One thing that I have discovered as I have been wandering around Koln is that their small beers are…read moreactually really, really small. In fact they are probably butcher-sized (not that I have found any pubs in Australia that actually serve butchers). I actually quite like these small beers, though for some reason I would prefer a little more. Anyway, this bar is pretty much dedicated to the guy that geeks the world over love and admire. In fact, if you are a geek, and you are in Cologne then this is a bar that you should check out. I knew about it, but didn't actually know where it was, that is until I was wandering through the back alleys of the old city and discovered it. Okay, it isn't hugely geeky, it just has a heap of pictures of Einstein covering the wall, but it's still pretty cool.

Great little dive bar. Friendly staff, fresh Kolsch and some local snacks... Off the beaten path in…read morea touristy section of Cologne...

The last time I ate at Zum Kobbes, I had the traditional blutwurst dish (yum!) This time, I had…read morethe wiener schnitzel with pomme frites (fries). The schnitzel was tender and tasty; the fries, crisp and delicious. I can't say enough about how friendly the owners and staff are. They don't speak much English, we don't speak much German, but that never gets in the way of a good time. I'm not sure why this place is labelled a "dive bar." It's not. It's a classic, cozy, family-run Kolsch restaurant with traditional food. It's delicious, affordable, and very friendly.

My sisters and I were visiting Cologne on a Sunday and this happened to be one of the few places…read morethat was open later in the afternoon (around 3pm). The owner was incredibly friendly and helpful when it came to explaining dishes that were in German on the menu. We ended up ordering the Currywurst and the cheese filled Schnitzel. WOW. They were probably the best of their kind that I've ever had. The currywurst was delicious and had just the right amount of curry in it. The schnitzel was filled with camembert cheese, cranberry sauce on the side, and a lovely fresh salad with a home made olive-oil based dressing. There were 3 of us and we were beyond full after sharing the two dishes above; the cheese filled schnitzel was sizable and very filling! If I ever am back in Cologne, I will be sure to visit this place again, and I can safely say that this was the best meal of my entire trans-Europe vacation (included Belgium, Amsterdam, and Germany) :) Thank you for the delicious food and hospitality!

Beer, shots, a bar, rock and punk music. Really can't go wrong if you want to mingle with the…read morelocals.

We came to Köln for a Kevin Devine concert last night and stayed in Köln for an extra night. We…read morewalked around town and found Low Budget. This is a great dive bar. The staff was very friendly as well as the other patrons. If I lived in Köln this would be my go to bar. Might not be for everyone, but it was for me.

The 'Low Budget' is a nice punk like bar. The service and the people are nice…read more The music is very good (more punk, less rock). They got a pool table and two football tables.

Stereo Wonderland is one of those venues that, although located 5000 miles from where I live, in a…read morecountry where I didn't speak the language (at the time of my initial visit), still made me feel right at home. I was lucky enough to see Darren Hayman play here one night in May 2009, and the music - as well as the atmosphere - was wonderful. We arrived early but it was no big deal, because I loved the vibe. The word gemütlich immediately comes to mind... The place is cozy and intimate, with good beer on tap, comfortable seating and acceptable acoustics. I haven't yet been back, although I'd love to someday. And I can say quite matter-of-factly that if I lived in the area, this would easily become a regular haunt.

The first thing i thought when i came in was Sonic Ballroom…read more Somehow the same kind of place just different clientele. Good music, good prices and nice atmosphere. Kölsch is 1,50 and Becks is 2,50 so it's pretty much standard prices.

***5 STAR ONCE IN A LIFETIME PLACE***…read more The pork chop cannot be described with words. It's heavenly. The service is awesome, and the place is packed the minute the doors open. And the ambiance is all German!

Cuisine: 7 Service: 8…read moreDecor: 7 Value: 8 Overall: 8 After reading all the reviews, I had to come here and try this place out. On a Monday around lunch, the backyard was about one third full when we showed up. Everyone looked like they were enjoying their food and drinking Kölsch. Everyone talks about the pork chop, so I had to order it and give my own opinion. This was a solid pork chop and the onions certainly enhanced the dish. Unfortunately, my piece came lukewarm at best and definitely not as juicy as if it would have been right out of the oven. The version I had was good, but not worthy of all the accolades. Other than that, we tried Metthappen (raw pork tartare), which was somewhat bland and mushy. Had to add a lot of salt and pepper for more flavor. With that said, the liverwurst and blood sausage were both excellent. In the end, I did not love the bread, but the pickle was great. Service with a smile, the servers were very kind and patient. They will gladly let you take your time to order while they fill your next glass of Kölsch. If you want them to stop, many people have mentioned, just put your coaster on top of your glass.

From the owner: Soweit wir wissen, ist mindestens seit der Wiederaufbau nach dem Krieg das Hauses am Ubierring 19…read moreeine Gaststätte. Anfangs eine gut bürgerliche Lokalität, wurde die Qualität der Gaststätte mit der Zeit immer schlechter. Vor Mitte der 70er Jahre übernahmen Reiner und Ernie die "Ubierschänke" und machten aus ihr eine der damals beliebtesten Szenekneipen der Kölner Südstadt. Während im Stollwerk der Hauskampf tobte, kümmerte sich Reiner vor allem um Jazzmusik und Liveauftritte. Die Ubierschänke erhielt eine kleine Bühne, eine recht begrenzte Konzession von der Stadt und machte sich als Jazzkneipe einen guten Namen. Ernie betrieb die "Schänke" alleine weiter bis Ende 1997. Im Dezember 1997übernahmen Günter Zabel, Roger Leinhardt, Andreas Kaiser und Detlef Weisweiler die Ubierschänke. Vor 2002 "stieg" Conny Sigel noch ein. Conny - ein alter Freund von Günter und Detlef aus der Jugendzeit -.weiter lesen? .. ubierschaenke-koeln dot de