Excelsior Hotel Ernst

Wow! Location, location, location – just steps from the Cathedral and the train station. Perfect for walking to many of the local attractions and churches. Not too far from the river either. The property is an excellent mix of old and new – even using a real metal key on a fob that weighs about a pound! It oozes old world luxury and class with modern amenities. Really too nice for a traveler like me, but it’s OK to live it up a bit. The bar is all beautifully grained wood and polished brass. The dining room 5-star luxury with thick starched white table cloths and crystal glassware. I even loved the elevator with its old school brass panel and porcelain buttons. This hotel is 100% class. Issues were few, but the bed was too soft for our tastes. Not great for my arthritic back. I had trouble getting a proper temperature for my shower. For me a 1-degree change on the knob resulted in a 20-degree change in temperature. Indeed, the difference between cold and scalding was about 2 microns. But that was me, my wife loved it – finally a really hot shower. Speaking of temperature, the room was too hot as well. The mini-split A/C unit did nothing to cool the room. However, the windows did open and that solved the problem. I guess the staff didn’t care for opening windows, because they were closed every time we returned. Still, the nights were just fine with 2 windows open. Overall, loved the place and the staff were fantastic. Excelsior is highly recommended for a luxury stay in Cologne.

We had a fantastic stay at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst and would highly recommend it. The location is absolutely outstanding, with Cologne Central Station and the magnificent Cologne Cathedral directly opposite the hotel. It was the perfect base for exploring the city, with many of Cologne's main attractions, shops, restaurants, and riverside areas within easy walking distance. The hotel itself feels truly luxurious, combining elegance and comfort with exceptional service. We were delighted to receive a room upgrade on arrival, which made our stay even more special. We literally dumped our suitcase and went out exploring. The complimentary breakfast was another wonderful surprise and loved the buffet selection. From the prime location to the luxurious atmosphere and attentive staff, everything exceeded our expectations. We would gladly stay here again on our next visit to Cologne.

had 2 days business in Koln and wanted a nice luxury hotel for the amenties after the business day. Excelsior Ernest doesn't offer any. However, I did enjoy a dinner at Hanse Stube. Breakfaast though, terrible experience fron one server who completely ignored me and never looked at my table OR got me my order. I waited and waited and even went to ask for it ... had to leave (20-25 min) after without it

The Excelsior Hotel Ernst is a gorgeous hotel with a true luxury feel, and the staff were absolutely top-notch throughout our stay. The service, atmosphere, and attention to detail all felt worthy of the upscale experience and the prices charged. We especially enjoyed having drinks in the hotel bar, which was a great place to relax and take in the elegant surroundings. The location is also outstanding. The hotel is ideally situated directly across from the Cologne Cathedral and just steps from Köln Hauptbahnhof, making it incredibly convenient for exploring the city as well as arriving and departing by train. We really appreciated being able to walk out of the hotel and immediately be in the heart of Cologne. My only real disappointment was the bed. I found the mattress rather uncomfortable and think it could be improved significantly with a quality pillow-top mattress. The pillows were also much too flat for my preference; having a firmer pillow option would have made a big difference. Overall, I’d give the Excelsior Hotel Ernst a 7 out of 10, with essentially all of my deductions coming from the sleeping comfort. Everything else about our stay—from the beautiful property and terrific location to the excellent staff and service—was first-rate.

An amazing city center hotel with outstanding location and concierge service. The hotel is classic but the rooms, restaurants and public spaces feel modern yet still intimate.