By evening, the streets around the Reeperbahn fill with people moving between theatres, bars and clubs, while the quieter parts of Altona settle into a slower pace of cafés and neighbourhood bars. The two moods sit close together, so you can choose a loud night or a calm one without travelling far.
Altona and neighbouring St. Pauli together cover most of what a visitor looks for after dark: stages, live music rooms, cocktail bars, late clubs and a strong street-drinking culture. It suits people who like variety and don't mind deciding as they go. Note that glass bottles are banned in St. Pauli from Friday night until Monday morning, and breaking the ban can apparently bring a fine of up to €5000; alcohol itself is still allowed on the street, and vendors can still sell drinks in cans or plastic bottles.
Where to go out in Altona
1. The Reeperbahn and around Spielbudenplatz
This is the densest concentration of nightlife, with theatres, bars and clubs packed together and easy to move between on foot. It suits a big, busy night out, and the sources describe Fridays and Saturdays as bringing a huge number of parties here.
Expect it to cost a lot, and note that the parties on the Reeperbahn are often described as not more than "normal" — the sources suggest looking further afield for underground options.
2. Theatres and shows around Spielbudenplatz
Several venues sit on or near this square, including the St. Pauli Theater, the Schmidt Theater and Schmidts Tivoli, the Operettenhaus, and the Pulverfass travesty show on the Reeperbahn. The mix runs from variety, cabaret and satirical revues to avant-garde shows and musicals.
This suits a planned evening with a set start time rather than a wandering one. As a practical point, the Pulverfass runs daily at 20:30 and 23:30 with doors at 19:30, and the Operettenhaus lists ticket prices in a range from about €49.90 to €161.90.
3. Live music rooms
Small concert venues and clubs cluster around the Reeperbahn and the nearby streets, including Molotow/Top Ten Bar, Headcrash on Hamburger Berg, Lehmitz, The Academy and Molly Malone around Hans-Albers-Platz, Thomas Read, and Knust on Neuer Kamp. Some are free to enter, such as Lehmitz and Headcrash.
This suits anyone who wants live rock and a standing-room night. The sources note that people in wheelchairs are not always welcome at The Academy, so check ahead if that affects you.
4. Clubs and electronic parties
For house, electro, techno, trance and drum'n'bass, the sources point to Baalsaal on the Reeperbahn, Uebel und Gefährlich in a former World War II bunker on Feldstraße, and Tunnel on Große Freiheit. Tunnel opens Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 and costs around €10.
This suits a late, music-focused night. Most parties don't end until the early hours on weekends, and some clubs run open end depending on the party; the sources also note that checking the monthly magazine Prinz, sold for €1 in most supermarkets and newspaper outlets, can help you find what is on, though it is written in German.
5. Bars in St. Pauli and the Kiez
The bar scene ranges widely in character: Christiansen's Fine Drinks & Cocktails on Pinnasberg for a serious cocktail night, Gun Club on Hopfenstraße for a cellar punk bar, Komet on Erichstraße for 1950s to 1970s rock and soul, Eldorado on Wohlwillstraße for a period 1960s and 1970s setting, Shebeen on Hein-Hoyer-Straße as a cheap and cheerful St. Pauli FC hangout, Washington-Bar on Bernhard-Nocht Straße for gin and tonics and a small dance floor, and Zur Ritze on the Reeperbahn, which has a boxing ring in the basement.
This suits a night of moving between small rooms rather than one big venue. Practical points from the sources: Christiansen's opens Monday to Saturday at 20:00, Gun Club runs 21:00 to 04:00, Eldorado 20:00 to 03:00, and Shebeen 20:00 to 04:00; Shebeen is a St. Pauli Ultras hangout where outsiders are welcome, but the sources warn it can get rough after matches if the opposition visits.
6. Ottensen and the café streets
Around Ottenser Hauptstraße and Glashüttenstraße you find smaller, calmer places such as Cafe Klatsch, La Tazza d'oro and the tapas bar MarYSol. This suits an early, low-key evening or a stop before heading toward the louder districts.
These are daytime-leaning spots, so treat them as a starting point for the night rather than a late finish.
7. Schanzenviertel and Karolinenviertel
Around Schulterblatt and the corner of Laeiszstrasse and Marktstrasse, bars and cafés spill outdoors, many with Portuguese or Spanish background, and Pampa Bar is named as an example with table service and bar meals. In summer this merges into one of Europe's great outdoor dining areas.
This suits a relaxed, sociable evening with food and drinks outside. It works best in warm weather, when the outdoor seating is the main draw.
8. LGBT nightlife
The sources name kir on Barnerstrasse in Altona, which hosts a gay party called "Love Pop". This suits anyone looking for a specifically LGBT night out in the Altona area.
How a night out unfolds
The sources don't set out a full timetable, but some patterns are clear. Theatre and show venues start early, with the Pulverfass running shows at 20:30 and 23:30 and doors at 19:30, while bars tend to open around 20:00 or 21:00. Clubs come later: Tunnel opens Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00, and most parties don't end until the early hours on weekends, with some running open end depending on the party. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest nights, and in summer the outdoor bar and café areas of the Karolinenviertel and southern Schanzenviertel become the centre of the evening.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Day of German Unity — 3 October
- Halloween — 31 October
- Reformation Day, a regional holiday — 31 October
- All Saints' Day, a regional holiday — 1 November
- St. Martin's Day — 11 November
- National Day of Mourning — 15 November
- First Advent Sunday — 29 November
- Saint Nicholas Day — 6 December
Frequently asked questions
Can you drink alcohol on the street?
Yes. Alcohol is permitted on the street in St. Pauli, and vendors can still sell drinks in cans or plastic bottles. What is banned is glass bottles, in St. Pauli from Friday night until Monday morning, with a possible fine of up to €5000 for breaking the ban.
When do clubs close?
Most parties don't end until the early hours on weekends, and some clubs run open end depending on the party. Tunnel, for example, opens Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00.
Where can you find out what is on?
The monthly magazine Prinz lists most of the events happening in Hamburg. It is available for €1 in most supermarkets and newspaper outlets, and it is written in German.
Is there anything for a quieter evening?
Yes. The café streets of Ottensen around Ottenser Hauptstraße and Glashüttenstraße, and the outdoor bars and cafés of the Karolinenviertel and Schanzenviertel, suit a calmer night, especially in summer.
Decide whether you want a stage, a bar or a dance floor, check what is on for your dates, and plan your evening around it.