Gastwerk Hotel Hamburg

As its name suggests, the architectural ‘wow’ that is Gastwerk stands in a meticulously renovated 19^th century gas plant in the Western Hamburg district of Altona. The city’s first design hotel, it boasts a vast, light-filled atrium–complete with water feature–and 141 rooms, lofts and suites, each combining raw industrial aesthetics with soft lighting, warm woods and luxurious linen and fabrics. The round-the-clock staff are particularly helpful and friendly, and the on-site Mangold restaurant and L. Bar–including a line-up of live sets–will serve you well in an otherwise slightly sleepier neighborhood. There’s also an in-house spa.