Estancia Steaks, Hamburg, Germany

Estancia Steaks is highly regarded as the best place in Hamburg for a juicy cut of meat. Whether or not it’s the best steak in Europe is debatable, but it certainly offers plenty of delicious options at a great price.

The restaurant opened in 1977 and has since blossomed into a staple of the city, with locals and tourists alike flocking here. During my visit, I was delighted to find it mostly lived up to its esteemed reputation. For an appetizer, I started with the house specialty, the chorizo grilled sausages. Grilled to perfection, they were quite possibly my favorite part of the meal.

Next, I moved on to the main course of rump steak. Though cooked slightly longer than I would have liked, the beef itself was seasoned perfectly. The béarnaise sauce in particular was absolutely spot-on. On the side was a scrumptious serving of spicy vegetables on a skewer. The dessert menu was surprisingly small, with only three options at the time. I was too full to sample any, but they looked delicious.

As for the atmosphere, it was slightly upscale without feeling pretentious. The staff was hands-on throughout the meal, and helpful when it came to suggestions. The restaurant was definitely full, but the seating arrangement did not leave you feeling like a stuffed can of sardines. I’d recommend avoiding the bench seating along the wall and ask for a private table, if you can.