Düsseldorf shopping highlights: On tour in the Kö-Bogen I

In the best company and all-round care

An anniversary is coming up in 2023. It will be ten years of Kö-Bogen I. Definitely a reason to celebrate, as many people in Düsseldorf will certainly feel this impulse. The two-part building ensemble by New York star architect Daniel Libeskind is not just another architectural landmark for the city. Thanks to the exciting tenant mix and the prominent location at the upper end of Königsallee, Kö-Bogen I is a wonderful place for shopping, but you will also be well catered for in culinary terms here.

You don't want to be alone in your anniversary anticipation, but are looking for a glamorous evening dress or fine piece of jewelry right now? Are you after a suitcase with all the functional finesse or the latest technology in terms of communication or household appliances? Maybe you're simply driven out of the house by the desire to complete your fall/winter wardrobe? Either way, we've already strolled ahead and taken a look around Kö-Bogen I.

Light, air and electronics

Even from a distance, the dynamic, extravagant sight is impressive. Glass meets white natural stone on the undulating façade of the Libeskind ensemble on Schadowplatz. It's hard to believe that for decades, the same spot and within sight of two other architectural icons - the Dreischeibenhaus and the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus - was home to a dreary junction in Düsseldorf's streetcar network. Now the area belongs to pedestrians, and we too enjoy the big city flair under today's bright blue sky.

As we approach the building, the first thing we notice is an apple. Not just any apple, of course: the Apple flagship store in the so-called Haus Königsallee, the left-hand building of Kö-Bogen I as seen from Schadowplatz, is visually impressive in itself. Huge glass windows and a ceiling height of ten meters - the Californian tech company is housed here in keeping with its status. There is plenty of light and space in the store. In this uncluttered atmosphere, you can relax at long tables and test the latest Apple products or, if necessary, put them through their paces.

You can also do some targeted research into the latest household technology in Kö-Bogen I. The Miele Experience Center right next to the Apple Store opened around a year ago. "Feel, Smell, Touch" is the store's motto. This means that you can find out more than just the secret behind the legendary Miele washing machines. After all, they have a reputation for being indestructible. The product selection ranges from smart dishwashers and hobs to wine cabinets. The range also includes the fully automatically controlled Plantcubes from Miele subsidiary Agrilution, in which you can grow lettuce and herbs in your home. There are also cooking events and small culinary tastings for customers.

Urbanity right on the water

Jeweler Rüschenbeck was one of the first tenants. There was already a superlative to marvel at when the store opened. In the shop window was a necklace with 321 diamonds and 165 carats at a price of one million euros. It was presented under the Just Jewels own brand. But the jeweler Rüschenbeck is not only known for his own creations. The path past the corner store's displays is also a walk along watches from the world's most famous watch brands.              

We turn the corner. On the right is the Hofgarten, opposite the venerable Steigenberger Parkhotel. People are sitting on the stepped courtyard garden terraces enjoying the sun during their lunch break. Ducks and a few seagulls swim on the Landskrone, which was extended as part of the Kö-Bogen construction project. Now, at the latest, it becomes clear how fantastic the location actually is and how much the Libeskind building itself blends architecture and nature. Here, on the north and west sides of the building ensemble, the façade is broken up by green "cuts" running diagonally across several floors. It is no wonder that Kö-Bogen I won the prestigious Mipim Award for "Best Urban Regeneration Project". It is not just an architectural highlight, the Kö-Bogen fits into the (urban) landscape and people have embraced it.

Café, cocktail or pasta?

The best proof of this is the large terrace of the Italian restaurant Palio Poccino, which is once again very busy on this day, some with a direct view of the water, and almost all the tables in the adjacent Poccino espresso bar are occupied. The Poccino cosmos also includes the confectionery show production Pasticceria San Marco. Here you can watch the in-house cakes, pasticcini and biscotti being made. From the early evening, cocktails are on the menu instead of Sicilian and Neapolitan pastries.

The cocktail menu also contains many tempting items at Eduard's by Breuninger. But we think it's still a little early for high-proof spirits. But a glass of Prosecco? That can certainly give you a new lease of life on a shopping trip. You can also sit down at Eduard's on a great terrace. It is located in the shadow of the Kö-Bogen, where the Hofgarten building tapers off and the northern Düssel becomes the Landskrone. The interior of the day and cocktail bar with its large glass front is also inviting. Warm copper tones, cozy seating, a ceiling installation that supports the lighting:. The interior design incorporates elements from Eduard's in Stuttgart. And that was awarded the prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

Incidentally, Eduard's is named after Breuninger founder Eduard Breuninger. He opened the Breuninger flagship store on Stuttgart's Marktplatz in 1881, and the largest Breuninger flagship store is still located in the Baden-Württemberg state capital today. Number two is the Düsseldorf store. With over 15,000 square meters and a top selection of exclusive fashion and accessories, beauty and lifestyle products, it occupies by far the largest space in Kö-Bogen I. It is therefore not surprising that Breuninger is also putting all of its culinary expertise to good use here, operating two other restaurants in addition to Eduard's in Düsseldorf,: the Confiserie Breuninger and the Sansibar by Breuninger. Our plan for today: to round off our shopping tour with a visit to Sansibar. But first there are a few more stores waiting for us.

