The international trading metropolis has always been a trans-shipment centre for goods of all kinds. Coffee, exotic fruits, fish and of course wine. Hamburg’s gastronomic scene is correspondingly diverse. From Kevin Fehling’s 3-star restaurant “The Table” to the crispy matie roll at the “Fischbeisl” in the market halls: The metropolis on the Elbe plays in the culinary Champions League, regardless of the price segment.
Things get particularly exciting and delicious in Hamburg whenever the demimonde and gentrification collide – for example in St. Georg, the rainbow-coloured quarter directly behind the main railway station. Institutions again delicatessen Mutterland or the noble The George Hotel by Kai Hollmann stand in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle on the notorious Steindamm. If you love oriental cuisine, you have to get involved with this part of town. There is hardly another district in Central Europe where you can eat such concentrated Turkish, Syrian or Afghan food. It smells of freshly baked bread and grilled lamb. Sirens wail. Hustle and bustle. 24 hours a day. Great!
THE EAST COSMOS:
One of the Hanseatic city’s most influential restaurateurs is Christoph Strenger. He has come a long way since he opened his first location – the Brooklyn Bar – in Ottensen over 30 years ago. For example, he developed the Bolero chain with his partners and sold it to an investment company a few years ago. Today, he runs the Störtebeker in the Elbphilharmonie and the Herzblut St. Pauli on the Reeperbahn, among others, with his company Gastro Consulting.
However, Strenger’s greatest international success to date has certainly been with the east – one of the icons of the design hotel industry, designed by the wonderful JordanMozer. The associated bar and restaurant have been attracting guests from near and far for over 15 years. Based on this success, Strenger has successively expanded the east Kosmos. On floors 23 and 24 of the Dancing Towers designed by architect Hadi Teherani, the restaurateur awaits his guests in clouds. The restaurant, including bar and rooftop terrace, is a proud 105 metres above Elbe level and offers guests a unique panoramic view of the Elbe, Spielbudenplatz and the Michel. The coast by east, on the other hand, has remained on the ground. The chic “Enoteca-Weinbar-Seafood-Grill-Bar” is located in the Hafencity and has become the after-work-sundowner “place to be” in recent years. Certainly one of the nicest places in town to enjoy our St. Antony Chardonnay!
A PERFECT DAY IN THE METROPOLIS ON THE ELBE…
… begins, of course, with a coffee. In a city with the largest European port for green coffee imports, the selection of roasteries and coffee bars is naturally impressively large. Our favourites are the Nord Coast Coffee Roastery directly on Nikolaifleet and Playground Coffee in St. Pauli.
BREAKFAST:
Kissed awake by coffee, the gourmet tour of Hamburg can really begin. The Australian-inspired Marshall Street serves a breakfast that couldn’t be better on Bondi Beach in Sydney – the home of owner Tristan Corbin Garrett. The “Poached Eggs with Feta Avocado Smash on Sourdough” and the “Blueberry Chia Bowl” are particularly recommended. To burn off the calories you’ve just eaten, take a short stand-up paddle tour on the Alster – the SUP Club Hamburg offers the right equipment for hire. Exploring Hamburg on the water is always a very special experience.
BRUNCH:
Enough moving, now comes the next highlight of the pleasure tour: purely culinary, it’s off to Tel Aviv. On weekends, Salt & Silver invites you to a Levantine brunch. The mezze and fruity shakshuka with freshly baked bread are irresistible. The TUBI 60 drink with Israeli herbal schnapps, citrus fruits, ginger, grapefruit and soda goes well with this. Cheers!
Now it’s time for shopping. Hamburg offers everything your heart desires. From luxury labels around the Alsterhaus to high-street brands on Mönckebergstraße to countless small boutiques and galleries that are present in all quarters of the city. Those who enjoy limited-edition sneakers, for example, will find what they are looking for at the Glory Hole. Handmade one-offs, on the other hand, are created by Benjamin Klemann in his shoemaker’s shop on Poolstraße.
TEA & CAKE
Whether modern or classically soled – after a day’s shopping you should treat yourself to something. A visit to the sugar monarchy, for example. The name says it all. From macarons and tartes to cupcakes and cakes – sweet tooths get their money’s worth here. Must-try: the Baron Banana Caramel Cupcake and the Madame Pompadour Tartlet with raspberry tarragon mousse. Denise Urdahl’s team also offers a modern afternoon tea option with scones, macarons and savoury mini-sandwiches.
EVENING PROGRAMME:
Before going to dinner, you need a suitable aperitif. Ideally by the water. Let’s go to the mother of all beach clubs: the Strandperle with a magnificent view of the docks. This is the place to be with an ice-cold beer in your hand. The hustle and bustle also makes it easy to think about the evening programme. Are we going to Stefan Fäth’s seafood restaurant Jellyfish tonight? His philosophy certainly arouses curiosity: “We don’t have tablecloths because you don’t need them for eating and drinking. They are unnecessary. Our glasses, on the other hand, are mouth-blown, the tables are made of solid wood and the cutlery is silver. Because that’s essential.” Alternatively, the Klinker restaurant tempts with its exciting creations for the heart & stomach. Particularly noteworthy are the butter-tender lamb with salt lemon, celery and baba ganoush and the grilled cheese sandwich with spicy mountain cheese, kimchi and pear. Soul food at the highest level! Or do you opt for a Nordic-French inspired surprise menu at hæbel? Here, the best of flora and fauna is put on the plate. Whether vegetables from the cooperation with the Haidehof estate, game from local hunts, hand-caught fish or wild herbs and mushrooms. Owner Fabio Haebel attaches great importance to the selection of his food. The results on his plates speak for themselves!
NIGHTCAP:
A perfect day in Hamburg should end with a drink in one of the Hanseatic city’s many excellent bars. Whether this nightcap is enjoyed at the end in the Bar DaCaio, in Le Lion or with Christoph Strenger in clouds is not as decisive as the realisation that Hamburg is always worth a culinary trip.
Honour to whom honour is due – the closing words belong to the great Hans Albers: “Today, nothing is too expensive for me. Tomorrow the journey begins. Slowly I’ll stroll all alone. Up the Reeperbahn to freedom!” With this in mind: have a good trip!
FURTHER TIPS:
- XO SEAFOODBAR — whatever Fabio Haebel touches is simply good. The newbie from St. Pauli. Cool & cozy.
- Bread. — Perfect sourdough. Plenty of time for maturing. Three loaves. The pure taste
- Teikei — „Community supported coffee“.Sustainably produced coffee to think about!
- Hotel Henri — the centrally located hotel pearl with feel-good factor
- 24hours Hotel Hafencity — the cosy design hotel in the middle of Hafencity
- Superbude St. Pauli und St. Georg — casual boutique hostels by Kai Hollmann
Source: https://www.st-antony.de/aktuelles/sta-magazin/roadtrips/roadtrip-hamburg/
EDITOR’S TIP:
To relax and enjoy, we recommend the elegant Parkview restaurant at The Fontenay Hotel.
It is located in a park landscape directly on the Alster.
