Brauhaus Sion

A trained lawyer once saved Kölsch – it sounds unlikely, but that is exactly what Hans Sion represents. After the Second World War, he rebuilt the destroyed family brewery. He wrested brewing permits from the British occupation authorities and recognized how important a distinctive, local beer would be for Cologne. His commitment to top-fermented Kölsch led to the Kölsch Convention – and earned him the honorary title “Father of Kölsch.” Today, René Sion runs Brauhaus Sion in Cologne’s Old Town in the fourth generation.  

What you should know: Sion, near Alter Markt, is not a quiet spot. Bare wooden tables, the hum of full rooms, and the typical Köbes (traditional beer waiter) create an authentic brewery atmosphere.  

Many Rooms, One Atmosphere  

From the outside, it looks like a classic Old Town brewery – but inside, it reveals itself to be surprisingly spacious. Around 600 guests can be seated at Sion, spread across different areas, each with its own character.  

In the Schänke, you can watch ice-cold barrels being transported directly from the cellar to the bar via a lift system – a charming detail that regulars and first-time visitors alike enjoy time and again. The Altstadtstube invites relaxed togetherness with its pub-like coziness, while the former brewhouse celebrates the Cologne Triumvirate. If you prefer more open space, simply take a seat in the covered Hopfengarten, offering a beer garden atmosphere all year round. For a more private setting, choose the Hans Sion Room or the Ratsstube; for something more open and sociable, head to the former production site, where Sion Kölsch was brewed until 1942.  

In good weather, your options expand to include a terrace with around 120 seats right in the heart of Cologne’s Old Town.  

Celebrate as the Fests Fall: with Sion Kölsch and Rhenish Cuisine  

Sion’s menu delivers exactly what you expect from a great Cologne brewery: Halver Hahn, Himmel un Äd, and hearty classics of Rhenish cuisine such as Sauerbraten, bratwurst, pork knuckle, cutlets, and more. And of course, there’s freshly tapped Sion Kölsch. The house serves its own brand, poured straight from the barrel.  

Events take place at Brauhaus Sion throughout the year, but during Carnival you’ll experience Sion in a whole different state: with events such as the “Kölsche Milljöh-Sitzung” and performances by Wicky Junggeburth, the hall transforms into a stronghold of Carnival festivities.  

A Tavern Since 1318  

The house at “Unter Taschenmacher 5–7” was first mentioned in 1318 as a tavern – at the time known for a mead beer flavored with herbs and honey. Over the centuries, the establishment changed owners and purposes until Jean Sion, descendant of a brewing dynasty from the Eifel region, took over the property in 1912 and laid the foundation for the family legacy.  

After its destruction during the war, its reconstruction by Hans Sion, and a renovation in 2012, Sion today presents itself as one of the most beautiful brewery restaurants in Germany – and remains a place that not only serves its Kölsch, but also helped reinvent the top-fermented beer itself.