As of 2026, this Hamburg food guide covers 12 restaurants by category — including Brücke 10, Daniel Wischer, Sunday Fischmarkt (St. Pauli). See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Hamburg is Hamburg is a North Sea port-food city — fischbrotchen (fish rolls), Labskaus, Franzbrotchen pastry, and the Sunday Fischmarkt — plus a strong Portuguese quarter and harbor seafood. We've organized 12 restaurants across 5 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
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Brücke 10
St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken · Fischbrötchen & Harbor Fish
Hamburg's signature fish rolls and harbor seafood — Brücke 10 on the Landungsbrücken and Daniel Wischer's classic fish bistro (since 1924)
Brücke 10
Brücke 10 · St. Pauli-Landungsbrücken
1
#1
MUST TRY
Shrimp fischbrötchen (Krabben) €6-8, matjes herring roll €4.50-6, Bismarck herring roll €4.50-6
A small, busy fish bistro right on the Landungsbrücken piers, with maritime decor and outdoor seats facing the working harbor. The fish rolls are made fresh — herring (matjes and Bismarck), fried fish, and North Sea shrimp with remoulade in a crisp roll. It's the classic spot to eat Hamburg's signature snack with a harbor view and a cold Astra beer.
$5-16
(€4.50-15)
10:00-22:00 Apr-Oct (Sun from 9:00); shorter winter hours
Local tip: The North Sea shrimp (Krabben) roll is the splurge order; the herring rolls are the cheaper classics. Prices are higher than a kiosk, but the harbor view and fresh portions justify it for most visitors. Grab an outdoor seat and a beer. It gets crowded at lunch and on sunny days. Cards accepted.
Daniel Wischer Fischrestaurant · Altstadt (near the Town Hall)
2
#2
MUST TRY
Backfisch (battered fried fish) with potato salad €12-16, Pannfisch €15-20, fish roll €5-7
One of Hamburg's oldest fish bistros, founded in 1924, near the Town Hall in the Altstadt — closely packed tables, leather-clad wooden benches, and a menu of traditional Hamburg fish dishes. The house specialty is Backfisch (battered fried fish) with warm potato salad, alongside Pannfisch, fish frikadellen, and Labskaus. A no-nonsense local institution rather than a tourist trap.
$11-27
(€10-25)
11:00-21:00 (closed Sun)
Local tip: Order the Backfisch with hot potato salad — the dish that built the reputation — or the Pannfisch in mustard sauce. It's a sit-down, old-school spot, central and reliable, popular with locals at lunch. A good rainy-day, central alternative to the harbor stands. Cards accepted.
Hamburger Fischmarkt / Fischauktionshalle · St. Pauli (Elbe riverbank)
3
#3
MUST TRY
Fischbrötchen €4-6, grilled fish & seafood plates €8-15, fruit baskets from the market criers
Hamburg's legendary Sunday-morning fish market, running on this site since 1703 on the Elbe riverbank in St. Pauli. Boisterous market criers hawk fish, fruit, flowers, and bric-a-brac, while the 1894 Fischauktionshalle (fish auction hall) fills with live bands and an early-morning crowd that's part tourist, part night owls coming straight off the Reeperbahn. Eat a fischbrötchen or a hot seafood plate amid the chaos.
$4-16
(€3.50-15)
Sun only: 05:00-09:30 (Mar-Oct), 07:00-09:30 (Nov-Feb)
Local tip: It runs Sundays only — 5:00-9:30am summer (Mar-Oct), 7:00-9:30am winter — so set an alarm; it's all over by 9:30am. Cash is king at the stalls. The Fischauktionshalle has live music, beer, and breakfast. A classic end to a Reeperbahn night or an early-bird start. Bring cash.
