Review: ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg has the "Most Stylish Toilet 2013"

ARCOTEL Hotels was delighted to be presented with a somewhat different type of award in March 2013: The toilets in the ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg, which was newly opened in 2012, were voted by Tempo as the "Most Stylish Toilet 2013".

The address of the hotel, Reeperbahn 1A, suggests the need for a very unique type of toilet. The owner of the ARCOTEL Group, Dr. Renate Wimmer, also recognised this and set up a "public toilet workgroup" for this purpose. "We all delved into our imaginations at the first meeting – someone even suggested a 'dog toilet'", says Dr. Renate Wimmer. It was important, however, that the toilets weren’t too strange. This gave Dr. Renate Wimmer the idea of using mosaic art to create a magnificent male figure in the ladies’ toilets and a seductive female figure in the men’s toilets. The stylish works of art were created from individual stones and hand-fitted. An additional highlight for the ladies’ toilets: visitors have a choice of cubicle size - S, M, L and XL.

ARCOTEL owner Dr. Renate Wimmer, along with the entire team at ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg, is pleased to be presented with this very unique award. "Our thanks go to Tempo for organising this excellent and ‘somewhat different’ competition. Most importantly, thank you to our guests! We are delighted that visitors to the ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg enjoy even the toilet facilities", says Dr. Renate Wimmer.

Anyone wanting to visit this special toilet should arrange a visit to Hamburg straight away!

ARCOTEL Onyx

20359 Hamburg | Reeperbahn 1 A

T +49 40 209 409-0 | F +49 40 209 409-2550

E onyx@arcotelhotels.com | www.arcotelhotels.com/onyx

Simply a hit

Once again this year crazy outfits, brightly coloured hair and colourful glasses captured Hamburg's inner city – and the ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg was right in the middle of it all. Every summer since 1997 the Schlagermove Festival has made its way through the famous St. Pauli district. This year's "colourful festival of love" took place on June 28th, 2014. The world's largest Schlager (hit music from the 1970s and 1980s) party delights Schlager fans from all over Germany, and recorded approx. 500,000 visitors this year despite the rainy weather.

The heart of the festival was a procession of 45 colourfully decorated floats, which made their way from Heiligengeistfeld to the Landungsbrücken and the Millerntorplatz, then back to Heiligengeistfeld. The ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg, with its location at the start of the Reeperbahn, is directly in the middle of the action, and at the same time was a small rest area for stranded Schlager fans, to who we were happy to open our doors as a meeting point or as an oasis for refuelling. In the middle of the action, not just a spectator – the party atmosphere infected the whole building; guests and employees celebrated the festival together. 

Following the Schlagermove there was, as always, a large Aftermove party on the Heiligengeistfeld, in a party space of over 6,000 square meters and with five party tents. A colourful DJ program and live performances from Heino and others ensured a great atmosphere until deep into the night.

We are already looking forward to the Schlagermove in 2015!

ARCOTEL Onyx

20359 Hamburg | Reeperbahn 1 A

T +49 40 209 409-0 | F +49 40 209 409-2550

E onyx@arcotelhotels.com | www.arcotelhotels.com/onyx

Discover the secrets of St. Pauli

The ARCOTEL Onyx is situated on the Reeperbahn at the heart of Hamburg’s famous entertainment district St. Pauli and we like to think that this unique location is reflected in the character of the hotel. The key to understanding it is to get out and explore the fascinating area in which it is located.

To celebrate 25 years of ARCOTEL Hotels we invited guests to join us for an extraordinary tour of Hamburg’s most famous quarter.

And what better starting-point for any tour of the ‘Kiez’ (the local name for this district) than our Kiez room! Directly overlooking the Reeperbahn it gives a real ‘feel’ for the character of this part of Hamburg and is furnished in suitably exotic style, with a purple designer sofa, a headboard in the shape of a pair of lips and a pole-dancing pole! The room also features a glass cabinet containing original exhibits from the St. Pauli Museum, carefully chosen to give a flavour of life in the ‘Kiez’ and how it has changed over the years.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the ARCOTEL Onyx, and directly opposite the Davidwache police station, is the Casino Reeperbahn. Visitors to the authentically-styled casino suite can learn all about the fascinating world of poker and even get to try out their skills (with guidance, of course) in a friendly tournament. Don’t forget these tips from the professionals – always keep your opponent guessing, brush up on that probability theory… and don’t forget the dark glasses!

