Ruby Hotels plants inaugural flag in Cologne
Munich-based Ruby Hotels has made its debut in Cologne with the opening of Ruby Ella, its 11th property.
Paying homage to the city’s status as a media hub in Germany, the newbuild features 186 rooms spread across six floors, together with a check-in area, bar and café on the first level. As in all Ruby Hotels, the Ruby Ella Bar is open 24 hours a day for Cologne locals and adds to the nightlife on the Hohenzollernring mile.
In a nod to German hosts like Harald Schmidt and Stefan Raab, large illuminated signs, a stage with host desk and chair, a colourful mix of vintage furniture and props from the cult late-night show times of the ’90s are dotted throughout the public areas, with highlights including an original camera crane, eight-meter-long “Show Time” vintage lettering on the ceiling, and show band instruments suspended in front of it.
The centerpiece is the 24/7 bar with its quilted turquoise leather fronts, which echo the typical look of old leather chairs and contrast with red marble and raw brass, while urban charm is provided by way of open concrete walls that run throughout. These also show the typical Ruby signature: high, open ceilings, fresh white tones, and glass rain showers integrated into the room, as well as wooden wall paneling and oak floors. The design highlight above each bed is a “Late-Night” moon lamp, whose cables depict the Cologne skyline.
Set back in the quiet courtyard of the former Capitol, the property is within walking distance of numerous restaurants and cafés, while the popular Hohenzollernring promenades provides opportunities for shopping as well as visiting several cinemas and clubs. Ruby Ella is well connected too; it takes five minutes by public transport from the nearby Friesenplatz to the main train station and 25 minutes to Cologne/Bonn Airport.
Designed by architect Christoph Ingenhoven with sustainability in mind, the building is nestled within almost 100 trees and shrubs planted in a staggered pattern. The planting concept came from Swiss landscape designer Enzo Enea. “The location of Ruby Ella between the Belgischen Viertel and the Gerlingquartier is perfect for discovering the Cologne lifestyle on your own,” says the hotel’s Cologne-born manager Daniel Suré. “Whether on a business trip or a city break, in just a few steps you’re right in the middle of the action.”
The property follows Ruby’s Lean Luxury philosophy, comprising a city centre location, unique design and high-quality amenities at an affordable price. “This works because, following the example of modern luxury yachts, we accommodate our luxury in a relatively small area and simply leave out non-essentials,” says Struck. “We also organise ourselves with the help of our own technical solutions in a completely different way than is usual in the industry. We plan and build more modularly, centralise more strongly and automate consistently behind the scenes. This helps us to create a unique hotel experience affordable for our guests.”
