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| I have to admit, though, that I'm not that keen on discotheques anymore. Part of the reason is probably that I don't like Techno, House and the like. Which doesn't mean that the clubs I'm going to mention wouldn't play it at times. There are a several pubs I want to mention around Hans-Albers-Platz, off Reeperbahn: First there is one of my favourite Irish Pubs (you'll notice that I'm into that sort of pubs), Murphy's at Friedrichstrasse. You reach it from Reeperbahn through Hans-Albers-Platz and a turn left at its end.It's a small pub with live music nearly all week, Irish beer (Murphy's and Guinness), and, as with most of the Irish pubs in Hamburg, you'll meet a lot of people from the island. A bigger place is Molly Malone's on Hans-Albers-Platz. Live music is usually from midnight to end - at weekends it's packed.If that's too much for you: the next door to the right takes you into another pub. To go on with Reeperbahn, I'd like to recommend quite a few concert rooms and discos playing every sort of music from Rock through German 70's pop to Techno. Main addresses are at "The Docks", "Schmidt's" (live comedian acts on a special stage), and "Grosse Freiheit 36". All of them have live music, sometimes real big acts, at Grosse Freiheit and Schmidt's there are discos in separate parts of the buildings. Good places. And don't forget to check out "Gruenspan" at Grosse Freiheit. Cross the next street and you'll see it. It's been there for generations now. Still a good place to go.Other pubs around town: "Finegan's Wake" just off "Grosse Johannisstrasse" opposite the "Rathaus" in the city, another Irish pub. Same thing here: Irish beer, live music, then entrance fee starting with DM 5. Nice place after a long shopping day in the city. You get basic food there. Geibelstrasse, Harvestehude: Here's the "Traveller's" to be found. Good food there (best ribs in town), great atmosphere with musical instruments everywhere at the walls. Haven't heard of live music there but it's a great place to relax and meet friends. And here's my favourite: Wandsbeker Allee corner Kattunbleiche: There's a Chinese place on ground level but that's not what I want to tell you about. On the next floor there's "Eden", a great pub you wouldn't believe could be in that sort of building.Go there and you'll know what I mean. The entrance is from Kattunbleiche through a backdoor and then one flight of stairs up. On the menu: Real Budweiser from Budvar, Guinness, "Saurer" (house-mixed liquor with I don't know - it's very tasty but bad for your driving licence), and a whole variety of simple but very delicíous food from Hamburg and the Alsace. It's one of my real favourites in Hamburg! It's open every day from 19.00 to end. Sundays' is "Futtertag" meaning something like "dig in day", prices are low then for both food and drinks. Like Bavarian and Austrian (not Australian!) food?Then "Watzmann" at Saseler Chaussee is your choice. The easiest and simplest way to get there is by car: from the inner city you take the road along the eastern side of Aussenalster, drive along Hamburger Strasse and follow it through Barmbek, Bramfeld, and Wellingsbuettel and thus come to Sasel. You see the sign "Watzmann" on a wall on the right side of the street, and there's a small parking ground in the back of the house (don't get irritated, there's a pizza service in the back of the house which IS NOT connected to the restaurant in the front :) ). The sizes of the dishes are impressive, the prizes are not. Please don't eat anything before you go there, otherwise you won't be able to eat your way through whatever you order. Our tip: Share the meals! One original "Wiener Schnitzel" and one "Kaiserschmarrn" for two is sufficient for a full stomach and the wish for a "Williams Christ" (which is a pear liquor, another Alp style treat). Most of the different sorts of beer are on tap, you get the most common south German brews, and the beer glass sizes aren't of the tiny sort. The only sad thing about "Watzmann" is that it's loud. From 8 p.m. on it's crammed, and many people make a lot of noise. You can't have it all, it seems. If I haven't mentioned it elsewhere I want to recommend it here: The "Tower Bar" at "Hotel Hamburger Hafen" right next to "Landungsbruecken". You get there either by subway (U3 - exit Landungsbruecken) or by car.You have a fantastic view over the city and the harbour from the 12'th floor, but since its walls are made of glass on the top level it's not to be recommended for those afraid of heights. The drinks are of excellent quality, and prices are at a decent low from 6 to 7 p.m. from Monday to Thursday (although I'm not sure whether they cut Thursday off recently). You can even make reservations for the happy hour which can be of help sometimes. Anyway, Tower Bar is the best place to chill out after a long exploring day and enjoy the last sunrays with a glass of Cai Pirinha or Cuba Libre (my favourits) in your hand. (to be continued) |
