Dank Augusta - Leverkusen

The Koeln Flora's cafeteria "Dank Augusta" (what's in a name: "thanks Augusta"?) could be one of the most beautiful restaurants in the area. In a prime location and with a unique position in the botanical gardens where indeed it has a monopoly, it has missed its chance of providing a stylish setting and elegant ambiance to take afternoon tea or al fresco meals by opting for something it calls "event cuisine": self-service at a trolley counter with plastic baskets to carry the pickle-jars that contain your food (even "cakes"!), alongside thick white toothmugs half-full with coffee or tea (in case you spill...). The trolley counter is small, so the queues are long - bad luck if you happen to be there on a glorious summer's day as we were, when this means standing in the blazing sun for about 15 minutes. The terrace faces south (good) but only a limited area is provided with sunshades (bad), so in the summer it becomes very hot. Blasts from vents in the paving provide gusts of smelly air coming from - I wouldn't like to guess. Our guests included someone with limited mobility but instructions how to find access for such visitors are hap-hazard unless you happen to come from the "right direction" (no signage), so our guests were made to wak all the way round the main building and down a ramp to find by personal enquiry from one of the security guards the way to the lift. Result: about 10-15 minutes' extra walk - unacceptable for such visitors. Altogether a very disappointing visit and one that we won't repeat.

Many seats and beautiful view of the garden. good coffee, but can't come to eat as we didn't eat, but looked nice.

Situated in the magnificent gardens and parks of the Cologne Botanical Gardens, the Gartenlokal (garden restaurant) Dank Augusta' on the terrace of the Flora Ball Room, offers a range of dishes, cakes and snacks all pre packed and quite tasty, however the self service system...reduces the restaurant to a kiosk experience. The furnishings and sourrounds are very good, comfortable garden furnishings large sun shades etc. Access for disabled people is difficult: a lift up to the first level, long walk traversing the entire building, down a small ramp, then get your food, and use another lifting device to the upper seating area, toilets are a floor down a stairwell, no lift here. When walking through the building we were told that photographing the magnificent ball room was not allowed. On our arrival we asked if the sun shades could opened above the tables, this was first declined, but later the shades were opened anyway. What a pity this is such a nice place, but is managed so incompetently. The staff were helpful and supportive.

The location is beautiful, and the idea to serve food in glasses in a picnic bag is brilliant. we took the vegetable lasagnan, very good, the American cheesecake, must try and the chocolate cake. for everything we spent, I recommend this place to try something else after a walk to the flora park.

Nice concept; choose your food and drinks. Order at the counter, where the staff will fill your picnic basket. Nice salad and excellent Riesling wine.