Modern design meets historic walls at Mövenpick Hamburg hotel

We gaze at a century-old water tower that used to collect rainwater for Hamburg’s households. It’s geometric, impressive – and home to a sophisticated new address: Mövenpick Hamburg. The hotel, in the centre of Hamburg’s Schanzenpark, is an experience in itself. The entrance is not in the park, but at Sternschanze 6, directly on the street – handy if you’re travelling by taxi like us. It surprises us with its ambience, where tradition and modernity are in perfect harmony. As soon as we enter, we realise that the hotel lives up to its promise. The route to the lobby is the first of many ‘wow’ moments: we glide on 25-metre-long travelators, past photos documenting the spectacular conversion. The best part of these moving walkways? Not having to carry our suitcases means we can devote our full attention to the fascinating images.

When we reach the underground lobby, we realise that this hotel in a former water tower has another surprise in store for us. Its exposed red-brick walls, which remind us of the Speicherstadt museum, are an original feature. The friendly receptionist explains that there was a water reservoir on the lower levels around 100 years ago. Water-level indicators on several walls still remind us of this special history. We make a mental note to look out for them when we’re exploring the hotel.

As we check in, our gaze wanders up to the ceiling. Although the lobby is underground, it’s surprisingly bright, thanks to a cleverly placed glass pyramid above us which allows pleasing daylight to stream in. Suddenly a foghorn sounds, which makes our eyes dart towards the lifts. The horn is part of an art installation, the smiling receptionist informs us, which, with its wave-like light effects and matching soundscape, exudes Hamburg flair.

As we don’t yet have a clear idea of what we want to do on this trip, the team recommends that we take a look at one of the two e-concierge terminals. It gives us a good overview, not only of the most important sights in the city, but also of current events such as musicals and festivals. A plan comes together and we even manage to get hold of the last tickets for a Beethoven concert in the Elbphilharmonie the next day. But first, we want to deposit our luggage in our room and unwind from the journey. Passing the rippling art installation, we take the lift up to the eighth floor.

We open the door with our key card and look forward to a few minutes of relaxation within our own four walls. The furnishings are elegant yet understated. A mix of dark wood and light-coloured textiles creates a feeling of cosiness in the spacious room, and the view over the city is breathtaking – it’s a good thing we booked a room further up. Only a top-floor suite would offer better vistas, we reckon. But we’re already impressed by what we can see from the eighth floor. The banks of the Alster seem just a stone’s throw away. Incidentally, there’s an arrow on the wall, a quirky remnant from the former water tower, which tells us how far we are from ground level. It’s another exciting detail that shows how much thought went into the conversion.

After a few minutes’ rest and a cup of tea, which we make ourselves thanks to the in-room kettle, hunger beckons. We decide to try out the hotel’s restaurant, in the glass extension at ground level. As it’s pleasantly warm outside, we opt for a table on the terrace and sit in the middle of the marvellous Schanzenpark. The location alone makes our dinner very special indeed.

We start with the king prawns, followed by the fried cod and Hamburg pan-fried fish. As you would expect in a harbour city like Hamburg, the fish is delicious and the side dishes perfectly complement the mains. Our waiter recommends a German Pinot Gris to go with it, making the full culinary ensemble a complete delight. Next, we head for a nightcap in the hotel’s CAVE Bar, where barman Tobias recommends a cocktail dubbed ‘Hot in Fresh’. We’re not disappointed: the drink, the bar’s own creation, surprises with spiciness, freshness and a hint of sweetness. Then it’s off to bed so that we can start tomorrow fit and refreshed.

As we leave after dinner, we notice a staircase at the side of the terrace leading upwards. Our waiter explains that there’s a large conference room above the restaurant. This is just one of several event venues at Mövenpick Hamburg. We imagine that a meeting in this ambience must not only be productive, but also extremely inspiring. And the idea of tying the knot here is also very appealing. Guests could spend the night in the beautiful rooms while the bride and groom retreat to the tower suite. A dream come true!

We wake up refreshed the next morning in our cosy king-size bed. We want to kickstart our day with a run, but with fog and drizzle outside, Hamburg is demonstrating why it’s known for its wet weather. We decide to use the treadmill in the hotel gym for our morning workout instead of doing laps in Schanzenpark. The lift takes us directly to the well-equipped studio in the underground water reservoir. In the typically Hamburg brick setting, our morning run is at least as visually stimulating as if we had been jogging outside. And then we see it: the water-level indicator that the receptionist told us about. We smile: these details really are special. We save the sauna and steam room for the evening. Right now, we need to refuel and then we want to head out to discover the city. 

A mere quick glance tells us that the breakfast buffet is in a class of its own. So that’s why even locals like to feast here at the weekend! We’re allocated a wonderful table with a view of the park and spend a little longer than planned tasting our way through the varied selection. Finally, waterproof sneakers and umbrellas at the ready, we set off on our walk through the colourful Schanzenviertel district. At the Landungsbrücken Piers, we fortify ourselves in style with a fish sandwich, take a boat tour through the harbour and then stroll to the Speicherstadt district for a coffee.

The rest of Hamburg’s sights will have to wait, as we’ve got those tickets for the concert at the Elbphilharmonie. Before that, we definitely want to swap our sightseeing clothes for something a little more chic. The bus and underground take us back to the hotel in 20 minutes, giving us more than enough time to get changed, have a quick rest and sample a few sweet creations from the in-house patisserie at Chocolate Hour. Delicious. Tomorrow we plan to have another hearty breakfast before we start our journey home. And as we’ve still got so many sights to see, we’ll definitely come back to Hamburg soon – for a few more nights in the former water tower!

• Couples planning a romantic break in Hamburg and looking for a unique overnight experience.
• Culture lovers who value appealing design and want to stay in the city centre.
• Business travellers needing well-equipped conference rooms and proximity to Hamburg centre.
• Hamburg lovers who want to explore their favourite city from a different perspective.
• Music fans craving both inspiration from the city’s music scene and pampering at their hotel.

1. How many people can claim to have spent the night in a water tower? This hotel makes it possible.
2. The excellent restaurant with its wonderful terrace enhances every stay with its culinary highlights.
3. The CAVE Bar team offers elegant cocktails, from iconic classics to their own sophisticated creations.
4. Thanks to its park location, Mövenpick Hamburg is in the city centre yet surrounded by greenery.
5. The former water tower has many stories to tell, and the friendly team is always happy to share them.

Address: Sternschanze 6, 20357 Hamburg, Germany
Directions: S2, S5 or U3 to Sternschanze