Café
Speicherstadt Kaffeerösterei
An owner-run coffee roastery café in an 1888 Speicherstadt warehouse, roasting daily in a drum roaster and serving its coffees with homemade cake.
Gretchens Villa
A turquoise-and-gold café in the Karoviertel since 2010, baking cakes and tortes daily in its own bakery next door, with waffles, breakfast and vegan options.
At a glance
- Type
- Café and patisserie
- Area
- Karoviertel, Hamburg, Germany
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily · 09:30–19:00
- Official site
- gretchens-villa.de
Good to know
- Breakfast
- Vegan and gluten-free cakes
- Terrace
- In-house bakery
- Sugar bakery
Why we recommend it
Gretchens Villa has been one of the Karoviertel's favourite cafés since it opened in September 2010. The café is on Marktstraße, and it fits naturally into an afternoon exploring the Karoviertel and the neighbouring Schanzenviertel. The interior is easy to recognise, with benches set in front of turquoise-and-gold wallpaper, and in good weather there is a sunny spot on a large terrace.
Cakes are the main attraction. Tortes and cakes are baked every day in the café's own bakery next door, and the range includes vegan and gluten-free options, which is welcome in a traditional cake culture. Freshly baked waffles are another speciality. The city's official visitor site notes that the café's master pastry maker also runs an official sugar bakery on site, where you can watch sugar work being made. Custom cakes can be ordered for special occasions. Because the cakes are baked daily, the selection changes, and the café posts updates on its Instagram account, which is the easiest way to see what is on the counter before you set off. If you only have time for one thing, a freshly baked waffle or a slice of the day's torte is the classic order.
It is not only a cake stop. Breakfast is served with vegetarian and vegan options, along with fresh salads, grilled sandwiches and daily specials, and the baristas make coffee, homemade lemonades, iced teas and seasonal drinks. A menu is available on the café's website, so you can check the choice before you go.
Gretchens Villa suits friends meeting for brunch, couples, families and anyone with dietary requirements who still wants a proper slice of cake. If you want to be sure of a table, call ahead. Reservations are taken by phone only, not online.
The café is open every day from 09:30 to 19:00, which makes it easy to fit in at almost any point of the day. Allow an hour to sit down for breakfast or cake and coffee. The long opening hours also make it a useful early-evening stop for a lemonade or iced tea on the terrace in summer. Combine a visit with a walk through the Karoviertel and on to the Schanzenviertel, where Bullerei and elbgold are a short walk away.
Gretchens Villa FAQs
When is Gretchens Villa open?
Every day from 09:30 to 19:00.
Can you reserve a table?
Yes, but reservations are by phone only.
Are there vegan or gluten-free cakes?
Yes, vegan and gluten-free cakes are baked alongside the regular range.
Where are the cakes made?
In the café's own bakery next door, every day.
Does it serve breakfast?
Yes, with vegetarian and vegan options, salads, grilled sandwiches and waffles.
Is there outdoor seating?
Yes, there is a large terrace and benches outside.
When did it open?
In September 2010.
Where is it?
At Marktstraße 142 in the Karoviertel.