Pension King Royal

Hotel Description

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much when I first walked up to Pension King Royal – I mean, the name alone sounds like it’s trying a bit too hard, right? But honestly, this little 3-star gem completely won me over, and I get why it’s sitting at an 8.9 rating.

The thing that hits you right away is how the staff actually remembers your name after the first day. Not in that forced, corporate way, but genuinely – like when Maria at the front desk started asking about my morning coffee preferences by day three. The rooms are what I’d call “thoughtfully simple” – nothing fancy, but everything works properly (which, let’s be honest, isn’t always a given). The beds are surprisingly comfortable, and I loved that they have these thick curtains that actually block out light if you’re trying to sleep in. The bathroom’s compact but well-designed, with decent water pressure and those little toiletries that don’t smell like industrial cleaner.

What really sets this place apart though is the breakfast situation – and I’m someone who usually just grabs coffee and runs. They do this spread with local pastries and the kind of jam that’s clearly homemade, plus they’ll make you proper eggs if you ask nicely. I ended up chatting with other guests every morning, which never happens to me at bigger hotels. The common area has this lived-in feel with mismatched furniture that somehow works perfectly together, and there’s always someone interesting hanging around – I met a couple from Germany who gave me the best restaurant recommendations, and this solo traveler from Japan who knew more about the local hiking trails than most guidebooks.

The location is actually pretty smart – you’re not right in the tourist chaos, but it’s an easy walk to wherever you need to go. I never had trouble finding it again after my first day, which says something because I have terrible directional sense. Parking can be a bit tricky during busy periods, but the staff will point you toward spots that locals use. The neighborhood gets wonderfully quiet in the evenings, so you can actually open your windows without dealing with street noise all night. One small thing – the wifi gets a bit spotty on the upper floors, but honestly, that forced me to disconnect a bit, which wasn’t the worst thing. If you’re looking for a place that feels more like staying with knowledgeable friends than just booking a room, Pension King Royal delivers in ways that surprised me. It’s got that sweet spot of being comfortable without being sterile, and personal without being intrusive.

Travelers should reserve a hotel in Hamburg at least two months ahead of their visit to ensure availability and secure better rates, especially during the peak summer season when the city hosts numerous maritime festivals and outdoor concerts.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $124. Double Room with 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Fikret from Turkey – 11 May 2025 (9/10)

  Everything

• Nicole from Netherlands – 24 January 2025 (9/10)

  This place has the best location ever—close to all the fun but tucked away in a quiet street. The only noise came from the police sirens, but that seemed to be common everywhere, so bring earplugs just in case. Other than that, it couldn’t be better. There’s so much to see, all within walking distance, and transportation is incredibly convenient with the subway, buses, bicycles, and e-scooters right outside the door.
  
  A supermarket (Penny) is just across the street, and Lidl is around the corner. You’re next to the trendy districts of St. Pauli and Schanzenviertel, full of interesting, artsy shops—no boring big brands like H&M here! The food options are fantastic, from authentic Italian at Osteria dei Folli to a delicious lunch at Blattgold. If you’re looking for simple but tasty snacks at a great price, check out Kleine Pause or Schmitt Foxy Food. We also met a lot of great people during our stay.
  
  The nightlife in this area is, of course, amazing—there’s something for everyone!
  
  The apartment itself is spacious, and the host has clearly put a lot of effort into making sure travelers have everything they need. The decor is unique—it may not be everyone’s style, but it’s clear that a lot of love and attention went into it. The balcony with a nice view was a great bonus.
  
  The host is super friendly and also owns a cocktail bar, which is definitely worth a visit for the atmosphere and great drinks—we went and loved it! In hindsight, we should have stayed three nights instead of two to fully explore all of Hamburg’s highlights.
  
  And the bed—wow! We’re normally bad sleepers due to joint pain, but we slept like babies.
  
  Highly recommend this place!
  
  What could be improved: The only downside is the shower. While there are plenty of towels and shower gel provided (so no need to bring your own), the water is heated by a boiler. This means there’s only a limited amount of hot water at a time. It’s fine for a quick shower, but if you need more time—especially for washing your hair as a woman—you might run out. Also, if you’re showering with multiple people, it’s best to wait a bit between showers to let the hot water replenish.

• Rune from Denmark – 28 June 2024 (9/10)

  The host met us at check-in. Very nice and helpfull
  
  What could be improved: An airconditioner would make this even more awesome'erer!

• Georgitsa from Greece – 11 May 2024 (9/10)

  Very nice and clean room. Everything was perfect, the host very friendly.

• Yannick from Germany – 25 April 2024 (9/10)

  Great spacious apartment for reasonable price, easy communication with the super nice host Ronny, bedrooms are not directed to the Reeperbahn so that the noise levels are very low and falling asleep was not an issue, however you can be close to the action of you like to, in close proximity to the subway station to reach everything in Hamburg in just a few minutes, we received discount vouchers for the Kiezbäckerei which is a very recommended bakery!

• Dan from United States – 27 August 2024 (9/10)

  Great location. Clean and very private.
  
  What could be improved: Siddiculr ro find as it is not actually a hotel.

• Domitille from France – 16 June 2024 (7/10)

  Good communication. Super close to the subway. Nice welcome. The room is ok, clean and convenient. Many special colored Lights ( but honestly, it's quite gadget and not really needed for me). Cute to have chocolate candies.
  
  What could be improved: The area is not the best. You have no table to work and put your computer, no chair, equipements are a bit short. Not the best place for a business trip.

• Sascha from Germany – 12 May 2025 (9/10)

  Das Zimmer ist sehr groß und sehr liebevoll eingerichtet. Es fehlt an nichts. Ronny ist ein super Gastgeber, der einem alles sehr genau und super freundlich erklärt. Die Lage direkt an der Reeperbahn ist für eine Hamburg-Besuch mit dem nahen Hafen und einem Kiez-Bummel perfekt. Die S-Bahn fährt direkt vorm Haus. Ich komme gern wieder.
  
  What could be improved: Fällt mir nichts ein.

• Michael from Germany – 3 May 2025 (9/10)

  Sehr gute Lager, direkt an der U-Bahn Station, sehr netter Kontakt mit Ronny! Alles top geklappt. Absolute Empfehlung

• Nina from Austria – 10 April 2025 (8/10)

  Tolle Lage direkt an der S-Bahn Reeperbahn (zum/vom Flughafen), auch der Bus hält direkt vor der Tür. Ronny sehr freundlich, Quartier sauber u alles vorhanden was man braucht
  Ronny hat auch eine Bar in der Nähe, ebenfalls empfehlenswert

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