Breakfast in HafenCity

What could be better than looking out over the Elbe enjoying a nice cappuccino? At the heart of Hamburg’s youngest central district, there is an abundance of lovely cafés and restaurants offering a delicious breakfast selection – whether it’s just a quick visit, a longer stay with friends during the week or brunch with the family on the weekend. HafenCity is growing constantly with new places being added all the time – soon you will even be able to start the day in a relaxed way in Hamburg’s new Elbtower. Here’s an up-to-date guide to the six best breakfast locations in HafenCity. Google and Tripadvisor scores help to reliably rate the cafés – and our latte macchiato price index helps you rank the cafés in terms of price.

Klein und Kaiserlich

If you’re looking for something a little different and unusual in HafenCity and possibly want to take a break from the Hanseatic atmosphere, you’ll find a real piece of Austria in this small but super café. The K.u.K. Kaffeehaus has been around since 2009 and the name doesn’t just nostalgically refer to an imperial-royal era – although there are pictures of Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria on the wall – but rightly refers to the “klein und kaiserlich” (small and imperial) qualities. When you come into the cafe for breakfast, you are a greeted by tasteful interior design that is reminiscent of Vienna’s famous coffee houses. 

The warm green tones create the perfect atmosphere for a lovely meal. Breakfast is available in all shapes and sizes and with lots of extras. In addition, there are typical Austrian coffee specialties such as the “Kleiner Schwarzer” (small black), the “Großer Braune” (big brown) and “Kaffee verkehrt” (upside-down coffee). The finest Austrian pastries such as “Apfelstrudel”, “Kaiserschmarrn” or apricot dumplings will whet your appetite and leave you wanting more. 

But most of all the K.u.K. has earned its reputation with its cakes. If feasting on all the delicacies becomes too much, all you need to do is lift your head – Vasco da Gama square and the museum harbour are just outside the door and terrace. Welcome to Hamburg!

Homepage klein und kaiserlich
Am Kaiserkai 26, 20457 Hamburg Deutschland
Open from 10:00am – 6:00pm
+49 40 36122480
Ratings Google: 4,4 – Tripadvisor: 4,0
Latte Macchiato Index: € 5,20

Café Elbfaire

Café Elbfaire is a bit of an insider tip because it is rather hidden between Überseeallee and Brooktorhafen. Only a few steps away from Lohsepark, the spacious café with its enclosed, sunny and quiet courtyard is an excellent breakfast spot. There’s a small playground with a sandbox and a slide, so the little guests can have some fun while their parents enjoy breakfast in relaxation mode.

Breakfast is available for as long as the kitchen is open. The small but wonderful menu offers many Hamburg delicacies – from the simple “Kleine Möwe” (little seagull) to the “Elbfairen” breakfast bowl and lots of extras besides. There are also hot and cold – as well as vegan and vegetarian – dishes at lunchtime. Those who stay for the afternoon will find a great variety of cakes and coffee specialties. The café owners pay special attention to using fresh, regional, organic and fair-trade products.

Homepage Café Elbfaire
Shanghaiallee 12, 20457 Hamburg Deutschland
+49 40 36900278
Open from 08:00am – 6:00pm
Ratings Google: 4,4 – Tripadvisor: 4,5
Latte Macchiato-Index: € 3,90

Wildes Fräulein

Wildes Fräulein café and restaurant is south-east between Osakaallee and Tokiostraße, which makes it perfect for enjoying a delicious and peaceful breakfast in the morning sun. 

The name of the café refers to ancient legends from the Alps where the female Alpine natives were once called Wilde Fräuleins. They were hardworking, shy and very hospitable. However, they were not allowed to be called by their names, otherwise they would disappear forever … 

The real Wilde Fräuleins in HafenCity are anything but shy and don’t mind being spoken to. They serve hearty mountain cuisine from the Alps. Breakfast starts off with a scrumptious apricot spread and Bircher muesli. The “Bergsteigerfrühstück” (mountaineer’s breakfast) with sourdough bread, fried eggs and alpine butter smacks of the mountains.

At lunch time, Wildes Fräulein is popular with the surrounding offices. Its lunch menu boasts a variety of soups, cheese “Spätzle” (a kind of noodle) and wild lettuce salads. Wildes Fräulein also offers many delicacies and treats for the afternoon.  

Homepage Wildes Fräulein
Überseeboulevard 2, 20457 Hamburg Deutschland
+49 40 88230951
Mon-Sat 10:00am – 8:00pm
Sun 10:00am – 7:00pm
Ratings Google: 4,2 – Tripadvisor: 4,0
Latte Macchiato Index: € 3,90

Alte Liebe Küche Café Bar

Alte Liebe café and bar is truly Hanseatic. The name itself is reminiscent of salty seafaring and the clubs on St. Pauli. That’s why Alte Liebe in Koreastraße transforms itself from a relaxed café during the day into a cool bar in the evening. The café is located in the middle of HafenCity, directly on the Fleet, in the listed Kaispeicher B building. The International Maritime Museum is upstairs, while downstairs there’s Alte Liebe with its beautiful terrace right on the water. 

As a breakfast spot, the Alte Liebe is only really suitable for late risers who prefer a hearty dish, since it opens at 11:00am. Classic North German recipes are on offer as well as waffles in all kinds of variations and “Smörebröd” – or rather Hamburgerbröd – bread. The generous sandwiches, however, are considered more of a regional lunch. The brunch buffet is particularly popular and it’s available every other Sunday and on holidays – but you need to book.

Homepage Café Alte Liebe
Koreastr. 1 Internationales Maritimes Museum, 20457 Hamburg Deutschland
+49 40 45060627
Tue – Fri 11am – 8pm
Sat 11am – 9pm
Sun 11am – 20pm
Ratings Google: 4,1 – Tripadvisor: 3,0
Latte Macchiato Index € 3,80