Henssler & Henssler is a modern sushi and pacific restaurant in Altona, Hamburg.
The Henssler family's Hamburg sushi room on Grosse Elbstrasse runs a 20-metre open kitchen above the Fischmarkt since 2001, called Cuisine Pacifique. Werner Henssler now leads with sons Toni (head chef) and Rocky after Steffen Henssler exited the business end of 2024.
Signature dishes: California sushi rolls, Teriyaki Faroe salmon
Must order: The California-style maki and the teriyaki Faroe salmon.
Tip: Walk-up counter seats open at 18:00; arrive before to skip the wait.
Address: Grosse Elbstrasse 160, 22767 Hamburg
Tim Maelzer and Patrick Ruether's Bullerei in Hamburg's Sternschanze has cooked grilled meats, pasta and modern German in the old slaughterhouse since 2009.
Signature: Steak from the grill, Pasta on Mondays
Order: The dry-aged rib-eye and the seasonal handmade pasta.
Tip: Daily 12:00 to 23:00. Tables on the courtyard fill first in summer.
Old Commercial Room opposite the Michel in Hamburg has cooked Hanseatic harbour food since 1795 and is the city's canonical Labskaus address.
Signature: Original Hamburger Labskaus, Pannfisch
Order: The Original Hamburger Labskaus with fried egg, herring, beetroot and gherkin.
Tip: Open daily; lunch tables more available than dinner. Cash welcome but cards accepted.
Elisabeth Fuengers and Steffen Hellmann's Nil on Neuer Pferdemarkt in Hamburg's St Pauli has run a modern German bistro over three floors since 1989.
Signature: Monthly set menu, Seasonal a la carte
Order: The monthly four-course set menu; the daily fish course rotates.
Tip: Walk-ins possible early; bookings open online 30 days ahead for the busier weekend slots.
Cox on Lange Reihe in Hamburg's St Georg has run a steady bistro menu of modern German classics across a tight room for over two decades, lunch and dinner.
Signature: Bistro classics, Seasonal mains
Order: The daily lunch special; the steak frites at dinner.
Tip: Lunch tables move quickly between 12:30 and 13:30; book ahead for dinner Friday and Saturday.
Salt and Silver Lateinamerika on St Pauli Hafenstrasse in Hamburg cooks ceviche, asado and modern Latin American small plates above the Elbe.
Signature: Ceviche, Asado meats
Order: The ceviche of the day and the wood-grilled meats.
Tip: Bistro Crudo runs in the basement on the left; main dining room on the ground floor on the right.
Petit Amour on Spritzenplatz in Hamburg's Ottensen reopened in late 2023 under Eike Iken and Monique Lingg and held its Michelin star again in 2025.
Signature: Five- or seven-course tasting
Order: The full tasting; the seafood course leads.
Tip: Small dining room with around 24 seats; weekday bookings far easier than weekends.
