Papa Joe's Biersalon

Pub · Cologne

4

@atlasobscura

"At an age when most seniors take it easy, Papa Joe was still playing jazz. On his 90th birthday, in April 2015, the musician sat at a piano and burned up the keyboard for his guests. While Papa Joe passed away in October of that year, his memory lives on in the two bars he founded in Cologne’s historic district. This is especially true in Papa Joe’s Biersalon Klimperkasten, which is at once quirky, friendly, and bursting with music. The Klimperkasten—meaning “stacking cabinets” in Luxembourghish—is, like the architecture of the neighborhood in which it’s located, a blast from the past. Its walls are lined with knickknacks, from vintage dioramas to an impressive seasonal gingerbread house display. But this isn’t just any old kitschy collection. The bar features objects from the early age of automation, when visual illusion machines and self-playing pianos were the height of entertainment technology. Visitors can slide a coin into the kissing machine to see whether their pucker is amateurish or amorous, frigid or—at the top of the scale—dynamite.  The true centerpiece of the establishment, however, is Papa Joe’s collection of self-playing instruments and music machines, which still function via coin-operated boxes. This includes the Pneuphoniker Tünnes un Schäl (try saying that five times fast while playing a tuba), an assemblage of musical marionettes advertised as “the world’s first self-playing tuba-accordion orchestra.” The elaborate self-playing organ collection is a museum in itself, with six of the organs dating to the Roaring Twenties. One dates back to 1886. This aptly illustrates the collision of time periods within the establishment: While the bar compares itself to a “19th-century gin house,” it enthusiastically celebrates the music and innovation of the 1920s. But the ambience is a happy kind of anarchy, and after a few steins of the house’s draft beers, you’ll likely be more concerned with snacks and jazz than historical consistency Visitors to the bar should prepare themselves for a rotating series of raucous events. Accordions join the jazz serenade, and the Klimperkasten has been known to host ballroom dance evenings and live recitals of erotic poetry, which are rumored to be rather NSFW (unless your workplace is, of course, the Klimperkasten itself). One would expect nothing less from a joint named for the illustrious Papa Joe, who even thought ahead to create the guest list for his own memorial. His love of laughter is immortalized in “Papa Joke,” an animated marionette that emits hearty guffaws at the comedic stylings of, well, another animated marionette. In the ample drinks and antique organ jams of the Klimperkasten, he chuckles on." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

18 Places That Celebrate Glorious Beer
Sven Henkel/Used with permission

Alter Markt 50-52, 50667 Köln, Germany Get directions

papajoes.de
@papajoesbiersalon

4 Postcards

See full details

More Places For You

Station Backpacker's Hostel

Youth hostel · Cologne

Straightforward rooms & dorms in a no-nonsense hostel with a shared kitchen, plus a cafe with a bar. A 7-minute walk from Cologne railway station, this simple hostel is 6 minutes' walk from Cologne Cathedral and an 8-minute walk from modern art at Museum Ludwig. Straightforward dorms have basic furnishings and come with free Wi-Fi and linens, and either shared or private bathrooms. Private rooms are available Locker use is complimentary. Amenities include a lounge, a communal kitchen, and a cafe with a bar and a beer garden. There's also a coin-operated laundry.

0 Postcards

Bar Trattoria Celentano

Italian restaurant · Cologne

This cozy Italian gem, celebrated by Bourdain, serves up fresh, flavorful pasta and pizzas that keep diners coming back for more.

1 Postcard

Ristorante Alfredo

Italian restaurant · Cologne

This charming trattoria offers a delightful twist on Italian dining with inventive fish dishes, regional wines, and a touch of the chef's operatic flair.

1 Postcard

El Inca Restaurant

Peruvian restaurant · Cologne

Discover vibrant Peruvian dishes and cocktails in a cozy basement spot, where authentic flavors meet friendly service—perfect for a casual outing.

2 Postcards

WALLCZKA

Restaurant · Cologne

Reinvented global dishes & a weekend brunch, plus meze plates & aperitifs, in a streamlined setting.

1 Postcard

Le Moissonnier

Bistro · Cologne

Experience a charming French bistro vibe at this upscale spot, where artfully presented dishes and warm service create unforgettable tasting moments.

3 Postcards

Classik Hotel Antonius

Hotel · Cologne

Urban property offering free Wi-Fi, plus a spa, a French restaurant & a bar with garden. This redbrick urban hotel is a 4-minute walk from Ebertplatz tram stop, 13 minutes' walk from Cologne Cathedral and 15 minutes' stroll from the Romano-Germanic Museum. Modern rooms feature minibars, free Wi-Fi and iPod docks, as well en suite marble bathrooms. Some have balconies, while suites add TVs and kitchenettes. Room service is available. Amenities include a breakfast buffet (fee). There's a French restaurant with a garden, and a relaxed bar, as well as a spa with a solarium and a sauna.

0 Postcards

Flora Cologne - Palais im Park

Event venue · Cologne

Nestled in Cologne, this charming botanical garden boasts stunning floral displays, a cozy café, and free entry—a perfect retreat for nature lovers.

1 Postcard

Galerie Julian Sander

Art gallery · Cologne

"A gallery in Cologne owned by the son of Gerd Sander and representing the work of August Sander, Sean Hemmerle, Oliver Abraham, Jory Hull, Alfredo Srur and Rosalind Fox Solomon. The gallery has an inventory of work by ~260 artists spanning from the late 19th Century through to the work of contemporary artists Sean Hemmerle, Jory Hull, Oliver Abraham, and Alfredo Srur, Rosalind Fox Solomon and others. The gallery has a regular exhibition calendar as well as participating in various international art fairs. Works are available for viewing and purchase in the gallery during opening hours and by appointment. There is no cost of admission to view the gallery exhibitions. Please come buy and contact us for a visit."

1 Postcard

THE MIDTOWN HOTEL Köln

Hotel · Cologne

Contemporary rooms & suites, some with Juliet balconies, in a fashionable hotel. Across from a city park, this modern hotel with a chic vibe is a 10-minute walk from the nearest U-Bahn station, a 16-minute walk from the Gothic Cologne Cathedral and 2 km from the landmark Hohenzollern Bridge. Featuring dark wood accents, the contemporary rooms have satellite TV and Wi-Fi access; some add Juliet balconies. Upgraded rooms provide sitting areas, while suites offer living areas and/or ornate 4-poster beds. Breakfast is served in a streamlined dining area for a surcharge.

0 Postcards