Built in 1910 as the Reichshof Hamburg, the property reopened in May 2015 after a $34 million restoration and is now known as the Reichshof Hamburg, Curio Collection by Hilton. It has been exquisitely restored to its early grandeur, retaining its original Carrara marble columns, tile flooring, Art Deco façade, gilt chandeliers and handcrafted original walnut paneling in its signature Slowman restaurant.

My renovated room, like the other 277 rooms (reduced from the original 303 rooms), was quite large with a high ceiling, Art Deco flourishes, complimentary WiFi, large-screen HDTV, comfortable modern furnishings and a nice selection of bathroom amenities. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Kirchenallee, a busy street that runs past the main train station located just down the block.

The hotel’s lobby — including sections of the original checkered tile flooring, the framed black-and-white photographs of early Hamburg (including a large photo showing the interior of the hotel shortly after it opened) and the cozy Bar 1910 with its cocktails and premium whiskeys — is incredibly reminiscent of early-20^th-century Europe, although with eclectic touches like the pink artwork hanging from the original lobby chandeliers and the Sushi & Sweets lobby bar, which offers fresh sushi and baked goods from the hotel’s own patisserie.

The hotel’s restaurant, known as Slowman (breakfast, lunch and dinner) opened in the 1920s and preserved its ship-style design reflecting the city’s rich maritime history. With its walnut paneling and configuration, the restaurant’s design takes its inspiration from the mid-19^th-century Hapag cruise line, an employer of the hotel’s original owner.

The hotel features a new fitness center and sauna, and if that is not enough exercise, guests can walk across the street to one of the city’s many bike-docking stations, where rental bikes are available for visitors and residents. Biking is a good way to get around this relatively flat city, but public transport is efficient with several metro lines stopping close to the hotel. The property is within walking distance of Hamburg’s downtown lakes, the new HafenCity redevelopment district and the stunning new Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic Concert Hall).

Guests of the hotel should ask to see the property’s early pioneering technology — a massive indoor car garage with hydraulic lifts. Although the garage is no longer operating (a newer garage is available), it is an amazing relic of the hotel’s early modernization projects.

Reichshof Hamburg, Curio Collection by Hilton

Kirchenallee 34 – 26
20099, Hamburg, Germany
tel 49 40 3702590