Excelsior Hotel Ernst

Such a great experience at this hotel. The staff was incredibly accommodating on all of our requests, the restaurant and breakfast was phenomenal, the rooms were classically beautiful, and the location is unbeatable for the Christmas markets, the Kölner Dom, and the train station. Met all of our expectations and more.

My family of three returned to this hotel for a one night stay. We wanted to hit the Christmas markets and do some shopping after a trip to Portugal before our flight home out of FRA. I booked a Junior Suite Cathedral view room; definitely not inexpensive but an amazing room with an even better view of the Dom.||We arrived early in the morning and knew our room wouldn't be ready, which it was not. We dropped our bags and set out for some Christmas markets in surrounding towns.||We returned to the hotel around 5:30, checked in and were given the key to room 301. This room is huge and amazing. They had the sofa bed made up for my daughter and there was a pair of slippers waiting for her. There is only one bathroom, but it is large and has a great shower. The sitting room is just enormous even with the sofa bed pulled out. The bell staff had delivered our luggage, which is always a welcome service. The highlight of the room is the view of the Dom, right across the street. That view is made even better with the three (yes, three) small balconies.||The room temperature was easily controllable, the shower pressure was great, and the bed incredibly comfortable. ||We had drinks at the bar in the evening. The only minor ding I would give the hotel is that the service in the bar seemed a bit off compared to our two night stay in 2024 and I noticed they had replaced the elegant leather coasters with paper napkins. Not a big deal by any stretch, but a noticeable change to me.||We had breakfast in the restaurant in the morning. It isn't the biggest spread that we had on the trip, but it is plentiful and has something for everyone as well as order off the menu egg dishes.||Everyone that we encountered was excellent, helpful, professional and friendly. We love this hotel...absolutely love it. And we all agree that in all of our travels, the view from this room (the exact same room we had last year fwiw) is the best we have ever had. The convenience to the train station is also amazing; exit and you're in the hotel in an easy three minute walk (if you walk slowly).||Thanks for a / another great stay!

meaning a traditional five-star with the genuine, rather than created, charme of times past - yet suitably updated. I stay here sometimes when in Cologne (it's not cheap but the premium is justified) exactly because I'm not in Chicago. And I ask expicitly for non-redesigned rooms because I want the Glanz der Adenauerära, yet I do need electricity outlets next to my bed. The Ernst delivers on all counts.||I stayed here short notice the weekend before Totensonntag, when there should not be Weihnachtsmärkte open yet but of course there are, with masses of Dutch and other tourists and the Altstadt booked out. The Ernst provided a great refuge, and the room was really good - basically a junior suite, giant walk-in closet, 1st floor but to the courtyard with balcony, and as the Ernst has a genuine mezzanine, 1st floor is actually two floors up and what used to be the Beletage. First class marble lined bathtup, spotlessly clean. A certain minimalism, also with condiments etc., that I like. The free minibar is not minimalist though and I like this non-catchpenny gesture.||Is everything perfect? Oh of course I have a list of possible improvements, but they would not detract from the rating, or the location, or the well-trained staff etc. Slippers are too small and a bit cheap, things like that - who cares, life is not perfect. And while the room was without breakfast, we wound up going there anyway for a business talk and it turned out well.||Again, this was below 400 altogether, and that is what, at a time like this and for a place like this, it has to be. So, I'll be back and enjoy myself.

We had the most wonderful stay at Hotel Ernst! From the moment we walked in we were greeted warmly and received exceptional service. The reception staff helped us with an early check in as well as upgrades to gorgeous rooms. The rooms were quiet, spacious and well appointed. The amenities were lovely. We enjoyed the bar and the Hanse Stube restaurant, both of which were fantastic. We would absolutely love to stay again; it was just perfect.

