Hamburg Travel Guide

Germany  #4 in Best Places to Visit in Germany
Credit

Courtesy of Westend61/Getty Images

What to Eat in Hamburg

Although Hamburg is probably not among the top culinary destinations of the world, the city's proximity to the sea gives its chefs lots of fresh fish to cook with (Fischereihafen Restaurant is one of the city's most popular seafood eateries). And as Hamburg's a very green city, restaurants serve up a lot of seasonal and organic dishes, such as asparagus soup in the spring and cauliflower dishes in the summer.

Still, Hamburg holds to its roots, too, and traditional restaurants offer grilled or pickled herring, bratwurst, hamburger steak and eel soup. Hamburg's most traditional dish is the labskaus, which is described as sailors' food made of mashed cabbage, potatoes and beets, covered with a fried egg, pickled herring and pickled cucumbers on the side. Don't miss the delicious franzbroetchen, which is like a cross between a cinnamon roll and a croissant, and only found in Hamburg.

Beer is a big part of German culture; the legal drinking age for fermented beverages is 16 (or 18 for distilled alcohol). Germany also takes the quality of its suds seriously. There are a number of regulations, known as Reinheitsgebot (literally translated to "purity order"), that limit the number of ingredients used in the brewing process to only malt, hops, yeast and water. You'll find plenty of craft brews to sample around town; Braugasthaus Altes Mädchen is a particularly popular spot.

Find the Best Restaurants in Hamburg

  • #1
    Bootshaus Grill und Bar
    #1 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 120 reviewsTripAdvisor (120)
    $ - $$ | Steakhouse, Central European, European, Grill
    Am Kaiserkai 19 Vasco Da Gama Platz, 20457 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #2
    The Table Kevin Fehling
    #2 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 202 reviewsTripAdvisor (202)
    $$ | European
    Shanghaiallee 15, 20457 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #3
    Bianc Restaurant
    #3 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 143 reviewsTripAdvisor (143)
    $$ | Mediterranean, European
    Am Sandtorkai 50, 20457 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #4
    Restaurant Haerlin
    #4 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 342 reviewsTripAdvisor (342)
    $$ | French, European, Central European, International
    Neuer Jungfernstieg 9-14 Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, 20354 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #5
    Der Kiezbacker
    #5 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 236 reviewsTripAdvisor (236)
    $ | German, Cafe
    Silbersackstr. 8, 20359 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #6
    philipps Restaurant
    #6 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 746 reviewsTripAdvisor (746)
    $ - $$ | International, German, European, Central European
    Turnerstr. 9, 20357 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #7
    Estancia Steaks
    #7 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1138 reviewsTripAdvisor (1138)
    $$ | Steakhouse, Barbecue, European, Argentinean, International
    Grosse Reichenstrasse 27, 20457 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #8
    Helo Restaurant
    #8 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 377 reviewsTripAdvisor (377)
    $ - $$ | Steakhouse, Brazilian, South American, Latin, Mediterranean
    Stellinger Weg 51, 20255 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #9
    Restaurant Hala
    #9 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 5 based on 523 reviewsTripAdvisor (523)
    $ - $$ | Lebanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    Beselerplatz 11, 22607 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #10
    Ristorante Il Buco
    #10 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 286 reviewsTripAdvisor (286)
    $ - $$ | Italian, Mediterranean, European
    Zimmerpforte 5 Walk from the Hauptbahnhof through Hansaplatz to Zimmerpforte, 20099 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #11
    Heldenplatz Restaurant
    #11 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 226 reviewsTripAdvisor (226)
    $$ | International, European, Contemporary, Central European
    Brandstwiete 46, 20457 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #12
    Sagners Bistro Restaurant
    #12 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 232 reviewsTripAdvisor (232)
    $ - $$ | German, International, European, Central European
    Barcastr. 8, 22087 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #13
    Seven Seas
    #13 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 183 reviewsTripAdvisor (183)
    $$ | French, European, Central European
    Suellbergsterrasse 12 Süllberg Karlheinz Hauser, 22587 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #14
    FARDi SYRIAN RESTAURANT
    #14 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 329 reviewsTripAdvisor (329)
    $$ | Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Arabic
    Hofweg 72, 22085 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #15
    Theo's
    #15 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 308 reviewsTripAdvisor (308)
    $$ | American, Steakhouse
    Rothenbaumchaussee 10, 20148 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #16
    Restaurant Ashoka
    #16 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 437 reviewsTripAdvisor (437)
    $ - $$ | Indian
    Budapester Str. 25, 20359 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #17
    Capriccio
    #17 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 174 reviewsTripAdvisor (174)
    $ - $$ | Italian, European, Central European, Mediterranean
    Thielbek 12, 20355 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #18
    Fischereihafen-Restaurant
    #18 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 1491 reviewsTripAdvisor (1491)
    $$ | German, Seafood, Mediterranean, European
    Grosse Elbstr. 143, 22767 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #19
    Nord Coast
    #19 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 367 reviewsTripAdvisor (367)
    $ - $$ | Cafe, European
    Deichstr. 9, 20459 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »
  • #20
    Sudhang
    #20 of 4,498 Places to Eat in Hamburg
    TripAdvisor Traveler Rating 4.5 based on 126 reviewsTripAdvisor (126)
    $ - $$ | European, Wine Bar, Central European
    Susannenstr. 29, 20357 Hamburg Germany
    Read More »

Explore More of Hamburg

You might also like

New York City

New York City

#1 in Best Weekend Getaways

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

#3 in Best Winter Vacations in Europe

Munich

Munich

#2 in Best Places to Visit in Germany

Explore more vacations »

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Recommended

The 50 Most Beautiful Places in the World

Let these gorgeous destinations inspire you to travel more.

Holly JohnsonJanuary 16, 2020

50 Amazing Honeymoon Ideas

From relaxing weekend getaways to epic adventures, these honeymoon trips will help couples create memories to last a lifetime.

Kyle McCarthyJanuary 8, 2020

The Cheapest Days to Fly: A Guide to the Best (and Worst) Times to Travel

Use these tips and tricks to get the best deal on your next flight.

Lyn MettlerDecember 23, 2019

30 Top Florida Weekend Getaways

Spend sun-filled days exploring Florida's beautiful beaches, cities, parks and small towns.

Gwen PratesiDecember 9, 2019

The Best Travel Backpacks for 2020

U.S. News rated the best travel backpacks using recommendations from experts and consumers.

Lyn MettlerNovember 25, 2019

30 Top Wellness Retreats

Rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit at one of these relaxation-focused properties.

Kyle McCarthyNovember 21, 2019

30 Fun All-Inclusive Family Vacations

Book one of these all-inclusive trips that cover food, accommodations and activities galore.

Holly JohnsonNovember 14, 2019

5 Ways Cruise Lines Are Becoming More Environmentally Friendly

Industry considers impact as it looks to the future.

Gwen PratesiNovember 12, 2019

11 Unique and Quirky Cruise Destinations

Venture off the beaten path for an authentic cruising experience.

Christine SmithNovember 12, 2019

The 2020 Best Cruise Lines for Families

Gather up the gang and head out to sea with one of these six kid-friendly cruise lines.

Nicola WoodNovember 12, 2019