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Hamburg has plenty of chic restaurants to satisfy the fashion-conscious local professionals, as well as the authentically salty taverns typical of a harbor town. There may not be a huge range of restaurants, but what they serve is delicious.
A proud owner of a Michelin star since it opened its doors in 1978, Landhaus Scherrer continues to be one of the city's best-known and most celebrated restaurants. The focus is on the use of organic, sustainable ingredients to produce classic and modern German cuisine with international touches, and unsurprisingly, the accompanying wine list is exceptional.
Somewhat ironically, for a long time it was very hard to find a decent hamburger in Hamburg; however, this small restaurant sandwiched between the Schanzenviertel and Altona is perhaps the best of the newly sprouted burger joints. Set up by two Germans and a Kiwi, The Burger Lab grinds the beef for its gourmet burgers as well as whipping up their own excellent sauces, which include chipotle aioli and burned onion cream
Stepping into this 18th-century merchant’s house turned Breton crepe restaurant, with its sky-blue window frames and waitstaff in striped fishermen’s shirts, is a little like being transported to a seaside eatery in northern France. Ti Breizh wows with fantastically good galettes (buckwheat crepes) topped with ham, cheese, mushrooms, and fried eggs, and its caramelized apple, banana, almond, and vanilla ice-cream crepe is worth a visit alone.
The kitchen at this much-loved little bistro in Eimsbüttel officially opens for business at 7 pm, but Vienna opens its doors early in the afternoon for those wanting an espresso or aperitif from their tiny bar. Early arrivers might still be asked to share a table in the dining room or outside in the courtyard, but given the lovingly prepared sausages, fresh fish dishes, and hearty desserts coming out of the kitchen, it will matter little to most.
The Alt Hamburger Aalspeicher specializes in fish, including Hamburg's famous Aalsuppe (a clear broth with a variety of vegetables, seafood, and meat—basically everything that is leftover). Over time the Low German word for everything (all) became mistaken for the word for eel (Aal), so some restaurants make eel the focus, while others stick with creating their own versions of the soup.
Still a shining star in the row of romantic restaurants that sit along Hamburg's riverfront, Au Quai, in keeping with its location, has a menu heavy on seafood. Raw oysters and sashimi share the menu with offerings of tuna and North Sea sole, and amongst the beef dishes there’s a Surf and Turf to keep lovers of both worlds happy.
All over Germany, no beer brand has become so closely associated with Hamburg (and especially St. Pauli) than Astra. In addition to its main industrial brewery, the brand recently opened a new microbrewery and restaurant directly on the Reeperbahn. Here, they offer IPAs and other specialty beers that can only be enjoyed there as it is produced in much smaller batches. A full menu featuring everything from finger food to lobster make this a great starting point to a legendary evening on the Kiez.
The success of this extremely popular café and restaurant derives from its celebrity-chef ownership—Tim Mälzer, an old friend of Jamie Oliver, is a regular TV presence—its location in a former livestock hall in the heart of the Schanze, and its heavy emphasis on quality cuts of meat. Every night, the busy but friendly waitstaff ferry large plates of steak and pork through an interior of exposed brickwork and pipes, while diners dig into bowls of lamb, pork, and veal Bolognese in the white-tiled "deli" next door.
A stalwart of Hamburg's gay and lesbian neighborhood, this local favorite is probably best known for its friendly service and outrageously good cakes—spiced apple; rhubarb; and Black Forest gâteau among them—that are baked on-site in the café's own Konditorei. Beyond its sweet treats, the café whips up solid German breakfasts of bread rolls with smoked salmon and herring or cold cuts and cheeses and has a dependable if somewhat unexciting lunch and dinner menu.
A slice of Paris in the heart of Hamburg, this turn-of-the-19th-century café's unfailing popularity derives from its superb traditional French fare, which naturally includes steak frites and beef tartare, served by crisply polite staff beneath a tiled Art Nouveau ceiling. The café's bar is an ideal spot to take in the atmosphere and sample something off the superb wine list until a table becomes free.
This extension of the Louis C. Jacob Hotel consists of a relaxed Bistro, a wine bar, and a more formal Brasserie that boasts a large bay window with excellent views of ships gliding up the Elbe. But it's the brasserie that stands out, offering a unique take on French dishes with seasonal northern German ingredients as well as local fish delicacies.
Aptly situated in the middle of St. Georg's main drag, this trendy yet friendly eatery justifies a visit for its good-size yet varied menu that includes the likes of teriyaki steak and wasabi burgers and homemade gnocchi with mushrooms, sage butter, and apple chutney. All the meat and fish served here is organic, and the Mediterranean-style vegetarian dishes are prepared with seasonal produce.
Hamburg’s highest restaurant and bar awaits you on the 23rd floor of the "Tanzende Türme” (Dancing Towers) skyscrapers, dazzling with floor-to-ceiling views over the city, excellent cocktails, and creative crossover cuisine. The culinary focus here is on a variety of different steaks and cuts of meat.
Cox has delighted guests with its nouvelle German cuisine for years, and with a cool, dark interior and red-leather banquettes reminiscent of a French brasserie, it remains one of the hippest places around. Friday and Saturday night sees its two large rooms swell with diners, and consequently service can slow a little. However, dishes such as steamed catfish fillet with mussel tartare served in fennel stock, and a friendly, knowledgeable staff, easily compensate.
This bright-red lightship served in the English Channel before it retired to the city harbor in 1989 and became a landmark restaurant, guesthouse, and pub. Local favorites such as Hamburger Pannfisch (panfried fish with mustard sauce) and Labskaus (a mixture of corned beef, potato, onion, beet, and gherkins) are on the ship's extensive menu, along with Argentine steaks and rack of lamb.
Located in an old merchant house decorated with oil paintings featuring 19th-century sailing ships, this small and elegant seafood restaurant is a Hamburg classic. It's one of the best places to get traditional dishes such as Hamburger Pannfisch (fried catch of the day in a wine-and-mustard sauce) at a very reasonable price.
For some of the best fish in Hamburg, book a table at this splendid portside restaurant, which looks plain from the outside, but feels like a dining room aboard a luxury liner inside. The menu changes daily according to what's available in the fish market that morning; the elegant oyster bar here is a favorite with the city's beau monde.
Located where St. Pauli meets Schanze, Hatari offers traditional southwestern German food in the far north. Sit at one of the long, rustic wooden tables and enjoy a plate of Käsespätzle or delicacies from the Rhineland at affordable prices. The folksy decoration gives the impression of a modest eatery frozen in time, but the clientele here is mostly made up of hip Schanze locals who flock to this restaurant for its unique vibe.
Hidden down a side street off Hansaplatz, this neighborhood favorite is easily missed, but it’s worth seeking out for its excellent plates of vitello tonnato (cold sliced veal with a creamy tuna sauce), saltimbocca (marinated veal with prosciutto and herbs), and truffle pasta. The restaurant's intimate atmosphere, similar to grandmother's living room, extends beyond the candlelight and banquette seating to the amicable staff and spoken menu, which features many of the filling and comforting pasta, meat, and fish dishes typical of rustic Italian cuisine.
This restaurant embodies the idea of “think global, act local” and brings the world to your table through its menu, which is inspired by cuisines from all over the world. From time to time, the menu will focus on a particular region: Istria, Scandinavia, South Tyrol. Kitchens's concept is rooted in travel experiences and culinary adaptation in an elegant environment. Open for lunch and dinner or enjoy cocktails on its rooftop bar overlooking the HafenCity.
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