The Excelsior Hotel Ernst in the cathedral city is celebrating the reopening of the Charles Bar. In addition to the usual Piano Nights and Beats & Bites Afterwork, guests can look forward to new culinary offerings and a bar with a fresh new look. The name Charles Bar is a tribute to the hotel owner Charles Roulet.

Bar at the heart of the hotel
It is the focal point and social meeting place of every hotel: the bar at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne is also the heart of the hotel. This is where people can socialize with each other - in open-hearted Cologne, it's easy to strike up a conversation anyway. Now the historic Grand Hotel presents its new "Charles Bar", named after the owner Charles Roulet. The interior of the former "Piano Bar" has been given a new look. The family-owned city hotel with a long history, which is rarely found today, invites guests to enjoy their time in this special place.

Time as a luxury
The bar is well-known among the people of Cologne, but internationally it is considered an insider tip. Here, directly opposite Cologne Cathedral, visitors are said to value time above all else as the ultimate luxury. "To have it, to enjoy it, to forget it for a moment or to fill it with special moments: That's what both the Excelsior and our Charles Bar stand for," says Charles Roulet, fifth-generation owner of the hotel. The Swiss national, who knows every member of staff by name, incorporates his passion for fine dining into the drinks and dishes at the Charles Bar. The bar's signature drink is the Charles' Negroni, a mix of gin, Campari and vermouth, Charles Roulet's favorite drink.

Indulgence as a ritual
In addition to various classics and vegan alternatives, the menu naturally also includes the Schlemmerschnitte with tartare - Roulet's favorite. "Combining tradition with innovation and turning indulgence into a ritual" is his philosophy. In addition to the warm service and bartending that the hotel is known for, guests can look forward to a variety of wines and champagnes, including "limited special editions" from international stars such as Lady Gaga and Lenny Kravitz. In the smokers' lounge you will find a selection of Davidoff cigars. In future, the bar will be open daily from 12 noon. Cologne residents should continue to mark the Piano Nights and Beats and Bites Afterwork events in their calendars. Here's to you, Cologne!