Hotel Hayk, Cologne

The hotel was small but quite nice and centrally located. There was a very friendly staff who spoke some English. We stayed there in 2005. One small problem is that it is in the pederstian zone, so you cannot drive up to it. Parking was not too far away in the Heumarkt underground garage. The hotel is about a 5-10 min walk along the Rhein to the Cathedral and is close to Gross St. Martin. There was a nice kebob place in the alley outside the back door, and the hotel is right on the Rhein. There are any number of good places to eat within a couple minute walk, as the hotel is neat both Heumarkt and the Alter Markt squares. We recommend Bangkok Restaurant as well as two traditional brew pubs: Zur Malzmuelen, on Heumarkt--but you have to look a bit as it is on the far south side of Heumarkt on the other side of the approached to the Deutzer Bridge. Then there is the Gaffel Haus in Alter Markt. Both serve the traditional local brew "Koelsch" which is a light ale. The main shopping district of Hohe Strasse/Schildergasse is also a 5 minute walk away. We would stay there again. We booked through the Cologne Tourist office on line and the booking included a Cologne Pass which got us discounts on attractions as well as a transit pass (you do not want to drive in Cologne unless you have to, and the transit system is excellent).