SIDE Design Hotel Hamburg

SIDE Design Hotel Hamburg is an architectural statement and Hamburg's earliest design-hotel address, drawn up by Italian design star Matteo Thun and opened in 2001 on Gansemarkt - a city-center location that has held its value over the years. A pared-back industrial-loft look with exposed concrete, narrow glass facades and an almost theatrical lobby that rises the full height of the building. 178 rooms with restrained, fully designed interiors - not to everyone's taste, but cult viewing for design lovers. The 'Fusion' restaurant (Mediterranean-international), a modern hotel bar and a spa round out the offer. Location: between Gansemarkt, ABC-Strasse and the historic Colonnaden arcade - perfect for theatergoers (the Staatsoper, the Hamburgische Staatsoper and the Schauspielhaus are all within 10 minutes on foot) and shopping towards Jungfernstieg. The practicalities: 5-star, from 240 euros a night, Booking rating 8.7/10 across 1,380 reviews. Getting there: U2 Gansemarkt right outside, S-/U-Bahn Jungfernstieg 5 minutes on foot, Hauptbahnhof 10 minutes. Ideal for: architecture and design travelers, theater weekends and honeymooners with modern taste.