If you're seeking a bit of quieter respite from the dizzying whirl of the Schanzenviertel, this is a nice option offering a good range of less common beers along with cocktails, and there is a 'happy hour' between 1930-2130 daily. Live sport is a focus at weekends.

Of course, this being Germany, beer flows through Hamburg like the waters of the Elbe, and here at the Gröninger Privatbrauerei, in the heart of the Old Town, they've been making their own since 1750. This is a no-frills traditional brewpub, and as such attracts an authentic clientele comprised of young locals, old fishermen and beer connoisseurs from everywhere.

If the excesses of the Reeperbahn are not for you, Klimperkiste is a rather more sedate, but nevertheless very attractive, alternative in the city centre. Offering light meals and snacks as well as the obligatory range of beers, wines and other alcoholic temptations, the bar is open until the small hours daily.

Set in the heart of the Schanzenviertel district, renowned for its bohemian vibe and indie-chic residents, this happy and happening club/bar is a magnet for the ‘beautiful’ people. Decked out in a decadent 1970s style that’s as knowingly hip and plushly upholstered as the regular clientele, the top-end DJs here mainly spin a mix of ambient techno and drum and bass.

As a libertarian city, Hamburg takes its nightlife seriously, and that's proved by the quality, profusion and variety of its nightclubs. Blankenese Kiez Internat, popularly known as BKI, is a nightclub just off the Reeperbahn with a solid reputation for rocking nights, but it's the big techno sessions that the locals put their party clothes on for.

Housed in a former fat factory, this huge venue features two dance floors and two lounge bars. The musical accent here is on electronica and the like. A highlight of the venue is the building's tower, from which dancers can take a break from the action downstairs and enjoy great views over the city.

Another legendary venue on Hamburg’s music scene, Cotton Club is the oldest and most esteemed jazz club in the city. As such, its regular program is a showcase bulging with some of the best exponents of trad, ragtime and Dixieland jazz from around the world. Music usually starts around 2030.

Once a machine factory, today, the galleried floors and steel-girder architecture of its interior space play a big part of what makes this such a special and unique location both aesthetically and acoustically. This mid-sized venue has a program which, depending on the night, can involve musical theatre, stand-up, rock or world-music concerts.

Musically, live performance is what it's all about in Hamburg, with a venue to suit every genre and every band, from the touring stadium-fillers to the local garage acts. The now world-famous Grosse Freiheit 36 isn't just at the epicentre of this culture; it's a living part of its history!