Cologne loves music – its ‘kölsche’ music – not only during the Carnival, but throughout the year. Because the songs are about the city, its inhabitants and heartache. And… because the people of Cologne love a good party, and this you can definitely experience in the ‘Flotte’ (fleet).

The Flotte is moored In the epicenter of one of the nightlife quarters. The pub has a gallery and a kind of arena. On weekends it is full, the drinks are flowing, the music is loud and good and everyone is enjoying themselves. And when a known or ‘kölsch’ song is played, the Flotte is shaking and everyone is singing along. When I have guests in town, I almost always go there. You can hardly better demonstrate an evening, as it is often celebrated in a ‘Cologne manner’. Once I had a whole group of friends to visit. I sent them a CD with the local songs and the lyrics. Believe me, if you can ‘bellow’, it’s twice as much fun! But don’t worry: almost every refrain you can sing along in no time.

Τhe equipment is accordingly simple and robust and I admit: sometimes I dance here even on the table. If you can stand a well-filled lively pub and want to tell the people back home that you were celebrating originaly ‘kölsch’: the Flotte is your goal.

Even though it is open from Tuesday to Saturday, you should go there on Fridays or Saturdays and not too early.