The “Josefshaus” is located in a former monastic building in the heart of the lively Südstadt district of Cologne. An exciting spatial concept with impressive art and many extras awaits you in this listed building dating from 1891. The stylishly furnished rooms and suites
feature original sculptures according to a theme – individually created by young artists from Münster Art Academy. In the former chapel with its outdoor terrace you can enjoy a sumptuous breakfast buffet. Within our historic cellar walls you will find a small
wellness area with a Finnish hemlock sauna and high-quality fitness equipment. Afterwards you can relax at our in-house bar on the ground floor, which is connected to the library and patio courtyard offering charming discoveries.
In our single rooms, double rooms and suites you will find a quiet location and comfortable furnishings, cleverly and stylishly tucked away behind white joinery. In our breakfast room in the former two-storey chapel you can start the day with our breakfast buffet – and weather permitting even sit out on the hotel’s own courtyard terrace.
The Südstadt, located in the south of the city is renowned as one of the most original districts in Cologne. Here second-hand shops, traditional crafts, Cologne pubs and historic buildings meet modern architecture. The futuristic Rheinauhafen Harbour with its upside-down L “crane houses”, museums and restaurants provide a contrast to the narrow streets.
The Südstadt offers many opportunities, especially for walks and strolls – for example through the enchanted Römerpark, the lively Volksgarten or along the banks of the Rhine. In the evening it is worth exploring local restaurants, clubs and cabarets.
Our breakfast restaurant is located in the hotel’s former chapel; an imposing room with a neo-Gothic vaulted ceiling restored to its former glory complete with stained glass windows and parquet flooring. Weather permitting, we also offer our guests a spot on our sunny courtyard terrace.
After this “sacred” start to your day, it can be ended in a perfect and very grounded way at our hotel bar, which is open all day.
Our freshly prepared breakfast buffet offers a selection of cheese and cold cuts as well as many other extras to give you a healthy start to the day. The magic aura of our chapel makes it easy to get up early: Breakfast is served daily from 7.00 am to 11.00 am.
Our small but modern fitness and sauna area is tucked away in the historic cellar walls of this former monastic building. Here you will find our Finnish hemlock sauna, training equipment for healthy power and endurance training as well as space to rest and relax.
Opening Hours
> Sauna: daily from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
> Fitness: Mon to Fri from 9.00 am, Sat, Sun + holidays from 10.00 am
In a special project undergraduate and master scholars studying under Maik and Dirk Löbbert created sculptures for each of the rooms. The starting point for each of the works was »St. Joseph« in a form to be defined by each individual artist.
The works were then placed in a fitting display case in the guest rooms. This resulted in a variety of interesting interpretations of the theme – and the »Joseph Rooms« were born. A book of the same name is available in both HOPPER Hotels.
Due to rapid industrialisation in the second half of the 19th century, there was a great need to care for children not yet of school age whose parents worked full-time in the factories. In 1881 the two Catholic families Greven and Schülgen founded a nursery school “Kleinkinderbewahrschule” on Annostraße together with the women’s association St. Severin. Due to lack of space, a new building at No. 1 Dreikönigenstraße was inaugurated on 10 December 1891. Running of the institution was then taken over by the Christian sisterly order “Schwestern der Christlichen Liebe” from Paderborn. Until World War I the establishment housed up to 400 children. Soon a facility to feed poor schoolchildren was set up, alongside a handicraft school for young girls and a home for young women.
To cover household expenses, in 1891 wealthy women pensioners were admitted to St. Josef-Haus. In 1904 the “St. Josef-Haus” foundation was set up with the approval of Kaiser Wilhelm II. In 1906 the first extension into the adjoining building took place. During the period of hyperinflation in 1923-24 the nuns then set up a “people’s kitchen” serving 400-500 meals a day. In the World War II, “St. Josef-Haus” suffered severe damage although most of the old building was saved. After the World War II a gradual rollback took place: by 2006 only kindergarten, day nursery and old people’s home were left. Due to the new construction and relocation of the kindergarten and old people’s home as well as the closure of the day nursery in 2006, the building lay largely empty until its renovation and establishment as a hotel in 2009.
Until 2006 the St. Josefshaus housed a day nursery (small picture). In order to meet current requirements, the nursery moved into a new building in the former garden of the monastic building.
The founding families Greven and Schülgen built the St. Josefshaus as a social project against the backdrop of the impoverishment affecting large parts of the population over the course of industrialisation. The design and furnishings still bear witness today to the high standards of the founders of the day.
Yes, cats and dogs are also very welcome.
For a small cleaning fee (€ 10 per night per animal) your pet can stay with you overnight in your room.
Want to store your luggage at the hotel before and after check-in?
Just drop off your luggage at reception. We’ll take care of everything else.
Thanks to our laundry provider Bräuninger we offer a laundry service in all HOPPER hotels from Monday to Friday.
Simply drop off your laundry at the reception by 8.30 am and you will have it returned to you the same day!
To give your garments a quick press, we will gladly provide you with an ironing board and iron free of charge.
At HOPPER Hotel St. Josef an iron can be found in your room.
Parking for coaches near the cathedral is available on Komödienstraße. Here you can park for up to 15 minutes.
Entering and alighting the vehicle is possible at any time.
Further coach parking is available at the Chocolate Museum (both directions). Here, too, the number of parking spaces and parking times are limited. On the left bank of the Rhine, below the Bastei, there are further coach parking spaces right by the river. Free coach parking for longer periods (overnight or longer) is signposted on the exhibition grounds.
Cologne coach park (“Buspark Köln”) is located in the Cologne-Riehl district. This offers space for 80 coaches. Parking is free of charge.