SPIELPLATZ Gaststätten GmbH, Cologne

I can only agree - except for one change I noticed recently: they changed the smoking/non-smoking room so that the front room with the bar is now non-smoking (which was the effect of the local interpretation of the new non-smoking laws as the staff told me). Otherwise: great staff, very decent prices and the amount on your plate is rather too much in some cases. Excellent coffee

This restaurant and pub is one of the legendary places in Cologne and has kept its insider appeal since the 80s. Currently it has three very different sides to it:
1) During daytime during the week it is a meeting place for business lunches and for some (quiet) student groups with daily changing lunch menue (creative and excellent at a cheap price of about € 6.50 for lunch). Suits and jeans mix easily here with friendly and fast working staff. There is a free W-LAN connection for patrons as well - something quite rare in Germany.
2) In the evening it is a restaurant with a large bar area. The main restaurant room is non-smoking, while the bar and (in summer) open air seating areas (where you find the same food and tables as well) are smoking zones. Food covers a broad spectrum including salads, steak, seafood, pasta - everything freshly prepared and at rather low prices between € 7 and € 15 with a good choice of wines to go with it.
3) Special events: during carneval and some other festivies (like worldcup soccer matches with public viewing) Spielplatz turns into a party location. This is the one time I avoid the place, since it is crowded and loud during those days. Still - for those in a partying mood it is one of the most popular places during the legendary Cologne Carnival festival.