SIDE Design Hotel Hamburg

One of my favorite hotels that makes business travel much more enjoyable! Starts with a fantastic breakfast with high quality and tasty dishes from omelette and eggs Benedict to their buffet with ample choice of bread, cheese, very fresh peeled fruits, fish etc etc and your usual bacon eggs pancakes etc. staff are all very friendly and helpful. Rooms are well designed, love that there is lots of hooks and storage. Gym and pool are great, just not much free weight but sauna and steam bath also nice. Top notch hotel, wish I could bring my family

We stayed 5 nights at the SIDE Design Hotel over the Easter break in 2025. We’ve been visiting Hamburg for years and have tried nearly every upscale hotel here with a pool, including The Westin Hamburg, Grand Elysée, Sofitel Hamburg Alter Wall, Hotel Atlantic, and The Fontenay, as having a pool is important to us when traveling with our 11-year-old son. |The SIDE Hotel has long been known as Hamburg’s first true “design hotel.” Originally opened in 2001, it’s now over 20 years old, and this shows in several areas. While generally well maintained, it no longer feels particularly cutting-edge or contemporary. Our standard room was comfortable and modern in style but quite compact for three people. Both the bedroom and bathroom lacked adequate storage space and hangers, which made it a bit cramped for a family stay.|The pool and spa area on the lower level was a highlight—nicely designed, clean, and very family-friendly. Unlike some other hotels in Hamburg, there were no restrictions on children using the pool, which we appreciated.|Breakfast offered a good variety of fresh, high-quality options, but the restaurant struggled to keep up with guest numbers. Every morning, it was consistently busy, and guests often had to queue to be seated. When seated, the tables were placed closely and there was a lot of noise.|One definite plus is that the hotel has a large parking facility where you can easily charge your electric vehicle — something that not every Hamburg hotel provides.|Overall, while SIDE still has merits — particularly the central location near Jungfernstieg, the friendly staff, and the convenience of parking — it feels a bit dated compared to newer or more recently renovated options. If you are visiting Hamburg and prefer a more modern atmosphere, larger rooms, and better views, we’d recommend The Westin Hamburg at the Elbphilharmonie instead if you can get it at a decent rate, as it generally offers a much nicer and more luxurious experience.

Sleek modern architecture with a warm, stylish atmosphere. The lobby’s glass atrium and moody lighting set the tone. Rooms are clean, well-appointed, and surprisingly quiet. Service is professional, the rooftop and spa are standout perks. A great choice for design lovers seeking comfort in the heart of the city.

Our recent stay at SIDE Hotel Hamburg was a memorable experience that balanced thoughtful luxury with warm professionalism. While the hotel may show some signs of age in certain areas, what truly sets it apart—and earns it a full 5-star rating—is its exceptional staff, unbeatable location, and excellent value for money. Let me start with what makes SIDE special: The staff is the heart of this hotel. Always kind, humble, and incredibly professional, they consistently went out of their way to assist us. Whether it was helping with custom breakfast requests, bringing ice to the room (several times – I’m a “wine with ice” kind of person), or offering umbrellas on a rainy Hamburg day – they made every interaction feel personal and genuine. The location in Gänsemarkt is absolutely perfect – central, safe, and within walking distance to many of Hamburg’s key spots. For a five-star hotel in this area, the price was surprisingly reasonable, especially considering the high level of service and facilities. Breakfast deserves its own spotlight: high-quality ingredients, fresh selection, and delightful extras like prawns and seafood specialties—not something you’ll find in your average city hotel. You can also request dishes à la carte – omelets, Eggs Benedict, and more – all beautifully prepared and served with a smile. There’s parking available right next to the hotel in a dedicated garage for €40/day, which is convenient and easy. Now, for a few points of constructive feedback, shared in the spirit of helping a great hotel become even better: • The room design, particularly the bathroom with glass walls and a sheer curtain, feels a bit outdated and impractical by today’s standards. It looks elegant, but lacks real privacy. • The sanitary fixtures were functional, but not as modern or user-friendly as one might expect at this level. • Mattresses were on the softer side, and the blankets quite warm for the summer months. • The air conditioning felt underpowered and didn’t cool the room as efficiently as other luxury hotels I’ve stayed in. That said, these are not deal-breakers, and certainly not reasons to lower the rating. The overall quality of service, the hospitality, and the sense of care we felt throughout our stay more than compensated for these relatively minor points

