There’s no shortage of great places for breakfast in Hamburg: from the all too familiar avo toast and pancakes; to Asian-inspired kimchi croissants; to glorious German bread served with soft boiled eggs, butter, and jam. Good coffee is a given at most places.
I know 24 spots is quite a bit, but I try to give pointers as to why you should choose one place or the other: be it the location, the mood, or the type of menu you are looking for. Some places are better suited for families (and even feature play rooms), others — for quiet people-watching. Some are perfect for a quick coffee and a pastry, others — for a long and slow meal and a chat with friends.
I live in Hamburg so the places below are all tried and true, most — multiple times. I have 2 little kids, so mornings are my go-to for going out as a family, scheduling meet-ups with friends or play dates with other moms. I might have not been out for dinner much for the past 5 years, but I sure have tried a whole bunch of breakfast places in Hamburg. Trust me, I will not steer you wrong! Now let’s dive in!
Whenever I am away from Germany for too long, the first thing I crave on arrival is classic German breakfast, which means eggs, brötchen (buns), cold cuts, and cheese. The best place for this kind of breakfast in Hamburg is Schanzenbäckerei, a local chain of bakeries.
They have multiple locations in Hamburg, so you’ll always find one near you no matter where you stay. This is a simple neighborhood bakery where you’ll find locals buying buns in the morning, dropping by for a quick sandwich at lunch time, and sipping coffee and eating cake throughout the day. It’s not fancy. What you get is genuinely good bread, self-service, and reasonable prices.
We have one near our house and this is where we always have breakfast the morning after returning from a trip when the fridge is still empty. One downside is that coffee is not great. But you can always find a good third wave coffee shop nearby, Hamburg has lots of those.
Schanzenbäckerei — multiple locations in Hamburg
Speaking of bakeries, if a cup of coffee and a sweet pastry is your idea of breakfast, then head to Zeit für Brot, which literally translates to Time for Bread. This is a nation-wide chain of bakeries, but I promise the quality is superb.
They use organic ingredients, all the baking is done by hand in house, and you can actually watch the process. The bakers are working behind a large glass window. This is the best entertainment if you have children, by the way!
The most popular item they sell is a Schnecke, a sweet roll similar to a sticky bun. They come in different flavors, like white chocolate and raspberry, walnuts, and cinnamon. But you’ll also find an array of sandwiches made with freshly baked bread, brioche buns, and croissants.
Zeit für Brot — Ottenser Hauptstraße 41 (Ottensen) and Eppendorfer Baum 25 (Eppendorf)
Yet another chain of bakeries popular in Hamburg, although it is actually Danish-owned. Interestingly enough, they have more bakeries in Germany than they do in Denmark. Their focus is on coffee, bread, and pastries, all of which are superb. Some of their most popular items are cinnamon and cardamom buns. They also offer sandwiches that can be grilled to order.
They currently have 11 locations in Hamburg, so you are likely to find one near you. One of my favorite locations is the one in Schanze.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab — multiple locations in Hamburg
Ok, let’s move on from the baked goods to proper breakfast, which is to say a full hot meal. ÆNDRÈ is one of my absolute favorites for breakfast in Hamburg. They have 2 locations: in Eppendorf and Rotherbaum. How do I describe it? It’s aesthetics meets sustainability. It’s vegan food at its best, the kind where it doesn’t really matter whether you are vegan or not — you are going to love it because it’s good food period.
Their most popular breakfast item is oatmeal with toppings like nut butter and berry compote (all prepared in house). The coffee made with oat milk is superb. Here, you’ll also find healthy desserts made with no refined sugar.
In Eppendorf, the space is quite small, but they have outside seating which fills up quickly on warm summer days.The location in Rotherbaum is bigger and is right at the start of the really beautiful Schlüterstraße. Take a walk down the street after your breakfast!
ÆNDRÈ Deli — Lehmweg 31a (Eppendorf) and Schlüterstraße 86 (Rotherbaum)
The Morgenmuffel is one of the trendiest cafes for breakfast in Hamburg. It is located in a beautiful Altbau (an old Art Nouveau building of which you’ll see many in the city) which means high ceilings, stucco mouldings, and wooden floors. It’s stylish, but what’s even more important: the food is delicious.