The next stop on our tour is the St. Pauli Museum in Davidstrasse. A walk around this collection of unique exhibits gives a real insight into the eventful history of the St. Pauli district from medieval times right up to the present day. Find out what the origins of this ‘naughty’ part of town have to do with, of all things, a monastery, why Herbertstrasse has gates to keep out prying eyes and why Nutella is much more than just something you spread on your bread! And when you have had enough history for the day, there is always table football to keep you amused or maybe a drink and some live music in the museum’s trendy bar.

Those on the lookout for a good place to eat will find the ideal spot just a few yards away - the Schatto Pauli theatre restaurant. Whether you are off to the theatre or sampling the city’s nightspots, a tourist or a local - at Schatto Pauli every guest is king! What better way to get your evening started than to sit at a long table with friends old and new and soak up the charming, rustic atmosphere of this wonderful eatery? The house speciality, the legendary “Original Wiener Schnitzel”, is definitely a treat too good to miss. And with the Schmidts TIVOLI theatre literally just the other side of the wall, the Schatto Pauli could not be more convenient for theatregoers.

Our tour takes us finally next door to the famous Schmidts TIVOLI theatre and its long-running hit musical “Heisse Ecke”, set in St. Pauli. Since it opened back in 2003, this ever-popular Kiez classic has entertained over 1.5 million people, making it the most successful German-language musical production to date. The cast of nine actors and actresses take on over 50 different roles in a fast-paced show based on different stories played out over a period of 24 hours at the local “Heisse Ecke” snack-bar. With music from a superb live orchestra this really is an exciting production, which offers us a glimpse of the craziness of day-to-day life on the Reeperbahn.

As things start to really get going in the many bars and clubs clustered along the Reeperbahn, so our tour of Hamburg’s ‘saucy’ side ends, appropriately enough, with a currywurst and a bottle of Astra beer at the “Heisse Ecke” snack bar across the road from the theatre.

Like the sound of this amazing tour? Then join us at the ARCOTEL Onyx on the Reeperbahn!

ARCOTEL Onyx

20359 Hamburg | Reeperbahn 1 A

T +49 40 209 409-0 | F +49 40 209 409-2550 

E onyx@arcotelhotels.com | www.arcotelhotels.com/onyx

ARCOTEL Hotels – The Story of a Name

Founder Raimund D. Wimmer

It all started with the vision of ARCOTEL Hotels founder Raimund Wimmer to develop an Austrian hotel group in which each hotel has its own unique personality. But a great company needs a great name! And so ideas were hatched and suggestions made until, after much discussion, the name ARCOTEL Hotels was born.   

the origin logo of the ARCOTEL group

But why ARCOTEL? What is the deeper meaning behind this artificial word? The syllables are easily explained: ARCus (lat. arch) and ÔTEL (German with a French accent, the guesthouse). The name blends two concepts and expresses Raimund Wimmer’s idea of spanning an arc between the host and the guest and offering guests a home from home. This in turn led to our corporate philosophy of "passionate hosts", which the teams at ARCOTEL Hotels having been putting into practice for more than 25 years now.

But the unofficial explanation for the name is this: Raimund Wimmer wanted his guests to find him as quickly as possible. He therefore chose a name that would come pretty near the front of the telephone directory – even in those days, our founder was ahead of his time, because in a way, he was already doing "search engine optimisation" 25 years ago. 

What Hamburg is not.. part II

... or Six Misconceptions about Hamburg

A (tongue-in-check) expertise. Even though Iam not from Hamburg, and in fact wasn’t even born in Germany, I have been living in this Hanseatic city for several years now. And I love it. All towns, countries and even city districts sometimes have a hard time living down prejudices that people have about them. Hamburg is no exception. But enough of that! Let’s get straight down to Part II of six Misconceptions about Hamburg.


4. There is plenty of tasty fish in Hamburg
The fish are a rather tricky matter. Every Hamburger and, above all, every visitor to Hamburg, has heard of the famous "Fischmarkt". But you can also get bananas, salami, latte macchiato, vegetables and even household plants, such as yuccas, at the Fischmarkt. With more than 60,000 visitors per week, the fish market is definitely a tourist attraction. But in fact, nowadays most of the fish is transported deep-frozen to Hamburg by lorry and air. Hardly any freshly caught fish is landed now. This explains why the range of fish and fish restaurants is really no different to that in other large inland cities. Sorry, Hamburg, but these days, the plentiful supply of fish fresh off the boats is more of a myth than reality.

