Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in Hamburg for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Hamburg for grown-ups.
Le Lion Bar de Paris on Rathausstrasse in Hamburg's Altstadt is Joerg Meyer's classic cocktail room since 2007 and the cradle of the 2008 Gin Basil Smash, served behind a buzzer door.
Signature drink: Gin Basil Smash
Food: Canapes and champagne
Tip: Ring the buzzer at Rathausstrasse 3; dress code smart. The Gin Basil Smash is the house pour.
Christiansen's Fine Drinks on Pinnasberg in Hamburg's St Pauli has poured classic cocktails since 1997, with over 850 spirits including 250 whiskies and 200 rums.
Signature drink: Rum and whiskey-led classics
Food: Snacks only
Tip: Closed Sundays. Weekend nights run until 04:00; weekday nights close at 02:00.
The Boilerman Bar at the 25hours Hotel Altes Hafenamt in Hamburg's HafenCity runs a rum and highball programme, with the entrance on Ueberseeboulevard near U Ueberseequartier.
Signature drink: Highballs and long drinks
Food: Snacks and tapas
Tip: Bar manager Jonas Buchsein leads the highball list, on the team since 2022 and bar manager since the late-2025 refresh. Walk-in seats available most nights.
Tower Bar on the top floor of the Hotel Hafen Hamburg on Seewartenstrasse runs a 360-degree harbour view over the Elbe, the Michel and the Hamburg skyline.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Open from 18:00 daily; the south-facing window seats face the Landungsbruecken below.
Lounge & Bar 20up on the 20th floor of the Empire Riverside Hotel in Hamburg's St Pauli sits 90 metres above the Elbe with views over the harbour, Elbphilharmonie and Michel.
Signature drink: Cocktails with skyline views
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Open from 18:00 daily; busy Friday and Saturday from 21:00. Smart casual at the door.
Clouds Heaven's Bar on the 23rd floor of the Tanzende Tuerme on Reeperbahn in Hamburg's St Pauli sits 75 metres up with terrace views over the Elbe and the Reeperbahn.
Signature drink: Sundowner cocktails
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Open from 17:00 daily; terrace closes early in winter. The east-facing window seats face downtown.
Goldfischglas on Bartelsstrasse in Hamburg's Schanzenviertel is a long-running neighbourhood cocktail bar with classic and house cocktails from a small wooden bar.
Signature drink: Gin and absinthe-led classics
Food: Snacks only
Tip: Open from 19:00. Walk-in only; weeknights easier than Friday or Saturday.
Zum Silbersack on Silbersackstrasse off the Reeperbahn in Hamburg's St Pauli is one of the quarter's longest-running dive bars, a working-class room since 1949.
Signature drink: Pilsner and Korn
Food: None
Tip: Open daily from 18:00 to 06:00 weekend mornings. Cash only; no tourist menu.
Katze on Hamburger Berg in Hamburg's St Pauli is a long-running neighbourhood bar with DJ nights, cheap cocktails and a smoking room into the small hours.
Signature drink: Cocktails and DJ nights
Food: None
Tip: Open daily from 20:00 to 04:00 weekends; quieter weekdays. Cash and card both accepted.
The Chug Club on Taubenstrasse in Hamburg's St Pauli is Betty Kupsa's agave-spirit shrine, with stained-glass windows, a church-like back bar and a long list of tequila and mezcal served as mini-cocktail chugs.
Signature drink: Chugs (mini-cocktails) and tasting flights
Food: Snacks
Tip: Open Mon to Thu and Sun 18:00 to 01:00, Fri and Sat 18:00 to 02:00. Masterclass nights run on the Chug Club's events calendar.