St Pauli & Reeperbahn
In a 19th-century bootleggers' jail, this tiny bar-club is run by members of the legendary ex-punk band Die Goldenen Zitronen and is an essential stop on…
Must-see nightlife in Northern Germany
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
The uniqueness of this Reeperbahn classic begins from the moment you pass through the long laneway and between the legs of the large 'receptionist'…
Hamburg
Hamburg's original beach bar is a must for primo beer, burgers and people-watching. All ages and classes gather, mingle and wriggle their toes in the sand…
Coastal Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania
They claim to be one of the oldest harbour bars in Europe, and the first historical record of a bar on this site dates back to 1332. The interior is dark…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
A real St Pauli icon, Zum Silbersack is one of our favourites in the area. It's the sort of place where you'll find students, junkies, executives,…
Northern Germany
The dark beer brewery at this 1936-established pub consistently rates among the best in Germany. It’s full of antique brewing equipment, and it opens to…
Hamburg
Small and sleek, this 'kitty' (Katze = cat) gets the crowd purring for well-priced cocktails (the best caipirinhas in town) and great music (there's…
Lübeck
This classic pub inhabits a 16th-century customs post. There's an excellent beer selection. Patrons people-watch from terrace and pavement tables in…
Altstadt
Easily the classiest, most exclusive bar (by virtue of size) you'll find in Hamburg. If there's space and you're nicely dressed, they'll let you into this…
Northern Germany
Fronting onto Marktplatz, Sa Bacca couldn't be a more central pit stop as you explore town. The vaulted brick cellar and extravagantly tiled bar are the…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
One of our favourite little perches in St Pauli, this gorgeous cafe does buttery croissants, cakes and other pastries, with fine coffee to nurse as you…
Hamburg
A collective of Hamburg industry insiders present established and emerging DJs and bands, as well as clubbing events and parties. Look for the spray…
Rostock
This cellar and garden joint has been rocking Rostock’s learned youth for years. Check the website for parties, DJ sets and other events. There's a well…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
This elegant bar, above Clouds Restaurant at the eastern entrance to St Pauli, is popular with an upmarket crowd who come here for the highballs (of…
Schleswig-Holstein
Flensburg may not have a beach worthy of the name, but this cutesy outdoor bar has lounge chairs and even a handful of classically German Strandkorb …
Schleswig-Holstein
Drink among the dunes in this large grass-roofed beach shack for the elite. Yes there's a fine restaurant, but the real reason to come is for that selfie…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
Vinyl and only vinyl spins at this treasure of a music bar. Nightly themes range from ska and rocksteady to '60s garage punk and hip hop. Order a Helga,…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
The Beatles' small first venue is open again and has live acts some nights. The interior is vastly different from the 1960s and there is a fine beer…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
This legendary indie club still rocks on as hot 'n heavy as ever after moving to new digs when its old location was torn down.
Gasthausbrauerei und Brennerei Nolte
Northern Germany
They've been brewing here since 1906; the dark beer is especially good out in the garden. Unlike many beer-centric places, food is taken seriously at this…
Hamburg
Perched on the jetty overlooking Aussenalster, this suave bar is as good for breakfast or a coffee as it is for a late-night cocktail. It attracts a…
Hamburg
One of our favourite drinking holes in Altona, Aurel is warmly intimate by day, cool and classy by night – in the finest Hamburg tradition, it doesn't…
Hamburg
A favourite haunt of A-list celebrities (Mick Jagger and Claudia Schiffer have both passed through its doors), Bar Hamburg has more than 70 different…
Northern Germany
If Pons looks this cracked, crooked and uneven when you walk in of an evening, just imagine how it will seem when you stagger out after a few drinks. This…
Coastal Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania
This imposing brick half-timbered building was once home to the town’s first brewery, which opened in 1452. After a long pause, beer is brewing again in…
Hamburg
It's 2am Saturday and you can't live without a pork steak? Head to this St Georg institution where outside tables wrap around the corner location and the…
Rostock
In the heart of the KTV bar scene, Café Central has cult status among Rostock locals. Students, artists, hipsters and suited-up professionals all loll…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
On a boat moored permanently at pier 10, this unusual nightclub is also the ultimate party boat. A full program of visiting DJs keeps things interesting,…
Hamburg
A mixed crowd mixes it up with an especially rewarding menu of craft beer and cocktails until very late. At sunnier (or less dark) times, grab a table on…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
They keep it fairly simple and none-too-challenging at this long-standing Reeperbahn club – house in all its forms, reggae, downtempo and hip-hop dominate…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
With its cheeky cherubs, stucco flourishes and sparkling chandeliers, this intimate club has luxe looks but is in fact a former cinema that now hosts…
Hamburg
Students, creative types and work colleagues come to chat in its split-level lounge areas. Or grab a picnic table outside and enjoy your drinks in the…
Hamburg
One of Hamburg's top clubs, Golden Cut has a pretty strict door policy and lines can be long. The stage acts can be wild and some of the best DJs in town…
Hamburg
If you could somehow bottle the Altona spirit and turn it into a bar, Reh Bar would come close. Cosy and welcoming, as good for a morning coffee as for a…
Hamburg
It's just a hole in the wall, but this Altona classic is everything a good Hamburg neighbourhood joint should be: friendly, unassuming, yet always ready…
St Pauli & Reeperbahn
You could come here for the breakfast, or the reasonable meals. But we love it in spring when the sun is shining and the view of the blossom trees from…
Altstadt
There's nothing very complicated about this Bavarian-style beer garden or terrace overlooking one of the few green open spaces in the city centre – the…
Lübeck
Cafe by day, bar by… you get it. During daylight hours savour coffee drinks while grazing fresh and tasty casual fare. But the real appeal here are the…
Altstadt
One of Hamburg's growing number of cool and socially conscious coffee roasters, Nord Coast has a lovely Deichstrasse location, donates part of its profits…
Hamburg
The drinks menu is like a designer catalogue at this grand old St Georg bar, which has been beautifully restored. Settle into one of the wooden booths,…
