Haifisch Bar is such an archetype of a Hamburg harbour bar that it almost hurts to see its raw…read morerealness. Loads of dusty, mysterious memorabilia all over the place. Reminding you of the good old days when the rough sailors were there on shore leave for strong drinks, picking fights and the girls.
The furniture and bar are very old-fashioned - but not in that trendy retro way, it just IS original.
A bar, some stools, a few tables and that's it.
The lady behind this bar is profesionally friendly and nothing like the big-mouthed trollop you'd expect.
Drinks are free of any glamour so you'd get your plain Astra or Jever. Prost!
I have also been there for a 2 funky fiestas thrown by a business friend for their clients. So apparently there was food involved for the media people, too.
And guess what?
It was home-style cooking à la Hamburg: a buffet consisting of meatballs, bread rolls with fish, fish cake and potato salad.
And everybody liked it.. as spoilt as they may be. Amazing!
Maybe some thought this place was especially set up for them as a big spectacle?!
So it's definitely worth checking out even though it can get pretty touristy (No photography allowed!).
But if you wish to experience the real Hamburg, please do go.