Neustadt · Steak

Block House Gänsemarkt

The Hamburg steak chain in its oldest city-centre location — fillet, rump steak, baked potato.

Block House on the Gänsemarkt is a Hamburg institution. Eugen Block opened the first venue of his steakhouse idea in Eppendorf in 1968 — Argentinian beef, a clear menu, charcoal grill. The Gänsemarkt branch is one of the oldest city-centre locations and stands for the Hanseatic middle ground between family restaurant and steakhouse classic. The Block group today also includes Jim Block, the Grand Elysée and the meat plant in Zarrentin, which supplies the branches with dry-aged beef. The location on the Gänsemarkt is at the core of the Neustadt: a few steps from the Staatsoper, the Colonnaden arcade and the Jungfernstieg, set among offices, theatres and shopping streets. The menu has followed the same principle for decades: rump steak, fillet, sirloin steak and the Block House steak from the charcoal grill, with the house's signature baked potato with sour-cream-and-herb dip, garlic bread and the well-known mixed salad with house dressing. No daily special, no experiments — that is the concept, not an oversight. The interior sticks to dark wood, leather banquettes and muted lighting, more tavern-steakhouse than design temple. Brisk and businesslike at lunchtime, calmer in the evening. Reservations are recommended above all on Friday and Saturday; walk-in at lunch and during the week is usually no problem. Price level €€€: mains range between 28 and 42 euros, sides and salad are included in the steak price, wines from around 30 euros a bottle. Getting there: U2 Gänsemarkt right outside the door, U1/U3 Jungfernstieg six minutes on foot, S-Bahn Stadthausbrücke eight minutes. About twelve minutes on foot from the Hauptbahnhof. Ideal for business dinners, family occasions and anyone in Hamburg who wants a reliable steak without surprises.