Old Hamburg sailor cooking — Labskaus, Pannfisch, and Aalsuppe at historic taverns like the Old Commercial Room (since 1795)
Old Commercial Room
Old Commercial Room · Neustadt (opposite St. Michaelis)
4
#1
MUST TRY
Original Hamburger Labskaus €18-24, Pannfisch €22-26, daily fresh fish
A traditional Hanseatic restaurant founded in 1795 by an English shipowner, opposite St. Michaelis Church, with mahogany, brass, and a maritime feel. It's renowned for its Original Hamburger Labskaus — corned-beef-and-potato hash with beetroot, topped with a fried egg, rollmops, and gherkin — served, on request, with fish on a separate plate. The wider menu runs to fresh North Sea fish.
$22-49
(€20-45)
12:00-23:00 (open daily)
Local tip: Labskaus is the dish to come for — this is one of Hamburg's most famous places to try it, and it can be served with or without the fish topping. A proper sit-down dinner, not a quick bite; menus are in several languages for visitors. Reserve on weekends. Cards accepted.
Fresh North Sea fish of the day, Pannfisch €26-32, Hamburger Aalsuppe (eel soup) €14-18
A long-established upscale fish restaurant on the Elbe waterfront in Altona, with big windows over the river and a reputation that has drawn politicians, celebrities, and locals for decades. The kitchen focuses on fresh North Sea and regional fish — plaice, sole, turbot — plus Hamburg classics like Pannfisch and the traditional Aalsuppe (eel soup, historically made with dried fruit).
$33-65
(€30-60)
11:30-22:00 (open daily)
Local tip: This is the special-occasion end of Hamburg fish dining — book a window table for the Elbe view. Ask for the fish of the day. Aalsuppe is the traditional curiosity worth trying. Smarter dress than the harbor stands; reservations advised. Cards accepted.
Curry-sauced sausage and quick bites on and around the Reeperbahn — Hamburg's late-night and on-the-go staples
Heisse Ecke
Heisse Ecke St. Pauli · St. Pauli (Reeperbahn / Spielbudenplatz)
6
#1
MUST TRY
Currywurst with fries €6-9, fries with mayo/curry €4, bratwurst €4-5
A well-known currywurst and grill stand right on the Reeperbahn at Spielbudenplatz, with self-mixed curry sauce and several wurst varieties. It's a classic late-night refuel after the St. Pauli bars and a quick, cheap daytime bite — sliced sausage in curry-tomato sauce with fries, eaten standing at the counter.
$5-13
(€4-12)
Open late, hours vary (afternoon to early morning)
Local tip: Currywurst with fries (Pommes) is the order, with the house curry sauce. It's open late into the night to catch the Reeperbahn crowd. Pure street food — stand and eat. Bring cash, though cards are increasingly accepted. A cheap, classic St. Pauli experience.
Currywurst €5-7, currywurst with fries €7-9, schnitzel sandwich €6-8
A quick-service currywurst and snack stand at the corner of the Reeperbahn and Davidstraße, in the thick of the St. Pauli action. Generous portions of currywurst, fries, and grilled snacks make it a reliable, no-frills stop for hungry Reeperbahn-goers at any hour.
$5-13
(€4-12)
Late hours (afternoon to early morning), varies
Local tip: Currywurst with fries is the standard order, with good portions for the price. It's right in the nightlife core, so handy before or after a night out. Standing/walking food, not a sit-down meal. Bring small cash to be safe.
Hamburg's own cinnamon-butter Franzbrötchen pastry, sold across the city — Franz & Friends specializes in dozens of varieties
Franz & Friends
Franz & Friends · Multiple (Hauptbahnhof, Sternschanze, Altona)
8
#1
MUST TRY
Classic cinnamon Franzbrötchen €2-3, apple Franzbrötchen €2.50-3.50, caramel/rice-pudding variations €2.50-4
A small shop dedicated entirely to the Franzbrötchen — Hamburg's signature flaky, cinnamon-and-butter pastry — offering one of the city's widest ranges of varieties, from the classic to apple, caramel, pumpkin seed, and rice pudding. Locations include the Wandelhalle at the main station, the Sternschanze S-Bahn area, and Holstenstraße in Altona.
