On the 1km (0.6mi) Reeperbahn and the surrounding streets and squares it’s easy to find a perfect spot for an unforgettable night You can find cheap student bars such as Ex-Sparr and sophisticated cocktail bars including Glanz & Gloria; lively Irish pubs like Molly Malone and Thomas Read; and legendary live-music venues such as Große Freiheit 36 and Docks while rock and alternative music fans will feel at home at Molotow and Gruenspan Those seeking amazing views of the city’s skyline to accompany their beverage of choice will love Heaven’s Nest and 20up It’s easy to find the perfect spot on the Reeperbahn | © Keuenhof Rainer / action press / REX / Shutterstock you seek out can the sophisticated Goldfischglas the funky Le Fonque or the laid-back Yoko Mono Dance the night away at offbeat party locations such as the Kulturhaus 73 the Grüner Jäger and the Uebel & Gefährlich Under the Sternbrücke bridge you’ll find some of the city’s best underground clubs And the current top location for young partygoers is the Moloch Even the River Elbe is a nightlife location in its own right, with numerous ships acting as bars and clubs A particularly special experience can be had on the Frau Hedi tours The Feuerschiff – a former lightship – is one of the city’s best live-music locations while the Cold War ship Stubnitz is a floating music club Special events are planned for the harbour’s grand anniversary celebration every May Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy A neon sign advertising live music is lit up in primary colors in the window of an eating establishment A festival hotspot Hamburg is also a top European destination for music festivals The season is kicked off every spring by the Stadtpark Open-Air concert where local and international stars perform under the open skies in one Hamburg’s biggest parks The Elbjazz Festival in June hosts over 50 musicians from all genres of jazz and in July the wild and colourful Schlagermove parade takes over the harbour area the Elbe floodplains of the Wilhelmsburg district are filled with rap hip-hop and electronic music during the SPEKTRUM festival and alternative electronic and rock music during the MS Dockville event The festival summer is concluded in September by the legendary Reeperbahn Festival Hamburg is also a top European destination for exciting music festivals such as Elbjazz Festival | © Markus Scholz / Epa / REX / Shutterstock About the author A Latvian living in Hamburg See & Do Germany's Most Beautiful Abbeys and Monasteries Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do A Guide to River Cruises in Germany: What to Know See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Design The Most Beautiful Churches in Berlin Art 10 Masterpieces You Can Only See in Munich Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best Weekend Trips From Heidelberg See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Hamburg Hamburg: our ultimate area guideOnce the beating heart of Hamburg counter-culture Schanzenviertel is now the hipster neighbourhood of choice Once the beating heart of Hamburg counter-culture the Sternschanze – also known as the Sternschanze or simply the ‘Schanze’ – has followed a typical gentrification trajectory over the last decade it became the neighbourhood of choice for style-conscious media professionals who largely priced out the original residents who gave the quarter its interest and edge the Schanze remains one of the most engaging neighborhoods in Hamburg with elegant buildings and a number of great bars The long-contested Rote Flora squat and cultural centre is a surviving token of Schanze activism campaigning on issues including immigration nationalism and the privatization of public space with individually decorated rooms and studios for a good so ask for a room at the back if you’re a light sleeper.  An all-night neighborhood institution and post-party favorite, the no-nonsense Erika’s Eck promises chilled beer and huge portions of schnitzel from 5pm to 2pm the next day, or 9am on weekends. Offering simple breakfast and lunch staples, Café unter den Linden has an old-school charm lovely terrace and a great selection of international newspapers Neighborhood favourite Le Fonque promises ice-cold Astra and soul-filled tunes in a small Get a good feel for the neighborhood with a short circular stroll via Schulterblatt Then check out the Saturday Flohschanze flea market for vintage clothes Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! About us Contact us +49 40 30384944.www.blattgold.hamburg The beautiful wall tiles have remained, but TV chef Zora Klipp and her siblings Ronja and Oliver have given the former Saal II in the middle of the Schulterblatt an extremely modern makeover. The Blattgold now shines as a tastefully designed place that invites you to enjoy vegetarian feel-good cuisine all day long. After initially being able to taste the creations of the bar team, since the beginning of December the kitchen has also been demonstrating the savory and sweet dishes it is able to conjure up from seasonal ingredients from regional suppliers. The focus is on vegetarian and vegan dishes with that certain something. For breakfast, for example, the sourdough rolls taste wonderful, optionally as a vegetarian Eggs Benedict version with sautéed spinach, poached organic eggs and tasty hollandaise sauce. Vegetarians will also be delighted with the fish-free carrot salmon sandwich, garnished in proper style with remoulade, mustard caviar, capers and dill. The hearty breaki bowls with sweet potato hummus, sautéed spinach, dukkah, roasted chickpeas and feta, for example, or the sweet version with granola, yogurt, almond butter, almonds and cherry compote are also tempting. In addition to coffee drinks, the homemade smoothies are without question an ideal choice for brunch in gold leaf. Or you can simply come back the next day for a fresh lunch - and then stay for a flat white or freshly brewed filter coffee and a home-baked slice of cake. With Blattgold, Sternschanze