Hamburg
Alone

PRACTICAL SAMPLE

Eating Alone

Germany makes this easy. There is no cultural weight attached to a single diner, and there are several ways to eat without booking or committing to three courses.

The counter. Fish stands at the harbor, bakery counters, market halls, and the Imbiss tradition make a hot, quick meal eaten standing or perched completely normal.

Lunch as the main meal. Many kitchens run a short weekday lunch menu at a set price, the Mittagstisch, often the same food that costs twice as much after seven.

Cake at four. Kaffee und Kuchen is a real institution and a useful one. At four in the afternoon take a slice of cake and a pot of coffee at Café Koppel on Lange Reihe (check its days first), or a Franzbrötchen at a bakery counter, and an hour with a book. You have filled the gap between a museum and dinner without spending much or committing to anything.

A free excerpt from Hamburg Alone.