The Best Hotels to Book in Hamburg, Germany

On the very edge of the Inner Alster Lake, the Fairmont is a sumptuous, elegant pile that lives up to every classical ideal of a high-end hotel – while adding a twist of modernity. The rooms – all studded velvet headboards, ceiling-height windows and antique furniture, and some with lake views – are an opulent retreat from the buzzing city outside. Want to ramp up the pampering? Take advantage of the florist and hairdresser.

When designing the concept for this curvy addition to the Hamburg hotel scene, architect Jan Störmer was inspired by the organic forms of the city’s sparkling Outer Alster Lake, which the hotel overlooks. And the design only gets better inside – with a stunning atrium, a lakeside restaurant and a bar that oozes louche Mad Men vibes. This suave, mid-century feel is carried through in the rooms, with oak flooring, touchscreen room control and a rain shower.

In the heart of the Hamburg, between Stadthausbrücke, Große Bleichen and Neuer Wall, the Tortue (meaning “tortoise” in French) is every bit as well designed and understated as its name suggests. Rooms are confidently restrained in their decor, allowing you to focus on the quality of what is there – the plush velvet sofas, the high-quality light fixtures and ceiling-height window drapes. Like what you see (and smell)? You can pick up Tortue-themed gifts, such as scented candles, in the hotel’s shop.

An elegant sanctuary away from the maelstrom of the city, this place to stay in Hamburg is an institution that has been around in some form since the Napoleonic era. And, while it still retains plenty of period charm, with panelled walls and double-height ceilings, it feels fresh and modern – especially downstairs, in the zen-fresh wellness area, with its living walls and glass-walled sauna. All rooms have bespoke wooden flooring and extra-long queen-size beds, so feel free to stretch out whilst watching the water trundle along outside your window.

A must for any bookworm, this literature-themed Hamburg hotel has you engrossed from the very first page. Made up of four colourful buildings, the Red House features a library, the Blue House author’s rooms, the Green House avant-garde architecture, and the Yellow House literature from Hamburg. The rooms have a feel of Scandi-luxe – airy and bright with pops of colour and indulgence – and facilities include a pillow menu, bike hire and an oasis of a garden.

It’s the designer hotel Hamburg hungered for, marrying modern style with the German love of meat. But don’t worry, you won’t be sleeping on a side of beef – the minimalist bedrooms are luxurious and seriously kitted out. No – it’s downstairs that you’ll find the (M)eatery Bar and Restaurant, where the offerings include aged steaks from Europe, USA and South America, burgers, steak tartare and seafood dishes… and probably some vegetables, too, if you look hard enough.

A commanding building on the banks of the Alsterfleet, the rooms of this recently refurbished classic place to stay in Hamburg are the epitome of German no-nonsense design. Leather headboards above the bed, large semi-circular work desks and simple-but-stylish lighting firmly shake hands with the building’s masculine profile. For sightseers, the historical city hall, Speicherstadt and HafenCity are just minutes away, while a smart spa and wellness centre is primed for some pre-dinner pampering.

Understated, elegant – the GINN cleverly combines originality, innovative technology and industrial design to make a hotel that seems to embody Hamburg’s personality. You’ll have fun discovering the quirky touches (they’re very proud of their water-saving vacuum toilets, for instance) that make a stay here a unique experience. On the edge of the Elbe reservoir, bump elbows with Hamburg’s trend-setters in the GINN Bar as you sip on your Nordic Gazpacho (no, really).

Housed in a seven-storey Kontorhaus that used to be a seed warehouse, the Sir Nikolai occupies a prime location in Hamburg’s Old Town on the picturesque Nikolaifleet canal. Just moments from Saint Catherine’s Church, the Elbphilharmonie, Deichtorhallen and HafenCity, it makes for the perfect city centre stopover or romantic weekend away. Rooms, complete with custom-made furniture, art and accessories, have bags of individual character. Head downstairs for pampering at the in-house spa, and don’t skip breakfast in the gorgeous atrium.