Gilden im Zims

Gilden im Zims brings a brewery, restaurant, and historic architecture together in central Cologne. The late Renaissance townhouse dates from 1563 and still preserves details from that period. Beneath the street, Roman walls lie about seven metres underground, built from basalt lava, fired bricks, and granite. Some sections reach 1.8 metres in thickness.

A building called the Minnefusshaus already stood here in 1163, followed by the name Zabelbank in 1351. Johann Zims bought the house in 1920, and repairs followed the 1943 air raids. Restoration between 2006 and 2009 uncovered and preserved parts of the Roman foundations, including wells that remain active. Three floors now serve Gilden Kölsch, local dishes, and gatherings in the vaulted cellar.

Inside, a permanent Cologne Carnival exhibition connects the rooms with one of the city’s strongest traditions. Himmel un Ääd combines fried blood sausage, mashed potatoes, and applesauce on the local menu. The building also marks a stop on Cologne’s historic brewery trail, making its Roman masonry and Kölsch culture part of the same visit.