5. Hamburg equals harbour, bricks and water
Hamburg is often used as the backdrop for TV formats and films. And so the images of a typical port city with lots of water, red brick or clinker brink buildings and old grey houses with green slip roofs have spread. Of course, Hamburg has all of that. But Hamburg is also a very green city. Almost 14% of the metropolitan area is green space and there are roughly 1,400 parks. Just a few minutes’ walk away from the ARCOTEL Onyx is the 500,000 m2 Planten un Blomenpark in the heart of the city and at the start of the Reeperbahn.Or the Stadtpark, which with 150 hectares is three times bigger, and boasts a planetarium, ecological swimming pool and open-air pool, a lake, an open-air stage for concerts as well as playgrounds, barbecuing areas and of course plenty of vegetation.

6. "Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg"
Every year in May, Hamburg celebrates the birthday of the port of Hamburg with a massive spectacle that this year drew more than 1.5 million visitors. Hamburg‘s wealth and prosperity really is closely linked to the port and so the city’s residents always enjoy remembering 7 May 1189. This was when Emperor Frederick Barbarossa consented to the establishment of the harbour and granted Hamburg the status of an Imperial Free City which bestowed numerous privileges such as exemption from customs duties, free trade and fishing rights. Except the document that can still be found in the Hamburg State Archive is a forgery! It was made some 70 years after Barbarossa’s death. So strictly speaking, Hamburg is neither “free” nor a “Hanseatic city”. Scholars and historians are still debating the exact circumstances under which the document was produced and whether it is merely a 14th century copy of the original document that had been lost.

Yet whatever the case, Hamburg is and remains a wonderful city with wonderful people. I love it here!

What Hamburg is not..

... or Six Misconceptions about Hamburg

A (tongue-in-check) expertise. Even though Iam not from Hamburg, and in fact wasn’t even born in Germany, I have been living in this Hanseatic city for several years now. And I love it. All towns, countries and even city districts sometimes have a hard time living down prejudices that people have about them. Hamburg is no exception. But enough of that! Let’s get straight down to Part Iof six Misconceptions about Hamburg.

1. People from Hamburg are Cold and Reserved
I’ve only ever encountered cold Hamburgers in fast food restaurants. Hamburg is a large city with more than 1.8 million inhabitants. As the sobriquet "Gateway to the World" implies, Hamburg is and always has been more than a place from where people leave to make their way in the big, wide world, it’s also a place of arrival. And this of course raises the question of “who” is actually a typical Hamburger? As in every other large city, the population is now made up of people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds; there are even rumours that some Bavarians have settled here. As in every city, there are some people who are friendly, others who are less friendly, some who are reserved, others who are open and welcoming (and this list can be expanded indefinitely!). In the end of course the old saying is true: “you reap what you sow.” I have always found Hamburgers to be very friendly, helpful and pleasant, but perhaps that was also down to my way of “sowing".

2. There’s always a wind in Hamburg and it rains all the time
Definitely not. Sometimes it rains when there is no wind and sometimes there’s a wind but no rain. In fact, the amount of rainfall in Hamburg is no greater than the German average. If the statistics can be believed, it actually rains more on an annual average in Bavaria (sorry Bavarians, I’m using you again as an example) and in North Rhine Westphalia. My personal feeling is that this could be true, but in Hamburg the amount of rainfall is distributed over several days. So, for example,100 litres of rain might fall in 5 hours in Baden-Württemberg, but in Hamburg the 100 litres falls over 3 days. And so it’s called greater air humidity – but you get wet all the same. Seriously though, we have some lovely weather in Hamburg; this year we had a fantastic summer for example. But it can’t be helped: the image of the Hanseatic sea dog, in his oilskin battered by rain and storm has become firmly entrenched in the popular imagination. That’s just how it is in the far north, in the port city on the coast. This brings me to the next misconception!

3. Hamburg is on the Coast
When I’m travelling and am asked where I come from, I’m often astonished at people’s reaction when I say "Hamburg". Usually, they then say oh yes, Hamburg, the Reeperbahn (we’ll get to that later), the harbour and the sea (or perhaps the North Sea and sometimes the Baltic). The sea? Yes, of course there’s water, and plenty of it, and there are bridges, more than in Venice and of course the port. Although the Port of Hamburg is the second-largest in Europe, (Rotterdam is a neck ahead at the moment), you can’t chug out on a boat for a few minutes and find yourself rocking on the waves of the North Sea. You have to chug along for about a 100 kilometres to get to the mouth of the Elbe in the North Sea. So forget any idea you might have about seeing the sea in Hamburg. But then when I find myself down at the harbour, hear the cry of the seagulls, the dull sound of the ships horns vibrate in my stomach and watch the water ballet performed by the giant ships and small fishing boats, then I find myself thinking that Hamburg is perhaps on the coast after all.
All I can say is: I love you, you pearl of the north.

