12 Best Bars in The Rhineland, Germany

Tucked inside a brick-walled former ice house, this atmospheric Altstadt wine bar touts a 250-strong list of biodynamic and natural European wines, with many available by the glass, all hand-selected from small producers.

Belly up to the wood bar of this pint-sized Altstadt institution and ask for an ice-cold shot of Düsseldorf’s famous ruby-red liqueur, Killepitsch. Or do as the locals do and order one through the tiny bar window, then sip it al fresco standing around the high outdoor tables.

Part of the RheinMain CongressCenter, this swanky wine bar has an excellent selection of whites, reds, and rosés, both local and international, along with a choice of beers and cocktails. Light snacks, including flammkuchen (baked thin-crust pizza), carpaccio, and salads, are also available. However, it's only open on weekends if there are events.

Located 168 meters (551 feet) above the city in the Rheinturm, Düsseldorf’s needle-shaped telecommunications tower, this snazzy bar offers excellent cocktails along with stunning panoramic views.

Aachen's most popular bar is a good place to mingle with locals of all ages at old wooden tables, enjoying an impressive selection of Belgian beers in a historic building from 1658. There are free concerts every Monday, apart from a short break in summer.

If you tire of the typical Altbier served at most of the city's breweries and taverns, this craft beer bar serves the latest concoctions from German microbreweries across the country, inspired by distinctly non-German styles, including IPAs and even sours. 

This classic, kitschy, roaring twenties–style Altstadt Biersalon plays oldies from Piaf to Porter.

For live jazz, head to the tiny Papa Joe's Jazzlokale, where there's never a cover charge.

This perennially popular Irish pub in the heart of the Old Town has a vast selection of whiskies and spirits. It also, somewhat surprisingly, does one of the city's best schnitzels. It's open from lunchtime until late.

Located in the Kurhaus, the Spielbank's Klassiches Spiel (table games area: roulette, blackjack, and poker) is one of Europe's grand casinos, open Sunday through Thursday 2:45 pm to 3 am (until 4 am on Friday, Saturday holiday eves; jacket required). The less formal Automatenspiel (slots) in the neighboring Kolonnade is open from noon to 4 am. To enter either, you must be at least 18 (bring your passport).

In summer, head straight for the Stadtgarten and sit in the biergarten for some good outdoor Gemütlichkeit (coziness). At other times of the year it's still worth a visit for its excellent jazz club. Stadtgarten also runs a beer garden with cheap, tasty eats in the shaded Rathenauplatz park, by Cologne's synagogue.

This Irish pub has Murphy's Stout on tap, and on most nights there's live music starting at 8:30.