Nightclubs and bars in Hamburg

101 steps to the cozy little haven that is Nachtasyl. And worth every one! This is a pleasant haven in the big city, a comfortable informal place with movable chairs and sofas that reminds me of a typical grad student bar in the States. Nachtasyl is located above the world-famous Thalia theater, and attracts both pre- and post-theater drinkers. But it also is a home for a wide variety of Hamburg's artsy crowd. Good people watching, and relatively inexpensive drinks.

Dress Code: Everything goes here, from casual student garb to theater dressy. But remember - it's 101 steps up, and 101 steps down!

The name of this café-bar-restaurant is "Turnhalle", which means "gym" in english. Various dishes till 11 p.m., after that pizza and bruschetta only.

In the same street (Lange Reihe) there are a lot of other cool looking bars too, you have the choice.

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Hamburg outpost modeled after the legendary NY jazz club. Concerts, open sessions, and jazz jams from the best and brightest in the Norther German jazz community.

Dress Code: Casual atmoshere where clotheswise, anything goes.

This alternative venue hosts an eclectic mix of pop and rock concerts, from the likes of Blur to Ben Harper, The Cramps and Kosheen. Made famous when the Beatles once played in the basement Kaiserkeller(see the Beatles in Hamburg travelogue)where there is now a range of goth, student and cheap-champagne nights.

I know, I know:

Hamburg has some really special and exciting nightlife, but you will have to look on other pages to find out about the Reeperbahn and stuff....

I just would like to share something really fascinating with you. Why not have a glimpse of the harbor at night? We took the regular ferry from Neumühlen to the Landungsbrücken around 11 p.m. and had a spectacular view of the piers, the illuminated wharfs and the towers of Hamburg.

What a fabulous sight and it only cost us the regular ticket for the ferry!

Highly recommended!

A great "trendy" place to go out in Hamburg. It's about floors with differnt music and different atmospheres. Great fun, although it can be a bit of a show "who's richer/hotter/better dancer" That's kinda fun too right?

Be careul cause they don't take credit cards, so bring cash!

Dress Code: Look good, probably no sneakers allowed...

Apart from the obvious red light district in Sankt Pauli around the Reeperbahn, Hamburg has many other areas worth checking out:

Around the Fischmarkt
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Down on the river, close to the fish market hall and the former Harwich ferry passenger terminal. Converted harbour buildings, hip place, can be a bit raucuous though. Street prostitution spilling over from the nearby Reeperbahn district.

Grossneumarkt District
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This is an almost "square" square a bit east of the inner city. Very popular in summer, the crowdedness mysteriously undulating between totally crowded and completely deserted. Very nice and safe neighborhood. Schwenders (http://www.schwenders.de) is one of the most famous (though overrated) restaurants here.

Eppendorf
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Upscale part of town with many cafes, pubs and bistros. Student crowds, due to proximity of Hamburg's main university.

Altona
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Maybe the hippest of Hamburg's districts. This used to be a working class part of town with lots of immigrants settling there during the 70ies and 80ies. Many factories having closed and their buildings turned into luxury apartments, museums and ateliers, this is now an expensive district, with a still ethnically diverse population. Many good ethnic restaurants and pubs. Prices from cheap to outrageously expensive.

THURSDAY IS THE DAY... FROM EARLY AS 5.30PM THERE'S ALREADY A LARGE QUEUE.. PEOPLE LEAVE ANXIOUSLY FROM WORK ON THURSDAYS TO RE MEET THEIR COLLEAGUES FOR A DRINK AT SAUSALITOS AND WHAT A DRINK.. THESE GERMANS DRINK.. AT ABOUT 8.30PM THERE ARE NO QUEQUES BUT INSIDE ITS FULLY PACKED.. I FIGURED OUT THERE WAS THE HAPPY HOUR.. BUT HAPPY HOUR OR NOT .. THE GERMANS DRINK.. I DRANK.. :) AND THERE'S A SORT OF A COCKTAIL SPECIALITY TOO.. FORGOT WHAT IT WAS.. I JUST DRANK IT.. I SUGGEST YOU ASK AT THE BAR. IT' S BASICALLY A MEDIUM SIZE PLACE WITH A LONG BAR, THE DECO' IS SPANISH/LATIN STYLE AND THE MUSIC IS PURELY SAUSALITOS.. COMMERCIAL WITH THAT BIT OF SALSA ;) IT CLOSES VERY LATE ON THURSDAYS IT WAS STILL OPEN AT AROUND 1.30AM ON SATURDAYS THOUGH ITS ALMOST EMPTY AND AT AROUND 11PM ITS SOMEHOW DESERTED.. IF IN HAMBURG VISIT THE POPE.. SORRY WAS THINKING ABOUT ROME ;) VISIT THE SAUSALITOS ON A THURSDAY ... AND IF YOU WANT TO HEAR THE SOUNDS OF SAUSALITOS CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE

Dress Code: CASUAL! I HAVE NOTICED THAT HAMBURG IS NO ROME WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION SO NO NEED TO BOTHER MUCH... ALSO SAUSALITOS IS MOSTLY FREQUENTED BY OFFICE PEOPLE GOING THERE STRAIGHT AFTER WORK SO IF YOU SPOT ANY VERY WELL DRESSED PEOPLE LIKE SHIRT AND TIE STUFF DO NOT PANIC .. THEY'RE ONLY COMING FROM WORK :)