"Schmitz is the best-known name in Cologne, respectively Belgisches Viertel – and the empire at Aachener Straße. Over the years, it turned into a real institution, once starting as a small hipster bar. The public might be an acquired taste of fanciness, but it’s fun people watching, not as snobby as promised and the very likable service and dishes are mostly praised high by everyone who’s visited. Atmosphere’s very serene – people know ordered food can possibly take up to 3 quarters waiting time, weekends are always busy – that may be so, but it wouldn’t be as successful as it is, if it didn’t work, right? To understand the SCHMITZ empire, here’s a list: BAR SCHMITZ | Brasserie - Restaurant - Glacier - Cocktailbar METZGEREI SCHMITZ | Patisserie - Café - TakeAway - Catering SALON SCHMITZ | Café - Lounge - Bar - Exhibitions COCO SCHMITZ | Disco - Boîte De Nuit - Concerts – Private Parties The BAR is nicely done up in Belgian Jugendstil, they have an astonishing range of sorbets, which is especially mind-blowing for people who suffer from lactose, *BECAUSE:* they have chocolate sorbet. Not *chocolate sorbet...* it's the most chocolaty chocolate sorbet on earth! The METZGEREI has been the oldest butcher shop in Cologne when it was still in use. In the glass counter, meat was replaced by cake and other delightfulness. Consume everything Metzgerei Schmitz is offering at any other Schmitz, when limited seats at Metzgerei are occupied. *BUT:* Pay drinks at the Bar or at the Salon (when you go there with food f.e. from Metzgerei). They have their running businesses per location. Got it? People get confused about it. Now you're well prepared for a visit. They serve breakfast from 9 and quiche, soups and salads all day – all evenly terrific. At SALON Schmitz, french Savoir Vivre meets Rhenish vitality for a tingling Liaison – interior is filled with danish design classics from the 50's & 60's mixed with antique german furnishing and traditional elements creating an unique ambience. Check for exhibitions that are regularly arranged here. Feel like moving your feet? To the basement, then! Show your dancing skills at COCO Schmitz in swanky dimmed atmosphere. For when you've had enough hustle and bustle, yet don't want to miss Schmitz taste, they offer another location for you, surprisingly: It's the café inside the [Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst,](http://www.museum-fuer-ostasiatische-kunst.de/Cafe) close to the park & pond [Aachener Weiher](https://www.google.de/maps/place/Aachener+Weiher/@50.935255,6.9251874,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47bf251cfc91f961:0x9e61aa7f983d70a0!8m2!3d50.9352813!4d6.9279462) where you'll be able to let all the exciting happenings behind. ...confused by all the Schmitz, huh? Relax, order their own beer brand SCHMITZ KÖLSCH and let it all sink. Oh, almost forgot – they have a rentable apartment either. That one is STUDIO SCHMITZ." - Elastique.
