Ever since I moved to Hamburg, the Waagenbau has been like a home to me. Owned in part by a good…read morefriend of mine, the Waagenbau has turned into my weekend default and in some cases, a home away from home. It's nice to go "where everybody knows your name". I've spent many-an-hour in the Waagenbau office, drinking beer and watching movies on DVD or painful BMX bloopers on Youtube.
Parties at the Waagenbau are always different. I'm a fan of electronic music, so Strom (electro) and Hoch10 (Drum n' Bass) are the evenings in which you'll normally find me there. The Waagenbau has many one-off parties and special international guests, so check their website for the program or pick up a flyer (which are scattered all around the Schanze).
Their dance-hall area is roomy enough (but when it gets packed, it gets packed, the bar area is comfortable for both the "sit and drink"-ers and the "stand and talk"-ers. Waagenbau have a kicker table and a coatroom, and there's even a radio station hidden inside (but I didn't tell you that).
The Waagenbau crew are all great people, some of which are exceptionally creative - it shows in the Waagenbau's flyers, photos and promotions - all in-house jobs. The bartenders enjoy their jobs and it shows.
The Waagenbau can also be rented for private venues and events, but the noise of the S-bahn going past (above your head, every four minutes) makes it not such a good place for a presentation (we've tried). Having a closed-zone for a birthday party as party of one of Waagenbau's standard weekend parties works well, though!
I realize that I'm very biased, it's impossible for me to write a standard review from the point of view of someone who knows the Waagenbau on different, less personal, terms. But I honestly love the Waagenbau, and hope you will, too.