I have lived on Venloer Street for years and can’t move away. Even if there is a lot of traffic and noise, it’s my favorite area to live in Cologne.

“Venloer Straße” is a really long street you can walk for hours on, but the main part is in the suburb Ehrenfeld. Here you can find a mix of many different cultures and people. African hair shops, Turkish hairdressers, Lebanese food and much more. When I walk through it, I always feel like traveling because I discover every time a new shop, café or restaurant.

It’s one of the best places to get kebab, shawarma and falafel (during the day, and also in the night ;)), as well as lots of fresh fruits, veggies and meat in the Turkish supermarkets which you can find literally every 300 meters. In the middle of those, there are lots of small, cute, modern coffee places where you can step by for a break for a bowl and coffee. My favorites are: Café Café, Schwesterherz and Rotkelchen, where you can have great homemade food, smoothies and coffee.

You should also definitely use the chance and watch a FC Köln soccer game in one of the traditional Cologne bars in this area!!! It will be a lifetime experience!