The 25hours Hotel The Circle is the most fun place to stay in Cologne. It occupies the listed circular rotunda of the former Gerling insurance company headquarters, added in 1966 during Germany’s post-war economic miracle, and it opened as a hotel in July 2018. The design leans into that era with a theme of retro-futurism, reimagining the technical utopias and space-age optimism of the 1950s and 1960s in colours, furniture and playful details. The 207 rooms and suites run over seven floors in categories from Medium Inner Circle and Medium Outer Circle to Large, Extra Large and the Gigantic suites. The eighth floor is the social heart: NENI serves sharing plates of Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, and the Monkey Bar next door has one of the city’s best views of the cathedral over the rooftops, which makes it busy with locals as well as guests. Guests can rent Schindelhauer bikes, and an electric Volvo is available free of charge to guests.
Location and getting around: the hotel stands in the Gerling Quartier in the Friesenviertel, on Im Klapperhof, a quiet street on the western edge of the old town. The cathedral and the main station are about fifteen minutes on foot, the bars and restaurants of the Friesenviertel and the Belgian Quarter are on your doorstep, and the Friesenplatz and Christophstraße tram and U-Bahn stops are close by. It is a good base for enjoying Cologne’s nightlife.
Rooms: Outer Circle rooms face outward over the city and the Gerling Quartier, while Inner Circle rooms face the inner courtyard and are quieter. Large and Extra Large rooms suit couples who want more space, and the Gigantic suites work for small families or long stays.
Who it suits: design lovers, couples and friends on a weekend away, and anyone who wants a lively bar scene without leaving the building.
Good to know: the Monkey Bar fills up at weekends, so book a table or come early for the sunset view. There is an underground car park with 35 spaces, which is worth reserving. Breakfast is usually charged separately unless your rate includes it.
Why stay here
- ✓NENI restaurant on the 8th floor
- ✓Monkey Bar with cathedral views
- ✓Retro-futuristic design rooms
- ✓Schindelhauer bike rental
- ✓Free electric car for guests
- ✓Underground parking (35 spaces)
- ✓Listed 1960s rotunda building
- ✓Walk to the Belgian Quarter
Good questions
What is the 25hours Hotel The Circle?+
It is a design hotel in the listed 1966 rotunda of the former Gerling insurance headquarters. Its retro-futuristic look draws on the space-age optimism of the 1950s and 1960s.
Does the 25hours The Circle have a rooftop bar?+
Yes, the Monkey Bar on the 8th floor has views over the city to the cathedral. NENI, the restaurant, is on the same floor.
How far is the 25hours The Circle from the cathedral?+
It is about fifteen minutes on foot, and trams and U-Bahn trains stop nearby. The Belgian Quarter is a short walk the other way.
