Insider tips for Hamburg from Hotel Zollenspieker Fährhaus

Diverse Hamburg for every taste

A stroll across Hamburg in the morning

After a copious breakfast in our hotel, start towards Stadtpark. Under fair weather conditions, the wonderful city park allows for an extended promenade. And when Hamburg’s notorious “shitty weather” is forecast, a visit of the attached Planetarium can be recommended. Those who just cannot get enough of strolls through a park don’t have to wait long since there is a succession of parks in this part of the city! Along the way, wonderful snacks are available at “Die Pampi” in Eimsbüttel where typical Portuguese specialties and freshly baked rolls are served in a cozy ambiance. And as a harbor stroll is among the musts for any Hamburg trip, go by train in the direction of the jetties. After the compulsory Harbor Tour with a proper style captain (hint: simply select the loudest barker from the launches!)and a visit of the warehouse district, one should absolutely enjoy a fish sandwich in the midst of the turmoil.

Lunch in the warehouse district

Historic warehouse district is transformed into ultra modern “Hafencity” – a valuable suggestion for those wanting to discover the juxtaposition of futuristic and historic architecture. Here is also my restaurant suggestion for a small lunch: “Schönes Leben” is a restaurant, a café, and a shop at the same time. Here one enjoys a fresh, seasonal cuisine in a unique ambiance including snug timber furniture and legendary design classics. By the way: (almost) everything to be seen here can be bought at the attached shop!

Relaxed break on Elbstrand

Hamburg is the city of contrasts. Full relaxation on the beach or a stroll across the busy city center – both is possible without any problem. For the afternoon, I therefore suggest an excursion to “Strandkiosk” situated on Elbstrand. The suburban train ride is worthwhile – at least under fair weather conditions. Those preferring strolling across the city should schedule a break at “Café Paris”. Here, at Rathausstraße, they serve original French “Macarons” with delicious stuffing.

Dinner at “Carl´s” – my suggestion for the evening

The “Carl´s” stands for optimal feasting. This restaurant offers both an outstanding cuisine and a dreamlike view over glittering Elbe next to the port. For those wanting to plunge into Hamburg’s nightlife, “Schmidt´s Tivoli” is the perfect starting point. In addition to great theater and comedy plays, the venue offers a separate Restaurant, equally worth a culinary excursion.

From Reeperbahn to Panoramabar: mere diversity

Hamburg’s nightlife is so variegated that it isn’t quite easy to take the decision for a defined program. Whether it is about a stroll over notorious Reeperbahn with its hip clubs and woozy taverns, a musical, a theater performance, or a great concert with live music – people are spoilt for choice. So my suggestions for the evening cannot go beyond this one: get well-informed, try and discover as much as possible! Most lucky are of course visitors spending several days in the city. But also one sole evening permits a lot of experiences in Hamburg: I recommend, for example, a stop at “20up”, the Bar of the Empire Riverside. From up there (fl. #20), one enjoys an amazing panoramic view over the port with excellent cocktails. And for an extended evening tour, remember to schedule a visit of Hamburg’s famous fish market on sunday!