A very comfortable, very pleasant, exquisitely located and structured hotel, which is an artwork in itself with its history, right next to the magnificent Kölner Dom, the city's greatest piece of art. The staff are always smiling and consistently treat guests with kindness. I definitely recommend it

Great service and great location – but with a catch. Some rooms are beautifully renovated and very comfortable, while others still give off more of a hostel vibe. Dear Hotel Excelsior: if you have these lovely renovated rooms available and the hotel isn’t at full capacity, why not let your guests enjoy them? Note: I understand there are different categories, but after all, when you book a “classic room” at a "5-star luxury hotel", you don’t exactly expect to end up in the sequel to Hostel.

It was like trying to sleep above a beer garden. Below our room in a gathering room, live music is still playing and it’s 12:50 in the morning. I thought I was supposed to be staying at the nicest hotel in Cologne. I would have been better off trying to sleep at the train station. Went down to the desk at midnight to see when it would stop. No luck with that.

truly intended to write positive things about the hotel—the excellent location, the quality of the rooms, and the overall impression. However, the experience at the hotel’s restaurant completely changed my view.||What took place during that dinner made me feel that the hotel is not worthy of the compliments I had initially planned to give.||The hospitality at the restaurant, in both my personal experience and in the way we were treated, was humiliating and degrading. It left us with a painful impression— not be truly welcome.||The staff clearly had the discretion to seat us in the back room, isolated, like outcasts—giving us a disturbing and unforgettable feeling of exclusion.

We were seeking a hotel with a prime location in downtown Cologne, the Excelsior Hotel Ernst was an excellent choice. Situated directly across from the iconic Cologne Cathedral, this hotel offers unmatched convenience for exploring the city on foot. The central train station is just a 2-3 minute walk away, and Cologne's main shopping streets are right across the road. Additionally, a variety of dining options surround the hotel, although I would caution against visiting Gaffel Am Dom, as I found their customer service lacking and their menu uninspired. The hotel is a 5 star hotel with huge rooms and great service. The rooms are luxurious and decor is high end. Major attractions like the art museums, Old Town, Philharmonic Theatre, and the Rhine River promenade are all within a 10-minute walk, making this hotel a perfect base for cultural and leisure activities. As for dining within the hotel, their restaurant, Taku, is good, though not exceptional. While it may not stand out as one of the best, it still offers a pleasant dining experience.

Everything you would expect from 5 star excellence but what distinguishes the this place is the world class customer service! Thank you for such a memorable experience!

Lovely updated rooms/suites with old world charm and fantastic service We stayed for only a night, but were very impressed with this hotel and its staff. We booked a standard suite, but were upgraded to one with an extra 1/2 bath. Some of the suites have a traditional decor, and others are more modern (ask for "the Hanseatic Wing"). We preferred the more modern decor and the staff were happy to oblige us. Overall, the staff was wonderful: friendly, helpful, and professional. We were always welcomed, and any request or question was responded to quickly and professionally. The staff elevated the hotel and turned a really good stay into a great one. Our room was spotless, and very nicely appointed. There were tons of closets and more than enough towels--no skimping. The shower was not just a rain shower head, but a deluge. It was the best shower that we can remember having used in a hotel, which is saying quite a bit. Breakfast (included in our rate) was a full buffet with the usual museli, meats, cheeses, pastries, etc plus a menu for eggs and French toast type items. All were prepared well, served elegantly, and in a comfortable and well appointed room. It was generally faultless. The hotel's location in Köln can't be beat. It is around the corner from the train station, and across the street from the Dom. The entire historic portion of Köln and the shopping district is within 15 minutes walk. There are many restaurants to choose from within a very short walking distance, including a great bakery (Bäckerei Merzenich) only 5 minutes walk away.

This hotel is stunning! The service is impeccable, the rooms are beautiful, and the location is perfect directly across from the cathedral and shopping district. We stayed in the Grand Deluxe Room, which for what was included, was very reasonably priced. Some of the highlights were the welcome petifores & personalized note, free wifi, free mini bar (which included their signature beverage - Kolsch), the pillow menu, the afternoon surprise snack, and the evening turn down service. Did I mention the service was amazing?! Everyone was so friendly and inviting. I added the high tea one afternoon for 34 euros which was worth every penny, basically a meal in itself. Overall a wonderful experience - thank you Excelsior Hotel!

