Travels brought me to Cologne three times this year already. A good opportunity to explore the local bar scene. Being from Zurich, you always hear about places in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich but not really about Cologne. This city reminds me a bit about a quote from a funny Welsh movie called Twin Town. They speak about Swansea and they read at the train station that it is an ugly, lovely town and one guy thinks that’s not a very good slogan since there is no rhyme in it and after thinking for a few seconds, he calls it a “Pretty Shitty City”. That’s kind of what Cologne is too. Not very picturesque as Hamburg, Berlin or Munich, rather ugly! Sure there are lovely spots along the Rhein or the Parks but all in all many would argue the other major cities in Germany are better to visit when it comes to sights.
Careful Selection
On the flipside though the city really lives! Its inhabitants make the difference as they are cool, friendly, laid back and open minded. Moreover one finds excellent restaurants and a vibrant club scene. Last but not least the density of respectable cocktail bars is extremely pleasant. Almost all in walking distance of each other. It almost cries for a crawl through all of them. Don’t be surprised though if you won’t make it to the second or third one as you can easily spend an evening at a single one. My first stop was a rather new place called Little Link. The bartenders though are everything else but new. Lars and Stephan are well known in the scene and if you need an interesting gift for a cocktail aficionado, it is worth looking at “Cocktailkunst”, the new book from Stephan. I came to Little Link in February the first time and returned in September. We were immediately recognized by Lars and Christina who were both working in February. Very good hosts indeed! Exceptionally friendly, knowledgeable and one realizes that Little Link is about that link between guests and their hosts. We sat down at the bar to see the masters at work. One finds a generous bar top with good views to the wide selection of spirits. The rest of the space is designed with an industrial touch.
Who can resist?
A few carbon filament lamps here and there with warm light but otherwise the place feels slightly cold which is probably the only downside for me. Everything else is perfectly executed. Pre cooled stirring glasses, useful coasters for the glasses, immediate water service when you sit down at the bar and a very creative cocktail menu with a wide selection of drinks. You won’t have a hard time to find anything suitable here. I started off with a dirty martini, yeah what else, as it was my starting drink. A very well executed one with standard material like Tanqueray, Noilly Prat and the right choice of brine. The lovely with lemon and rosemary marinated olives were served on the side in a Weckglas. A real treat! What followed was a creation from Lars with Eldorado Rum, Rhum agricole, Oloroso sherry, PX sherry and a hint of chocolate bitter. A very flavourful, round and well balanced composition. My friends tasted Little Link’s Zombie and the Swiss sour made from Ricola syrup, something that I have already seen once in Switzerland. Both were solid and tasty creations, elegantly executed with right amount of decoration. The zest as decoration with the burnt Little Link logo was very pleasant surprise that I saw for the first time in a bar. Elegant touch I must say. I will definitely return to Little Link again whenever I find time to visit this city and I am looking forward to taste more of their menu.
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