Beatlemania

Most of the people think of the Beatles as being a quintessentially British band. However, they got their start in Hamburg, performing in clubs along the Reeperbahn back in the early 1960s. Their famous mop-top haircut was also inspired by the hairstyle of a guy they saw in Hamburg. Beatlemania, a museum dedicated to those early years of the band, opened its doors on 29 May, 2009. On its five floors, rare memorabilia along with original objects from the era are displayed, featuring several interactive stations that take visitors back to the Beatles' heyday to re-live the unique atmosphere of the sixties.

Herr Max

For a delicious, "good-for-you" cake in Hamburg, Herr Max is a great place to go. It is a quirky, laid-back cafe with great, organic cakes and drinks. I adore how they have created their signature look with mix-and-match vintage chinaware and found objects. On the flip side, some of the interior solutions look a bit more shabby than chic and considering the reviews read, I have expected a larger selection of cakes.

Gudrun Sjödén

Gudrun Sjödén is a Swedish designer and besides the Scandinavian region, she also has concept stores in four German cities. Although I have ordered our bed cover, pillow cases and curtain from her online webshop, I could not wait to personally visit her Hamburg store. I am absolutely fascinated by her work that heavily relies on natural - and in many cases organic - materials and bold, colorful, ethnic inspired patterns. Her home range is so much easier to pull off though than the clothing items that are often not fitted enough or would make a peculiar office wear. Nonetheless, most of her creations are like a fresh breeze in the mass of homogenous, run-of-the-mill high-street looks sported by most women.