My 24 Hours in Hamburg

A good breakfast, of course, is important in order to start your day on the right foot. For me, however, the coffee to accompany it is absolutely vital, and worth a great deal more consideration. You can win my heart with a good, preferably locally roasted cup of coffee and, accordingly, I’ve made it my business to know nearly every great coffee spot in the city. To name only a few of my favourites, there is the café Milch Feinkost in the Portugiesen Viertel district, the Rain Cafeatery in Ottensen, and the café Carroux in the beautiful district of Blankenese. Blankenese is a little removed from the city centre, but is nonetheless worth visiting, ideal perhaps for a little half-day trip. And because I absolutely adore flowers, I have to mention the floral paradise that is Blumen Graaf, a wonderful florist which is also located in Blankenese.

But let’s get back to coffee (it’s a big deal in my life people, I’m not kidding). Public Coffee Roasters in the district of Neustadt is fantastic, as is the extraordinary Entenwerder 1, where your coffee is roasted on – and I actually mean on – the Elbe river. Definitely worth checking out.

On the way to or from Public Coffee Roasters, you’re automatically in the right area of town for some shopping. In Wexstraße and the surrounding streets, you will find all manner of charming little concept and interior stores like Winkel van Sinkel, Perle Store and Maison F. If you’re in the area in the summertime, make sure to stop by Eiskantine afterwards for some delicious ice cream.

Travelling to Australia and South Africa has definitely instilled in me a love for neighbourhood/food markets. In Hamburg, you have the wonderful Isemarkt, a street market in Eppendorf which takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays all year round, and which some people call the Notting Hill of Hamburg. There’s also the small but exquisite little market in Altona, where you’ll find me almost every Saturday in the wintertime.

By just crossing the street from here you can escape to France and have the most delicious croissants in Hamburg at the bakery Die Pâtisserie. Altona seems to be the one district in Hamburg with a bit of a French touch, and another French treat – the macaron – can be found in a variety of flavours at Jö Makrönchen.

Talking about food – if you happen to get hungry while shopping or browsing through the markets, Atelier F in the city centre is a great place for lunch, whether it’s a salad or a burger with a side of fries you’re craving. When it comes to dinner, the restaurants Tarterie and Nil are the two Big Ones in my opinion, and lend themselves very well to an unforgettably romantic dinner. If I’m in the mood for something more casual it’s usually the Weinladen for me, where they serve excellent wine, which I like to accompany with bread and cheese. The Weinladen is just very fun and laid-back as well, keeping it with the character of St. Pauli, the district which it lies in the middle of. There are so many more hip bars and restaurants nearby and the general vibe in the streets is very easygoing and friendly, especially in the summer.

When the sun goes down, you might want to head out for drinks and dancing, in which case, the club Kleiner Donner is the place for you. Although it’s quite tiny it is, in my opinion, the best hip hop and electronic music joint in town. The people that come here are very cool and I can guarantee that you’ll have a good night out!

After a long night at Kleiner Donner what you really need is a clean and cosy bed. Your best bet for a good night’s sleep are Henri Hotel or the hotel Fritz im Pyjama: both are very stylish, not too posh, and very well-located, right by the main hot spots of the city. Both hotels will bewitch you with their unique and charming design, great service and very relaxed vibe (which, incidentally also makes them perfect representatives of Hamburg in general!).

For a different perspective of the city, I heartily recommend going on a guided boat tour along the river with Hamburg Waterkant Touren. It’s ideal for people who have never been to Hamburg before and want to get their bearings in the riverside area, without necessarily sticking to the beaten path.