Glamor and relaxed elegance

Unique - just be you. The name stands for cocktail and evening dresses that are sometimes simple and elegant, sometimes sparkling and extravagant, with elaborate appliqués and embroidery. From sleek satin dresses to tulle dreams, there is something for every taste in the Kö-Bogen, where the German label's first and so far only stationary store is located. There is a VIP showroom on the second floor with a beautiful view of the Hofgarten. However, as already mentioned, the gowns are not only suitable for the red carpet, but also for any other festive event.

Speaking of events: when you leave the unique store, you pass the Kö-Bogen event area, which is used regularly, especially in summer, for example as the "Kö-Bogen Sundowner Lounge", please don't stumble over the Uecker nail! Just kidding, Günther Uecker's work of art is too large and striking for that.   

But back to fashion. Are you looking for an everyday outfit with a dose of understatement that only modern classics can provide? Then take a look at Windsor. The 300 square meter store is located in the Kö-Bogen-Passage, which separates Haus Königsallee and Haus Hofgarten. The brand's roots go back to 1889, when it specialized in menswear such as coats, pants and jackets, and later also jackets and suits. However, a women's collection has long since been added, and while tailoring and fine qualities are still mandatory for men, the interpretation is pleasantly relaxed. And so the English royal family is no longer the main association that springs to mind when the name Windsor is mentioned.

While we're on the subject of modern classics, two other experienced representatives are represented in the Kö-Bogen-Passage. On the one hand, Graf von Faber-Castell offers high-quality desk accessories, while The Pashmina Shop stands for fine accessories, especially those made of silk and cashmere. Porsche Design is also located in the corner. Here you will find the complete range of the lifestyle brand, which consciously bridges the gap between "form" and "function". And not just when it comes to traditional sports cars. In addition to elegantly purist menswear and sportswear, you will also find watches, glasses and selected electronics, as well as bags and suitcases.

Of course, you can also get the latter at the Düsseldorf flagship of the American luggage brand Tumi. From wheeled suitcases to briefcases and backpacks for leisure, the products are known for their sophisticated design and durability. But that's not all: even Brad Pitt recently picked up a Tumi model - in the action film "Bullet Train", they are almost all after a briefcase from the brand.

We leave the Tumi store and go next door to Joop. On two floors and around 400 bright, cleanly furnished square meters, the German label stocks its womenswear and menswear collections, including accessories and the casual line Joop Jeans.

Luxury with character

At the beginning of September, it was that time again: to kick off the fall/winter season, the Düsseldorf fashionista attended the already legendary Breuninger Fashion Walk. Once again, the Landskrone became a catwalk: the models presented the latest looks and trends on a floating runway on the water. This fashion event regularly demonstrates why the luxury department store Breuninger is so successful with its concept. Luxury, yes, glamor too, but please do it casually and with style.

In fact, we immediately feel comfortable and welcome on the five floors of the department store in Haus Hofgarten, which is packed with international designers. And as soon as we enter, our hunting instinct is awakened. What else could we do with the impressive range of luxury bags from the big names that greet us on the first floor? The selection of fragrances is spectacular and there are also great natural cosmetics. We would like to have the perfect glow today and get advice on the spot from the friendly staff.

On the 1st floor, it's love at first sight: It's green, the voluminous plush coat, or rather grass green, one of the trend colors of the season. The pink oversized quilted jacket with the red lining also meets all the trend requirements. Our male companion would like to buy a pair of sustainable sneakers. We take the escalator up to the 2nd floor and don't find what we're looking for quickly - the selection is simply too big for that - but eventually we do. Word has probably already spread around the city that the women's shoe department in the basement is gigantic.      

On the 3rd floor in the men's premium designer department, it smells of spray paint: a few hoodies are being sprayed here as part of a live campaign. Good-humored shoppers cross our path - from the animatedly chatting over-50s clique to the twentysomething couple holding hands. Of course, the prices at Breuninger are often high, but the clientele is mixed and that is certainly part of the charm of the location.  

A touch of Sylt and jungle

Back to the 1st floor. Currywurst with chips and perhaps a glass of champagne? Or would you prefer to top off your Kö-Bogen shopping tour with a few oysters? Like its famous role model on Sylt, the Sansibar by Breuninger combines North Frisian gastronomic tradition with international cuisine. The concept was developed jointly by Breuninger and the team around Sansibar founder Herbert Seckler. And even though here, in the Düsseldorf Sansibar, the view is not of the sea but of the courtyard garden, we enjoy both the cod on champagne cabbage and the tenderloin fillet steak of bison from the North American prairie.

Later, as we stroll along the Kö into the sunset, a flock of green collared parakeets shoots past us, screeching loudly. Nature can sometimes be quite exciting, even in the city center. A detour to the neighboring Kö-Bogen II and Europe's largest green façade would undoubtedly have underlined this. We'll do that next time.

This article is funded by REACT-EU.

Pictures: Düsseldorf Tourism