The Best Bars in North Rhine-Westphalia
Welcome to the award-winning Liquid Kitchen. A visit is like a journey through the world of cocktails: from sophisticatedly mixed classics to unprecedented creations - the focus here is on ingredients that have been processed in-house. With its beautiful inner courtyard, it is a true oasis in the heart of the city centre.
The star of the evening: arrack, a fermented palm nectar from Sri Lanka, in the middle of the Agnesviertel in Cologne. The Sri Lankan touch can be felt everywhere, especially in the exquisite cocktails. Their aromas send our taste buds on a journey to faraway places. You can spend balmy summer nights on the cozy terrace.
Somewhere between classic and modern, sophisticated and casual, you will find yourself in this cocktail bar in the Belgian Quarter. In addition to classics, the menu also includes avant-garde creations. They create a "link" to the cuisine: pumpkin, porcini mushrooms, blackberry caviar or saffron are used in the drinks here.
High-quality bar culture meets casual Veedelkneipen attitude. Comfortable sofas and dark colours invite you to linger. You need time to take a close look at the 300 or so spirits. Not only the classics are mixed from them. There are also various craft beers and small dishes.
Perfect for a relaxed bar evening during the week, the trendy bar par excellence at the weekend. Local DJ greats provide a varied music program from jazz to house. The menu: classic, but not to be underestimated - complemented by Champagne cocktails and perfectly mixed sours.
David Rippen has been running the Squarebar in Derendorf for ten years on just 30 square meters. He is less interested in glitter cocktails than in sophisticated drinks such as "Cypress Dill" or "Pimms my Ride". He always puts home-made ingredients in the glass.
The Venerie Bar is a far cry from the whispering pub charm of its big sister, the Square Bar. In the MUZE boutique hotel, it takes you back to the 1950s - and still looks extremely modern. This is reflected in the drinks menu: a select choice of wines meets local craft beers and the bar's own creations.
There is no evil witch lurking in this forest, but there are all the more good fairies behind the bar. One of them is Simon Bach. The bar manager serves not three, but 21 of his own cocktail creations, each of which tells its own fairy tale. How about a liquid "William Tell"? Large and small tastings.
Classic Chesterfield sofas and dim lighting from antique lamps - this is how you would imagine a real cocktail bar. At the weekend, the bar transforms into a nightclub with a sensational DJ line-up. The cocktails impress with fresh herbs and homemade syrups and purees. The motto: Cheers & Dance!
A bar in which to switch off and dream. Aroma combinations with promising names such as "Queen of Bounce" or "Ms. Fat Booty" are created in this refuge for pleasure-seekers with a golden ceiling and amber-look bar. DJs at the weekend. Don't forget to press the bell before entering.
The bar is named after a drink that comes from the French Antilles archipelago and means "little punch". There is no shortage of it here, in the form of rum etc.; there are around 50 varieties on the menu. Not to be missed: the inimitable daiquiris - sometimes infused with saffron.
A bar classic as it is written in the book. Gentle piano sounds, Champagne and first-class cocktails meet an exquisite wine list with many a rarity. During the day, you can enjoy coffee and tea specialities as well as homemade patisserie and cakes. Stylish indulgence at the foot of the cathedral.
For a sundowner or an aperitif - at 172.5 meters above sea level, even the expectations are sky-high. You won't be disappointed: you won't find any classics on the menu, but you will find signature drinks, gins, whisk(e)ys and an impressive selection of sake. It's not just the food that makes you feel like you're in Japan.
The Victorian era meets a touch of Bud Spencer. Whisk(e)y and gin are at the heart of the action. In addition to Kölsch, other characterful beers are also part of the repertoire. The cocktails, however, distance themselves from the nostalgic flair: they have never been more aesthetically pleasing.
The panoramic windows offer a breathtaking view over Düsseldorf, the ceilings are up to seven metres high and, of course, you feel like you're in the capital of France. Can the drinks menu keep up? Bien sûr! Seductive highballs meet top wines and top Champagnes. Santé!
Everyone will find their second living room in Recklinghausen's Westviertel. Casual enjoyment is the focus here, whether with wine, beer, classic cocktails or spontaneous creations. The cosy and warm atmosphere brings everyone together; the regulars mixing with visitors to the Ruhr Festival.
If you entrust your cocktail wishes to Yuto Nagasawa, you will get the best of the best in your glass. The talented bartender and friendly host is a good reason to visit this chic location in the center of Düsseldorf. A hotspot for both international and traditional Japanese bar culture.
A cocktail bar like a second living room. Mixology beginners are brought up to speed in an hour with the "Cocktail Flight" - four small tasting cocktails at an introductory price - or can deepen their knowledge in entertaining training sessions. The highlights: molecular cocktails and changing bartender specials.
The eleventh floor of the water tower combines the art of distilling with a botanical ambience. The 360-degree view also applies to the bar menu: classics and original creations cover the entire spectrum of flavours. Particularly delicious: the "Bar Botanik Gin Tonic", paired with various sharing dishes.
It is the pearl of Bochum's Bermuda3eck. Here, cocktails are stirred and shaken in the classic way - but also poured, blended and wildly experimented with. Specially composed gin complements the varied cocktail menu - regulars recommend the "Frangelico Sour" or "Parma Negroni".