Ox & Klee

Ox & Klee is a modern German fine-dining restaurant at Im Zollhafen 18 in Cologne's Rheinauhafen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, housed in one of the converted crane houses on the Rhine harbour. The kitchen is recognised with two Michelin stars and works with a seasonal tasting menu rather than an à la carte list, presenting contemporary German cooking with regional produce and a refined, precise technique. Because the menu changes with the season and the kitchen's current focus, no single dish is permanently fixed, and the tasting format is itself the signature of the house. The dining room is modern and architectural, with large windows and views toward the Rhine, and the atmosphere is intimate and quiet rather than formal in a stiff sense. Smart dress is customary, although the setting is relaxed by the standards of international fine dining. Service is attentive and paced for a long evening, and a beverage pairing, with wine or non-alcoholic options, is typically offered alongside the menu. Prices sit at the top of the Cologne scale ($$$$), with a multi-course menu costing in the region of several hundred euros per person when pairings are included, so current prices should be confirmed on the restaurant website at www.oxundklee.de. Service is for dinner on selected days only, and the restaurant is not open daily. Reservations are essential, and the website should be used to book well ahead, because a small dining room and a two-star reputation make popular dates fill weeks or months in advance. Dietary requirements should be stated when booking so the kitchen can plan. The Rheinauhafen setting is a pleasant walk along the Rhine from the old town, and the Kranhaus buildings, the chocolate museum and the river promenade are all close by, making a visit easy to combine with an afternoon on the waterfront before dinner.