Westin Hamburg

BACKGROUND The Westin is housed in Hamburg’s new Elbphilharmonie concert venue, which opened in January (see “Reaching a crescendo”, February issue). Sat atop a former spice warehouse, the

Ð860 million conversion is a spectacle of rippling convex glass panes designed to evoke a ship’s sails above a red-brick hull below. Designed by Herzog and de Meuron, the building contains apartments, two state-of-the-art halls and the 244-room Westin. WHAT’S IT LIKE? An LED wall of swirling, monochrome graphics signals the hotel’s street entrance, which is adjacent to that of the Elbphilharmonie. This leads to one of the building’s standout features – Europe’s longest curved escalator, an 82-metre tube of gleaming walls and white light that carries visitors through the structure’s brick base to a semi-covered plaza. Here, a second entrance to the hotel leads into the lobby.

Inspired by Hamburg’s maritime tradition, the lobby is a whitewashed space with concave columns and minimalist sculptures resembling the funnels of an ocean liner. Behind reception, an LED screen shows a black and white photograph of an old freighter billowing black smoke. In the evenings, the lights are dimmed and blue spotlights illuminate the funnels in such a way that it looks like night on a ship’s deck. WHERE IS IT? The hotel faces on to the docklands district of Hafencity, a short drive from the city centre. ROOMS The 244 rooms, which include 39 suites, are spread over 19 floors, all within the glass portion of the building. Categories include the 35 sqm Classic, the 30 sqm Deluxe City Panorama and the 30-35 sqm Premium City Panorama, plus five types of suite. Classic rooms have interior views, while the others look out on to the city and waterfront. I stayed in a 16th-floor Deluxe City Panorama, the windows of which were floor-to-ceiling, convex, and frosted around the edges to restrict sunlight. The décor was chic and simple, with beech furnishings and clean, cream and white accents. It had free wifi, a 42-inch Samsung TV, a good-sized desk, tea and coffee and a complimentary bottle of water, although this required an opener – I couldn’t see one provided. The bathroom had a walk-in rainshower and a large window that opened out on to the bedroom, with a blind should you want more privacy. Suite guests and Starwood Preferred Guest platinum members can use the 19th-floor Westin Club lounge, which serves breakfast, snacks and drinks, and seats 40 people. RESTAURANTS AND BARS The main restaurant, the Saffron, serves a German-inspired breakfast – I had a fresh omelette with a selection of rye breads and deli meats. The dinner menu is inspired by Hamburg’s spice trade, with dishes such as cinnamon and Bordeaux-simmered shoulder of lamb, saffron risotto and salmon poached in curry oil. I had lunch in the Bridge Bar, an elegant space that wraps around the upper corner of the lobby, offering far-reaching views across the Elbe. Sharing dishes are popular – I enjoyed the Fauna Marin selection, which included local Labskaus (pickled herring, mashed potatoes and corned beef), salmon with spinach salad and mustard dressing, and codfish meatballs. MEETING FACILITIES Eight rooms in the brick warehouse below range in size from 23 sqm to 469 sqm, holding up to 180 people. They can be reached by lift or via a spiral staircase from the lobby. LEISURE FACILITIES The 1,300 sqm Elb spa has a gym, sauna, steam room and six treatment suites, plus a 20-metre pool. Marisa Cannon VERDICT The appeal of the Elbphilharmonie is bound to make this one of Hamburg’s most popular business hotels – its sophisticated décor and first-rate facilities will ensure it stays that way.

In the evenings, the lights are dimmed and blue spotlights illuminate the funnels in such a way that it looks like night on a ship’s deck