This review is for the bar/lounge in the hotel. The bar is simply great - wonderful service, great attention to detail, and some great selections. We were here on two evenings and didn't want to go anywhere else! Too bad we didn't get a room in the hotel to stay. The seating is cosy and quite contemporary. They serve snacks with your drinks, and not just any snacks, but delicious chips and mixed nuts, in classy metal bowls. In fact, the snacks just keep on coming. I must have had a bagful with my glasses of sparkling wine. They have a small menu selection for foods as well, but I only had drinks. The prices are quite tame for a 5 star hotel. Even though reservations are recommended it is quite easy to get a good table even if you manage to just drop in casually. Now I know where I am staying next time I am in Cologne.

The Excelsior Hotel Ernst delivered a sublime, restful evening situated in perhaps the perfect spot in Cologne. I stayed here after going off the train at Cologne on a whim, and given the low price this was easily the best deal in a hotel I've ever found. The location is amazing, sitting across the street from the Dom (the massive Cologne Cathedral) with many rooms, including the one I stayed in, whose Juliet balconies look out on this 600+ years old marvel. The hotel is also an easy walk from the train station, perhaps 3/4 block. Just on the far side of the cathedral lies a very large retail plaza with many fashion clothing stores, and a turn to the East from this shopping district will bring you immediately to a large selection of bars, cafes, street food, and night clubs as you near the waterfront. From there you are just another few steps away from the Hohenzollern bridge, and crossing this will give you a beautiful look back at the city and the big blue musical dome. This view is particularly good at night. The staff at this hotel were perfectly polite and helpful with even seemingly absurd requests, such as when I requested they check the kitchen for coconut oil for my coffee. Everyone spoke English, most of them quite well. The room was stylishly appointed and thoroughly functional, with WiFi (and a tablet provided), a safe, a complimentary(!) minibar stocked with juices and German beer, deep marble bathtub, bidet, etc. The bed linens were airy and plush, although the mattress was nothing special. The hotel's piano bar must be enjoyed. I stayed late into the night enjoying their perfectly poured cocktails and Cuban cigars while making a few new friends. A note, please, to my countrymen though: of ever there were a time to restrain your voice a bit and adopt a more European volume, this is it! Although doing so will always serve you well in the "old country." In summary, the Excelsior Hotel Ernst has been a triumph for this once weary traveler, and I would return 100 times given the opportunity. Enjoy!

My family and I travel often and stay at some of the best hotels and resorts in the world. Durning our 2015 summer vacation, we were traveling from Amsterdam to Geneva and decided to stay at this hotel for 1 day to get some rest. This hotel exceeded all my expectations by 10 folds. Rooms were clean, comfortable and amazing, location was fantastic, service was 10 out of 10 and finally the breakfast .... Wow.. Amazing. I have to give this hotel a 10 out of 10 and I highly recommend this to all travels, including my fellow Americans from US. Five stars all the across the board!

Check hotel prices since they change daily on various websites. Saved $200.00 by doing. Room was great with amenities like stocked frig with beer, orange juice, Apple juice and water (free). At check in we asked for cathedral view, which would cost an additional money. We were shown our reserved room and one with the view. Went with our reserved room due to it being modern. The one with view (2nd level) was not. Located within walking distance to everything. Hotel is amazing and make sure you walk around to see all it offers.

Amazing service first and foremost. The front desk, bar staff, restaurant staff all go out there way to ensure a great stay. The location is probably the best as it's a close walk to the Rhine, steps from the main station and the cathedral. The rooms are very large for a traditional European hotel and the bathrooms were HUGE with rainfall showers. Lastly the hotel has some good restaurants and a very cool piano bar. I'd recommend staying here for any trip to Cologne

One of the top hotels in the world!! Everything about this large hotel is perfect. The staff are welcoming, helpful, friendly and truly happy you are there. Nothing is said no to, they will find a way. Each person says hello from the porters to the cleaning crew you are welcomed. Many of them know you by name from the first day. Our rooms was exceptional and without flaw. The bathroom was magical and elegant. The room lighting was indirect and electronic to adjust to any mood. A truly special place to stay!!!

