Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Germany / Cologne / Excelsior Hotel Ernst
Excelsior Hotel Ernst
Cologne, Germany · Independent · High Luxury
Excelsior Hotel Ernst opened in 1863 directly opposite Cologne Cathedral and has remained in the same family and on the same square for more than 160 years. Kaiser Wilhelm I is recorded as having watched the Cathedral's completion from a room inside the hotel in 1880, tying the property directly to one of the city's defining architectural moments. The hotel continued operating as Cologne's grand address through two world wars, an uninterrupted run that few European hotels of its era can claim.
- 133 rooms
- Opened 1863
- Neighborhood: Altstadt
- Rooms from 323 sq ft (30 m²)
About Excelsior Hotel Ernst
- The hotel opened on 16 May 1863 as Hotel Ernst, founded by Carl Ernst directly opposite Cologne Cathedral.
- It was rebuilt from 1908 to 1910 and reopened as Excelsior Hotel Ernst, still owned by the same Kracht-Roulet family today.
- Kaiser Wilhelm I watched Cologne Cathedral's completion ceremony from a room at the hotel back in 1880.
- A 1927 silent film, 'The Beggar from Cologne Cathedral,' was shot at the hotel, and guests have included Andy Warhol.
- Entry-level rooms start at 323 sq ft (30 m²).
History
Opened in 1863 directly opposite Cologne Cathedral, still in the same family and on the same square 160 years on; Kaiser Wilhelm I watched the Cathedral's completion from a room here in 1880, and the hotel has remained Cologne's uninterrupted grand address through two world wars.
The setting
15 km from Cologne Bonn Airport.
Restaurants and bars
- taku — Restaurant · Michelin-starred East Asian cuisine · One MICHELIN Star
- Hanse Stube — Restaurant · Innovative French cuisine with a Rhineland twist
- Charles Bar — Bar
- Wintergarten — Café · Patisserie & afternoon tea
Experiences
- Restaurant taku — Michelin-starred East Asian cuisine served in the hotel's 'house of hospitality'.
- Restaurant Hanse Stube — Innovative French cuisine with a Rhineland twist.
Amenities
- Spa
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Cigar lounge
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2025)
Open Excelsior Hotel Ernst in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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