has one more inviting place where you can feast all day long. Bestellen Sie jetzt Ihren individuellen Newsletter Note: Our newsletter is only available in German Bitte schicken Sie mir bis zum Widerruf meiner Einwilligung den Newsletter mit Informationen zu neuen Beiträgen. Die Datenschutzerklärung habe ich zur Kenntnis genommen und akzeptiere diese Would you like to discover more beautiful things Bitte schicken Sie mir bis zum Widerruf meiner Einwilligung den Newsletter mit Informationen zu neuen Beiträgen. Die Datenschutzerklärung habe ich zur Kenntnis genommen und akzeptiere diese. © !Koss / Flickr Those looking for an offbeat yet refined venue will savour the atmosphere of the Absinth Bar Offering over 400 varieties of the bohemian green spirit and providing excellent advice on selection the bar is the ideal place to enjoy a drink long-banned across the world and favoured by great men like Ernest Hemingway Novices and absinthe-lovers alike will be charmed by the mysterious ambience of the Absinth Bar import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_1"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Le Fonque Bar You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Hamburg [Germany], October 13 (ANI/WAM): Several thousand people were forced to leave their homes in Hamburg's trendy Sternschanze district after the World War II-era bomb was discovered.According to dpa more than 5,000 people were evacuated to safety from the 300-metre (984-foot) exclusion zone Police also cleared restaurants and bars in the area.The bomb was found during construction work on the grounds of a primary school "Have sought to institutionalize and routinize taking care of Indians abroad": EAM Jaishankar "Need for talent abroad is a situation actually upon us today": EAM Jaishankar highlights the importance of Indian talent abroad "Not the time for military confrontation, it can become counterproductive": Former Indian diplomat Manju Seth Jaishankar interacts with scholars of 4th Kautilya Fellows Program, highlights India's rising capabilities and its contribution to world Rajnath Singh holds bilateral talks with Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani, thanks him for efforts to deepen defence cooperation Pakistan: Journalists in Balochistan urge Govt to take steps to ensure their safety, uphold press freedom Expo Centre Sharjah, WTC Kentucky discuss enhancing cooperation copyrights © aninews.in | All rights Reserved an old theater in the city's Sternschanze quarter has been home to a number left-wing political and cultural organizations.Image: picture-alliance/dpaA cultural and political hubRote Flora an old theater in Hamburg's Sternschanze quarter has for years served as a meeting point for the city's left-wing movement it hosted concerts and operettas until the Second World War It emerged undamaged after the war and reopened in 1953 as a cinema before later being turned into a department store Subsequent plans to turn the building into a musical theater again were met by protests from residents and local shopkeepers a number of militant groups joined the demonstrations Two years later Rote Flora was declared a squat while also functioning as a center for political and cultural events Rote Flora served as a convergence center for a number of anti-capitalist protest movements That prompted large clashes between police and protestors A decision by the city of Hamburg in December 2013 to redevelop the Rote Flora site saw it again become the focus of large and oftentimes violent demonstrations the borough of Altona went back on its plans announcing that the building would not be demolished and would remain a cultural center Many of the anti-capitalist protest movements seen during this year's G20 summit in Hamburg were organized at Rote Flora including the "Welcome to Hell" march few would have foreseen just how much the demonstrations would be overshadowed by violence and destruction As the violence escalated around Hamburg on Thursday and Friday night Rote Flora was quick to distance itself from the so-called "Black Bloc" rioters said a "form of militancy had poured out on to the streets which was intoxicated with itself .. Hamburg police responded to the violence with water canons and tear gas a response some said only further provoked the rioters "We saw a Hamburg police force that time and time again opt to use violence," Rote Flora spokesman Andreas Blechschmidt said "I think that played a role last night [Friday] from port-side hangouts and museums to concerts and nightclubs Photograph: Courtesy Empire RiversideHamburg Ahoi! To get your bearings of the harbour city in style, dress up the smarter side of casual and head for an aperitif at Skyline Bar 20up. With its perky bar stools and floor to ceiling windows, you’ll get cracking views across the St. Pauli district, the Elbe, the new Elbphilharmonie, and the vast port that’s so integral to Hamburg’s identity and history. Now that you’ve checked out the harbour from up high, it’s time to get closer to the water. Hamburg’s favourite city beach bar, StrandPauli, sits right on the Elbe and delivers laid-back food, a relaxed reggae soundtrack and lashings of ice-cool Astra (local beer) all year long. Come sun, rain or snow, its riverside perch and perennial dose of tropical island chill make it an ideal spot to see in the weekend.     