25hours Hotel The Circle in Cologne: Impressions of the new designer hotel in the Friesenviertel (Friesian Quarter)

The opening of the 25hours Hotel The Circle in the Friesenviertel in July 2018 has added a veritable designer gem to Cologne’s hotel landscape. This is particularly interesting for the city’s MICE sector and is a good reason for us to provide an overview of the hotel as well as impressions of the building in the photo gallery. In addition to 207 rooms that range from futuristic to retro in style, the hotel contains a separate area for meetings and events of up to 100 people.

The historic building inspired the creators of the hotel to take a close look at Germany’s “economic miracle” era in the 1950s and ‘60s as well as at the technological utopias that were envisioned at that time. “After we successfully opened our newly built hotel in Düsseldorf, we are now proud to bring this legendary building in Cologne back to life,” says 25hours CEO Christoph Hoffmann.

In cooperation with 25hours, the creative team at STUDIO AISSLINGER in Berlin developed an innovative design concept for the listed building in the middle of the Friesenviertel (Friesian Quarter). Whereas the Inner Circle rooms have an open design that creates a futuristic ambience, the Outer Circle rooms offer a retro feeling and are bathed in light. Their bathrooms are located behind the beds and offer visitors a wide view of the city when they take a shower.
The spacious lobby that used to contain a row of counters now boasts a café, a kiosk, a bicycle shop and various co-working spaces where visitors can comfortably work or relax. Moreover, the eighth floor treats hotel guests and visitors to eastern Mediterranean cuisine at Restaurant NENI, while the Monkey Bar offers spectacular cocktails that include local spirits and other special ingredients.

Eastern Mediterranean cuisine at the Restaurant NENI

The Restaurant NENI, whose name consists of the initials of the operator’s four sons, serves dishes from the eastern Mediterranean on the building’s eighth floor. The menu contains Middle Eastern-style dishes such as poached eggs with tomato-chili ragout or a sabich containing baked aubergines, hummus and tomato salsa. The terrace offers a panoramic view and invites visitors to enjoy their dishes outside with a glass of wine during the summer months, in particular.

The Monkey Bar — local spirits, special ingredients and a roof-top terrace with a view of the cathedral

Located in the rotunda across from the restaurant, the Monkey Bar presents a marked contrast that can serve as a charming refuge or an ideal meeting place for any occasion. The roof-top terrace offers a spectacular view. The music is somewhat louder here than in the restaurant and the bartenders prepare classic drinks containing special ingredients as well as in-house creations featuring spirits such as gin from Sünner, Ehrenfelder Tropfen from Scholzen and Chorweiler Kümmel. As an homage to the city’s top bars, the establishment also offers familiar cocktails under the heading “Monkey See, Monkey Do”.

Are you planning to hold an event in Cologne? For conventions, events and incentives, Cologne offers the ideal location for every requirement.