The Empire Riverside Hotel is the hotel for travellers who want to see the harbour from their bed. Its slim, bronze-panelled tower, designed by the British architect David Chipperfield, rises on Bernhard-Nocht-Straße in St. Pauli, just above the Elbe. Guest rooms are on the fourth to the twentieth floors, and the best of them look out over the river, the port and the Blohm and Voss docks. At the top, the Skyline Bar 20up sits around ninety metres above the Elbe and is one of the great places for a cocktail in Hamburg. There is also a modern fish restaurant, waterkant, with an open kitchen, and DAVID’S, a bar with a fireplace lounge facing the harbour.
Location and getting around: the hotel is on the edge of St. Pauli, between the harbour and the Reeperbahn. The Landungsbrücken, with harbour cruises, ferries and the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, is a short walk downhill, and the Reeperbahn and its theatres are a few minutes the other way. The Fischmarkt and the river walk to Övelgönne are close by, and the city centre and the Elbphilharmonie are a few stops away on public transport.
The rooms and who it suits: ask for a harbour or Elbe-view room on a high floor, which is the whole point of staying here; city-view rooms are cheaper but miss the drama. Rooms are modern and calm, with large windows. The hotel suits couples, design lovers and travellers who want to be close to the nightlife without sleeping in the middle of it, as well as business travellers and conference guests.
Good to know: 20up is popular with non-guests in the evening, so arrive early for a window seat. St. Pauli is lively at weekends, but the hotel is set back from the busiest stretch of the Reeperbahn. The hotel publishes seasonal packages and offers on its website, so check them before booking.
Why stay here
- ✓Elbe and harbour views from upper floors
- ✓Skyline Bar 20up
- ✓waterkant fish restaurant
- ✓Harbour bar with fireplace lounge
- ✓Tower by David Chipperfield
- ✓Rooms on floors four to twenty
- ✓Conference rooms
- ✓Walk to the Landungsbrücken
Good questions
Which rooms have harbour views?+
Rooms on the river side look out over the Elbe, the port and the Blohm and Voss docks. Higher floors give the widest views, so ask when you book.
Can non-guests visit the 20up bar?+
Yes, the Skyline Bar 20up is open to outside guests and is busy in the evenings. Arrive early for a window seat.
Is the hotel close to the Reeperbahn?+
Yes, the Reeperbahn is a few minutes away on foot, and the Landungsbrücken are a short walk downhill. The hotel sits slightly away from the busiest part of the nightlife.