Photograph: © Hamburg.comFuel up on a hearty serving of steak tartare, bouillabaisse or Merguez sausage and chips at Café Paris, Hamburg’s answer to the French brasserie and an unfailingly popular spot since 1882. Book ahead to secure a table in the evocative Art Deco “Saal” and leave room for a macaroon or two with coffee. Stroll off the French cuisine with a wander around the Inner Alster lake, before roaming some 700 years of European art history at the Kunsthalle, one of the most important art museums in Germany. Its myriad big hitters run from Holbein and Holzer to Canaletto and Caspar David Friedrich, including the quintessentially Romantic Wanderer above the Sea of Fog. Photograph: © MarendBefore sampling Hamburg’s legendary nightlife, line your stomach at Marend, a quaint and cosy Tyrolean locale on the edge of the party district, promising a relaxed charm and hearty Alpine Knödel (dumplings) in cheese, spinach and beetroot flavours. For a dose of fresh air before your flight home, head west to the lovely, leafy Jenisch Park. With its rolling acres and woodland paths, it’s a beautiful place for crisp winter walks as much as lazy sun-lounging in summer. If you fancy a little more culture, pop into the park’s serene Ernst Barlach Museum, a beautiful modernist enclave showcasing the work of expressionist sculptor, Ernst Barlach. Photograph: Booking.comWhether you’re in town for a world-class concert a Romantic dose of art or an all-nighter in the best bars in the Reeperbahn there’s an abundance of great hotels at which to rest your Hamburg head.  Start your Saturday morning early by visiting the famous Flohschanze flea market by the old slaughterhouse Here a mix of private and professional vendors sell an eclectic mix of items that will delight any second-hand shopper’s heart If you don’t want to miss the real treasures come early – the flea market opens at 8 am | Riiana Izzietova / Unsplash Breakfast at Marktzeit Once you’ve purchased the vintage bargain of your dreams, head across the street to the Rindermarkthalle for a hip morning meal at Marktzeit – Hamburg’s favourite neighbourhood market Create your ideal breakfast selection with delicacies from the lively market stands the market takes place at the Fabrik in Altona For a great evening meal head to the nearby Schanzenhöfe, also located in the hip Sternschanze district. Sample excellent locally brewed craft beer (or 60 others from around the world), baked goods straight from a wood-fired oven, and daily menus of regional organic food at the brewhouse and restaurant Altes Mädchen The Cafe Elbgold next door roasts its own speciality coffee, and the Bullerei a few doors further down is the playground of Tim Mälzer Tasting tray at the Altes Mädchen | © Dennis Teppler Visit the FC St. Pauli If there was ever a football club to capture a hipster’s heart, it’s the FC St. Pauli Despite frequent ups and downs in its performance the club’s trusted followers always fill the stands at the famous Millerntor Stadium The fans are politically left-leaning and socially active Pauli’s unofficial emblem of skull and crossbones is an icon of the St The club has also become a worldwide symbol for punk and related subcultures its symbols frequently worn by international artists Tucked away on a quiet side street in the alternative Sternschanze district, is the specialist coffee shop less political, also known as Hermetic Coffee Roasters This cafe is a haven for true coffee lovers with every which way of brewing the perfect cup of coffee You’ll also be spoiled for choice with regard to freshly ground coffee beans from selected roasters as well as specialities like almond coffee The cafe offers appetising sandwiches and divine cakes to go with the ideal cup of java The Pony Bar | © Pferdestall Kultur GmbH In the student district of Hamburg, you’ll find the quirky Pony Bar at nightfall this place transforms into a venue for diverse cultural events Tuesdays for open microphone Hip Hop sessions while Wednesdays belong to young jazz musicians Next door to the Pony Bar is the Abaton Cinema known for its hand-picked programme of the best international films © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd. All Rights Reserved. it is also becoming a hub for excellent live performances In these bars across the city you can enjoy great live concerts up close and © txmx 2 / Flickr Just around the corner, under the Sternbrücke railway bridge, lies the Astra Stube – a cult live music venue It may look a little shady from the outside but the best underground locations often do The bar is a perfect location for discovering new local and international bands so the patrons and the music often spread out into the street enjoying a typical Hamburg party night underneath passing trains [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); freundlich + kompetent Bar © Jonas Walzberg The relocation of the trendy freundlich + kompetent to the district of Barmbek has put the east side of Alster on Hamburg’s nightlife map Almost 1,000 people celebrated the opening day events back in 2015 Live music is the bar’s heart and soul – musicians and bands perform here regularly © Pferdestall Kultur GmbH Live music, free entrance, and Tatort evenings are also the rule at the Pony Bar The popular student bar is set out to promote cultural events and young artists The stage of the back room hosts a diverse music programme that stretches from singer-songwriter performances to hip-hop open mic nights and contemporary jazz evenings The Pony Bar is also known for its great DJ sets and art and photo exhibitions which change monthly import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_2"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Pooca Bar Bar © Hörsaal From the interior to the music, a 1960s spirit reigns at the Hörsaal just off the Reeperbahn Also the live music programme reflects the bar’s retro style and welcomes mainly young musicians covering a wider range of musical styles Every month the Hörsaal hosts open stage nights when anyone is welcome to take the stage and show the audience what they’re good at import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_3"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Thomas Read Bar © Nina Zimmermann / Flickr For listening to live music in a unique atmosphere look no further than the Prinzenbar makes for an intimate and unforgettable concert venue be counted among the city’s special locations for enjoying concerts by famous musicians and rising stars as well as great DJ sets import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_4"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Cotton Club Bar