Cocktail barRooftop bar€€€st-pauli
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.
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.
Cocktail barNeighborhood cocktail bar€€€sternschanze
Goldfischglas on Bartelsstrasse in Hamburg's Schanzenviertel is a long-running neighbourhood cocktail bar with classic and house cocktails from a small.
Signature drink: Gin and absinthe-led classics
Food: Snacks only
Tip: Open from 19:00. Walk-in only; weeknights easier than Friday or Saturday.
Cocktail barReeperbahn dive bar€€€st-pauli
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.
Signature drink: Pilsner and Korn
Food: None
Tip: Open daily from 18:00-06:00 weekend mornings. Cash only; no tourist menu.
Cocktail barNeighborhood bar€€€st-pauli
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 20:00-04:00 weekends; quieter weekdays. Cash and card both accepted.
Cocktail barTequila and mezcal bar€€€st-pauli
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.
Signature drink: Chugs (mini-cocktails) and tasting flights
Food: Snacks
Tip: Open Mon to Thu and Sun 18:00-01:00, Fri and Sat 18:00-02:00. Masterclass nights run on the Chug Club's events calendar.
Cocktail barClassic cocktail bar€€€altstadt
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.
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.