Dance clubs, live music, rooftop bars, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ venues, listening bars and late-night dives in Hamburg.
Dance clubs, live music, rooftop bars, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ nightlife, listening bars and late-night dives across Hamburg, with where to go and what is worth the late night.
Uebel und Gefaehrlich on Feldstrasse in a former Nazi flak tower on the Heiligengeistfeld in Hamburg books indie, electro and hip-hop, with the rooftop terrace open in summer.
Tip: Located on the 4th floor of the bunker; lift access. Friday and Saturday from 23:00.
Molotow on Nobistor in Hamburg's St Pauli has booked indie, punk and post-rock since 1990, with The Killers, White Stripes, Black Keys and Mumford and Sons early shows.
Tip: Moved to the old Top Ten Club location in March 2025; lease secured to 2037.
Indra Club on Grosse Freiheit in Hamburg's St Pauli is where the Beatles first played in 1960, now a medium-sized live club with weekly jam sessions on Thursdays.
Tip: Thursday jam sessions and Wednesday table-tennis nights; weekend programme rotates between burlesque, punk and singer-songwriters.
Docks on Spielbudenplatz on Hamburg's Reeperbahn is one of the quarter's largest live-music halls, booking rock, pop, hip-hop and electronic acts at a 1500-capacity room.
Tip: Cloakroom mandatory; the bar accepts card. Most nights start with a support act 20:30.
Prinzenbar on Kastanienallee off the Reeperbahn in Hamburg's St Pauli runs a small-room electronic and indie night, with neoclassical interior in a former cinema.
Tip: Capacity around 300; club nights Fri and Sat from 23:00.
Mojo Club under the Tanzende Tuerme on Hamburg's Reeperbahn programs jazz, soul, world music and DJ nights in an underground basement room since 1989.
Tip: Underground only; lift from the Spielbudenplatz entrance. Jazz Mondays and DJ weekends.
Baalsaal on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg's St Pauli is the quarter's underground techno club, with a long Friday and Saturday programme in a small dark basement room.
Tip: No phones inside; door selective on weekends. Cash and card both accepted at the bar.
PAL on the Reeperbahn in Hamburg's St Pauli runs the basement-techno sister to Baalsaal in the same building, with a smaller dance floor and a strict door from 23:00.
Tip: No phones; awareness team. Walk down to the basement entrance from the street.
Grosse Freiheit 36 on the street where the Beatles played in 1960 to 1962 is now one of Hamburg's biggest concert venues, with rock, indie and electronic acts on a 1500-capacity floor.
Tip: Beatles played the Kaiserkeller in the same building 1960 to 1962; the Star-Club site is across the street.
Indra Club on Grosse Freiheit in Hamburg's St Pauli is the live music room where the Beatles first played in August 1960, before moving to the Kaiserkeller next door.
Tip: Beatles plaque outside; the small stage is the original wood floor. Wed and Thu jam sessions.
Knust on Neuer Kamp in Hamburg's Karolinenviertel runs indie, rock and singer-songwriter shows in a 600-capacity room from a former slaughterhouse since 1976.
Tip: Cloakroom mandatory; the courtyard terrace runs in summer. Most shows 20:00 to 23:30.
Laeiszhalle on Johannes-Brahms-Platz in Hamburg's Neustadt is the city's classical music hall since 1908, with a Grosse Saal seating 2000 for symphony and chamber concerts.
Tip: Box office open Tue to Fri 14:00 to 18:00; tickets also via Eventim.
Elbphilharmonie on Platz der Deutschen Einheit in Hamburg's HafenCity opened in 2017 with a 2100-seat Grosser Saal, hosting classical, jazz and contemporary at the Elbe.
Tip: The Plaza viewing deck at 37 metres is free with a timed ticket; concert tickets via box office or online.
Schmidts Tivoli on Spielbudenplatz in Hamburg's Reeperbahn quarter has run the cult musical Heisse Ecke about St Pauli since 1999, plus variety, comedy and cabaret.
