Oberhafen-Kantine in Hamburg

The North German specialties are a true symbol of the region – fresh, delicious, and very appetizingly presented.

It was a lovely evening at the Oberhafen Kantine with cheerful staff, a great chef at the outdoor grill, and delicious food.

We had a delicious meal at the Oberhafenkantine. The atmosphere is unique, down-to-earth, and refreshing! We'll definitely be back!

Great rustic restaurant under the railway bridge, super friendly service and inexpensive food

Excelent food, self service for the side dishes and salad, you can get however much you like. Authentic atmoshpere amd very friendly staff. For outside sitting you need a reservation, but we walked in and there were plenty of tables inside

Quaint harborside ambiance. Worth a visit if you want to enjoy a bit of the old-world flair. Great menu, I had a really hard time deciding between herring, meatballs, and Labskaus. We'll definitely be back...

Nice outside setting and small, appealing menu. Staff is attentive and food tasty. Nothing special but that's the charme!

A cult coffee shop right in the middle of it all. The food was delicious and the filter coffee was excellent! We'd gladly return!

A very cute little house with some original furnishings. Super friendly waitress named Cedric🤩 Great food👍🏼 Would definitely go back

We had a reservation, and everything went smoothly. It wasn't busy, but you could tell the very friendly service was reaching its limits. The food was well presented, but there was far too little. The much-praised meatball was tiny and neither of us was cooked properly. The value for money here is absolutely terrible. As described in one review, it's not just a tourist trap. The prices don't match the portions, especially for the classics. It would be so easy to add a surcharge for an extra meatball to the menu. What a shame... we were really looking forward to it and were disappointed.

One wonders how long this building will last, as crooked as it is. You can sit inside and outside, but seating is limited, so it's best to make a reservation if you're planning on dining with a group. The prices aren't exactly cheap (e.g., fried fish with potato salad costs €22.50), but the quality is good.

The food was very well prepared and of good quality. The service was attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, no good beer, only the big-batch Dr. Oetker swill (Jever, Hovels, Allgäuer Brauhaus, M&O, etc.), hence only three stars. Unfortunately, the cheap beer doesn't match the otherwise excellent product quality at all. It's not as if Hamburg doesn't brew good beer (see here: https://www.hamburg.de/freizeit/essen-trinken/bars-kneipen/bier-aus-hamburg-312864 ).

Got a table spontaneously, location was fantastic, the staff were all super friendly, and the food was excellent! We'd be back!

Highly recommended, the food and service are excellent! The slanted house makes it very special.

A rustic ambience, friendly service, and a super warm round piece—what more could you want!

Very nice place, right by HafenCity. Small and elegant. Great

A must-see. The food, service, and conversations are top-notch. We'd love to come back.

Unforgettable! In this small, quaint, crooked house by the water, Hamburg cuisine is served at an angle. The delicious preparation with high-quality regional ingredients, the super-friendly staff—everything was a delight. Thanks to the pleasant atmosphere, the relatively high noise level in the small room wasn't at all unpleasant, even for me, who is hard of hearing. Quite the opposite; everything just worked out perfectly. Thank you so much ♥️

A very nice, quaint little restaurant. Friendly service; we had salmon fillet on leaf spinach with mashed potatoes. It was beautifully presented and tasted delicious.

I definitely recommend the food and the atmosphere here. A special place here in Hamburg.

Great food, very friendly service, simply a lovely place! We'll be back!

Very friendly, quick, and helpful! Very exciting and "quirky" location ;)

We were very pleasantly surprised by how cute the restaurant was, how friendly the service was, and how delicious the food was! We will definitely recommend the Oberhafen-Kantine!

A cult café right on the street. No coffee specialties, though. But a must-see in the Hamburg harbor.

A restaurant with a difference. A must-see. A truly enjoyable visit. We'll definitely be back.

Rustic atmosphere, delicious food and friendly service

It's a special place, with the original coffee shop in the harbor! It's been a cult favorite for 100 years now!

It was simply wonderful to have been here! Back then with Anita, and now with a new operator! It remains a cult favorite!

I highly recommend this place. A unique historical gem. Small, quaint, sociable, and a little bit "quirky." The service was great, the waiter super friendly and informative. Delivering food and drinks safely to the table in this crooked hut is quite an art. And all with a smile and kind words. Perfect. 👍 The food was great. The beer was delicious... An all-around successful evening. Thank you so much. We'll definitely be back and bring friends.

The Oberhafen-Kantine is a true Hamburg original! Super quaint, slightly crooked, with lots of charm – and thankfully not completely overcrowded. The service was incredibly friendly and attentive. The food was honest, North German, and truly delicious – exactly what you'd expect. A cool spot for Hamburg residents and tourists alike. Definitely go there sometime, preferably with a hunger and curiosity. Recommended!

