I’ve stayed in my fair share of hostels, but none like Superbude Hamburg! This design-led hostel provided so much more than just a budget friendly place to rest my head for a few nights.
The Design
Superbude St Pauli is full of character, referencing Hamburg’s port location and heritage with ropes and knots throughout the hotel as well as smaller details like anchor hooks in the bathroom and nets as a headboard. There is also a bright yellow and dark grey scheme mixing heritage with modern, perfectly giving an authentic feel to the hip interior.
There is also a practical element to much of the design, they have LED lights throughout, and only use electricity from renewable sources, coupled with an economical heating system. The toilet roll is made from recycled paper and all the cleaning products are eco friendly. If you decide to have breakfast you might also notice the lack of plastic packaging!
If all that wasn’t enough most of their food is also sourced with the environment in mind: coffee from a local roaster, and fair trade produce from local businesses and farms.
At Superbude you get a design hotel vibe with eco-friendly ethics, for a hostel budget.
The Rooms
The rooms themselves were so much larger than I anticipated and were kept spotlessly clean during our three night stay. The large double bed with individual duvets made for a good nights sleep, the only criticism I have were that the single pillows were a little flimsy.
The room was practical, yet filled with character. The harbour details, and yellow/grey colour scheme that greeted us at the reception continued on throughout the hallways into the room creating a cohesive look, and the Hamburg newspaper printed on the walls gave us a great idea of the city’s cool vibe before even stepping out the door.
There was a small open wardrobe with shelving and two padlocked cabinets which allowed to to unpack our stuff away neatly.
The bathroom was, again, large and clean with a spacious overhead shower. Another small but note-worthy detail was that in the bathrooms throughout Superbude there are little bags with tampons, sanitary towels and condoms which I thought was a lovely practical touch that I wish other hotels would emulate.
A Place to Hangout
One thing I missed about staying in hostels was the community. Nights of beers with strangers don’t happen so much in your average hotel but in Superbude community is encouraged. The reception area is not just functional, but is also and a great bar and has been designed as a comfortable place to enjoy.
They have set up an honesty bar system so you can help yourselves to drinks and snacks 24/7, as well as having access to the communal kitchen which they hold regular events for guests to get to know each other. Despite there being bars all around the vibrant local area Pablo and I choose to have our nightcaps in the hostel – we loved the relaxed vibe and variety of drinks. It also says a lot about a place that locals also swing by to grab a drink after work.
If the bar scene is not your thing, not to worry; there is plenty more to enjoy with comfortable seating areas, an array of cool books magazines, games and even a couple of iMacs. Superbude is also children and dog friendly so there is a great family feel created making us feel right at home.
Location
We stayed at the St Pauli branch of Superbude which was a stones throw away from the bars, restaurants, coffee shops and colourful artwork in St Pauli and Sternschanze.
Whether you want to party in the Reeperbahn, catch a football match, shop in indie boutiques, or just have a casual pint nothing was more than a 20 minute walk away. It was also conveniently located next to two U-Bahn stations, making getting around the rest of the city super simple. If public transport isn’t for you then Superbude also offers bike and longboards. There are plenty of cycle paths and cyclists in Hamburg and it’s a great way to explore if you’re feeling adventurous.
Superbude was the perfect hotel for us: cool, laidback, and in the heart of the alternative side of town. It’s original thinking and sense of humour really makes this place memorable and more than a place just to crash for the night.
So just incase your not already convinced, here’s a lowdown on what you get staying at Superbude in a private room;
| What you get | What you don't get |
|---|---|
| 1 Pillow each | Shampoo |
| USB ports at each side as well as plugs | Safe (you do get padlock cabinet) |
| TV | Kettle |
| Soap | Gym |
| Small wardrobe | Luggage rack |
| Separate duvets | Conditioner |
| Private bathroom | Air con |
| Plenty of toilet roll | Phone |
| Paid for Breakfast | Iron |
| Leaflets and information board | Room service |
| Hair dryer | Pool |
| Full length mirror | |
| Free Wifi | |
| Fan | |
| Emergency pack including tampon | |
| Daily room clean | |
| Bike and Long Board Rental | |
| Bedside table each | |
| Bag storage | |
| Access to Kitchen | |
| 24/7 reception | |
| 24/7 access to snacks and drinks | |
| 2 hand towels and 2 small towels |
