During one of my visits to Hamburg, I simply “had to” finally check into the Westin Hamburg. Why? Well, on one hand the architecture genuinely impressed me, but on the other hand I have to say the price was quite attractive too.
BookingAs always, I booked directly through Marriott to collect points and enjoy membership benefits. Combining this with cashback makes it doubly rewarding.
Check-In
When you enter the Westin, you arrive essentially “below” the reception desk. You then take the lift up one floor and find yourself in the expansive lobby. Worth noting here: the lobby is open to the public. Thanks to the truly impressive architecture, many visitors come through and are free to walk around the hotel on the lobby level. The check-in process went very smoothly — there are a handful of reviews out there where things didn’t go as well, but I can’t confirm that experience. Staff also insisted on accompanying me to my room and explaining all the amenities once more.
Room
I have to give a big compliment here. I had booked a Classic Elbphilharmonie room, but received an upgrade to the Deluxe room with Harbour View. This is truly magnificent. It’s open, flooded with natural light, and has a design I found quite accomplished.
The entrance area is very spacious, with more than enough storage for luggage and the like.
The desk not only looks great but is actually functional — a quality that isn’t always a given. A small but lovely welcome amenity was also waiting for me there.
The wide window front lets in plenty of natural light, making everything feel even more welcoming. The bathroom looks modern and comes stocked with all the toiletries you could need. More can be brought to the room on request — a promise that is genuinely kept here.
The view from the room is truly beautiful; you can see not only the square below but also catch a glimpse of the harbour.
Even in the bathroom this view is ever-present. The bedroom also has everything you need — complimentary water, an espresso machine, and simply everything to make you feel at home.
One small side note: for a very modest fee you can also rent running shoes and gear. The brand is New Balance and it’s well worth trying. Simply call down, they note your shoe size and deliver everything to your room. This is a fantastic feature offered by Westin properties — not just the one in Hamburg.
The bathroom is generously sized and modern, with plenty of shampoo and toiletries provided in the familiar small bottles.
Lounge
Throughout the day you’re offered various small snacks and soft drinks. In my opinion, absolutely worthwhile — from 6 pm onwards, warm dishes and alcoholic beverages are added as well. Here too, quality takes precedence over quantity, but it worked perfectly for me.
Breakfast
You’re shown to a table, and the service still has room for improvement here and there, but overall I was very satisfied. The selection of food is excellent and fresh. Unfortunately, due to the number of guests, I wasn’t able to take many photos. I did manage to have Eggs Benedict though, and it was truly superb.
Fitness / Recreation
In addition to a small fitness room, there is also a — shockingly — tiny swimming pool. I wasn’t able to photograph the pool, but if I’m being polite about it, hotel photos do tend to be taken from rather flattering angles.
Check-Out
After a far too short stay, it was time to head back. Everything went smoothly here. One final note about the wonderful staff on the first floor (concierge): complimentary water is available and they’ll provide all the information you might need.
Verdict
Would I come back? Absolutely — you do need to keep an eye on the price, but with the benefits of an elite membership, this hotel delivers something architecturally stunning while also having a team that genuinely seems to enjoy working there. The rooms are wonderful, and of course the nicer room makes you all the more eager to return.
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