Johann Schäfer

Not all breweries are created equal—that’s surely what anyone would think upon seeing the sheer number of Cologne breweries listed among the places to stop for a bite to eat in the Rhine metropolis. But the fact that there’s such a modern take on traditional Cologne charm may come as a surprise to some: the Johann Schäfer Brauhaus in Cologne’s Südstadt neighborhood has only been serving food and drinks since 2017. It’s something completely different—it even sells more Pils than Kölsch and offers vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Anyone who’s always found the traditional atmosphere of Gelsenkirchen Baroque and the brashness of the classic “Köbe” a bit too much will likely find the Johann Schäfer’s modern industrial design more to their taste. After all, it’s definitely a brewery—they brew their own beer right there. And, of course, they have Kölsch, too.

Menu—Have Fun Eating

The Johann Schäfer Brauhaus also stands out from other traditional establishments when it comes to its food offerings: Instead of the classic set meal, you put together individual components yourself, just the way you like it. The extensive selection for vegetarians and vegans is particularly worth mentioning.

On weekends, the Brauhaus breakfast entices you with open-faced sandwiches, pancakes, pork bites, or bacon and eggs for a morning beer—all the way up to vegan tomato shakshuka.

Concept: seasonal, traditional, and carefully prepared

Seasonally available products, meat from farms in Morsbach and the Eifel, the most comprehensive possible processing of the animals, as well as heritage potato varieties are firmly part of Johann Schäfer’s overall gastronomic concept.
In addition to the house-brewed Südstadt Pils or Kölsch, a rotating selection of other traditional beers is always available.

Brewery in the Südstadt

A 5-minute walk from Chlodwigplatz, the Johann Schäfer brewery is located right in the heart of the neighborhood on Elsaßstraße and enjoys a steady stream of walk-in customers, including both locals and people out for a night on the town. In the summer, you can sit outside along the sidewalk—if you can find a spot. It’s often worth the wait.

Pop-Up Beer Garden – Johann Schäfer on the Rhine Promenade

Since 2020, there’s been an expansion of the open-air dining options—the Johann Schäfer Pop-Up Beer Garden. As a new hotspot on the Rhine between Rheinauhafen and Südbrücke, it offers beer, sausages, and fries to eat here or take away for people strolling along the Rhine. Depending on the season, hot drinks are also available at the bar.

The Premises: The Former Johann Schäfer Freight Forwarding Company

From a blacksmith’s shop to a parking lot, workshop, or warehouse—the space that now houses the brewery has been used for all sorts of purposes over the past 100 years. Built in 1889 as a residential and commercial building, horses’ hooves were shoed at this very address. In 1935, even the horses of the “Sester Brewery” were shod there. As an observant guest, you won’t fail to notice the occasional ring in the masonry used to tether the four-legged friends.

After World War II, the heavily damaged building was rebuilt, and Johann Schäfer founded the Johann Schäfer freight forwarding company in the 1950s. His vehicles were parked in the hall. After the freight company moved its vehicles to Cologne-Klettenberg in the 1980s, the old hall continued to serve as a workshop, storage space, and office until its renovation in 2016.

“Private Fairground Pub with a Stage” Becomes a Brauhaus

Until the 1980s, the Brauhaus hall also hosted the Johann Schäfer Freight Forwarding Company’s annual street festival, during which the hall was always converted into a private pub. Cologne’s biggest acts, such as the HÖHNER and the Bläck Fööss, have performed on the makeshift stage.

The conversion of the hall into a convivial gathering place in 2016 was inspired by this very idea: Why not foster a daily, joyful get-together that previously took place only once a year? Since then, the Johann Schäfer Brauhaus has enriched Cologne’s restaurant scene and brewery culture.