And anyone who doesn’t believe what I’ve written should quickly book a holiday in Hamburg and see for themselves.

to be continued!

What a (Theatre) Performance in St. Pauli

St. Pauli, or more specifically the Reeperbahn, also known as the most sinful mile in the world, is one of Hamburg’s leading tourist attractions. But locals too have always enjoyed spending time on “sin street” and seeing one of the many brilliant shows or theatre productions there.

So as you see, the Reeperbahn is not just for party people and clubbers. Just a few minutes’ away from the ARCOTEL Onyx you’ll find award-winning productions like The King’s Speech, entertaining classics by Agatha Christie and musical productions with tricks that are fit for a circus.

We would like to briefly introduce the Top 6 most popular playhouses in St. Pauli.
A blog in two acts, featuring

Act I:
St. Pauli Theater
Schmidt Theater
Schmidts TIVOLI

Act II: (Preview)
TUI Operetta House
Fliegende Bauten
Imperial Theater

St. Pauli Theater
The St. Pauli Theater is one of the oldest theatres in Germany. This listed playhouse is situated in the heart of the neighbourhood, right on the Reeperbahn, next door to the famous Davidwache police station. For many years, the theatre only staged guest performances, but since Thomas Collien and Ulrich Waller took over, it has gained a reputation as a theatre with some of the most innovative productions in Hamburg. A quote from the St. Pauli Theater website illustrates the current concept very nicely: "The St. Pauli Theater deliberately does not want to be a state or municipal theatre with a programme that could just as well be shown at the Schauspielhaus or the Thalia. The location, the proximity to the Davidwache and the rough wind of the Reeperbahn demand a certain programmatic focus. Pieces here have to be robust and popular but without being populist. Intelligent entertainment in outstanding quality, with the best actors.... "

Current Highlight: Linie S1- The Hamburg Musical
Programme: Preview for the month

Schmidt Theater
The Schmidt Theater took up its work at precisely 8 minutes past 8 on 8.8.88 when Corny Littmann and Ernie Reinhardt (better known as Lilo Wanders) fulfilled their dream of a playhouse of their own. The former Kaiserhof dance hall on the Reeperbahn thus became the meeting point and a springboard for a host of German and international stars and starlets, including Hildegard Knef, Heidi Kabel, Harald Juhnke and Dirk Bach to name just a few. The Schmidt Theater opened its doors again on 8.8.2005, freshly renovated and with its audience capacity doubled to 420, having lost nothing of its red velvet and plush factor. Today, the theatre delights young and old with unique productions like "Villa Sonnenschein", or the "Schmidt-Wintergala" and its productions for children such as "Es war einmal, 7 Märchen auf einen Streich".

Current Highlight: DIE KÖNIGS VOM KIEZ
Programme: Programme

Schmidts TIVOLI
Just next door, or more accurately almost next door, to the Schmidt Theater is Schmidts TIVOLI. Many people say it has the most beautiful auditorium in Hamburg. From 1925 to 1990 the former beer garden (which until early 1900 did not even have a roof), was home to a Bavarian restaurant with the Tyrolean name ZILLERTAL. In 1991 it was taken over by Corny Littmann and Prof. Norbert Aust (who for 11 years was the Dean of the Hamburg University of Economics and Politics). Renovation work uncovered old murals and frescoes, which today give the theatre a very special charm. The octagonal auditorium has room for 620 theatre-goers and a stage that projects into the room, allowing actors and audience to get close up to one another. The theatre stages both dramas, such as the smash one-man piece CAVEMAN, and musical productions, in particular HEIßE ECKE - the St. Pauli musical. And the HEIßE ECKE, which has already been seen by 1.5 million visitors, is not the only piece at Schmidts TIVOLI to have been completely produced by the theatre itself (idea, text, music, etc.).

Current Highlight: HEIßE ECKE–The St.Pauli Musical
Programme: Programme

It doesn’t always have to be St. Pauli!

