The Harbor Explorers are visiting a site unique to Hamburg: the iconic Haifischbar, a sailor’s bar that hasn’t changed since 1947. 

The Haifischbar is one of those places that you hope will stay as authentic as it is for at least another 100 years: inside you’ll find golden pillars, colored window panes, shiny plaques, shark’s teeth, and ropes hanging from the ceiling. It’s the definition of dingy, never modernised. You end up feeling comfortable and unrushed, just sitting on the dusty red plastic benches.

The Haifischbar faces the Elbe, and there are tables outdoors for ship-gazing if the weather is fine. It is located in the Holzhafen, the oldest port in Altona, created in 1722 and originally used for barges that supplied Altona with foodstuffs and building materials. In the second half of the 19th century the Holzhafen became a steamboat port for ferries connecting the harbor with the lower Elbe and Köhlbrand areas.

We’ll have lunch outdoors if weather permits. The Haifischbar has a good selection of inexpensive lunch items, including fish rolls, salads and curry sausages. There is shade, or bring a sun hat! After lunch we can stroll next door to Stilwerk, a collection of fine furniture design shops. Or stroll 5 minutes in the other direction to Frische Paradies, a paradise for foodies on the hunt for unique food items from all over the world. We’ll leave it up to you!

Where: Haifischbar, at Große Elbstraße 128
When: Wednesday, July 10, at 12:00
Cost: You pay for what you eat and drink
Who: Members and their guests are welcome.