Päff
A cozy traditional tavern on Friesenwall, founded in 1968 as a jazz club — one of the few places serving Päffgen-Kölsch on tap.
The Päff is a cozy traditional tavern on Friesenwall in Cologne's Gereonsviertel (Altstadt-Nord), a place that has never disowned its roots as a jazz club. Anyone looking for genuine Päffgen-Kölsch will find one of the few addresses in the city that serves it here.
At a Glance
- Location
- Friesenwall, Gereonsviertel (Altstadt-Nord)
- Founded
- 1968 as a jazz club by Günter Päffgen
- What makes it special
- Serves Päffgen-Kölsch – a rarity in Cologne
- Landmark
- A Buddha statue named "Herr Päff" in 1960s comic-book style
- Award
- Gastro-Award 2009 ("Classic"), NRW state winner among traditional taverns
- Run since 1993 by
- Cologne artist Michael Kampert
From Jazz Club to Cologne Institution
The Päff was founded in 1968 by Günter Päffgen, one of the Päffgen brothers, initially as a jazz club. In 1993, Cologne artist Michael Kampert took over the running of the establishment. To this day, it remains one of the few pubs in Cologne that serves Päffgen-Kölsch.
Original Design and "Herr Päff"
Despite several renovations, care has always been taken to preserve the original interior from the founding year of 1968. The tavern's hallmark is a Buddha statue named "Herr Päff" in 1960s comic-book style. For its concept, the Päff was honoured with the 2009 Gastro-Award in the "Classic" category and named the state winner among traditional taverns in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Map
Blue dots: other places nearby — tap to explore.
Address
Friesenwall 130
50672 Köln
Hours
Di: 18:00–02:00
Mi: 18:00–02:00
Do: 18:00–04:00
Fr: 18:00–05:00
Sa: 18:00–05:00
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Sources & links
- Official website
- Official website (retrieved 2026-08-19)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-08-18, rev 249627761)
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-08-18)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-08-18
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