Numa Cologne Ehrenfeld

There’s a new gym with machines and weights, probably one of the better ones in a boutique hotel. Food options are plentiful nearby, there’s a big supermarket right next door, and a coffee stand outside. The location is great. The rooms are small, fine for one person but a bit cramped for two, and the air felt slightly stale. They provide a portable fan or air conditioner, though it was noisy, so I opened the windows instead. Having to enter a code at every door was annoying at first, but I got used to it. WhatsApp customer service took about 15 minutes to reply, which was frustrating when I was locked out because of a technical problem.

There’s no reception, but you get a code that also lets you use the lift, which I think is a really good idea. We were on the 9th floor and had a good view. The bed was tucked into a corner against the wall, so when I needed to get up at night I had to climb over my husband. I’m a light sleeper, and it was a bit noisy for me, so I’d recommend bringing earplugs.

It’s close to two metro stations, so getting into the city is easy, and there’s enough nearby for food and drinks too. The room was clean and comfortable, though much smaller than the pictures led us to expect. The shower temperature was a bit hit and miss.

The room looked much older and more worn than the pictures, with spots on the walls. I found hair in the bathroom, and the bathroom door wouldn’t close. I also wasn’t sure the fire alarm worked. Online check-in was complicated, and I never received the codes, so I had to sort it out outside the property. WhatsApp support was efficient, though, and I got inside in 10 minutes.