We came to Hamburg for the lion king musical and chose to stay at the side hotel for 2 nights over the weekend. The room was good but not overwhelming in size. The bed was comfy but it was not a kind size bed, other 5 star establishments had bigger beds before. All in all the room was clean and functional. I liked the multiple storage options. The room looks a little boutique but old though not worn. One bottle of water was provided for us which I think should be 2 at least and refilled during the day even without cleaning service. I loved that we got 2 free mocktails for choosing to cancel the cleaning service. Breakfast was abundant but choice was kind of limited to western breakfast. Lots of cheeses and sausages. I loved the menu to choose from which included different hot dishes and also coffee varieties plus healthy drink options. The egg Benedict was disappointing though with veeery liquid egg yolk and even solid egg white. It should be a little firm at least. The omelette, however, was yummy! Location of the hotel is very good as well. Close to the Center and co both the fair and the shopping district. All in all a good hotel with a great location and a good balcony as well. A couple of points to improve though!

The SIDE Hotel in Hamburg is a perfect blend of luxury, modern design, and outstanding service, making it an exceptional choice for both business and leisure travelers. Located in the heart of the city, just a short walk from Jungfernstieg and the Inner Alster Lake, the hotel offers a prime location for exploring Hamburg’s best attractions, shopping districts, and restaurants. From the moment you enter, the stylish, contemporary design sets the tone for a sophisticated stay. The rooms and suites are elegantly furnished, spacious, and equipped with high-end amenities, ensuring maximum comfort. The beds are particularly comfortable, and the soundproofing guarantees a peaceful night’s sleep, even in the bustling city center. One of the highlights of the hotel is its rooftop terrace, offering breathtaking views over Hamburg—perfect for enjoying a drink in the evening. The wellness and spa area is another standout, featuring a heated indoor pool, sauna, and fitness center, providing the ultimate relaxation after a busy day. The service is impeccable—staff members are professional, friendly, and go above and beyond to ensure guests have an unforgettable experience. Whether for a weekend getaway or a business trip, SIDE Hotel delivers an outstanding stay, combining modern luxury with Hamburg’s vibrant charm. The one suggestion is to avoid room 708 - the sound insulation is, unfortunately, non-existent.

Let down by the spa which was overrun by children on our visit, no responsible adult in sight. Two lifts means getting up and down to higher floors is slow. Room was two beds pushed together to form a double which is always annoying.

Good facilities and well maintained rooms. Lounging in the 8th floor balcony is nice specially in the summer and swimming pool and Sauna area is a plus! I would come back again!

From start to finish. Hotel was excellent. Reception was thoughtful to every detail and room was modern and comfortable. Breakfast was exceptional. So much variety for multiple cultures. Definitely worth it! Staff was incredible. Had dinner upon arrival. Cocktails were creative and thoughtful and the veggie burger was out standing. Location was perfect for my travels. And very walkable. Only issue was rude bartender at lower level bar. He has a reputation amongst other guests as being snarky. Roof top was gorgeous and all other staff were great. Restaurant inaccessible from inside hotel but they have a simple solution (use outdoor entrance). Worth the price!

Nice design hotel, very friendly staff, excellent food, perfect location. A good managed hotel on all levels.

