On a long night in Cologne, before going to an EDM concert, I stopped by Papa Joe's for a drink on…read morea 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.