Scandic Hamburg Emporio Formerly: Scandic Emporio Hamburg

One of six hotels in Germany in the reputable and design-conscious, Stockholm-based Scandic chain, started in 1963 (but since scooped up several times over). Purpose-built , sustainable and opened in 2012, this eight-floor 340-room hotel is located in Neustadt, a few minutes from the Gänsemarkt, somewhere between the Reeperbahn and St Georg while not prohibitively far away from either. And true to the water theme that defines the interior and exterior, the hotel sits quite near the Binnenalster (the smaller of the two adjoining Alster lakes). Rooms on the seventh and eighth floors feature individual art work, paintings and photography, all inspired by water. Facilities include sauna, pool and 24-hour gym, plus a restaurant. Scandic operates two hotels each in Berlin and Frankfurt and one in Munich.