HENRI Hotel Hamburg Downtown

HENRI Hotel Hamburg Downtown is a smart, characterful choice for travellers who want to be central without paying grand-hotel prices. It occupies a seven-storey brick Kontorhaus, one of the old office buildings typical of Hamburg, on Bugenhagenstraße, a quiet side street right by the main station. The design plays on the offices of the 1950s and 1960s, with vintage furniture and office accessories mixed with modern comforts. Rooms come with good cotton bedding, a room bar with coffee and tea, a shower and free Wi-Fi, and some have kitchenettes for longer stays. The living lounge serves organic coffee, and an honesty fridge holds drinks you pay for later.

Location and getting around: you are a few minutes on foot from the Hauptbahnhof, which makes arrival and day trips easy, and close to the shops of Mönckebergstraße, the Kunsthalle and the Binnenalster. The Speicherstadt and the Kontorhaus District with the Chilehaus are about a ten-minute walk, and U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines from the station reach HafenCity, the Schanze and St. Pauli in minutes.

The rooms and who it suits: rooms and suites are bright and comfortable rather than large, and the kitchenette rooms are a good option for longer stays or families who want to self-cater. It suits couples, solo travellers and business guests who appreciate design and a relaxed atmosphere, and anyone arriving by train.

Good to know: from Monday to Thursday evenings the hotel serves Abendbrot, a traditional German supper of bread, dips and vegetables, included in the room rate, with a hot dish available for a small extra charge. On the seventh floor there is a wellness area with a steam bath, a Finnish sauna and a Kneipp bath, which you can book privately for a fee, and the basement gym is free. The hotel warns that construction across the street may cause extra noise, so ask for a quieter room when booking.