Hamburg has long remained just under the radar, playing second fiddle to the gritty glamour of Berlin, and yet the eagerly-awaited opening of the iconic Elbphilharmonie has cemented Hamburg’s position as Germany’s most exciting cultural hub, befitting of an equally thrilling new residence.

On the Nikolaifleet waterfront, Sir Nikolai is sandwiched between the Altstadt (Old Town)—the city’s historical and cultural nucleus—and the regenerating, super-modern HafenCity district to the south. The luxury boutique hotel—with curated art, vintage rugs, and polished marble throughout—is a showcase for artisanal quality and tradition, seamlessly blending local heritage and international sophistication in the shadow of one of Hamburg’s oldest churches, Sankt Katharinen. www.designhotels.com/sir-nikolai-hotel

Design agency FG Stijl has directed their award-winning nous into artfully converting a former warehouse to create the 94-room Sir Nikolai.

Location

Hamburg’s Altstadt sees the greatest concentration of Hamburg’s historical attractions, such as the city’s five main churches, the Rathaus, the Senate, and the Parliament. There is also a number of cultural institutions, such as the Hamburg Kunsthalle, Galerie der Gegenwart, Thalia Theater, Das Schiff, and the Markthalle in the Altstadt, while Hamburg’s HafenCity—one of Europe’s biggest urban regeneration projects this century—is just a short walk south.

Sir Hotels is a boutique hotel brand, founded in Amsterdam in 2013 with the opening of Sir Albert, located in a former diamond factory next to the city’s Museum Square. In 2016, Sir Savigny opened in the heart of Berlin’s district of Charlottenburg, followed by a second outpost in Amsterdam, Sir Adam, located in the iconic A’DAM Tower. Following the opening of Sir Nikolai in Hamburg, Sir Hotels is heading to Ibiza: Sir Joan is set to open in July 2017. Sir Hotels caters to those who are looking for authentic stories and distinctive locations. Each hotel curates and combines historical buildings, stunning interior design, and cultural programming that embraces the local community. Sir Hotels was created by the Amsterdam-based hotel development and management company Europe Hotels Private Collection (EHPC).