On a long night in Cologne, before going to an EDM concert, I stopped by Papa Joe's for a drink on a Saturday night. Located in a really cool area of Cologne, surrounded by bars, restaurants, and good vibes, what originally attracted me to Papa Joe's is that it's a jazz bar. I love me some jazz. Ambiance (4/5): When I think of a jazz club, I have a picture in my head. An upscale experience, dimly lit, with comfortable seating. Papa Joe's is not that at all. Think of it as a casual New Orleans bar. The stage is at the end of the bar close to the bathroom. The ground level is pretty narrow, with some seating and a long bar. Upstairs, there's some seating overlooking the ground floor. This is where I sat and it was a nice vantage point to watch the festivities. They have live music almost every day of the week with different bands performing. Unfortunately, the one playing when I attended wasn't jazz at all. It was funk. Not what I was expecting, and overall, the band wasn't great. Despite the music being a miss on this evening, I do like the vibes at Papa Joe's. Service (4.5/5): My waiter did a great job greeting me upstairs, taking my order promptly, and offering recommendations. Friendly and efficient---exactly what I look for in a service experience. No complaints. Food (N/A): I had dinner prior so I was on a liquid diet. Drinks (4/5): Papa Joe's has a long list of cocktails, including New Orleans classics like the hurricane. Mine packed a punch, which I always appreciate. Most of the cocktails are on the tropical/fruity side. Nice selection overall. Plus beer and everything else you would expect at a full bar. The menu tells you the history behind Papa Joe's which is pretty cool. An interesting spot for sure in Germany, and one that I enjoyed, although it was much different than what I expected. read more

Started off at 12:30; we were a party of 8. Beers came out quickly. I ordered a goulash. The wife ordered a pork knuckle. The goulash was awesome a bit more like a stew. The one in Hungary was more soupier. The meat was a bit tough but good with paprika, potatoes and peppers The pork knuckle was soft and tender. It was well cooked. The sauerkraut was good. We both would order the pork again, but I would try a different soup not the goulash, but the pea soup. This place was worth visiting. We were going to eat at Peter Brauhaus first but glad we came here. read more

Papa Joe's - Pork knuckle - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Cologne, NW

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I took my friends here on Saturday evening expecting to see a mixed crowd and pure Jazz lovers. To my disappointment, it was actually more a "Kneipe" (a simple bar) and the crowd rather old. Each beer (though larger in size) cost about €4.5. This place has been in business for about 40 years and I think it's possibly the same guests that visit this place on Saturday nights. If you, like me, expect a hip, vibrant, and colorful atmosphere, I'm afraid this isn't it. That said, I find the interior interesting since you find business cards from people from all over the world on the walls. The music is live, which is always a plus, and they music plays every night. So for the sake of supporting the local shops, check it out. read more

Apparently there are 2 locations. The music is good, the seating is interesting!

What a place to stumble upon. My boyfriend and I stopped in for a beer and were pleasantly surprised to have discovered such an eclectic little place. Go just to experience the bizarre atmosphere of this jazz club. read more

Papa Joe's - Funky cool vibes - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Cologne, NW

Had a great time in a small, crowded bar. The clientele is older, but that's due to jazz not being a favorite of the teens and 20-somethings. The beer is good and service is as well. Clara seems to handle everything but the bar by herself so be patient. It is crowded but if you wait a few minutes a spot will open up to sit down. Bring change to tip the band. read more

Very good Haxe. Cool restaurant.

Papa Joes is a must, after a nice dinner and a few beers! It's a great experience for everyone, but especially American tourists. There is something surreal about being surrounded by Germans of all ages and having them belt out tunes like "Mustang Sally" and "Georgia On My Mind". It's an experience you won't soon forget. read more

We love going to the StrecKstrump because of the music and the atmosphere. We visit Cologne every two years from Huntington Beach, California, because we still have relatives and friends there. We would not miss a visit to the Streckstrump especially when Helge Berz and his band are playing. We love to hear Helge Berz play the trumpet. The location in the Altstadt is great and there is always something going on. They have a great selection of beer, drinks and German snacks. We can't wait for our next visit. read more

What a place! Discovered by my wife and I by accident. As English jazz lovers we were drawn in. A real atmosphere of New Orleans in Germany. Young and older were in there to enjoy themselves. Everyone was completely friendly. They didn't seem to mind if you bought a drink or not (we did) so long as you enjoyed the music (we did, for nearly two hours), A great find! read more