This is a supermodern hotel with a really nice atrium lobby. The rooms are a little bit smaller then im used to but the decor in shiny white, dark wood and turqoise is really neat. I can appreciate the built in glass bathroom and all but i cant say i can understand the idea with the door to the bathroom beeing in glass and see-through. Strange when you want to have a little privacy. The breakfast was i cut above average and no complaints there. More then the usual breads, fruits and cereals they custom made your egg, scrample or omelette the way you want it. Nice! Location is ok though not in the middle of it all as i see it. Service was good but a bit unpersonal. Pool area was colorful and really cool looking but a ice cold jacuzzi!?? That is not a nice jacuzzi experience! The mixed gender sauna was a new thing for us.....ha ha Im sure some would say this is a 4 or even 5 star experience but for my personal preference id rather stay at a classic old school luxury like the Marriott. This is not a bad choice though and if you like modern and chic, this is the place for you.

Beautiful interior atrium. But the rooms, though they look sleek and modern, have many problems: - Smoked glass doors to bathroom. Horrible for privacy if you ever have someone over in your room! No noise isolation. - Air conditioning works poorly. I put it on max cold but woke up sweating multiple times in the night. - No way to block the light to the large windows. Horrible for light sensitive sleepers. - Strange toilet that's a square shape. - Shower/bath that ends up spraying water all over the floor because there's no barrier. I stayed here because it was the best price in the area, but I would rather have stayed at the Scandic or another nearby hotel.

Unnecessary and meaningless design in the room (like a rectangular toilet). Asked for a king bed and got two single beds, uneven in height, put together. Both with the smallest single sheets ever. Very hard mattresses. Nice pool and sauna area. Very clean.

Location & Check-In Opened in 2001 and designed by Matteo Thun the Side Hotel is a perfect example of the puristic extremism of the early days of this century. The matter is they are cool and fashionable when they are opened but they simply do not age well. Location, facilities and comfort level are definitely positive, but the place lacks the bit of warmth that truly makes you want to come back Rooms The standard rooms are of average size, the bathrooms actually quite small. The sanitary equipment still modern although the shower head was dripping when only the faucet was supposed to work. The view towards the backyard from the lower floors is absolutely industrial, ie office blocks and ugly flat roofs. Ask for a room towards the street, that should be less sobering. Food The roomservice breakfast is creative and goes beyond your standard fare. Eggs Benedict, one of GIs all-time preferred options, were innovatively prepared, the fresh fruit delicious and cut individually, not your typical machiney variant. Bread and Danish equally good. The buffet breakfast equally appetizing. No reasons to complain on those ones. Facilities The hotel is well maintained, the new steak house restaurant brightly designed with flash green furniture which is in stark contrast to the prominently displayed meat racks between the lobby and restaurant area. The spa area is medium-sized and strangely not staffed, but well equiped and modern. The gym even has two PowerPlate devices. Unfortunately no access to any outdoor areas though, which is a great plus after sauna. On the eighth floor there is a beautiful lounge and executive meeting room opening to a large terrace which seems to be underutilized given the furniture installed. Overall a clear seven. Overall Value & Rating The central location and the facilities make the place attractive, but are also its downside. A decent view is only available from the upper suite level floors, below that it can be rather depressing. In Hamburg you will find many other properties in the five star category which offer you a fantastic view over water, one of the elements that make the city great. In a nutshell, Side is great for a brief stay when on business notably if you can get the rooms at around EUR 170 or below. For a more airy experience GI recommends the five stars adorning the Alster bassins. Please see more at our webside http://www.global-insiders.com

I have just stayed in the Side Hotel in Hamburg; impressive lobby with spectacular atrium. Stylish decor, with a minimalist slant. On the positive side, this hotel has the best towels ever (fluffy & fabulous); comfortable bed with great pillow. On the negative side, the design is sometimes over-engineered (I needed a manual to operate lights and blinds) and the bathroom requires a bit of climbing. Overall interesting, staff is helpful and professional but the aesthetics are OTT.

Quite pricey, but cool architecture, fixtures/fittings, nice spa/swimming pool, great location. Only minor irritation was lack of complimentary coffee/tea/water - would've been nice to wake up and drink something without having to pay several euro for it.