A former Nazi bunker in Germany has been repurposed into a modern hotel and leisure complex, blending history with contemporary amenities.

Standing at 58 meters – just slightly taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa but far more imposing – the St. Pauli bunker in Hamburg has loomed over the city skyline for over eight decades.

Constructed using forced labor during the Nazi regime, this monument to a grim chapter in Germany's past has undergone a remarkable transformation.

The revamped Hamburg Bunker now houses two restaurants, a five-story Hard Rock Hotel, and a stunning rooftop bar with a pyramid shape and a flourishing garden that cascades over the concrete exterior.

The REVERB by Hard Rock adds to Hamburg’s rich musical legacy – a city where The Beatles began their rise to fame in the early 1960s.

The Karoviertel district, where the fortress-like bunker is located, is a trendy area known for its chic cafes, vintage shops, and the Knust nightclub housed in a converted slaughterhouse.

The Facilities

Rooms at the REVERB range from 180 euros for a classic room, complete with a 55-inch TV and Alexa assistant, to 269 euros for a suite offering panoramic city views.

This hotel boasts all the modern conveniences expected from a cutting-edge boutique, including self check-in, smart technology, and dedicated co-working spaces.

The bunker’s amenities aren’t just for hotel guests. On the ground floor, visitors can enjoy Constant Grind, a coffee shop and bar, as well as a Rock Shop for Hard Rock merchandise.

Karo & Paul, a bar-restaurant created by German TV chef Frank Rosin, opened in April 2024 and occupies the building’s first three floors. The restaurant area is still under development.

The La Sala restaurant, which translates to 'living room' in Spanish, is now open on the fifth floor, offering panoramic views and a diverse international menu.

At the very top is the Green Beanie rooftop garden, featuring a bar and a walking path that encircles the building, accessible to the public free of charge.

The Challenge

The Hamburg bunker was one of eight flak towers built by Germany after British air raids on Berlin in 1940. These above-ground anti-aircraft structures also served as air raid shelters.

The history that the Hamburg Bunker carries is weighty, but this 76,000-ton concrete giant with walls 2.5 meters thick is too massive to demolish or simply overlook.

The only flak tower fully destroyed was located at Berlin’s zoo. The others remain standing in densely populated areas, where the risks of demolition with explosives would be too great, according to AFP.

Anita Engels from the Hilldegarden neighborhood association, which supported the project, explained to AFP, 'The idea of adding height with greenery was to bring something peaceful and positive to this imposing relic from the Nazi era.'

The association has contributed to the Hamburg flak tower's new chapter by gathering testimonies from those who lived in the wartime bunker, as well as records documenting the hundreds of forced laborers who helped construct it.

A comprehensive exhibition on the first floor now details the full history of the building, offering visitors a deeper understanding of its past.