Their tag line is eggs and shots. I’d say their focus is on elevated brunch dishes and good cocktails. Think: fresh oysters, croissant with burrata and bresaola, and eggs Benedict. When it comes to drinks, you’ll find the usual suspects like mimosa and espresso martini on the menu, but also original cocktails like Tea Amo made with black tea gin and Bergamot liquor. The cafe takes up two floors and has outside seating in summer too.
The Morgenmuffel — Eppendorfer Landstraße 144 (Eppendorf)
Cafe Paris is a Parisian-style cafe located steps away from the Hamburg City Hall. You come here for the incredible Art Nouveau interiors: white tiled walls, green leather banquettes, and the awe-inspiring tiled ceiling. Well, that and the food, of course!
Despite being a French bistro, the breakfast is decidedly German: eggs, bread, and cold cuts served on a 3-tiered platter (best shared). Outside, there are a few tables facing the street which is exactly what makes it feel French.
Tip: if you are exploring Hamburg, this is a good place to start your day. You can see the City Hall and Jungfernstieg right after your meal. My guide for one day in Hamburg might be helpful.
Cafe Paris — Rathausstraße 4 (Altstadt)
The Special Connection is my go-to place for breakfast in Hamburg when I visit the Fischmarkt on Sundays. It is located a few minutes away from the famous market and opens right when the market closes down. One downside is that a lot of people are looking for a place to sit down after an early morning at the Fischmarkt, so it gets extremely crowded. Do make a reservation in advance!
They offer specialty coffee, healthy delicious breakfast and lots of gluten-free and vegan options. Think: organic scrambled eggs on sourdough, gluten-free pancakes with berry compote, and croissants with butter and homemade jam.
The Special Connection — Fischmarkt 11 (Altona-Altstadt)
As the name suggests, this is not just a coffee shop, but a roastery, so rest assured your morning cup of coffee will be perfection. Unlike many coffee shops that only have baked goods on offer, Nord Coast Coffee Roasters also offer an array of delicious breakfast options.
They are particularly popular for their open-faced sandwiches (like sourdough smothered with mushroom butter and topped with organic scrambled eggs) and waffles with lime-mascarpone creme (gluten-free option is also available).
They have 3 locations in Hamburg, with my favorite on Deichstraße. If you are lucky enough to get a seat near the window, you’ll have a wonderful view of Nikolaifleet, the canal behind the building.
Tip: reservation is highly recommended, especially on the weekend. You can walk in too, but most likely there will be a line.
Nord Coast Coffee Roasters — multiple locations in Hamburg
Berta Boozy Brunch Klub (formerly Berta Emil Richard Schneider) is one of the best places for a boozy brunch in Hamburg (the name is quite self-explanatory). The space is small and cozy, loud in a good way, dark as you walk to the back lit up by candles.
The menu features familiar classics like shakshuka and eggs Benedict, but also creative takes like smash beef sandwich and cauliflower waffles. The French toast is supposed to be one of the best in the city, but my favorite is chicken and waffles.
Their coffee is good, but what’s even more interesting are the so called coffeetails, like espresso martini or the more unusual Macchiato Martini made with rum and Baileys.
Berta Boozy Brunch Klub — Kampstraße 25-27 (Schanze)
11:11 offers Asian-inspired breakfast all day. This place has everything I love in a good cafe: stylish space, great third-wave coffee, thoughtfully-created menu that features quality ingredients.
If you are a bit tired of scrambled eggs and avocado toast, then 11:11 can be a great place for a little something different. Think: sourdough topped with miso pumpkin hummus, truffle oil, and caramelized mushrooms; bao buns filled with beef, pickled radish, and mango chili mayo; or brioche croissant with kimchi, parmesan and cheddar.
11:11 — Beethovenstrasse 13 (Winterhude) and Tarpenbekstrasse 51 (Eppendorf)
Klippkroog is a popular breakfast and brunch spot in Ottensen neighborhood of Hamburg. It’s quite spacious with 2 big rooms inside and lots of outside seating which makes it a good place to come to with kids — and you will find find lots of families and moms with babies here. By the way, they have a little box with toys and can give you pencils and paper on request which as a mom of two I always appreciate.
As for food, Klippkroog offers several variations of traditional German breakfast with bread, butter, jams, cheese and cold cuts. There’s a vegan option too. You can also order scrambled eggs or something sweet like muesli or yogurt.
They do not take reservations unless you have a large group, but getting a table has never been a problem.
