Rive Fish & Faible

Rive describes itself as an urban seafood restaurant on the harbour, and its setting is a large part of the appeal. It sits on the waterfront in Altona, between the Elbe and the fish market, with views over the working port and towards the Elbphilharmonie. Inside, the dining room is styled like a yacht, and there is room for around 140 guests indoors and 70 on the terrace.

Fish and seafood are the focus, as the name suggests, and the menu is published on the restaurant's website, so you can check what is on before you go. Meat and vegetarian dishes are also available, which makes it an easy choice for mixed groups where not everyone wants fish. The restaurant also runs special menus for occasions such as New Year's Eve.

The terrace is the best place to be on a fine day, with ships passing on the river, and the indoor room has the same outlook through large windows. Rive suits couples, groups of friends and visitors who want a relaxed but proper seafood meal with a harbour view, rather than a fish roll from a kiosk. It is also a useful stop after a morning at the Sunday fish market nearby, or as part of an afternoon walk west along the river from the Landungsbrücken.

Opening hours are generous. Rive is open from 12:00 to 23:30 from Sunday to Friday, and from 13:00 on Saturdays, with a short kitchen break in the late afternoon between 16:30 and 17:15. The restaurant says reservations are not required and walk-ins are welcome, but you can book through its online system, which is sensible for a terrace table on a warm evening or for a larger group. Gift vouchers are sold through a partner site, which makes Rive an easy present for friends planning a trip to Hamburg.

Prices are in the mid to upper range for Hamburg seafood. Allow around two hours for a relaxed meal, and remember that the kitchen pauses briefly in the late afternoon, and time a late lunch or early dinner to make the most of the light over the river.