Bar
Le Lion Bar de Paris
A small classic cocktail bar near the Rathaus where the Gin Basil Smash was created in 2008, serving cocktails, chilled champagne and canapés without reservations.
StrandPauli
A year-round beach club on the Elbe in St. Pauli with sand, fire pits and harbour views in summer and a heated alpine hut with fondue in winter.
At a glance
- Type
- Beach club on the Elbe
- Area
- St. Pauli, Hamburg, Germany
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Official site
- strandpauli.de
Good to know
- Sand beach with Elbe views
- Fire pits
- Heated winter hut
- Live music
- Breakfast
- Events up to 900
Why we recommend it
StrandPauli is Hamburg's take on the beach bar, a stretch of sand on the St. Pauli waterfront with fire pits, a tent roof and views across the Elbe to the harbour. Its motto translates as your island in the city, and on a warm evening by the river that is exactly how it feels. According to the club's social media, it has been running since 2004.
In summer, the focus is on drinks, burgers and breakfast in the sand, with live music and salsa and bachata evenings. In winter, StrandPauli does not close but changes character: a heated hacienda and a large alpine-style hut on the beach serve fondue, mulled wine, Grünkohl and Kässpätzle, and there is ice-stock sport outside. The winter season runs from November to March, and New Year's Eve brings a fondue party with a DJ.
The beach suits groups of friends, couples, after-work drinks and families on summer days, and it is popular for parties. Private events of up to 900 guests can be arranged, from company parties to weddings and birthdays, with minimum spend rules for larger groups. Breakfast in summer and fondue in winter can be booked directly for two or more people.
Opening hours change with the seasons and the weather, so check the website before you go. In the late summer season, for example, the club was closed from Monday to Thursday while being converted for winter and open from Friday to Sunday, with Sunday hours depending on the weather. Drinks at the bar are self-service and cash only, so bring money with you, and dogs are not allowed.
Getting there is simple: take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to Landungsbrücken, leave by the Landungsbrücken exit, turn right and follow the Hafenstraße uphill towards the fish market. StrandPauli is on the riverside along the way, which makes it an easy stop before or after an evening in St. Pauli, or after a day at the harbour. The club also works with several sustainability partners and has lent its alpine hut free of charge on some winter evenings to non-profit projects, small bands and people with ideas, which says something about its place in the neighbourhood.
StrandPauli FAQs
Is StrandPauli open all year?
Yes, the club says it is open year-round, with a summer beach season and a winter season from November to March.
What are the opening hours?
They change with the season and the weather; check the website before visiting.
Can you pay by card?
No, self-service at the bar is cash only.
What is on in winter?
A heated hacienda and alpine hut with fondue, mulled wine, Grünkohl and Kässpätzle, plus ice-stock sport.
Can you book a table?
Summer breakfast and winter fondue can be booked for two or more; larger groups enquire with minimum spend rules.
Are dogs allowed?
No, dogs are not allowed.
How do you get there?
Take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn to Landungsbrücken, turn right and walk up the Hafenstraße towards the fish market.
Can you hold a party there?
Yes, private events for up to 900 people can be arranged.