Hamburg Gem for 12

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Hamburg Gem for 12? The name actually makes sense once you’re there – it really does feel like discovering something special that’s been tucked away from the usual tourist crowds. I mean, finding a 3-star place with an 8.9 rating in Hamburg isn’t exactly common, so I was curious what they were doing right.

The thing is, this place gets the fundamentals so right that you almost forget it’s technically mid-range. Check-in was refreshingly straightforward – none of that overly formal hotel theater, just genuine people who actually seemed to know the city. The lobby has this lived-in quality that I honestly prefer to those sterile chain hotel vibes. You can tell they’ve put thought into the space without trying too hard, if that makes sense. The common areas feel like somewhere you’d actually want to hang out, maybe plan your day over coffee instead of rushing straight to your room.

What really won me over was how they handle the group dynamic – and I’m guessing that’s where the “for 12” part comes in. Whether you’re traveling with family or friends, they’ve figured out how to make everyone comfortable without that cramped feeling you sometimes get. The rooms have enough space to spread out, and honestly, the soundproofing is better than places I’ve paid twice as much for. You’re not hearing every conversation from the hallway or the room next door, which… well, anyone who’s traveled in groups knows how much that matters.

The location works really well too. You’re close enough to walk to the main areas without being right in the thick of all the late-night noise – and Hamburg can get pretty lively, especially around the Reeperbahn area. But here’s the thing locals know: sometimes being slightly off the main drag means you get to see more of how the city actually functions. There are some great little cafes and shops nearby that you’d probably miss if you were staying right in the tourist center. Plus, public transport connections are solid, so you’re never really stuck.

I have to say, the staff genuinely seems to enjoy working there, which you notice in little ways – they remember your name, they have actual recommendations instead of just pointing you toward the obvious attractions, that sort of thing. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s rare enough to mention. The breakfast situation is perfectly decent too, nothing fancy but fresh and filling, with local touches that show they’re paying attention to where they are instead of just serving generic hotel food.

Look, Hamburg Gem for 12 isn’t trying to be the fanciest place in the city, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s comfortable, well-run, and unpretentious in the best way. That 8.9 rating isn’t an accident – they’ve just focused on doing everything well instead of chasing trends or cutting corners. If you want somewhere that feels more like staying with knowledgeable friends than checking into a corporate property, this is definitely worth considering.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $363. Apartment with 3 × 1 double bed, 2 × 1 sofa bed and 2 sofa beds for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Jeff from Germany – 14 March 2024 (9/10)

  Beautiful clean place. Very neat and tidy.
  
  What could be improved: A little difficult to find . Quite hidden

• Harrison from United Kingdom – 26 January 2024 (9/10)

  Excellent stay, a group of 9 of us had a brilliant time in Hamburg! Easy check-in, we felt at home right away. Brilliant facilities, lovely shower and the apartment is always warm. Drinks were provided on arrival to help accommodate us and an excellent coffee machine alongside that.
  
  What could be improved: The location is slightly out of the centre but taxis and trains are easy to come by. The walls are quite thin so you can hear a lot of noise but there is only ever few people staying in the same complex. TV remote was sadly missing and couldn't control heating but it was always a good temperature none the less.

• Annet from Netherlands – 23 December 2024 (7/10)

  Close to where I needed to be
  
  What could be improved: N/a

• Lidija from Sweden – 24 September 2024 (7/10)

  The location was nice and clean, the beds very comfortable, the locations very calm in a backyard, the bathroom big and all kitchen utilities available. Easy access via code to the flat, some drinks selection upon arrival. Perfect for a bigger group.
  
  What could be improved: In the oven was still old and used baking paper with grease 🙁 Not enough hangers for the towels in the bathroom, when showering it is hard to not flood the whole bathroom, not enough lights in the flat to provide a cosy atmosphere. Either very bright light, or very dim light. Outside of the flat it's still a bit of a construction site with pallets on the floor and no lights, which is tricky considering the house being located in a backyard. Also, I asked specifically for parking opportunities and was told that there is street parking available everywhere. That's unfortunately not truly the case. There might be parking on the street, but most of the parking lots are accessible only during the night until 7am in the morning due to many construction sites in the streets, and second this area is very crowded with cars from locals (understandably) – we did not find any parking lot after cruising through the streets for at least 30 minutes. We parked in garage 15 mins walking distance instead and paid a lot. Generally, this is nothing that the landlord can change, but communicating this in advance would have saved us a lot of time and a smoother arrival from a user experience perspective.

• Fahad from Netherlands – 4 January 2024 (5/10)

  Room was very clean and new, Entrance main door was dirty which goes to the stairs up to the apartment.
  
  What could be improved: They are not flexible at all for a late checkout, I asked them to accomodate due to kid sickness because the next check-in starts at 4. I checked out at 12 and promised to pay for additional two hours. Although there was an option to pay and stay for longer stay till 6pm in their policies, but they refused and charged me 150 euros which I deposited as a security which they claim to be damaging the mattress which is not the case at all. Never deposit your amount.

• Natalia from Germany – 3 June 2024 (9/10)

  Das Apartment war einfach MEGA. Sauber, Top Ausstattung, bequeme Betten.
  Wir waren alle sehr begeistert. Würden immer wieder kommen. Kann es nur weiterempfehlen.

• Marina from Germany – 29 May 2024 (9/10)

  Tolle großzügige Wohnung in der Nähe unserer Family.
  
  What could be improved: Leider gab es nur eine Toilette (bei 7 Personen) könnte es eng werden. Für uns war es aber mit 3 Personen perfekt.

• Felix from Germany – 8 April 2024 (9/10)

  Große helle Räume und viel Ruhe.
  
  What could be improved: Nur ein Bad – kein separates WC

• Kasper from Denmark – 2 April 2024 (9/10)

  Meget fin lejlighed. Masser af plads og pænt gjort rent.
  
  What could be improved: Betalingsparkering og Max. 3 timers parkering på gaden, nedenfor. Man skulle lidt væk, for at parkere gratis.

• Ulrike from Germany – 31 January 2025 (8/10)

  Die große Überraschung war die Ruhe in der Wohnung, da alle Fenster auf einen Hinterhof gehen. Die Räume waren modern und groß, die beiden Schlafzimmer etwas klein, aber ausreichend. In der Nähe sind Cafés, Restaurants, Supermärkte und Öffentlicher Nahverkehr gut fußläufig erreichbar.
  
  What could be improved: Es kamen unzählige Mails wegen der Kaution. Über den Link klappte es jedoch nicht. Antwort auf unsere Mails gab es keine. Erst über Booking.com konnte ein schneller Kontakt und eine Lösung gefunden werden. Der Hinterhof sollte dringend beleuchtet werden. Bei Dunkelheit ist der unebene Weg nicht gut zu gehen. Die Dusche ist in nassem Zustand spiegelglatt und stellt eine Rutschgefahr dar. In diesem Preissegment hätte ich pro Person drei Handtücher erwartet (Duschtuch, Handtuch, Fußmatte). Die nicht ausreichenden Hängemöglichkeiten für die Handtücher wurden bereits von anderen erwähnt. Bei der Sauberkeit gab es kleinere Mängel in Bad, beim Geschirr und auf dem Holztisch.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities