Bars in Cologne 🍸

Most pubs in the Altstadt and Südstadt show live sports daily. For a guaranteed seat with a view, head to The Corkonian Irish Pub near Alter Markt. They have screens everywhere. You can also hunt for specific match-day deals using Seeker Social (Android / iOS).

Every local corner pub near Zülpicher Straße will have the FC Köln game on. It’s the law here. If you want a massive crowd, try Joe Champs at Rudolfplatz. It’s an American-style spot that takes football very seriously. Arrive an hour before kickoff if you want any chance of sitting down.

Yes, Jameson Irish Pub Cologne is the go-to for English commentary and Premier League matches. It's located in the Friesenviertel. They also do great food, which isn't always a given in the smaller German pubs. It gets very busy with expats during the Six Nations rugby tournament too.

NFL is growing fast here. Places like Joe Champs are your best bet for Sunday night games. They stay open late for the primetime US kickoffs. You should check the Seeker Social app (Android / iOS) to see which venues are hosting Super Bowl parties.

Absolutely. While football is king, many bars around Neumarkt show F1 races on Sunday afternoons. Just ask the bartender to switch one of the smaller screens over if it's not already on. If there is a big match happening at the same time, you might have to check out some breweries in Cologne which often have TVs.

For a standard league game, you can usually just walk in. But for the Champions League or a local derby, you absolutely need to call ahead. Some places won't even take bookings on game days — it's first come, first served. If you're in a group of five or more, definitely call the bar at least two days early.

Most do, but it varies from a full kitchen to just bags of peanuts. Larger spots like Bar Celona serve burgers and snacks throughout the game. If you are in a smaller Ehrenfeld pub, don't expect a three-course meal. You might just get a cold schnitzel roll if you're lucky. Eat before you go if you're picky.