NH Hamburg Altona

The hotel is housed in a seven-story, modern red-brick building with royal blue accents. A large tree at the glass-doored entrance is a nice touch, but otherwise the grounds are fairly unremarkable. Inside, the lobby itself is rather plain, with marble tile floors and little else besides a few low-lying, brown leather couches in mid-century modern style. The restaurant and bar in particular harken to the '60s with their tulip chairs, slatted-wood room dividers, and hanging globe lamps. The spa's rooftop terrace area is simple and attractive, with dark brown tiling, brown woven lounge chairs, and potted plants. Meeting rooms, however, are exceedingly plain, with brown carpeting and beige curtains, along with white conference tables. Guests include mainly tourists and some business travelers, though the shaky Wi-Fi can make working difficult. 

Along the street, the surrounding buildings are mostly residential. There are a few fast-food type restaurants within the few blocks around the property; most guests have noted that for any semblance of street life, including a selection of restaurants and bars, it is best to hop the bus that stops about 500 feet from the hotel and leads straight into the center of town (about 30 minutes). The airport is accessible via public transportation as well, though two bus and/or S-Bahn rail transfers are necessary (one hour).

These plain rooms have stark white walls, white comforters, and grasshopper-green throw blankets. Save for the very occasional, small framed print, there is zero attempt at decor; though the furniture, which includes tulip chairs and a few dark-wood built-ins, has an elegant, slightly retro feel. All rooms have stocked minibars, up-to-date flat-screen TVs, wall-mounted reading lamps by the beds, small work desks with lamps, and ethernet cables. The smallest suites have walk-in showers; Standard Rooms have shower/tub combos, as well as hairdryers and makeup mirrors; larger rooms have seating areas with couches, glass coffee tables, coffeemakers, and slightly roomier bathrooms.

A small rooftop area with a few lounge chairs complements the relaxation offerings of the spa, with its wet and dry saunas and massage services -- including Thai massage. Navarra restaurant serves international cuisine, while the Lobby Bar serves light snacks, German and Spanish wines, and reasonably priced drinks until 2 a.m. Many comment favorably on the extensive buffet breakfast in particular, including made-to-order items. There is some amount of meeting space with A/V capabilities, and computers and printers are available for guest use.