even people spilled out onto the street.

There was a couple sitting next to their bicycle, who at first I thought were from the hostel, but on asking them, found out they were natives, and that the beer here was the best Koeslch in Koln.

Since I was really tired by a long day of travel, I had not problem with going in and drinking my first couple of Koelschs there, which I did.

The next day I spent walking around sampling the Koelsches at all the places on the opposite side of the river, but I'm not sure if any of them were as good as those first ones I had there.

Cheers, John

OP here. I had a walk around the Deutz station area...Koln FC football team were playing a game at the nearby stadium. There were a few pubs on the pedestrianised shopping street nearby, including an excellent traditional type Sion pub which was popular with local soccer fans. But, as you say, Lommis is all boarded up now.

Any comments on Reissdorf koelsch...all the soccer fans were drinking bottles of it on the way to the game. Probably because it has a red & white label = same colours as FC Koln. Bruce Bruce

Passable example of the style, and pretty much the only one from Cologne available in the USA on a regular basis. Not the worst of the bunch, and fairly widely available.

Yes decent enough beer and particularly good in the brewery tap, not a million miles from Barbarossa Platz

million miles from Barbarossa Platz <

Where is the brewery tap, exactly?

Thanks Bruce