Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and, therefore, has a lot to offer when it comes to gastronomy. The city has been historically shaped by commerce, from the Hanseatic League to its enormous port, which has been responsible for handling numerous catches from the North Sea. In this article we present the best restaurants and bars in Hamburg.
In Hamburg you can find all types of restaurants, styles and prices, bars, beer houses and markets where you can grab a bite.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to know what Hamburg’s most typical dishes are so you know to order them when you see them on a menu. Be sure to try labskaus, a type of seafood stew with fried egg and vegetables; aalsuppe, an eel soup that contains meat and vegetables; grünkohl, kale with sausages and potatoes typical of northern Germany; and finkenwerder scholle, baked or fried plaice with prawns, onions and bacon.
Hamburg is also a city of desserts, such as rote grütze (red berries with cream or vanilla) and franzbrötchen (cinnamon roll).
Not forgetting the dish that bears the city’s name: the hamburger, since this popular meat sandwich originates from Hamburg and, although everyone has no doubt tried it, you cannot leave the city without trying one.
In addition to more traditional dishes from in and around Hamburg, you must not forget to try German delicacies, which are served in the city’s restaurants.
So, now that you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time to take a tour of the best restaurants in Hamburg. Pay close attention.
- Restaurant 1700 at the Barceló Hamburg
- Best restaurants in Hamburg
- Best bars in Hamburg
- Where to sleep in Hamburg
Restaurant 1700 at the Barceló Hamburg
With an enviable location, just a short walk from the City Hall and the train station, is the restaurant 1700, inside the Barceló Hamburg. The restaurant combines Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine with German food, with a comprehensive assortment of main dishes and tapas.
The 1700 Winery Bar is known for its selection of 1700 bottles, with excellent regional, German and Spanish wines.
Mejores restaurantes para comer en Hamburgo
Mid to high prices and luxury restaurants
● Fischereihafen Hamburg: one of Hamburg’s most luxurious restaurants, where diners have even included the Prince of Wales. Its dining room looks out onto the port, which provides spectacular views at sunset. Also has a terrace. On the menu you will find dishes such as turbot and seafood such as oysters and lobster.
● Anno 1905: in the Altona neighbourhood this elegant restaurant with over 100 years of history is a great place to sample authentic German cuisine, a good wine menu and an essential selection of beers. There is no shortage of hamburgers or schnitzels as well as specialities from northern Germany such as labskaus and meatballs, and a series of seasonal dishes.
● Parlament: this restaurant is housed in spectacular premises in the basement of the City Hall itself. It is well worth a visit if not for its location alone. The restaurant has three different dining rooms as well as an interior courtyard, which make for a beautiful setting. On the menu you will find local dishes such as plaice, eel and hamburgers.
● Old Commercial Room: opened in 1795, this restaurant serves the original Hanseatic labskaus, which is sent all over the world. The menu features plaice, sole, salmon, eel, knuckle of ham and schnitzel and important figures from the world of politics and other fields have dined here. A Hamburg institution.
Low to medium price.
● Marend: a Tyrolean restaurant next to the Hamburger Dom complex, close to the Sankt Pauli neighbourhood. It’s a great place to try traditional Tyrolean knödel (meatballs) before a night on the town.
● Erika’s Eck: no trip to Germany is complete without a good schnitzel, the famous escalope, one of the most popular German dishes. Situated in the Sternschaze area, this establishment remains open through the night and is therefore a hotspot for nightclub-goers.
● Otto’s Burger: Where can you eat a hamburger in Hamburg you ask? The answer is at Otto’s Burger, also on Sternschaze, which offers delicious hamburgers made using veal from small producers in Lüneburg and a selection of unique sauces.
Best bars in Hamburg
There are hundreds of bars in Hamburg and, in a city as eclectic and alternative as it is, many of them are well worth a visit. This is just a small selection of them:
● Gröninger Hamburg: one of Hamburg’s oldest beer houses, dating from 1793, where you can try their own beer together with a selection of the main German dishes.
● StrandPauli: a beach bar right in Sankt Pauli, on the banks of the Elbe. Barbecued food, pizzas, cocktails and drinks until the wee hours in a magical setting.
● Central Congress: the Soviet aesthetics of this bar will transport you to the Cold War era. Its design is based on a round-table meeting, where you can strike up a conversation with strangers. Above all, an unusual place.
● Clockers: an intimate establishment in the middle of Sankt Pauli with a welcoming ambience, decorated with books and natural aesthetics. If you like gin, don’t miss it, as they make their own and organise tastings.
● Zum Silbersack: opened in 1949, this is one of the most popular bars in Hamburg with a cult-like following. Its colourful façade is particularly striking.
● Skyline Bar 20up: we have included this establishment for fans of heights and rooftops, since they are far and few between in Hamburg. 90 metres and 20 floors above the Elbe and the port in the Empire Riverside, it is a great place to watch the sunset while enjoying a glass of wine or the drink of your choosing.
This is nothing more than a small selection of restaurants and bars in Hamburg, but we can assure you that the city has a whole host of other incredible places.
Where to sleep in Hamburg
Without a doubt, staying at the Barceló Hamburg is an excellent option if you want to explore the city at ease. Just five minutes away from the north station, this four-star hotel offers maximum comfort so you can enjoy a stay in the Hanseatic city without having to rely on cars or transport.
One of the hotel’s main characteristics is the comfort it offers. It boasts 193 spacious rooms decorated in a modern style, two restaurants and a terrace from which you can enjoy magnificent views of Hamburg.
