A fresh look at Hamburg’s restaurants

HAMBURG. One month after the launch of The Menù, the restaurant platform for Hamburg, the first figures are in, and they paint a picture that runs counter to the city’s reputation. The recommendation platform does not ask its guests for stars or ratings, but rather about the atmosphere: When, with whom, on what budget, and how keen they are to try something new. In the first four weeks, users provided around 14,000 answers to these questions. The finding is surprisingly clear: Hamburg is not looking for the tried and tested, but for something new. “We’re not interested in yet another ranking, but in the full diversity of what Hamburg and its guests have a taste for. The fact that the answers point so clearly towards curiosity confirms what we like about this city: Hamburg enjoys life with an open mind,” explains co-founder Stevan Paul.

A good three out of four searches are for a restaurant considered ‘curious’ or ‘bold’ – only just under a quarter are for the classic. Anyone who thinks the city is culinarily conservative will be proven wrong. People tend to dine in pairs and in the evening. More than half of all searches are for a table for two, and more than three-quarters are for dinner. A quiet side trend is worth noting: just over one in nine searches comes from people who want to eat out on their own. Solo dining, a topic that has long been covered in the arts and culture sections, is therefore also taking place in Hamburg. The time of day and the occasion determine the restaurant budget; people generally don’t tend to skimp. Whilst the upper-mid-range sector leads the way, taken together, more than one in three searches are aimed at the higher price brackets. Hamburg treats itself. The time of day has the greatest influence on how much people spend. Those who go out in the evening dig deeper into their pockets: for dinner, more than two in five searches target the higher price brackets, whereas for lunch it’s only one in five. Hamburg eats pragmatically at lunchtime and generously in the evening. Who you’re with also affects the budget: those dining on business or planning a date search noticeably more often in the upmarket segment. Those out with family or on their own remain more price-conscious. The occasion plays a part, not just the time of day. And the atmosphere? It should be lively, but not loud. Almost half are looking for a lively atmosphere, whilst a good third are specifically seeking peace and quiet. “The Menù is the point where technology and cuisine converge. And when real user data is combined with editorial selection, stories and the very latest trends regarding dining in our city can be told in a whole new way,” notes co-founder Oliver Wagner.

These are the responses from a single month – an initial outline of what Hamburg is in the mood for. The Menù will continue to monitor developments: how the city’s appetite shifts with the seasons, what remains the same and what changes. In line with this, the new ‘Here & Now’ section launches today, 2 September: it shows which restaurants in the immediate vicinity are currently recommended – and which of them are open right now. Exciting insights will also emerge from this user behaviour in future. Regarding the data: the figures are based on around 14,000 responses from the completed Finder searches on themenu.hamburg in August 2026. Automated accesses (crawlers) were excluded from the analysis; these are search queries, not a representative survey.

The Menù was developed by the Hamburg-based agency Kaiserhappen. The founders, Stevan Paul and Oliver Wagner, combine journalistic expertise, gastronomic experience and digital product development. Together with their team, they aim to bring Hamburg’s exceptional restaurant scene to life in a contemporary and international way. “You don’t recommend a good restaurant based on scores and rankings. You explain why you’d like to go back. That’s exactly what The Menù does – almost as if good friends were recommending their favourite restaurant.” Stevan Paul, co-founder of The Menù “We didn’t want to develop a restaurant database. Our aim was to create a digital product that provides guidance and is fun to use. The Menù combines journalistic content with smart technology. It makes choosing a restaurant as easy as it is personal.” Oliver Wagner, co-founder of The Menù With its journalistic approach, intelligent restaurant finder and international focus, The Menù aims to set new standards for digital restaurant guides – whilst also helping to further establish Hamburg as one of Europe’s most exciting culinary destinations. The platform is funded by partners such as Chefs Culinar, OPEN MOUTH.hamburg and Hamburg Tourismus GmbH.