100/200 kitchen

100/200 kitchen is one of Hamburg's most talked-about restaurants, run by Thomas A. Imbusch and Sophie Lehmann. It holds two Michelin stars, and its name comes from the heart of the room: a large Molteni stove, set to either 100 or 200 degrees Celsius, around which the chefs cook and the evening revolves. The restaurant sits on the third floor of an unassuming former factory building on Brandshofer Deich, east of the city centre, in a loft-style room with an industrial feel.

The format is a surprise menu. Guests hand themselves over to their hosts and eat what the season and the kitchen offer, and the Michelin Guide describes cooking that develops flavours through fermentation and smoking, with a focus on respect for ingredients and small producers the team knows personally. Drinks come with either wine or an alcohol-free pairing, which is a thoughtful choice for drivers and non-drinkers. For something less formal, the gallery space GLORIE serves an à la carte menu.

Because the kitchen is open and the stove is the centrepiece, this is a lively, sociable kind of fine dining rather than a hushed one. You see the cooking happen around the stove rather than behind closed doors. It suits curious eaters who enjoy not knowing what comes next, and it is a good choice for a special occasion when you want something more relaxed than a formal dining room.

The restaurant's own site lists opening from Thursday to Monday, from 18:30, while the Michelin Guide says the evening carte blanche menu is also served at lunch from Friday to Sunday, with a shorter four-course lunch at weekends. Schedules clearly change, so check the current times when you reserve. Bookings are made through the restaurant's reservation page or by email, and the restaurant manages its own tables, so plan ahead for weekends. Expect a long evening and a price that reflects the two-star rating.

The building is in Rothenburgsort, in an area few visitors would otherwise see. Allow a little extra time on arrival, as the unassuming factory exterior gives few clues to what is on the third floor.