The Rathenauplatz is one of the prettiest spots in Cologne, a beautiful square with a park in the centre, almost like an oasis in this teeming city. Surrounded by a number of well maintained houses on one side, there are a few beer gardens as well as restaurants nearby, and among them, Restaurant Amabile is noteworthy for its excellent cuisine and serene atmosphere, providing a backdrop of relaxation and laidback enjoyment of life's pleasures.

The décor is quietly elegant with warm, wood furniture and interesting photographs along with some eclectic art on the walls. The ambience is just right for a romantic evening, and outside the dining options take on a very contemporary and carefree feel.

The mingled influences of French and Mediterranean cuisine make their presence felt in the menu, where fresh and seasonal produce are used widely to effectively create some of the most delicious fare you have ever had. For starters, Restaurant Amabile presents some delectable fried prawns and Jacob's mussels with white foam, tomatoes and marinated cucumber spaghetti. The snails in mushroom with Gorgonzola gratin sauce and herbs have the right elements that bind it together into a most appetizing dish.

Moving on to the main courses, the geschmorte lamb shoulder with needle beans and rosemary potato crepe; the monkfish with mozzarella and basil on bresaola filled risotto or the fillets of royal sea bream with polenta and red and orange cumin sauce all stand an equal chance of becoming well loved favourites.

If you're uncertain about what to choose, the three or four course surprise menu may be just the thing to opt for, and for a fixed amount per person, you can let the chef decide your meal. For dessert, apple tart with tonka beans ice cream or the luscious crème brûlée ring all the right notes and you are left with a feeling of pure bliss, a natural reaction towards the end of a fine meal.

When in Cologne, drink only Kölsch beer, maybe the diktat that many follow although at Restaurant Amabile you could indulge in some of their excellent wines as well. An eclectic selection, the wines there seem to have found the perfect balance with the food.

For an evening out at a delightful restaurant that promises to make an epicure out of you, a visit to Amabile becomes a foregone conclusion.