The food was super delicious, the atmosphere was also very good, I also think the concept of this quirky house is really cool, it was just a bit expensive.

A cult restaurant where everything is crooked. You shouldn't miss it. The interior isn't very large, but there's more space outside. The building is located right next to a railway bridge.

A popular traditional place under the bridge. Inside seats are rather limited so please book in advance. The food is absolutely amazing. I ordered a Labskaus and Rundstück Warm (which is a roasted pork hamburger with side fried potato.. the sauce is super tasty!). Both dishes are excellent though the waitress warned me that not everybody likes Labskaus. The vibe is nice and I assume most of the customers are local, I can definitely imagine it as a harbor canteen!

Very cozy here, there are also outdoor seats 😊

This is the third time we've been here. Today we only had two cups of coffee. It was hot and good. The atmosphere is rustic and definitely worth a visit.

I haven't eaten as well as here in a long time.

Not suitable for those seeking peace and quiet, as the train runs directly overhead. Labskaus is delicious!👍

Yes, it was entertaining and funny. The 100th anniversary celebration is coming up soon.

Even though the Oberhafen Kantine is very touristy, it's worth a visit. The prices are absolutely reasonable, and the service, food, and ambiance are completely satisfactory.

Unique, brutally local, and 5* service! Reservations are essential.

The food was great, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was interesting. Sometimes a bit noisy when a train passes overhead.

Netter Abend ohne Reservierung haben wir noch Plätze bekommen. Keine große Karte aber für unsere Auswahl völlig ok. Essen war gut aber auch teuer. Freundliche Bedienung.

Eigentlich ein originelles Lokal. Aber: Wir verzehrten im Wert von 238 Euro, dennoch wurden wir gebeten, nach zwei Stunden das Lokal wieder zu verlassen. Noch nie hat einer von uns erlebt, dass man aus einem Restaurant schlicht wieder rausgeworfen wird, weil der Tisch angeblich nun an andere Gäste übergeben wird. Ein ärgerlicher Abschluss einer kleinen Feier. Im Grunde ein Todesurteil für ein Restaurant. Absolut abzuraten! Dr. Hans-Peter Waldrich

Absolutely top-notch location. A fantastic team that spoiled us with great food in a fantastic atmosphere in the Oberhafen canteen's lounge.

A very quirky shop, busy, and truly quaint. The menu is small, but the food is lovingly prepared.

Very cozy, really amazing food, pretty little house with lots of charm :)

A lovely, quaint pub with a fitting atmosphere. Delicious, high-quality food. Highly recommended. Friendly service.

From the very beginning, the waiter seemed more annoyed by our visit than he made us feel truly welcome. The value for money is completely unacceptable: tiny portions at a completely overpriced price. Unfortunately, it's a total tourist rip-off!

Very unfriendly service. Despite having a reservation, 10 of us were crammed onto a much too small table. Some of the plates were chipped and poorly washed. The food (a multi-course dinner) was served in tiny bowls. My request for a clean plate for the second course was met with a "Not available." Only after a lengthy discussion was a new plate handed to my companion, with her back to her. For the main course, each guest was served half a meatball. A salad and a handful of fried potatoes were to be served as a side dish, which the 10 of us were to share. Our polite request for a second helping was again met with a "Not available." Another employee felt he was not responsible for our table and referred us to a colleague. While the food was tasty, everyone left the restaurant hungry. In addition to the excessively overpriced food, the uncaring service was the main reason for this review. Every employee in the hospitality industry should be able to demonstrate a minimum level of politeness. I've never experienced it in this form before.

Beautiful, cool cafeteria building. Cool service, quaint, and super Hamburg. The food (Frikadelle) is super delicious. Definitely a must-visit 👍🏼

Probably the most quirky place in Hamburg. Crooked, crooked, crookedest. Rustic food with a twist, reasonable prices, friendly service. Everything's good.

Delicious food! Disastrous service! Half a meatball for €35 for dinner... What a disgrace!!!!

We were there as a group and had made a reservation in advance. We were seated at a table that was too small. The food (35 euros per person) was delicious but far too little! For example: Each person is allocated half a (!) meatball. The service reacted very rudely and unaccommodatingly to our friendly inquiry. In the end, they demanded money from participants who had registered in advance but were canceled, and for whom the table was not set, there would have been room, or even food. Unfortunately, this restaurant seems to be a tourist trap. I expressly do not recommend it!

Very nice service, good food and a cozy location!

Great atmosphere, delicious food. Authentic German cuisine.

