Hamburg has thousands of shops that cater to the more than 1.8 million people that live here. Certain areas are noted for their distinctive shops and the Colonnaden is a pedestrian street that is the oldest in Hamburg, having gone traffic free since 1974. What's inviting about these streets is that it's not far from the city centre but has a relaxed atmosphere compared with other central areas. The shops tend to be more specialised too with stylish clothing stores such as Goldstuck for women or Kresse which does distinguished lines for both ladies and gents. Jewellery is another item in which the Colonnaden excels and Nana Hellwege makes beautiful handmade pieces or try Hanseatischen Schmuck und Uhrenborsese for vintage pieces.
Along the road are many good quality cafes and coffee shops and when the weather's good these are usually packed with people sitting outside. The architecture of the building adds to the ambiance with neo Renaissance styled exteriors and about half way along is a small piazza with international restaurants. Portuguese, Italian and Japanese are all served at Pastelaria Caravela, Le Pergola due Colonnaden and Matsumi or for Bavarian dishes check out Franziskaner.
Mainstream shopping takes place at Monckebergstrasse and between here and Jungfernstieg is the city's largest shopping centre, Europa Passage. The building itself looks like a large cruise liner and the shopping floors are actually called decks, of which there are five in total. There are roughly 120 shops spread over the levels and global brands all have their own representative stores. Many of them sell clothing but there are also electronics, art and even a supermarket for groceries. If you're in the market for a grand piano C. Bechstein is the place to head to or for artwork by the talented Udo Lindenberg, several pieces can actually be purchased at the Walentowski Galerie. The mall also has so many eateries on each of the decks that it's impossible to go hungry. The obvious fast food outlets are present but Yin & Yang and Cha Chawith also serve imaginative Asian dishes or for food with a home cooked taste, Wloka's Hausmannskost won't disappoint.
Monckebergstrasse is lined with trees that make walking around the shops comfortable and the street is actually closed to cars which make it marginally quieter although plenty of buses and taxis still service the route. Visitors using public transport from their
Hamburg hotels can also ride the subway as the district has its own stop or Rathaus and Central station are only a short walk away. Stores within Monckebergstrasse combine the entire spectrum of products and services with department stores next to small independents.
Some of the larger places include Karstadt and its sports section; another is Saturn which has a grand storefront with all the latest electronics. For clothes shopping Peek & Cloppenburg do mixed lines while women are recommended to browse Appelrath & Cupper or for men's tailoring try Anson's. In between shopping the cafes along the street provide simple views to watch the crowds go by. A good example is Stadtbackerei Junge which pours a good caffeine fix and the snacks are made fresh daily. The Mo Grill does substantial portions of meat if people want something a bit larger or Tschebull has gained a reputation for bringing new inspiration to Austrian cuisine.
Finally, Jungfernstieg is definitely the city's most picturesque place to shop with views across Alster Lake. The exceptional scenery is matched by the exceptional goods in the stores which tend to be in the designer and luxury categories. Precious jewellery is on show with hand stitched shoes and major fashion houses showcasing their wares in this premium shopping environment.
Along the road are many good quality cafes and coffee shops and when the weather's good these are usually packed with people sitting outside. The architecture of the building adds to the ambiance with neo Renaissance styled exteriors and about half way along is a small piazza with international restaurants. Portuguese, Italian and Japanese are all served at Pastelaria Caravela, Le Pergola due Colonnaden and Matsumi or for Bavarian dishes check out Franziskaner.
Mainstream shopping takes place at Monckebergstrasse and between here and Jungfernstieg is the city's largest shopping centre, Europa Passage. The building itself looks like a large cruise liner and the shopping floors are actually called decks, of which there are five in total. There are roughly 120 shops spread over the levels and global brands all have their own representative stores. Many of them sell clothing but there are also electronics, art and even a supermarket for groceries. If you're in the market for a grand piano C. Bechstein is the place to head to or for artwork by the talented Udo Lindenberg, several pieces can actually be purchased at the Walentowski Galerie. The mall also has so many eateries on each of the decks that it's impossible to go hungry. The obvious fast food outlets are present but Yin & Yang and Cha Chawith also serve imaginative Asian dishes or for food with a home cooked taste, Wloka's Hausmannskost won't disappoint.
Monckebergstrasse is lined with trees that make walking around the shops comfortable and the street is actually closed to cars which make it marginally quieter although plenty of buses and taxis still service the route. Visitors using public transport from their
Hamburg hotels can also ride the subway as the district has its own stop or Rathaus and Central station are only a short walk away. Stores within Monckebergstrasse combine the entire spectrum of products and services with department stores next to small independents.
Some of the larger places include Karstadt and its sports section; another is Saturn which has a grand storefront with all the latest electronics. For clothes shopping Peek & Cloppenburg do mixed lines while women are recommended to browse Appelrath & Cupper or for men's tailoring try Anson's. In between shopping the cafes along the street provide simple views to watch the crowds go by. A good example is Stadtbackerei Junge which pours a good caffeine fix and the snacks are made fresh daily. The Mo Grill does substantial portions of meat if people want something a bit larger or Tschebull has gained a reputation for bringing new inspiration to Austrian cuisine.
Finally, Jungfernstieg is definitely the city's most picturesque place to shop with views across Alster Lake. The exceptional scenery is matched by the exceptional goods in the stores which tend to be in the designer and luxury categories. Precious jewellery is on show with hand stitched shoes and major fashion houses showcasing their wares in this premium shopping environment.