Zur Ritze
Zur Ritze is a St. Pauli legend: a cozy neighborhood pub with a boxing ring in the basement where proper fighters have trained, including Henry Maske and Vitali Klitschko. The bar upstairs is all retro wallpaper, boxing memorabilia, and Hacker-Pschorr on tap. Pay €3 to see the basement ring, which is genuinely worth doing at least once.
What to Expect
A bar with genuine character that doesn't manufacture it. The boxing heritage is real, the clientele is a mix of St. Pauli locals and people who've specifically sought this place out. Relaxed and welcoming once you're inside.
Nostalgic, boxing-themed, genuine St. Pauli neighborhood pub
Background jukebox, low-key playlist
Casual
Boxing fans, authentic Kiez pub experience, travelers who want somewhere with a real story
Cash
Price Range
Beer €3-5, basement access €3
Beer $3.20-5.40, basement access $3.20
Hours
Daily from around 6pm (confirm with venue for exact hours)
Insider Tip
Ask the bar staff about the boxing history. they know the stories. The basement ring is real and active. Drink prices are some of the most reasonable in the Kiez.
Full Review
Zur Ritze doesn't look like much from outside. A narrow doorway on Reeperbahn leads into a cozy pub with boxing memorabilia covering every surface: gloves, photos, fight posters, and trophies earned by real fighters who've trained in the basement ring. The room is small, warm, and genuinely old-school in a way that can't be faked.
The crowd is pure St. Pauli. Neighborhood regulars sit at the bar alongside tourists who've heard about the boxing ring. The bartenders know the stories and will share them if you ask. Drinks are cheap by Reeperbahn standards, with beers running 3 to 5 euros. The atmosphere stays conversational rather than rowdy, even on busy nights.
The boxing ring in the basement is the real draw. For a small fee (around 3 euros), you can descend and see the space where actual fighters have trained for decades. It's not a gimmick or a themed decoration; it's a working ring. This gives Zur Ritze an authenticity that most Reeperbahn bars can't match. Where other venues manufacture character, this one accumulated it over years.
Don't expect a late-night party. Zur Ritze is a pub, and it operates at pub speed. The best approach is to stop in for a drink or two, talk to the staff, check out the basement, and appreciate a bar that hasn't rebranded itself for Instagram. Cash is useful, and the crowd thins after midnight when people drift toward louder venues.
The Neighborhood
Zur Ritze sits on the Reeperbahn proper, close to the Herbertstraße intersection. It's one of the few remaining pubs in the area that genuinely predates the neighborhood's tourist transformation, keeping a working boxing ring that connects it to St. Pauli's rougher past.
Getting There
Directly on the Reeperbahn, walkable in two minutes from S-Bahn Reeperbahn station. Look for the small entrance between the larger venue fronts.
Address
Reeperbahn 140
Where to stay in Hamburg
Compare hotels near the nightlife districts. Free cancellation on most properties.
Other Venues in Herbertstrasse
Dollhouse
One of Hamburg's best-known go-go clubs, operating since the 1970s on Grosse Freiheit. Multiple floors with rotating stage shows and table seating.
Safari
Long-running go-go bar a short walk from Herbertstrasse. The neon-lit exterior is a fixture of the Grosse Freiheit strip.
Silbersack
Old-school corner bar on a quiet side street behind the Reeperbahn. No frills, cheap drinks, and a loyal local crowd that keeps the jukebox running.
Gruenspan
Concert venue operating since the 1960s, when it hosted acts during Hamburg's beat music era. Still books live bands and DJ nights across genres.
Golden Pudel Club
Legendary DIY club on the harbor waterfront below the Hafenstrasse. Experimental music, noise acts, and leftfield DJs play in a rough wooden shack with views of the Elbe.
Angie's Nightclub
Decades-old St. Pauli nightclub on Spielbudenplatz with red velvet interiors and a dance floor that draws a mixed-age crowd. The music sticks to chart hits and classic party tracks.