Klippkroog — Große Bergstraße 255 (Ottensen)
Another great spot for breakfast in Ottensen is Patisserie Madeleine. While it positions itself as patisserie and does indeed offer outstanding baked goods and desserts, they also have sandwiches made with Sylter bread, vegetable quiche, scrambled eggs, and pancakes in the am. They open as early as 8 o’clock on weekdays, making it a perfect spot for breakfast in Hamburg.
Another reason I love this place is that, like The Morgenmuffel, it’s located in an old building. Read: gorgeous exterior, high ceilings, art nouveau vibes. Just outside is a playground, which is another bonus if you have kids.
Patisserie Madeleine — Keplerstraße 36 (Ottensen)
Mutterland Stammhaus is my favorite place for breakfast in Hamburg whenever I am in the Hauptbahnhof area. Located steps away from the Central station, it is more than a cafe. What you’ll find inside is a deli, a restaurant, a shop highlighting produce made in Germany (hence the name Mutterland that means Motherland) and a co-working space.
The coffee is good, but I do recommend trying the cocoa which is their specialty and comes in many flavors, including lavender, white chocolate, and caramel. I usually go for Vattis Cocoa which is plain cocoa with no sugar added.
If you are in a hurry, you can simply get your coffee and one of their sandwiches or baked goods at the deli. They have a few tables on the ground floor. If you’d rather have a proper sit-down breakfast, then wait to be seated at the restaurant and order off the menu. They have an extensive brunch menu. One of my favorites is Bauernfrühstück (farm breakfast) with fried potatoes, organic bacon, and eggs. Another specialty worth trying is their Franzbrötchen, a cinnamon bun that originates from Hamburg.
Upstairs, you will find a free co-working space with a nice view of the city below.
Tip: Mutterland has a second location in Eppendorf, but it’s much smaller and they only offer drinks and baked goods.
Mutterland Stammhaus — Kirchenallee 19 (St. Georg). They have 2 more smaller locations in Hamburg.
Favorita is my favorite place to go whenever I want to chill and people-watch. It’s a gorgeous Italian-style cafe that serves coffee and baked goods for breakfast. Think: cornetto, panini, and madeleines.
If you sit inside you’ll be mesmerized by the ceiling and the enormous vintage chandelier. Most people prefer to take a seat outside when it’s warm. The chairs are turned towards the street and you can observe Eppendorf locals go about their day.
Favorita — Eppendorfer Weg 215 (Hoheluft)
Emilia’s Familien Cafe is a perfect choice for breakfast in Hamburg if you have kids. As the name suggests, this is a cafe made with families in mind, specifically parents of little children. The dining room is connected to the playroom. So you can have your coffee in peace while watching your kids have fun.
The play room is made for kids up until about 6 years old and costs an additional 3 euros per kid, which I think is more than fair. There are high quality toys for different ages, books and coloring books, an ice cream stand and a little slide.
Coffee here is on par with the third wave coffee shops (not at all a given for family cafes) and the food is absolutely amazing. I loved their shakshuka served with the crusty German bread. They also have a special kids menu.
If you visit in summer, you can sit on the terrace that features a sandbox with sand toys. Perfect all around for a mom of little kids!
Emilia’s Familien Cafe — Barmbeker Str. 169 (Winterhude)
Vibes in Winterhude is a spacious cafe with lots of seating both inside and outside. I think the name reflects the essence of this place perfectly. The vibes are as follows: classic Hamburg red brick building, a huge inner courtyard with lounge chairs, lots of sun (if you are lucky and the weather is weathering), and Winterhude life unfolding right in front of you.
For breakfast, they have a range of sandwiches made with Sylter bread (this is the kind of bread you want in your sandwich, none of that white fluffy toast bread with crust cut off stuff) and bowls (granola, porridge, and so on). The coffee is great.
Vibes — Goldbekpl. 1 (Winterhude)
Yet another stylish breakfast place in Winterhude is Cafe Kernig. The menu is influenced by the Far East and French cuisines. One of their most popular items for breakfast are Stullen, or open-faced sandwiches: with truffle butter, crispy halloumi, and pastrami, to name a few. A range of eggs Benedict, classic German Milchreis (sweet milk rice porridge), and French Toast are also available.
The coffee is as good as in the best coffee shops of Hamburg. And on top of that all, they offer great pastries, too. Try their pistachio croissant.
