Step right into this white beach hotel, which we loved at first sight. Nestled in Blankenese’s unique Treppenviertel, the hillside “stairway quarter,” this listed 1902 Art Nouveau villa captivates with its beautiful architecture and, of course, its prime location, looking straight out over the Elbe.
There is a special magic in the air here.
That’s our impression, and the owner, Alexander Garbe, who bought the house and turned it into a charming boutique hotel, agrees. Garbe also runs stilwerk, a platform for design, art, culture and living with locations in Hamburg and Düsseldorf, and he was looking for places where people could touch, feel and experience his products. The result is two hotels: the stilwerk Hotel Heimhude, in a residential part of central Hamburg, and the stilwerk Strandhotel Blankenese, on the Elbe.
The Rooms
The new Strandhotel Blankenese has only 12 rooms in the villa and three suites in the Captain’s House. The rooms, called studios, are quite spectacular, each painted in bold colors drawn from the surroundings: blue for the water, yellow for the sandy beach along the Elbe and green for the lush trees around the hotel. If you have never been: Blankenese feels more like a vacation spot than a suburb.
Bonus Points
Blankenese itself is still very old-school, but the hotel feels relaxed and, above all, creative, more like a beach house someone has opened to friends simply to give them a good time. In summer, it is even cooler, since the stilwerk team has set up a lounge with a bar in the front garden. A touch of Sylt in Hamburg, if you will.
Interior Design
Besides offering stylish places to sleep, the two stilwerk hotels introduce guests to a curated selection of furniture brands in an engaging way. The hotel even has an Interior Consultant Room overlooking the Treppenviertel, where you can learn about brands such as Northern from Norway; AYTM, RyeBeds, New Works, Nichba and RackBuddy from Denmark; Dusty Deco and Bolon from Sweden; and Atelier Areti from Italy.
Food
Breakfast is served on the ground floor, where big windows look out to the water, a relaxed start to the day. Expect local specialties, some straight from the farm. In season, the lounge in front of the hotel serves drinks and snacks from Thursday to Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m.
The Surroundings
The Treppenviertel and Blankenese, easily reached by S-Bahn from downtown Hamburg, are without question among the most beautiful corners of the city. Right in front of the hotel is a jetty with a lookout tower and two bars serving classic Fischbrötchen (fish sandwiches), local Astra beer and aperitivos. Huge container ships glide slowly past, now and then a yacht or a fishing boat. A bike ride along the Elbe is a must, either into the city or toward the North Sea. Simply beautiful.
Prices
Doubles from 249 euros, including breakfast.
Booking & Contact
stilwerk Strandhotel Blankenese
Strandweg 13
22587 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: +49 40 861344