$2-7
(€1.50-6)
Roughly 07:00-19:00 (varies by branch; station branch longer)
Local tip: Start with the classic cinnamon Franzbrötchen, then branch out to the apple or caramel versions. They're crisp outside and soft inside, and keep well to the next day. A perfect on-the-go breakfast or coffee-break treat. The Hauptbahnhof branch is handy for travelers. Cash and cards.
The Jungfernstieg promenade along the Inner Alster is lined with cafés and the grand Alsterhaus department store's food halls, making it the classic spot for coffee, cake, and a Franzbrötchen with a lake view. A relaxed, central pause between shopping and sightseeing, with terrace seating facing the Alster fountain in warm months.
$5-16
(€4-15)
Roughly 09:00-19:00 (varies by café)
Local tip: Sit on a terrace facing the Alster fountain for the view, and pair a Franzbrötchen or a slice of cake with a coffee. It's central and tourist-friendly rather than a hidden gem — the location is the draw. Good for a mid-afternoon break. Cards accepted at most cafés here.
Bacalhau (salt cod) dishes, grilled fish platter, Portuguese wines
A modern Portuguese restaurant on Ditmar-Koel-Straße in Hamburg's Portuguese Quarter (Portugiesenviertel), near the harbor and St. Michaelis. It does contemporary Portuguese cooking — bacalhau, fresh grilled fish, and regional specialties — with an elegant ambiance and a strong wine list, popular with regulars who come for the variety and service.
$22-49
(€20-45)
Roughly 12:00-23:00 (open daily)
Local tip: Go for the bacalhau (salt cod) or the grilled fish, and pair with a Portuguese white or a vinho verde. The Portuguese Quarter is an easy, atmospheric detour near the Landungsbrücken when you want a break from German fare. Reserve at busy times. Cards accepted.
Restaurante Porto · Portugiesenviertel (Ditmar-Koel-Straße)
11
#2
MUST TRY
Grilled sardines, bacalhau à brás, fish platter, pastéis de nata
A long-running Portuguese restaurant on the lively Ditmar-Koel-Straße, in the Portuguese Quarter since 1984 — one of the established addresses for authentic Portuguese cooking in Hamburg. Expect grilled sardines, salt cod, fresh fish, and classic desserts in a warm, unfussy room popular with the neighborhood's Portuguese community and visitors alike.
$18-44
(€16-40)
Roughly 12:00-23:00 (open daily)
Local tip: The grilled sardines and bacalhau are the dishes to try, finished with a pastel de nata custard tart and a galão. It's a neighborhood classic rather than a fine-dining spot — relaxed and authentic. Busy on warm evenings when tables spill onto the street. Cards accepted.
Steaks & grilled meats, seasonal new-German dishes, deli small plates
Celebrity chef Tim Mälzer's well-known restaurant in the hip Schanzenviertel, opened in 2009 inside a historic livestock-market hall from the old Hamburg slaughterhouse. The cooking is seasonal new-German with Mediterranean influences — quality steaks, grilled meats, and modern plates — in an industrial-chic space of brick walls, high ceilings, and exposed pipes, with a more casual deli alongside.
$33-65
(€30-60)
12:00-23:00 (open daily)
Local tip: Steaks and the seasonal new-German dishes are the draw; the adjoining deli is a lighter, cheaper option. It's a buzzy, design-led spot in the Schanze, popular for dinner — reserve on weekends. A good window into modern Hamburg dining beyond the classic fish fare. Cards accepted.
A harbor fischbrotchen (Brucke 10) + a Franzbrotchen + currywurst.
Mid-Range
$45-90/day
A Hanseatic fish dinner + Labskaus + the Sunday Fischmarkt + craft beer.
Luxury
$130+/day
Fine harbor dining + a Portuguese-quarter seafood feast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Hamburg.
What food must I try in Hamburg?
