Hotel bar with viewsst-pauli
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.
Rooftop hotel barst-pauli
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.
Rooftop barst-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 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.
Neighborhood cocktail barsternschanze
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.
Reeperbahn dive barst-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 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.
Neighborhood barst-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 to 04:00 weekends; quieter weekdays. Cash and card both accepted.