Hamburg Restaurants

Hamburg caters for the tourist crowds with a generous supply of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. As Germany's gateway to the world, it is not surprising that the city’s cuisine is very cosmopolitan.

Hamburg life is closely connected to the sea, and this connection influences the food, with lobster from Helgoland; shrimp from Büsum; turbot, plaice and sole from the North Sea; and huge quantities of fresh oysters all featuring on the city’s menus. Of course, there's also the traditional meat dish, stubenküchen (hamburger steak), and the favourite sailor's dish, labskaus, made with beer, onions, cured meat, potatoes, herring and pickles. Aalsuppe (eel soup) is the best-known of all Hamburg's typical dishes.

Local cuisine

Despite so much foreign influence, Hamburg still offers its own unique local cuisine, which visitors should try when here. Dishes are based on the same fresh ingredients which the surrounding countryside has provided for centuries. Most traditional dishes are seasonal, no-frill affairs, and reflect north German simplicity mixed with a touch of the German love for all things sweet.

Naturally, one of this seaside city's staple ingredients is fish. Late spring is the perfect time for maischolle (spring plaice), which can be found in hundreds of restaurants and snack bars all over the city. A popular summer speciality is matjes (herring) served with green beans and bacon, while a prawn sandwich makes a good snack between meals.

Where to eat

The best places to eat are out of the city centre, either in Univiertel or Schanzenviertel, around Schulterblatt and Schanzenstrasse. For snacks, the stalls in front of the Rathaus are pricey but delicious. Most of the cafés and bars offer food as well as drinks and sometimes music.