Start with the fischbrötchen — a fish roll filled with matjes or Bismarck herring, fried fish, or North Sea shrimp with remoulade (€4-6), best eaten at the harbor. Then currywurst (sliced sausage in curry-tomato sauce with fries, €5-9), Labskaus (a sailor's hash of corned beef, mashed potato, and beetroot with a fried egg, rollmops, and gherkin, €15-25), Pannfisch (pan-fried fish in mustard sauce), and Aalsuppe (Hamburg's eel soup). For something sweet, the Franzbrötchen — a cinnamon-butter pastry unique to Hamburg — is the local treat.
Where do I get the best fischbrötchen?
Brücke 10 on the Landungsbrücken is the famous harbor spot — fresh herring or North Sea shrimp rolls eaten with a port view and a cold Astra. Daniel Wischer, near the Town Hall, is one of Hamburg's oldest fish bistros (since 1924) for the sit-down version with Backfisch and Pannfisch. The cheapest, most local fischbrötchen are at the harbor kiosks and the Sunday Fischmarkt stalls. Expect €4-6 at a stand, more for a sit-down plate.
What is a Franzbrötchen?
It's Hamburg's own pastry — a flaky, buttery roll swirled with cinnamon and sugar, caramelized and slightly chewy at the base, somewhere between a croissant and a cinnamon bun. Every Hamburg bakery sells the classic for €1.50-3. Franz & Friends, a shop dedicated entirely to Franzbrötchen (with branches at the main station, Sternschanze, and Altona), makes inventive versions like apple, caramel, and pumpkin seed. It's the standard breakfast or coffee-break treat.
What is the Sunday Fischmarkt and is it worth getting up for?
Yes — the St. Pauli Fischmarkt has run since 1703 and is a Hamburg institution. Sunday mornings only (5/7am-9:30am), boisterous market criers sell fish, fruit, and flowers on the Elbe riverbank while the 1894 Fischauktionshalle fills with live bands and an early crowd, half tourists and half night owls coming off the Reeperbahn. Eat a fischbrötchen or a hot seafood plate amid the chaos. It's all over by 9:30am, so set an alarm and bring cash.
Where can I try traditional Labskaus and Hanseatic food?
The Old Commercial Room (since 1795), opposite St. Michaelis Church, is one of the most famous places for Original Hamburger Labskaus — the corned-beef-and-beetroot hash with a fried egg, rollmops, and gherkin, served with or without fish. For an upscale river-view fish dinner with Pannfisch and Aalsuppe, the Fischereihafen Restaurant on the Altona waterfront is the special-occasion choice. Both are sit-down restaurants where reservations help on weekends.
What is the Portuguese Quarter and what should I eat there?
The Portugiesenviertel, around Ditmar-Koel-Straße near the harbor and St. Michaelis, grew from Hamburg's Portuguese and Spanish sailor community and is now lined with Portuguese restaurants and cafés. Eat grilled sardines, bacalhau (salt cod), fresh fish platters, and pastéis de nata custard tarts, with a galão coffee or a vinho verde. NAU does modern Portuguese cooking; the long-running Porto (since 1984) is a neighborhood classic. It's an atmospheric change of pace from German fare.
Is it easy to eat vegetarian or vegan in Hamburg?
Yes, especially in the Schanzenviertel and St. Georg, which are full of modern cafés and international restaurants with clearly flagged vegetarian and vegan dishes. Traditional fish-and-meat taverns are harder, but Franzbrötchen, cheese rolls (käsebrötchen), bakery items, and falafel or pasta spots fill the gap. Modern places like Bullerei's deli and the trendier neighborhoods cater well to dietary needs; old-school fish bistros and harbor stands less so.
Cash or card, and when do places open?
Carry cash — Germany is more cash-reliant than much of Western Europe, and harbor fish stands, the Sunday Fischmarkt, bakeries, and some traditional taverns may be cash-only or have a card minimum. Larger restaurants and modern places take cards and contactless. On timing: lunch is roughly 12-2:30pm and dinner from 6pm, with kitchens closing by 10-11pm. Most shops close Sundays (restaurants stay open), so the Sunday Fischmarkt is the morning exception.
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
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