25hours Hotel Altes Hafenamt

There’s a bus stop right outside, with routes to St. Pauli and other key Hamburg spots, and the Christmas market is nearby. The hotel itself is a lovely little find, with spacious rooms. Having NENI and Boilerman bar on site also makes it easy to enjoy some good food or a drink without going far.

The bar has a fun, welcoming feel, and having parking was a real plus. Our room was roomy and well equipped, and the staff were both friendly and efficient. We didn’t eat at the restaurant, though I feel sure it would have been exceptional. The premium price felt worth it.

The building is beautiful and the hotel has a funky boutique feel, but our stay at 25hours Hamburg Altes Hafenamt was truly miserable. We were offered free parking and breakfast afterward, but for the price I’d choose somewhere else on my next trip to Hamburg. The air conditioning never worked, and the room got so hot that sleeping meant opening every window above the hotel bar, where it was incredibly noisy. We reported it several times. Staff said it had been fixed, then a technician said it was working and disconnected it completely. Over the weekend, the hotel apparently couldn’t reach the technician. Each time we raised it, a different staff member seemed unaware because nothing had been recorded. We were told there were no rooms to move to until the final night, when the only option was basically a dungeon beside the laundry. We also couldn’t count on using the hotel facilities. The restaurant was closed for a private function on Thursday, when we arrived, and nobody told us at check-in. The bar was closed for another private event on Friday. The rooms are extremely dark, making it hard to see. I’m in my forties, but seriously, they need more lighting. The staff were nice, as other reviews say, but seemed unsure how to handle service problems. There also weren’t enough of them, so we were often waiting. Housekeeping happened only every other day and was basic at best. They made the bed but didn’t even replace the minibar items or glasses.

Hafencity has a wide choice of bars and restaurants within walking distance. The hotel is in a lovely old building that’s been turned into a very stylish place, and there’s a good restaurant inside. Service was excellent, and the minibar was free.