The Hotel bar for Cologne and the world
Local and international flair at the Charles Bar
For the Cologne cognoscenti it’s the place that everyone talks about; internationally it’s still an insider tip. Our Charles Bar is where aficionados of good wine, champagne and cocktails come together and forget about time for a moment. Because that’s what the Charles Bar is all about: time and the chance to enjoy it.
The Charles Bar is open for you daily from 12 noon. By the way, we recommend one of our signature drinks to start with: the Charles Negroni.
Time is relative
The best hours pass by in minutes. But the memories endure for days. Time is the ultimate luxury. And here at the Charles Bar we do everything we can to ensure the perfect experience ‐ with a top selection of cocktails, wines and champagnes. Among them, special limited editions from international stars such as Lady Gaga and Lenny Kravitz.
In aromatic company
Smoking lounge at the Charles Bar, Cologne
A good drink deserves the right accompaniment. In our Charles Bar this comes in the form of top‐quality service and barkeeping, exquisite delicacies, and a careful selection of cigars. You can savour their aromas in our smoking lounge.
Charles is more than a bar name
It’s a promise
Namely that of Charles Roulet, proprietor of the Excelsior Hotel Ernst, whose passion for fine cuisine flows into every drink and dish at the Charles Bar. “Combine tradition with innovation and let enjoyment become a ritual” – that’s his philosophy. And we hope that the Charles Bar becomes a special ritual of your own.
EXCEPTIONALLY SPECIAL
Charles Bar Highlights
Piano Nights
MELLOW EVENINGS IN THE Charles BAR
A relaxed ambience, mellow music, exquisite drinks... what's not to love? There's something uniquely atmospheric about the bar of a Grand Hotel. It's a place where life stories are written, where romances unfold, where business is sealed and friendships are made for life.
Along with classic drinks and carefully chosen dishes, it's the music that really makes a Grand Hotel bar. On selected Thursdays from 7pm, you can hear artists play soothing music in the Charles Bar of Excelsior Hotel Ernst. So come and spend a relaxing evening with us and them, and enjoy some fabulous drinks served by our friendly bar team.
Dates: 12th March & 16th April 2026
Time: from 7pm
Free entry - Reservations aren't necessary, just drop by!