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Vacation in Cologne, Germany: Excelsior Hotel Ernst

Photo Courtesy of Excelsior Hotel Ernst
Excelsior Hotel Ernst is in just about the best location in the city of Cologne, Germany. But that's by no means the only good thing about it. This luxury hotel is something special.

Throughout the Excelsior Hotel Ernst are little touches that set it apart from many other luxury hotels. There is a free minibar in every room, low level lighting in the bathroom that can be left on over night without emitting a sleep-disturbing glare, plug points next to mirrors (women will appreciate the frustration of not being able to look in the mirror while drying or straightening their hair) and heated mirrors with flattering lighting.

Want a complete Travel Quote including airfare, special hotel rates and FREE upgrades? Contact our Travel Specialist today! Guests also receive a complimentary newspaper - in English for English speakers - outside the room each morning, a pillow menu so you can select the perfect pillow for the perfect night's sleep and air conditioning that can be operated form reception if you find the technology too baffling; the list goes on and it is clear that real care and attention has gone into every aspect of the design with the intention of making every guest feel as comfortable and happy as possible.

A hotel has stood on the spot since 1863 although it has been through a rebuild and several renovations since then, as well as a period at the end of the First World War when it became the British headquarters. Throughout the various facelifts the sense of history has been wonderfully preserved with old and new sitting together in complete harmony.



The décor in the rooms is traditional but with modern touches, such as flat screen TVs and Jacuzzi baths, and in the public areas modern sculptures rub shoulders with antiques. In terms of gastronomy modern cuisine sits alongside classic in the hotel's two restaurants. Taku, which holds the title of the German Foreign Restaurant of the Year 2010, dishes up modern Asian cuisine.

As you walk in, a glass-covered river with Koi swimming below guides you to the dining area. Soft music is playing and the ambience is more like a spa than a restaurant. The menu is vast, with dishes from all across Asia and the kitchen can boast chefs from across the continent. Everything looked so delicious that we had trouble deciding and so the server offered us the option of letting the kitchen prepare us some of the best dishes.

This proved to be a wise move and what followed was plate after plate of utter deliciousness, with each accompanied by a different wine selected to enhance the delicate flavors. The other restaurant in the hotel, Hanse Stube, offers a slightly more traditional, but equally good and no less interesting,
dining experience. With dishes ranging from ostrich to lobster we were spoilt for choice.

The wait staff were helpful and knowledgeable and made some excellent recommendations, as did the sommelier of pairing a different wine with each course. A trademark of both the restaurants is the handmade truffles which are presented at the end of every meal. The flavors change regularly and while in Taku you can try Asian inspired tastes like lychee, banana and curry and even wasabi truffles, in Hanse Stube they are more in keeping with the classic menu with flavors such as passion fruit, Champagne or egg nog.

However, if you are only going to eat one meal at the hotel try the Piano Brunch on a Sunday morning which is a true festival of food with everything from sushi rolled in front of you to chocolate fountains.

Whether it's food, comfort or service you're looking for, Excelsior Hotel Ernst really is a hotel that knows what you want and takes great pride in delivering it.

Excelsior Hotel Ernst
Trankgasse 1-5 / Domplatz
50667 Cologne, Germany
+49(0)221.270.1
www.excelsiorhotelernst.com

Emma Dance

Emma Dance is a trained journalist specialising in travel and food writing. She is based in the beautiful city of Bath in the UK but spends as much time as possible travelling the world. Emma is a contributor to a regional newspaper and numerous websites. She has written about everywhere, near and far, including the UK, Europe, Africa, US and the Caribbean. Emma has her own blog http://taste4...(Read More)

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