Cafe Kernig — Dorotheenstraße 36 (Winterhude)
Good One Cafe is a great choice if you are vegan. It’s a plant-based cafe with two locations in Eimsbüttel and Schanze. But to be fair I am not vegan and I still love it. They have a great choice of both savory and sweet options for breakfast: sandwiches, pancakes (including a gluten-free option), French toast and porridge. They also offer vegan ice cream and soft serve. Coffee is made with plant-based milk and is great.
At Eimsbüttel location, they used to have a play corner for kids, which is now gone for some reason. But they have a little box of toys and books.
Good One Cafe — Eimsbütteler Chaussee 71 (Eimsbüttel) and Sternstraße 25 (Schanze)
Braena, pronounced brye-nah (I had to ask), is another great choice for a breakfast in Eimsbüttel. It’s a stylish cafe with bright interior design and a terrace outside for warm days.
This is a great place if you are in the mood for something a little more interesting than your regular eggs and pancakes. You can go for fried eggs with salsa verde and corn tortillas, for example; a sourdough toast with prawns, caviar and pickles; or a vegetarian version of English breakfast.
Coffee is good and there’s an option for bottomless filter coffee, just like in American diners.
Braena — Heußweg 93 (Eimsbüttel)
For a taste of Australian coffee culture in Hamburg, head to Marshall Street. It’s not just a cafe, but a roastery, so you know coffee is going to be top-notch. Although the cafe opened in 2020, the owners, Tristan and Marie, have been working in the coffee industry for the past two decades both in Germany and Australia. The name Marshall Street comes from the street in Sydney where the founder, Tristan, first lived.
As of recently, they have two locations in Hamburg, but beware that only the one in Schopenstehl offers breakfast, the second location has only coffee and pastries.
Marshall Street — Schopenstehl 30 (Altstadt) and Waterloostraße 7 (Eimsbüttel)
Instinct coffee is trendy, stylish, delicious and instantly recognizable by their cute sheep logo. Right next to the cafe you’ll find their sister-business, a vintage furniture store. So you can imagine the cafe’s interior is exquisite: tiled walls, colorful vintage chairs and not one, but two enormous sparkly chandeliers.
The menu has all the regular suspects: eggs, pancakes, and sourdough. Coffee is excellent, they do matcha too and serve it in transparent cans (kinda like cola if you could see through) which looks really cool — I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.
This place is great if you are starting your day in Eimsbüttel. If you sit outside you get a great view of the TV Tower. Planten und Blomen park is steps away.
Instinct Coffee — Rentzelstraße 48 (Eimsbüttel)
Mimosas Brunch Club is the place to go if you are in need of a boozy brunch. And by boozy I mean you want to go all in. These guys offer bottomless mimosas for 1.5 hours at a set price of 33 euros (or Crémant for 55). If you are not in the mood to drink, they have a good range of non-alcoholic cocktails too.
You will need some food to go with the all the drinks, which is when brioche with poached eggs and kimchi or French toast with strawberry-rhubarb compote might come in handy.
Mimosas Brunch Club — Wexstraße 27 (Neustadt) and Eppendorfer Weg 283 (Eppendorf)
I am running out of words to describe the many many amazing spots for breakfast in Hamburg, so I’ll keep this one short and sweet. Kropkå is a tiny cozy cafe on Eppendorfer Weg, a true labor of love.
The interior design was planned and executed by the founders: cute (partly) broken vintage tiles, deep sea green of the walls, and lots of plants. What I love about this place is their dedication to work with the best of the best suppliers, mostly from the region.
The coffee beans come from Cycle Roasters in Lübeck, wine from Weinladen in St. Pauli, chicken and milk — from regional farms. They have a page on their website dedicated to their partners, which says a lot.
Kropkå — Eppendorfer Weg 174 (Eppendorf)
This is where I often end up for lunch (highly recommended! You can create your own bowl by choosing several of their freshly-made salads), but they are equally popular for breakfast.
The service is quite slow as the cafe is always busy, but if you find yourself in Eppendorf and are looking for a healthy-ish start to your day, this place is great. Try to grab a table outside — it’s a good spot for people-watching.
Was Wir Wirklich Lieben — Hegestraße 28 (Eppendorf)
You can also leave a comment if you try one of the places I recommend. This blog is a passion project and I love knowing it was helpful to someone.
Lastly, I will keep updating this post as I explore Hamburg. New amazing spots open every day.
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
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