Friends of mine had already arrived at the Oberhafen Kantine and had "snagged" a table in front of the door under the railway bridge and had already ordered. I joined them, looking forward to a beer and a small but delicious meal. Unfazed by the freight trains overhead and the squealing ICE train in our ears, we all sat together and attempted to strike up a conversation. After about half an hour, a friend politely asked the waiter if I, as a "newcomer," could order. I said, full of exuberance but just as kindly: A beer and a meatball. The waiter, however, replied unexpectedly emotionlessly: We don't accept new guests and emphasized that he was serious. He gave me an angry look and left the table. Still assuming it was a joke, we waited. But no, I was ignored. Somewhat stunned, we decided not to overtax the Oberkaschemme's hospitality any further. When friends asked me about it again while paying, the audacious messenger of cold drinks reacted very abruptly, angrily, and visibly overwhelmed, with a slight hint of utter despair: I could have only ordered a drink, and I had to ask him first before I could join. Completely overwhelmed by such dignified arrogance in the lower rails of Hamburg's restaurants, we left the slightly urine-smelling scene. Dear people: Pride comes before a fall, and history repeats itself if you don't learn from it. Perhaps I could help the innkeeper prevent the free fall with this true and hopefully very unique story. In any case, that's not how you treat guests. Best regards from the Saarlanders P.S.: If the audacious messenger had a former affair in Saarland that destroyed his heart, and he was therefore allergic to my dialect, I apologize for what I wrote. Chin up, it will all work out. In that case, the place would not be recommended for anyone other than Saarlanders.

Quirky place, interesting, good German food, we sat outside and trains overhead were very loud.

A very quaint restaurant with a small but fine menu. Typical (Hamburg) home cooking with a modern twist. Truly delicious, and the service was friendly and attentive.

Super delicious food and the beer tastes good too :-)

This rustic restaurant offers home-style cooking, served in a visually appealing manner. Highly recommended. If you're looking for a no-nonsense meal, this is the place for you.

Great place. You have to accept the Hamburg style service. Great people with northern mentality. But great traditional food, fast service. If you’re fast at getting seasick I recommend a table outside. 😅

An odd place in the shadow of a railway bridge but good food and accommodating and good staff.

This place has a long history and serves German (Hamburg) food. The dishes were of a very good quality, meat is very tender, and we also loved wine/beer here. Labskaus is one of the best in town! Everything is super cosy and has its charm :) Better reserve beforehand - the place is usually fully booked. Thank you Luca for finding a place for us and for giving the best service possible 😊 10/10 would bring my friend here ❤️

Yes, I can recommend this place. Exquisite, good food and a truly quirky location.

Thank you very much. We were there today around 5 p.m. and ordered your homemade meatballs, and you surprised us. I haven't had such a good meal in a long time, thanks for that. The atmosphere is very nice.

It's so special there!! Make sure you reserve in advance and enjoy!

Everything is quite special and uneven there, after two hours it feels a bit strange, but I still like going back to the harbour, and I hope it stays the way it is!

Voll Katastrophe Warner nicht schmeckender Wein Tonic mir Williams Birne ungenießbar Kein Besteck Unfreundlichste vorlauteste Kellner in Hamburg Völlig überteuert Schmuddelig. Abzocke

A fantastic evening at the Oberhafen-Kantine! A wonderful place in a visibly and tangibly leaning little house full of history. The friendly service was very welcoming and expected quick wit. 😉 The food was delicious and authentically "home-style." It's worth a visit; we'll definitely be back!

This is where my Labskaus heart lies….

Originally founded exactly 100 years ago as a coffee shop, the Oberhafenkantine has had its bows washed out quite a bit over the years. And literally. It now lies almost sideways, like many a visitor after their tenth visit. With a tilt of more than 8 degrees, the brick restaurant is more crooked than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. So why jet off to Italy when you can actually go inside and feel the slope not only from the outside? And that's not the only strange thing about the architecture. A few centimeters above the roof of these honest restaurants, the Oberhafen Bridge spans the Oberhafen Canal. Over it, trains from near and far thunder every minute to the nearby main station. But this unique setting shouldn't put you off, because in a mere 20 square meters of space, true Hanseatic classics are conjured up here. One of the best Labskaus in the city is served over the counter directly to the tables of the well-traveled tourists. There are also other classics from the city of the moneybags, such as jacket potatoes and Hamburger Rundstück (a kind of fried hamburger). This is the place to go if you want to experience the real Hamburg, like a dockworker at the turn of the century, with the same wash-resistant backdrop.

Quirky little eatery under a bridge thoroughly recommend the dinner Platter, not always sure what everything was but the plates were cleared!

Wir haben ein gutes und leckeres Abendessen in der Oberhafen Kantine gegessen. Die "Kantine" liegt etwas versteckt unter bzw. neben einer Eisenbahnbrücke. Wenn wir nicht gezielt zur Oberhafen Kantine gegangen wären, hätten wir diese kleine gemütliche und urige Restaurant nie und nimmer gefunden. Wer eine ehrliche und echte (Hamburger-)Küche sucht, ist hier richtig. Uns hat es sehr gut gefallen. Das Essen war sehr lecker. Ein gutes Preis-/Leistungsverhältnis.

