Can I revive this? Here for a few days and was wondering the same thing.
Chess in Koln (Cologne)
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Unfortunately, German chess players have a different mentality than American ones. For example we don't have chess parks (in the big cities like cologne or Dusseldorf there are usually chess tables in the park but I have never seen someone playing there) let alone chess hustlers. As far as I know there are no chess shops in cologne but there is a chess café called "Tag und Nacht café (in Englisch "Night and day café"). I'm not sure if it still exsits and I've never been there but maybe it's worth a try.
adress: Hohenstaufenring 11, 50674 Köln
Good luck!
Thanks! I'm with my wife who grew up outside of Cologne. With a little digging I'm hoping we can find something, and I'll begin by following up on your recommendation.
Actually, I find another place that may is interesting for you. There is a big chess store but it is not really in the near of cologne (about 120 km away but beause the U.S.A is much larger than Germany, I hope this isn't such a big distance for you). The store is called "Schachversand Niggeman".
Every information you need you find in the link below. The website is on English so there should be no language problems.
https://www.schachversand.de/startneue2.htm
I had a wonderful time playing chess in Germany while stationed in Schweinfurt . I played on a team in the Landesliga Nord for chess club Franken . I also visited a chess cafe in Frankfurt in which they played blitz chess for money ( marks back then ) and there were some extremely strong players there to take your money .
I guess your stay in Germany is been a while because chess cafés such as this one you have mentioned, unfortunatley, died out in the past years. I only know that there is still a chess café in Hamburg and Berlin.
I've traveled to Koln for work a couple times and look to head that way some more in the future. I was wondering if there are any recommended chess shops or recommended places to play a friendly game in that area? I realize there are a number of clubs in the area, but they look to be rather competetive and league-oriented. Any help appreciated.