Sünner im Walfisch
A Kölsch brewery-tavern in Cologne's Old Town whose brewing site can be traced back to the year 1476.
In the heart of Cologne's Old Town, the Sünner im Walfisch is a brewery-tavern rooted in a site with centuries of brewing tradition. The tiered-gable building dates in its fabric from the mid-17th century.
At a Glance
- Location
- Cologne Old Town, Salzgasse 13
- Type
- Traditional Kölsch brewery-tavern with Rhenish cuisine
- Building
- Tiered-gable house from the mid-17th century
- Brewing tradition on site
- since 1476
- Operator (2026)
- Sünner brewery
- Notable
- Stop on the Cologne Brewery Walk since 1997
History
At this spot in the Salzgasse, corner of Rothenberg, Cologne's beer-tax registers of the Rentkammer already recorded the medieval brewhouse "Heinrich zur Krae" (crow) in 1476. It was one of the city's 25 brewhouses at the time and stood here until 1898. Owing to its proximity to the church of Groß St. Martin, it also carried the nickname "Kirchen-Bräues" (church brew).
From Wine House to Brewery
In 1935 the tiered-gable building "Zum Walfisch" from Tipsgasse 2–4 was fully dismantled and rebuilt with the old material on the site of the former brewhouse. During the reconstruction the year 1629 was accidentally transposed to 1626. Until the 1950s the house operated as the "Weinhaus im Walfisch" (wine house), before the Gebrüder Sünner brewery and distillery took it over in 1996 and has run it under its present name as a brewery ever since.
Today
The Sünner im Walfisch remains open as a Kölsch brewery-tavern serving dishes of Rhenish cuisine. Since 1997 it has also been one of the stops on the Cologne Brewery Walk.
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Salzgasse 13
50667 Köln
Hours
Mo: 17:00–00:00
Di: 17:00–00:00
Mi: 17:00–00:00
Do: 12:00–00:00
Fr: 12:00–00:00
Sa: 12:00–00:00
So: 12:00–23:00
Contact
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-07-18, rev 224631953)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-07-18)
- Official website (retrieved 2026-07-18)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-07-18
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