A cult, quaint, and cozy restaurant. Regional dishes with reasonable prices... We felt very comfortable :-)

Very tasty Hanseatic food. The Rundstück (round piece of bread) is delicious. And the ambiance of the crooked restaurant is very rustic—a real experience.

Cult meets likeable cheekiness meets tracks overhead. Oberhafenkantine is simply a must when visiting Hamburg. The crooked building, which looks as if it's about to topple over, has been there forever. It sank, and at some point a track bridge was built directly along the roof, and that was ages ago. So anyone who wants to have a conversation has to wait until the train passes. But it really doesn't matter. I often and I enjoy it. Also because of the Hamburg chatter in the service. Direct, northern German.

Wir hatten die Bewertung im NDR gesehen und es wurde das Rundstück warm gelobt. Es war nicht zu genießen. Das Brötchen war eine "Matchepampe". Wir kennen Rundstück warm. Das Brötchen sollte eigentlich kurz vor dem Servieren mit einem /zwei Stück Schweinebraten belegt werden. Die Sosse kommt dann drüber und es wird serviert. Die mitgelieferten Röst-Kartoffeln waren wohl vom Tag davor. Das beste an dem Teller war der Salat.

Very special place. Also good food and staff.

Nestled in Hamburg's Oberhafen, the Oberhafen-Kantine is a charming relic from 1925. This tilted haven offers hearty Northern German fare, including classics like Labskaus and Grünkohl, prepared with fresh, regional ingredients. The cozy, slanted interior adds to its unique character, making it a must-visit for both locals and tourists seeking authentic Hamburg cuisine.

An iconic restaurant in Hamburg's center

Super delicious, authentic hamburger food and friendly service. I'll definitely eat here again if I'm ever in Hamburg. One star deducted for the ambiance because the trains are very loud. Otherwise, nothing to complain about :)

Very tasty food in a rustic harbor atmosphere

The cafeteria in the old building is very small and cozy. If there are six people there, tall people will have trouble fitting their legs and everything else onto the table. The old building in the picture is also very limited for people with walking difficulties.

I haven't eaten anything. I have to go.

Super beautiful, quirky place. I'd go back anytime!!!!

Anytime, because it is away from normal cuisine

Actually an absolute recommendation, but unfortunately the service person who was in charge outside wasn't really on point. We had to keep going in and asking for drinks (which were not brought).

Very good, freshly prepared food in a special place, charming and rustic. There are even vegan dishes on the menu. The service is friendly and quick. If you sit outside, it's still worth taking a look inside the small dining room, everything is a bit crooked, including the lamps on the ceiling - simply a special atmosphere!

Very tasty food and really great service! It's a little more expensive, but just okay. The terrace outside is quite nice, but you always have to get used to the sounds of the train 😅

Food was OK but unfortunately very expensive. Not recommended for guests with physical limitations as several steps have to be overcome to get to the toilet

I liked it, enjoyed it and felt very good there. The Labskaus was super tasty and the employees were natural, balanced and very nice. I'd love to come back...and definitely recommend it.

Hamburg is always worth a trip. Recommended: A culinary tour with “Eat the world”.

May 3rd, 2025: always nice to be there in the quaint little crooked house. My husband really liked the Labskaus - the meatball was good but not to my taste, but the rhubarb layer dessert was very tasty! May 3, 2019: Very strange, in the truest sense 😂 Small restaurant with local food! Highly recommended

Down-to-earth food, served friendly and quickly. A place run by normal people for normal guests. Highly recommended.

Sehr nettes Personal, tolle Location, authentisches Essen, toller Service. Authentisches Hamburger essen. Abendbrot sehr zu empfehlen. Besser als manch ein Sterne Tempel.

Super cool. Everything, location and food are top notch!👍🏼

Everyone knows the leaning tower of Pisa but who knows the leaning building with the best labskaus in the city. Yes, it still tastes like my grandma's. The year is 2003, I think that was the first time I was in the Oberhafenkantine. So off to the restaurant that is at least as cult as the Reeperbahn.

Good cuisine in a quirky atmosphere. Iconic and friendly. Nevertheless: wipe the tables more often! Especially when new guests come.... Best regards ;-)

Weird place…In the truest sense of the word. Sensational Labskaus and a delicious beer.

🤗 Charming place with a Hamburg heart ❤️ The Oberhafen canteen impresses with its authentic ambience, regional cuisine and great attention to detail. Homemade dishes such as labskaus, herb quark with jacket potatoes and the fine rhubarb dessert are convincing across the board. The view of passing trains gives the visit a special atmosphere. A real insider tip for honest, down-to-earth food!