I recently had the pleasure to spend a night at Excelsior Hotel Ernst with my girlfriend. I can only recommend this 5* hotel. It is one of the best-located and impressive hotels in the city of Cologne. The Excelsior is like an oasis in the middle of the Cologne concrete jungle. The staff is outstandingly forthcoming, the high tea we attended had an incredible selection of teas from all over the world and pastries fresh from Paris with beautiful live piano music, and the amenities were superb. Upon arrival we were upgraded to a freshly renovated Super Deluxe room, which was very spacious, modern and classy. Our stay also included breakfast, which combines a-la-carte items with a large buffet. All in all a fantastic, luxurious stay that exceeded our expectations. 5* rating for a true 5* luxury experience.

Faded glory. When you enter the hotel it is like a time capsule. Very 60s bourgeois. But if my room is any gauge, it is tired and needs repair. There are no bedside lamps, creating a Stalinist atmosphere. The open bulbs are blinding. The furniture is stained, which is unappealing. The bathroom is outdated and poorly lit. There is no shower hear, just an old fashioned spray. (Of course the bidet is perfect.) The carpet is dirty. I described the room to the concierge as the forgotten maid's room. Or it could be a place to hide a senile relative. The fact that this hotel is wedged between a McDonald's and the train station says: think twice. I would recommend the Hyatt across the river. It is infinitely nicer and more modern.

Everyone expects some sort of hiccup when traveling internationally, but my family had a day from hell. We couldn't figure out where our train was leaving from as the gate kept changing, and when we finally found the platform, we realized our train from Berlin was delayed several hours. When we got on, there were multiple delays at each stop. No explanation was given and no translation. We finally figured out halfway through that our high speed train was cancelled to Cologne and we had to get off and get on another local train. Lugging around a toddler and all our suitcases was no small feat, and now we had to race to another platform to catch the next train. Several staircases later, not to mention in 95* heat, we made it onto the packed train. Gone we're our reserved seats and instead we ran through multiple cars trying to find a seat, only to find seats in probably the only non air conditioned unit. Six months pregnant, exhausted toddler, stroller, hubby carrying three suitcases... we were dying. What seemed like hours hater, we arrived in Cologne. Luckily, our hotel was close by (walking distance) so we headed off. Only to figure out google maps steered us wrong. Of course! Catching a restaurant that was about to close, they luckily ordered us a cab and we arrived at Excelsior Hotel Ernst! The lobby of this place is beautiful, but what we were even more grateful to see was the smiling and welcoming staff. Not only were they incredibly helpful and sincere, but they upgraded our room and offered us cold milk for our son. Guiding us to our room, we walked through gorgeous hallways with winding staircases and a calming fountain. The room is filled with dark mahogany and just feels luxurious. The attention to detail was also very appreciated. For example they had a rubber duck bath toy and baby bath products for our son and a crib (though he's too big now) all set up and ready for him. The room service is 24 hours and was ready quickly. Loved the vanilla cream brûlée! After a shower (with nice big towels) we felt like ourselves again. Can't say how thankful we are for the kind strangers who helped us along the way and for the amazing service here at the hotel. We are excited to begin a new day tomorrow and beyond thrilled to start it at Excelsior Hotel Ernst!

Just a short walk from the main railway station this hotel is ideally located for the 'Dom' area. I had travelled over for the christmas markets and enjoyed my stay. The bed was huge and had two single duvets underneath another cover which stopped the old 'roll and steal' problem. Very clean throughout and an impressive building. The staff were very helpful

Truly bad location, unsafe; we tried to get in over New Year's celebration and it was a nightmare. Hotel management is oblivious to the issue.