The Midtown Hotel Köln

I stayed at this hotel while on a work trip. I loved the rooms at the hotel and it seems great value for money. I would definitely return to this hotel privately. However, the breakfast buffet is not something I would repeat. For €18 it was a small selection and I repeatedly had to ask what things were as nothing was labelled (different types of yoghurt e.g.). Next time I’ll have breakfast in town. Also, there was a coffee set up right next to the breakfast entrance. After I did not find coffee in the breakfast room, I took a cup from there and immediately two employees snapped at me as this was NOT for breakfast. Which is fine, but they could have been a bit friendlier or, for instance, put up a sign that this is for conference guests.

It is a shame I cannot give this hotel 5* because many things were good. I thought the rooms were great - very quiet, in good conditions and the beds really comfy. The location is also great. The actual hotel itself I really couldn't find fault with. Unfortunately it loses marks as when we stayed there, there wasn't any staff after 3.30pm until the following morning. We had to self check-in using instructions sent to us (which worked OK but isn't the point) and we couldn't leave our bags the day afterwards, as the luggage rooms would be locked from 3.30pm. As a result we had to pay to store our bags in Köln Hbf. Effectively we got an Air BnB experience at hotel prices and I think this is pretty poor. Perhaps this was an isolated case (and I do understand and sympathise that staffing is difficult at the moment), but ultimately we paid for a service standard that we didn't really get, which is a shame.