Strips & Stories is still St Pauli’s first Bookshop, opened up two years ago in the Seilerstraße. They are basically focused on Comics and Graphic Novels and they offer a very specific range of books, novels, magazines and comics. Furthermore there is some space for current political, cultural or urban topics. I love this really tiny store, and I like that they offer such a small and clear selection with very inspiring titles.

Beyond this they regularly host events in their store such as readings, small exhibitions or concerts. Sometimes they do this in cooperation with the gallery Chéz Linda (who moved from Hein-Hoyer-Straße to the Seilerstraße). You can check their website for current dates.

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Strips & Stories | Art & culture, Shopping | Book € 20.00
Seilerstraße 40 | Sankt Pauli | +494038074009
Tue – Fri 12:00 – 20:00, Sat 13:00 – 19:00

As I LOVE everything about cooking, food and eating (I read cookbooks like other people read novels) this place is one of my favorite spots.

The Kochkontor is a mixture of bookstore and restaurant. They sell cookbooks of all shades, from different countries, about different topics – everything your culinary heart could wish for.

Included in this shop is a big open-space kitchen and a few tables. Every day they select one of their incredible plenty of books and cook one or two dishes for lunch. You should go there early as there are only a few tables for many potential guests. If you liked your dish you may just buy the appropriate book or any other book that caught your eye.

If you have the possibility and you speak German you can also participate in one of their cooking classes. I haven’t done this yet, but it’s definitely on my agenda. I would probably choose „Classique – French cuisine”. Have a look at the dates on their homepage. Many classes are booked out long before.

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Kochkontor | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants | Lunch dish € 8.00
Karolinenstraße 27 | Karoviertel | +494043216036
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00

I associate very special or at least just beautiful-days-without-a-special-cause with the Atlantik Fisch. Atlantik Fisch is a shop with diner located in the Große Elbstraße directly at the harbor. And guess what you get there: everything the ocean has to give. From oysters, gambas, crabs to diverse shells and fishes – you will find everything.

I always go there on Christmas eve about noon to buy Irish oysters for my family and me and then I get a glass of white wine or champagne and have some oysters already for lunch. The interior is very simple and pragmatic, you sit on wooden benches between this great selection of sea-fruits and look at the flurry of activity.

We go there as well in summer times to have oysters, white wine and baguette, sitting in the sun and enjoying our lifes. Sad to say, that’s not our everyday program, it’s rather reserved for some special days.

Go there if you like high quality seafood or need something really special, you will find it here. Or just enjoy the harbor atmosphere and have a salmon sandwich – as you like.

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Atlantik Fisch | Bars, Shopping, Snacks | Seafood dish € 6.00
Große Elbstraße 139 | Harbour | +4940391123
09:00 – 18:00 daily

The Human Empire is a design and illustration studio that works for a lot of interesting and international clients, lots of them come from the fashion-, music-, art- or culture-section. For example they designed for a lot of musicians including Feist, Deathcab for Cutie or Architecture in Helsinki. They do good stuff, which you may see on their website.

Since 2007 they run a small store in the Schanzenviertel. You can buy creative things there from posters to clothes and books and accessories. 

All posters are created by young and aspiring international illustrators, graphic designers or artist and so are most of the clothes. Meanwhile they carry some interesting international fashion brands which are not easy get in hamburg such as Happy Socks, Sitka or Rvlt and hence Sandqvist. The books they offer cover the latest in design, typography or illustration, furthermore they have a beautiful selection of kids books and accessories. Prices are very affordable; you can buy posters from 10 EUR.

I go there whenever I need a special gift or just to buy myself new stuff for my walls or for my collection of design books. You will love it, if you are into in design and creative things and fashion.

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Human Empire | Art & culture, Shopping | Poster € 10.00
Schulterblatt 132 | Schanze | +494022626811
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 19:00, Sat 12:00 – 18:00

DAS MAGAZIN is a room for international printing culture, design and art, run by Art lawyer Jens Brelle.

When this tiny space next to the Michel opened up last year, we did our Pop-Up Magazine Store there. Since this is over many interesting events – such as talks (for example Juli Gudehus introduced her “Lesikon”), Release-Parties (for exmple the Hamburg Based “Superkraft” Magazine”) or theme nights (We make Urban Magazines – a night on city magazines) followed.

DAS MAGAZIN is a relaxed place and you may find interesting people hanging out there, drinking beer and lemonade and celebrating this very small independent magazine scene in hamburg. it is worth to go there! You can check their current program via their Facebook page.

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DAS MAGAZIN | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping | Beer € 2.00
Teilfeld 8 | City center
depends on events

Gudberg was founded as an agency for graphic design more then ten years ago. Today they are still doing great work in the fields of corporate-, editorial-, graphic-, interior- and web-design. Beyond this they publish their own or other’s book- or magazine-projects, they have their own magazine called “Gudberg” AND they run a small gallery with a selection of great books and magazines to purchase there (or online).