Without a doubt, St. Pauli, home to the harbour and the Reeperbahn, is one of the most exciting districts of Hamburg. But there’s much more to the city than St. Pauli. Whether you’re looking for a bar, restaurant or suggestions for a trip to the surrounding countryside, Calido Cumbassa, a page at the ARCOTEL Onyx, always has a couple of good tips up his sleeve for our guests.

Küchenwerkstatt
The name says it all at this restaurant, with its strong emphasis on culinary skills. Moreover, seasonal creations, be they fish, meat or vegetables, really are seasonal. In 2009 the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star. You can simply taste the fact that chef Gerald Zogbaum insists that everything that comes onto your plate is fresh and homemade. And he loves to surprise guests by using traditional, almost forgotten, types of vegetables or herbs in his dishes.
www.kuechenwerkstatt-hamburg.de

GOLEM
If you are looking for something beyond the Hamburg mainstream, then I would recommend the GOLEM.This is a bar where skilfully mixed cocktails, champagne and draught beer meet in a most unconventional fashion. No one is chasing trends here. But perhaps that is precisely why GOLEM is something of a trend itself. And then there are usually other events going on as well – from music to films. And what about the legendary book shelf? Come and find out!
http://golem.kr

Altes Land
The "Altes Land" is just a stone’s throw away from Hamburg and is the largest contiguous fruit-producing region in Northern Europe. But it has more to offer than fresh fruit and a charming landscape; the real "Altländer cuisine" is another attraction. A number of restaurants and inns have taken up the cause of regional cuisine and offer tasty specialities like "Diekpedder" or "cherry soup". And you should definitely try a piece of "Altländer apple streusel cake" made with fresh fruit from the region.
www.tourismus-altesland.de

Hamburg is simply a wonderful place for hiking!

Anybody who enjoys hiking when on holiday is unlikely to think of Hamburg as an obvious place to do so. They are far more likely to have images of the harbour or the Reeperbahn in their minds or hear the voices of Hans Albers and Freddy Quinn. And then, there are the famous clubs, such as the Indra or the Star Club and, of course, the Beatles. Red double-decker busses, the Fish Market, real Jack Tars, the rugged North. To say nothing of events such as the DOM, the "Hafengeburtstag", the "Schlagermove", the "Reeperbahnfestival", "EllbJazz" and various open air concerts.

But hiking? The city on the Elbe in northern Germany is not only an amazingly vibrant city; it’s also a great place for hiking – both within the city and around it. As the painter Paul Klee said, “You can see so much more on foot”.

Alster Trail
The Alster Trail starts in Schleswig-Holstein and extends to the mouth of the Elbe in Hamburg. As part of the "Via Baltica", the North German "Camino de Santiago", it is some 36 km long in total. The Alster Trail meets the Elbe Trail at the mouth of the Elbe, which means that it is possible to hike through Hamburg from north to west. You can also travel some of the way by boat, rowing boats or pedal boats can be borrowed along the route. 

Boberger Lowland & Borberger Dunes
Hamburg’s last shifting dune is part of one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Germany. South-east of Hamburg, on the edge of the glacial reaches of the Elbe, this beautiful landscape between Kirchsteinbeck and Bergedorf covers an area of some 350 ha. Hiking through sandy areas, dry grassland, alder forests, past wetland habitats, you meet a plethora of rare and protected plants and animals such as wild orchids on the "Geesthang", green woodpeckers, kingfishers, sand lizards and moor frogs.

Raakmoor
Hamburg’s tallest hill is located here in Raakmoor. A full 103 metres above sea level, you have a glorious panoramic view from the "summit". Raakmoor is a remnant from the last ice age and is now a nature reserve. Rare animals and plants, such as the emperor dragonfly or the marsh gentian, have also settled her. The area is full of romantic hiking trails, restored ditches and there is even a small lake waiting to be discovered.

Through the Streets of Hamburg with a Camera

An increasing number of people are discovering their creative bent and combining their hobby with a city break. Hamburg, with its many different facets, is a real paradise for photographers in search of the perfect shot.

On the one hand, there is contemporary Hamburg, with the Hafencity andexciting buildings like the Elbe Philharmonic Hall (even if it isn’t quite finished yet) and the "Berliner Bogen" on Anckelmannsplatz. And of course, the "Tanzende Türme" that are right next door to the ARCOTEL Onyx on the Reeperbahn. Yet as well as the many new buildings, Hamburg also has plenty to offer in the way of spectacular "mixed architecture". Set off with your camera to explore the Speicherstadt  warehouse district and you’ll findimposing brick buildings, sometimes complemented by contemporary glass and steel architecture. Incidentally, the Speicherstadt is the largest continuous warehouse complex in the world. And of course, the city on the Elbe also has a host of historic buildings, churches, monuments and all sorts of other architecturally exciting motifs.

