Gilden im Zims

Gilden im Zims is a brewery restaurant (Brauhaus) located in the heart of Cologne's historic city centre, at Heumarkt. It operates in a building with a history dating back to 1163, when the site was first mentioned as the 'Minnefusshaus'. The current late-Renaissance structure was built in the mid-16th century. In 1920, Johann Zims acquired the building and opened a guesthouse, which became a popular meeting place, especially for sportsmen in the 1950s. After a fire in 1943 and reconstruction in 1946, the house was extensively renovated from 2006 to 2009 by a new operating company. Today, as the official brewery tavern of the Gilden Kölsch Brauerei, it offers approximately 800 seats across three levels. The restaurant serves traditional Cologne dishes such as 'Halve Hahn', 'Himmel un Äad', and 'Sauerbraten', alongside Kölsch beer. The motto 'Heimat kölscher Helden' (Home of Cologne's heroes) reflects its decoration with memorabilia of Cologne personalities. The building also houses a permanent carnival exhibition as a branch of the Cologne Carnival Museum and is a station on the historic Cologne Brauhaus hiking trail.

The site of Gilden im Zims has a history dating back to 1163, when a building called 'Minnefusshaus' stood at house no. 77 on Heumarkt. In 1351, it was known as 'Zabelbank'. In 1563, Cologne councillor Wilhelm Peter ter Laen von Lennep had the house completely rebuilt in its current form as a representative late-Renaissance townhouse. By the late 18th century, it was known as 'Zum Sankt Peter'. In 1920, Johann Zims (1887–1972), father of Cologne track cyclist Hans Zims (1908–1980), acquired the historic building and named it 'Haus Zims' after his family. The house burned down during air raids in 1943, leaving only the facade intact; the Zims family took refuge in the cellar and was buried. After days, Johann Zims threw a coin into the cellar well, wishing to save his loved ones. In 1946, they were all rescued unharmed, and the family rebuilt the house. The famous cyclist Hans Zims, known as the 'King of the Nights', attracted many sportsmen, and in the 1950s Haus Zims became a meeting place for the sports world. From 2006 to 2009, the building was extensively renovated and restored by a new operating company. It reopened as the official brewery tavern of the Gilden Kölsch Brauerei under the name 'Gilden im Zims' with the motto 'Heimat kölscher Helden' (Home of Cologne's heroes), offering approximately 800 seats on three levels. The building partially sits on Roman-era masonry seven metres below the current Heumarkt level, with walls up to 1.80 metres thick made of basalt lava, bricks, and granite. Some still-active wells were restored during the renovation. It is a station on the historic Cologne Brauhaus hiking trail and houses a permanent carnival exhibition as a branch of the Cologne Carnival Museum.

• 2009

  Renovation completed; reopens as 'Gilden im Zims', official brewery tavern of Gilden Kölsch Brauerei.

• 2006

  Extensive renovation and restoration begin by a new operating company.

• 1946

  The family rebuilds the house after being rescued from the cellar.

• 1943

  The building burns down during air raids; only the facade remains.

• 1920

  Johann Zims acquires the building and opens a guesthouse named 'Haus Zims'.

• 1563

  Wilhelm Peter ter Laen von Lennep rebuilds the house in late-Renaissance style.

• First mention of house no. 77 on Heumarkt as 'Minnefusshaus'.

• The house is known as 'Zabelbank'.

A historic brewery restaurant offering an authentic Cologne experience with traditional food, Kölsch beer, and local hero memorabilia.

• Kölsch beer

  Traditional Cologne top-fermented beer served in the brewery.

• Halve Hahn

  Middle-aged original Beemster cheese, rye roll, butter and red onions.

• Himmel un Äad

  Fried blood sausage and mashed potatoes with applesauce and braised onions.

• Wiener Schnitzel

  Viennese style breaded pork cutlet with fried potatoes.

• Sauerbraten

  Traditional sour beef pot roast with raisins, almonds, red cabbage and potato dumplings.

• Crispy pork knuckle

  1200 g pork knuckle with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and Kölsch beer sauce.

1. 1Home - Gilden im Zims “Heimat kölscher Helden”zims.de
2. 2About us - Gilden im Zims “Heimat kölscher Helden”zims.de
3. 3Gilden im Zims - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Gilden im Zims - Wikidatawikidata.org