Tip: Heisse Ecke runs Wed to Sun; book online via tivoli.de. Two million attendees since premiere.
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.
Tip: Open from 18:00 daily; busy Fri and Sat from 21:00. Smart casual at the door.
Tower Bar on the top floor of Hotel Hafen Hamburg on Seewartenstrasse runs a 360-degree harbour view over the Elbe, the Michel and the Hamburg skyline.
Tip: Open from 18:00 daily; the south-facing window seats face the Landungsbruecken below.
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.
Tip: Open from 17:00 daily; the terrace closes early in winter.
The Westin Bar inside the Elbphilharmonie building in Hamburg's HafenCity sits on the 11th floor with views over the Elbe and the Speicherstadt.
Tip: Hotel guests get bar priority; non-guests welcome from 18:00. Drinks list focused on signatures.
Le Lion Bar de Paris on Rathausstrasse in Hamburg's Altstadt is the city's classic speakeasy since 2007, with a buzzer door and the 2008-invented Gin Basil Smash.
Tip: Ring the buzzer at Rathausstrasse 3; smart dress code. Cash and card accepted.
Christiansen's on Pinnasberg in Hamburg's St Pauli has poured classic cocktails behind a discreet street-front since 1997, with 850+ spirits and a small dark dining room.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Weekend nights run until 04:00; weekday nights close at 02:00.
The Chug Club on Taubenstrasse off the Reeperbahn in Hamburg is the city's tequila and mezcal specialist, with a tasting-flight programme and an underground room.
Tip: Open Tue to Sat from 19:00; tasting flights available with reservation.
Tom's Saloon on Pulverteich in Hamburg's St Georg gay village is the city's classic leather and cruise bar since 1976, with darkroom and a long Friday-Saturday late session.
Tip: Strict dress code Friday and Saturday; the cruising area opens after 22:00.
Cafe Gnosa on Lange Reihe in Hamburg's St Georg has anchored the gay village since 1986 with all-day cafe, brunch and a late-evening cocktail bar.
Tip: Open daily; weekend brunch from 09:30. Walk-in only.
Meanwhile on Lange Reihe in Hamburg's St Georg gay village is a queer-friendly mixed crowd cafe and bar with weekend dance nights and a small dance floor.
Tip: Open from 11:00 daily; the DJ floor runs Fri and Sat from 22:00.
The Hashtag Bar on Lange Reihe in Hamburg's St Georg gay village is a queer cocktail bar with weekend DJ nights and a young crowd from the surrounding St Georg.
Tip: Cocktails priced around €10; happy hour 19:00 to 21:00 weekdays.
Mojo Jazz Cafe under the Tanzende Tuerme on Hamburg's Reeperbahn programs jazz on Mondays with the rest of the week given to soul, world music and DJ nights.
Tip: Underground only; lift from the Spielbudenplatz entrance. Monday jazz is the listening night.
Birdland on Gaertnerstrasse in Hamburg-Wandsbek is the city's classic jazz listening room since 1979, with nightly live programs from German and international jazz players.
Tip: Programme online; tickets at the door from 20:30. Limited seating; arrive early.
Jazzhall on Sandtorkai in Hamburg's HafenCity runs an underground jazz programme with nightly live shows from Hamburg conservatory students and international guests.
Tip: Tickets at door from 19:30; programme online. Small room of 80 seats.
Zum Silbersack on Silbersackstrasse off Hamburg's Reeperbahn is one of the quarter's longest-running working-class dive bars since 1949, with pilsner and Korn at counter prices.
Tip: Open daily from 18:00 to 06:00 weekend mornings. Cash only.
Katze on Hamburger Berg in Hamburg's St Pauli is a long-running neighbourhood dive bar with DJ nights, cheap cocktails and a smoking room into the small hours.
Tip: Open daily from 20:00 to 04:00 weekends; quieter weekdays.