Step right into this white beach hotel, which we loved at first sight: Nestled in the unique Treppenviertel neighborhood of Blankenese, this stunning Art Nouveau villa, dating back to 1902, captivates with its beautiful architecture and, of course, its prime location with direct views of the Elbe river.
There’s a special magic in the air here.
That’s our impression, and it’s echoed by Alexander Garbe, the owner, who purchased the property and transformed it into a charming boutique hotel. Garbe, who also leads stilwerk—a platform for design, art, culture, and lifestyle with locations in Hamburg and Düsseldorf—was searching for a place where people could truly engage with his products. This vision led to the creation of two hotels: the stilwerk Hotel Heimhude in Hamburg’s residential Heimhude district, and the stilwerk Strandhotel Blankenese by the Elbe.
THE ROOMS
The new Strandhotel Blankenese features only 12 rooms in the villa and 3 suites in the Captain’s House. The guest rooms, referred to as studios, are quite spectacular: each one is boldly painted in colors that reflect the surrounding environment. The blue represents the water, the yellow evokes the sandy beach along the Elbe, and the green mirrors the lush trees and nature that are so prominent around the hotel in Blankenese. For those who have never visited: Blankenese feels more like a holiday destination than a typical suburb.
Brownie points
While Blankenese itself retains a very old-school charm, the hotel’s atmosphere is relaxed and, above all, creative. It feels more like a beach house that someone has opened up to friends, offering them a space to simply have a good time. In the summer, the vibe is even cooler, as the Stilwerk team has set up a lounge with a bar in the hotel’s front garden. A touch of Sylt in Hamburg, if you will.
Interior Design
The idea behind the two stilwerk hotels is to offer more than just stylish accommodations—they aim to introduce guests to a curated selection of furniture brands in a unique and engaging way. To that end, the hotel features an Interior Consultant Room overlooking the Treppenviertel, where guests can explore and learn about design brands like Northern from Norway, AYTM, RyeBeds, New Works, Nichba, and RackBuddy from Denmark, Dusty Deco or Bolon from Sweden, and Atelier Areti from Italy.
Culinary
At Strandhotel Blankenese, guests can start their day with a relaxing breakfast in the ground-floor dining area, where large windows provide stunning views of the water. The menu features local specialties, with some ingredients sourced directly from nearby farms. The lounge in front of the hotel is open from Thursday to Sunday, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, offering drinks and snacks in a casual, welcoming atmosphere.
The region
The Treppenviertel and Blankenese, easily reachable by S-Bahn from Hamburg’s city center, are unquestionably some of the most scenic spots in the city. Just in front of the hotel, there’s a small pier with a lookout tower and two bars where you can savor authentic fish sandwiches (“Fischbrötchen”) with a local Astra beer, and aperitifs. Large container ships drift by slowly, sometimes alongside a yacht or a fishing boat. From the hotel, taking a bike ride along the Elbe is a must—whether you’re heading into the city or towards the North Sea. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Prices
Doubles from 249 euros including breakfast.
Buchung & Kontakt
stilwerk Strandhotel Blankenese
Strandweg 13
22587 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: 040-861344
