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Cologne is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities of Germany. It lies on the River Rhine and is a major cultural centre of the Rhineland. With institutions like the University of Cologne, one of Europe's oldest, a vibrant arts scene and celebrations like the Cologne Carnival, the city that lies on the River Rhine attracts millions of visitors and is home to friendly and welcoming people who make the most out of life.

Food gives them a reason to celebrate and so the city has a wide variety of restaurants, both German and others. Etrusca is a stylish little haven that serves tasty Italian cuisine, so if you wish to sample something other than typical Rhineland dishes, pop in to this rustic and intimate restaurant in Zülpicherstraße, a street that is full of lively bars and restaurants.

Wrought iron furniture, bare brick walls and chequered table cloth make Etrusca the perfect place to enjoy a lovely candlelit meal in classic Tuscan style.

Customers are given an opportunity to taste carefully selected Italian wines and the numbers there will not disappoint you. Carlo and Filippa Padiglia, the owners of Etrusca make sure there is always a good display of some of the tastiest regional Italian dishes on huge blackboards around the restaurant. You could visit them for a leisurely lunch, a family meal or catch up with friends over dinner.

Favourite dishes include wild salmon in chive, orecchiette pasta with homemade sausages, veal slices with gorgonzola and sea bream with herbs. The antipasti at Etrusca encompass carpaccio with rocket and Parmesan, fresh shrimp salad, and small plates of tempting bite sized delicacies that can be shared. Amongst the main courses expect to find choices such as duck breast in balsamic caramel sauce, rosemary lamb, lemon sole as well as a selection of fresh pastas.

For those wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth, there is tiramisu, an authentic Italian dessert with light sponge soaked in espresso and rum, layered with mascarpone cheese, eggs and dusted with cocoa powder; wonderfully light and fluffy zabaglione made with liquid custard, eggs and Marsala and served with fruit and ice, and almond parfait.

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.

A world famous cathedral, walkways along the River Rhine, exciting arts and cultural scene and plenty of local haunts well-known for beer, homemade schnapps and pork roasted with mustard - yes, all this and more in one of the most happening cities in Germany - Cologne. Occupying a historic site, which was once home to the Town Hall, The Intercontinental Hotel combines contemporary design with historical elements and the result is a chic yet comfortable place with the facilities that fit the standards of a modern day traveller.

Taking its name from the mulberry tree, the impressive Maulbeers Restaurant in warm red, orange and cognac hues sets the tone for a fine dining experience. The illuminated pillars draw instant attention , together with the large windows and the flicker of countless candles.

Executive Chef Jörg Stricker and his team at the kitchen are totally unafraid to experiment and offer a classic cuisine combination of German with a hint of the Mediterranean. So you might find a fillet of veal alongside scampi, roasted mulberries, glazed roots and potato cakes. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy some delicious food and uncomplicated service in a delightful ambience.

The menu opens with dishes such as tiramisu of duck liver with pumpkin chutney, herb salad and brioche and summer green salad with rose hip dressing and baked Munster cheese. This could be followed with rocket tagliatelle with roasted stone mushrooms, chanterelle and white tomato foam; roasted pickled fillet of beef with turnips, vanilla carrots and Bamberger croissants, and grilled slices of tuna with artichokes in a root vegetable and pearl barley risotto.

Caramelised brambleberry with cream cheese mousse and crème Catalan with plums and rosemary ice cream make for some original dessert ideas.

Experience a unique lifestyle at the Intercontinental within its 250 guest rooms and luxury suites, well-equipped conference rooms, health club and beauty studio and a first rate gastronomy concept.

This charming, cozy tavern situated in a half-timbered house with white walls welcomes you with Mediterranean and regional dishes. The stylish inn serves cold beer and a good selection of wines to accompany the daily changing bill of fare which is prepared from the best of local produce. The service is cordial and attentive making it a popular among the locals. The lovely summer terrace offers a beautiful surrounding to enjoy lunch.

The menu trawls through the fare of choice providing a large canvas on which gastronomes can try various combinations to achieve a different experience each time.

The house specialty of prawns in olive oil with fresh herbs and chili peppers and French onion soup with cheese could be the beginning for some, while diced tomatoes with basil vinaigrette grilled on white bread slices and beef Carpaccio with parmesan cheese and basil cream could appeal to others.

Hot appetizers such as baked camembert salad with cranberries and bouquet, and fried goat's cheese on tomato slices with basil-honey vinaigrette are also on the carte de jour.

Those who prefer salads can order mixed salad bowl with roasted turkey breast strips and balsamic dressing, market-fresh salad greens, Angus beef with fried fillet strips balsamic dressing and the special colourful salad with roasted peppers, mushrooms, onions and roasted turkey breast strips.

Steaks are represented by Angus rump steak grilled, with foil potato, crème fraîche, herb butter and mixed salad and grilled turkey steak. The favorite dish among the regulars is the grill plate, barbecued pork, with herb butter, aioli, crispy fried potatoes and mixed salad.

Mains could also include roasted fillet of zander in a spicy white wine sauce, basmati rice and vegetables or Scottish salmon fillet, pan-fried with lemon butter sauce. For a taste of Italian food you could try grilled tenderloin tips with beef and mushroom and spaghetti with grilled scampi in tomato sauce.

The needs of vegetarians are attended to with spaghetti in cream sauce, truffle oil and parmesan cheese, and tagliatelle with spinach in cream sauce and parmesan cheese.

Desserts are a gala affair with exotic gems such as caramel apple slices with almond-brandy-splitter and vanilla sauce, vanilla ice cream with hot sour cherries and cream and small cheese platter consisting of spicy gorgonzola, French brie, parmesan and goat's cheese with homemade bread and butter.

The wine list contains a good selection and sommeliers are at hand to advise you in choosing wine matching your food.