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Popular restaurant Diogenis” in Cologne is finally back after closing!
The Greek restaurant “Diogenis” in Cologne reopened after being closed for a year. Operator Kula Sidiropoulou about the new beginning.
Popular restaurant Diogenis” in Cologne is finally back after closing!
The wait is over! After a forced break of a year, the popular Greek restaurant “Diogenis” on Sudermanplatz finally opened its doors again. The reopening, which took place on a Saturday, was greeted with great joy by the operators. Kula Sidiropoulou, one of the operators, expressed her gratitude for the loyal support of regulars during the closure period. Her grandfather, 90-year-old Lazaros Telidis, who opened the first restaurant in Cologne in 1976, still oversees the family business.
The Telidis family, who also lives near the restaurant, maintained contact with their guests during the closure. The upcoming reopening was postponed several times because renovations took longer than originally planned. But the patience paid off. With freshly painted walls but unchanged distinctive architecture, the restaurant continues to evoke the picturesque Greek islands, particularly Santorini.
A family business with tradition
The restaurant is more than just a place - it is a place where siblings, cousins, uncles and grandchildren work together. The family tradition is remarkable: Lazaros Telidis, who came to Cologne from Greece in 1962, opened the “Taverna Diogenes” in 1976 before the restaurant moved to Sudermanplatz in 2002. From the beginning, Greek compatriots were the main customers, but now many Germans also appreciate Greek hospitality and delicious food.
A large part of the loyal customers are the grandchildren of the first regular guests. Although Diogenis' menu has not changed, guests' eating habits have diversified over the years. Lamb and fish dishes as well as vegetarian options are particularly popular at the moment.
Closures in the industry
The closure of “Santorini” is particularly unfortunate as the restaurant only opened in the summer of 2023, replacing the previous restaurant “Goldgelb”, which had to close due to a lack of staff and financial difficulties. In North Rhine-Westphalia, on the other hand, the restaurants seem to be fighting and successfully positioning themselves again despite the challenges.
A large crowd is expected in the first few days after the reopening of “Diogenis”. After all, no one can resist the unmistakable pleasure of Greek cuisine, and guests can feel the anticipation of returning to their usual culinary delights.
For the Telidis family it is a return to normality, even if travel to Greece is rarely possible due to business. But with the opening of one of their favorite restaurants, they are giving Cologne's gastronomy new life again - and everyone can be proud of that!