From time to time I visit them and browse through their range of books and magazines. I really like this place. Not only their interior (which was designed by themselves of course) but the idea of sharing working-space, gallery and a small shop in one location.

I recommend going there and getting inspiration from these great selection of publications.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gudberg Gallery | Art & culture, Shopping | Book € 20.00
Poolstrasse 8 | City center | +49408195150
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:00

People who like cooking, knitting, backing, working with wood, gardening, sewing are maybe the so called “do-it-youself (DIY)-individuals. But it’s not just a trend phase – it was, is and will be always up to date.

When I saw the shop Frau Tulpe (Mrs Tulip) the first time, I was a bit pissed because an old-Altona’er herbs shop Kräuter Kühne was forced out and Frau Tulpe moved in. I passed the shop so many time before I stepped in and it was … beautiful. Full of love, colors and knowledge. I found so many beautiful textiles that I was blown away. Colorful buttons, fabulous drapery, fantastic braids, new scandinavian and japanese pattern, … you can also buy some ready mades like umbrellas, handbags, washbags, … The drapery has wonderful names like: Fridolin, Teo, Yola, Roxanne or Singing Bird, Falling Apple, Moskau Matroschka.

The first shop was opened by Tanja and René in Berlin. Dagmar, a families friend, has now opened a new shop in Hamburg.

Beside that they offer sewing courses for beginners and intermediates.

Go there and be inspired!

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Frau Tulpe | Shopping | New collection drapery € 15
Große Bergstr. 213 | Altona & Ottensen | +494022604863
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 16:00

Since 20 years Lee Asia Shop is on Große Bergstraße in Altona. It was founded by a Korean couple and now managed by their daughter Gina Lee and her husband David. Lee Asia Shop is a small shop where you can buy everything from peanuts oil to Miso-soup. If you want to cook something different, go there.

Gina and David both have a huge knowledge about spices, how to prepare, what you need and which rice is the best for what. The expert advices are possible in German, Spanish, English or Korean – how cool is that?? Well-assorted, affordable prices, no frills! A shop where Asian people or chefs buy their secret ingredients! Try also the organic range of food, delicious!

My mouth just started watering, can’t wait to go there soon again.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Lee Asia Shop | Shopping, Snacks | Teriyaki Marinade € 2.95
Grosse Bergstrasse 197 | Altona & Ottensen | +494038612946
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 16:00

You’re looking for yellow buttons, a wooden carpet beater, orange eggcups, a black handbag, an old coffee mill, kitchen curtains, 1000 pieces puzzles, champagne glasses, a grey coat, a meat chopper, a violette umbrella, lemon soap, brown-pink teapot, red shoes, beige lamps…?! Accidentally yes? Then you’ve come to the right place: Hamburgs kleinstes Kaufhaus (Hamburg smallest store)! If not, go there anyway!

For 27 years they’re selling everything from every time and everywhere. Few small rooms stuffed full to rafters with all you can imagine or never thought about. Under the roof thousands of lamps which they say it’s the central product .

The prices are very affordable, I’ve found some baking utensils (for only 0,20 Euro) and a weird psychedelic table cloth from the 70th. Go there, dig in and choose something.

Here’s a nice video about Hamburgs kleinstes Kaufhaus:

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Hamburgs kleinstes Kaufhaus | Shopping | Wooden spoon € 1.00
Bahrenfelder Straße 207 | Altona & Ottensen | +49403903485
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 14:00

I rummaged around outside in big overseas-boxes for some new kind of tea and was really impressed by the wide range. Then I went into the seems-like-chaotic-shop and my nose and my eyes went crazy. How absolutely amazing it smells like itchy feet, far away countries, teas and spices…

From classical sorts like Darjeeling, Earl Grey, Mate Tea, Pu Erh Tea, the famous Kusmi Tea, Yogi & Ayurveda Tea, … to extraordinary teas like Precious Lamp, a Chinese tea rose bloom, which unfold itself if you put hot water on it.

Beside that they have the biggest collection of chocolate I’ve ever seen. The same applies here: a big range of the black gold from milky to salty, from hot spicy to bitter, with flowers, fruits or alcohol.

If you’re looking for some coffee or espresso, this is your place, all kinds you can imagine are fresh ground in front of you.

For sure I will go there more often now. At Claus Kröger I get all I don’t really need, but – seriously – after all that’s exactly what I really need to sweet up my life! Claus Kröger is one of the oldest shops in my neighborhood – and not a chain store. I always try to support that kind of shops because it’s one of the last individual and real Hamburgian spots.

From my morning 100% Arabica-coffee, to my something-special-chocolate, to my afternoon tea and to a delicious Claus Kröger wine for the dinner. Fair trade!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Claus Kröger | Coffee & tea, Shopping | Chocolat Hot Masala € 2.95
Große Bergstraße 241 | Altona & Ottensen | +49403806060
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:00, Sat 09:00 – 15:00