The George

A very fine and well-run hotel on a gaily positioned street that's basically the extension of the heavily catwalked Lange Reihe, and just a two-minute stroll from Cafe Gnosa [see entry]. Built from scratch and opened in October 2008, the George features a not at all handsome exterior that belies the tastefully outrageous, sexy, baroque and quite male feel of its relatively dark interior. The deep browns and aubergines within hint at something rather 1970s, though it's clear that Hamburg-based designer Sibylle von Heyden has borrowed from not just the one decade. And the hotel perhaps owes something to Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck in its unapologetic playfulness. There's a spa and a rooftop terrace— both with delectable views of Hamburg and the Alster — plus a library, bar, restaurant and decidedly undull meeting rooms (very business- and media-friendly). 118 rooms, plus suites and penthouses. A trendy, smart and moderately funky option. What the label says: "British tradition with a touch of the modern and intercultural influences from colonial times."