Hamburg City Guide

A five-minute walk from Hamburg Messe, in the hipster Karolinenviertel district, XeÔm Vietnamese transports diners to the streets of Hanoi through its décor and classic dishes like glass noodle salads, Phở and fresh spring rolls alongside Vietnamese beer and coffee. A few doors down, Lesser Panda Ramen is another trendy spot that's ideal for a casual lunch or dinner with punchy pickled vegetables and locally-sourced organic meat completing their hearty bowls. Vegan options are also available along with grilled cheese sandwiches and craft cocktails created with house-made syrups.
 

In neighbouring Schanzenviertel – arguably the coolest district in Hamburg thanks to its boutique cafes, cheap eats and casual vibe – Otto's Burger is just a fifteen-minute walk from Hamburg Messe. Run by former investment bankers who spent years living in London, the eatery takes inspiration from the English capital and was one of the first in Hamburg to serve contemporary brioche bun burgers. Nearby Bistro Carmagnole is a more refined affair serving French classics – think moules frites, steak tartare and whole artichokes – against a charming backdrop of rustic wood furnishings, retro floor tiles and large chalkboard menus.

Wohlers, meanwhile, is set within a former 19th-century pub and serves hearty German and French classics such as veal schnitzel and moules frites against a low-key backdrop of wood furnishings, exposed brickwork and striking blue walls.
 

Nearby, Underdocks offers a contemporary take on a traditional fish stall. Rustic wooden benches, industrial corrugated metal and bright neon lights along with an oversized mural of a sea captain create the perfect urban backdrop for feasting on fresh lobster rolls, pulled salmon tacos and crispy fish and chips. This is fast food at its gourmet finest.
 

The NENI Hamburg is a culinary mosaic of Persian, Russian, Arabic, Moroccan, Turkish, Spanish, German and Austrian influences. The concept of family Molcho is that everyone is able to try a little of everything, and pots and pans are taken from the kitchen and placed directly on the table without any airs or graces.

Also in Schanzenviertel, Hermetic Coffee Roasters sits within a graffiti-covered former industrial building. The café fits well with its hipster surroundings, placing slatted chairs and tables inside and out along with retro accents and a rustic wooden display cabinet showcasing packets of beans and coffee equipment that are available to buy. The café serves hand-brewed speciality coffee from its own roasts with everything from cold brew to fresh filter coffee on offer.
 

Over in Karolinenviertel, HappenPappen is a friendly vegan café serving plant-based food and coffee. Choose from plant-based milk options such as almond, soy and oat to have with your coffee and tuck into a daily changing lunch menu during the week – expect dishes such as quiche and curry – and plant-based burgers in the evenings. 

Putting a more playful spin on proceedings, Playground Coffee serves flat whites, cappuccinos and filter coffee made with in-house blends that have been given names such as Skywalker, King Kongo and Love. The cheery interiors place hanging plants and bespoke artworks – created in line with the coffee packaging – against a bright pastel-coloured chairs and walls while bench seating against large floor-to-ceiling windows allows for some excellent people watching.