But Hamburg is not just a treat for architecture lovers. If you‘re on the lookout for "urban life style", hoping to capture "real life", the various districts of the Hanseatic city have plenty to offer by both day and night. First and foremost of course on the Reeperbahn. Whether you go at half past one in the morning or at dawn when the "world’s most sinful mile" is still asleep, the district of St.Pauli will set your photographer‘s heart racing. Things are much more dignified around the Alster and the quintessence of the Hanseatic bourgeoisie can best be photographed in Blankenese. If you fancy a complete contrast you should definitely take your camera to the trendy, whimsical and controversial "Schanzenviertel". And don’t be afraid to go looking for shots in the small side streets away from the "Sternschanze" or the "Schulterblatt". It really is worth it.

If you want a bit of everything, you should try the district of St. Georg. This area, which is home to our second hotel, the ARCOTEL Rubin, is a reflection of Hamburg in all its facets – from the trendy Lange Reihe, to the multicultural Steindamm.

The extensive port area, parks such as "Planten un blomen" and the Stadtpark, the Inner and Outer Alster lakes, and the nearby "Altes Land" offer perfect subjects for wide format and detailed landscape photography.

So polish your lenses, pack your camera bag and set off on your Hamburg photo safari.

Wax, or real life

On the Spielbudenplatz, just a few minutes' walk from the ARCOTEL Onyx in Hamburg, you will find the Panoptikum, one of the oldest waxworks in Germany. It was established in 1879 by Friedrich Hermann Faerber and is now managed by the fourth generation of the family in the shape of Dr. Hayo Faerber.

130 years ago, wax figures of famous people, including criminals and rare sights such as "dwarves" and "giants", were the only way for many people to actually see these persons first-hand. Most of the press was just text, no pictures, and all other media had yet to be invented.
The Panoptikum is the only wax museum from this time that is still in operation. However, there are not only historical figures on display, the exhibits are constantly expanded with new additions, such as Karl Lagerfeld, Lena Meyer-Landrut or Robbie Williams.
Of course, situated on "Spielbudenplatz" the link to the Reeperbahn and St. Pauli is important. Here you can meet local legends such as Anita Niehoff, who was known as "Domenica", not to mention Hans Albers and Freddy Quinn. And Udo Lindenberg, or his wax double, invites you to come and meet him on his beloved "Geile Meile" (Sin Street).

One very interesting part of the exhibition is where they show you how the waxworks are made. It takes between nine and twelve months for the artists and sculptors to create a new figure. These hand-made "works of art" are made with an eye for detail in many small, individual steps.

Visiting the Panoptikum is by all means a fantastic experience for both young and old.
And there's only one rule: don't leave your camera at home!

From "Trichter" to hotel

"Beim Trichter", this is the name of the street connecting Zirkusweg with Reeperbahn, and the ARCOTEL Onyx Hamburg is situated on the triangular piece of land bordered by these three streets.

Today it is principally a meeting place for business people and individual tourists, but roughly 150 years ago there was a small wooden pavilion in the form of a funnel. Back then, this part of the city was known as the district before the "Millerntor". Nobody suspected that it would one day become probably the most famous part of Hamburg, if not in the whole of Germany. The "Trichter" (funnel) quickly became a popular place to be, where small refreshments were available along with dancing and music from time to time.

During the period of the French occupation around 1806, the Reeperbahn was considered the "promenade d'amusement entre Hambourg et Altona". For the first time, the "Trichter" offered something quite spectacular: a panoramic rotunda was added, in which landscapes, mythological scenes or historical events could be viewed with a 360° panorama.

In 1814 the suburb was almost completely destroyed by fire, which engulfed the "Trichter" too. After being rebuilt in 1820 with an open veranda and billiards room it was bought by restaurateur Theodor Mutzenbecher and replaced with a more solid building. The "Trichter" was renamed by the new owner, and called "Mutzenbecher's Beer Hall".

You can "experience" just how this exciting piece of history continued to develop (from beer hall to concert hall) and how it eventually took on its current form of the 4-star-superior ARCOTEL Onyx Hotel by visiting our themed room, the "Kiez room" with original exhibits and photos from the St. Pauli Museum.

Photocredit: Hamburger Staatsarchiv