Cologne Marriott Hotel is housed in a dark brick, six-story building with white paned windows. Sleek, modern interiors showcase an impersonal -- though elegant -- ambiance that’s standard for this hotel chain. The lobby is vast with glossy white floors, wood-paneled walls and columns, a wooden front desk, and modern cream chairs providing seating around coffee tables. Further in, a large atrium houses the lobby bar, contemporary lounge areas, and two grand staircases that lead to a bottom floor. The lounge areas feature warm tones of red, brown, and gold and are filled with plush chairs and tables as well as black-and-white photographs adorning the walls. The restaurant, by contrast, has the feel of a French bistro with red and white checkered walls, patterned floral carpet, red booths, and wooden tables. Most guests at this hotel are couples on vacation, though with its extensive meeting facilities, it’s a popular place for conferences and draws a large number of business travelers as well. 

The hotel is conveniently located near the central train station, which is about a seven-minute walk away, while a bus and tram station is five minutes away on foot. Due to the proximity of the train station, there is a visible homeless population in the area, though that doesn’t detract from the area being generally safe. There are several restaurants within walking distance and many top sights can be reached on foot, including the Cologne Cathedral, which is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and the Musical Dome, which is about five minutes away. The Cologne Chocolate Museum can be reached in 10 minutes by bus. Lanxess Arena, one of the largest multifunctional arenas in Europe, is about a 10-minute drive from here or 25 minutes by public transportation, while Phantasialand, an amusement park, is a half-hour away by car. Cologne Bonn Airport is about a 15-minute drive or 25 to 30 minutes via public transportation.

Rooms at the Cologne Marriot Hotel are fairly generous in size, though they vary in style. Some have warm brown tones and chic cream armchairs paired with sleek furniture, while others have a more dated style -- though still modern -- with cream and red floral print carpets, pale yellow walls, and orange armchairs. Overall, rooms are clean and pleasant, with dark wooden furniture, white linens, and black-and-white photographs on the walls. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, air-conditioning, and mini-fridges, plus suites often have a living room area. In-room Wi-Fi incurs an extra fee, though it's free for Marriott Rewards members. Bathrooms are sleek with black countertops, cream tiling, and separate rooms for the toilets. Some have walk-in showers with glass doors, while others have shower/tub combos with deep tubs. The Dom Suite has a separate shower and bathtub. Acca Kappa toiletries and hairdryers are provided. 

Cologne Marriott Hotel has an on-site restaurant, Brasserie Fou, that serves French fare with an Asian influence. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, though breakfast is not included in the room rates and some guests complain that it's pricey. There's a lovely outdoor patio that's open in the warmer months, plus room service is available 24-hours. The hotel’s bar, Plusch Bar and Lounge, is popular among guests staying for conferences or meetings, which means it can get crowded. It serves light snacks and alcoholic drinks. Guests staying in Executive Rooms and Suites have access to the Executive Lounge, which offers free breakfast, afternoon tea, light snacks, and cocktails. There's a spacious fitness center on-site equipped with cardio machines with built-in TVs, as well as two saunas. Over 21,000-square-feet of meeting facilities and event space is available here, which includes 16 meeting rooms and two ballrooms. On-site parking costs an extra fee, though the hotel does provide one free electric car charging station. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby, but incurs an extra cost for in-room use. Marriott Rewards members get free in-room Wi-Fi access.