Don Draper’s Uncle is Alive and Well in Germany.
(Hamburg, specifically.)
When I was a kid, I dressed up as a “poodle girl” for three Halloweens in a row. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the technical term “poodle girl,” it was the 8-year-old saying for a wannabe ‘60s sock hop gal, complete with a baby pink, flouncy skirt adorned with… you guessed it… a poodle appliqué. Over the years the look progressed to include a faux leather jacket (thanks mom) and plastic cat eye glasses with a few rhinestones, because why not. And while I eventually got over the costume, I never grew out of my fascination with the ‘60s.
So when Mad Men first aired, I knew I’d found my new show. Besides the impeccable acting, I immediately fell for the fashion, furniture, and too-cool-for-school style that oozed from my screen in every single episode. And when the credits started to roll, I sighed with the familiar octogenarian thought, “They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.”
Well it turns out they do.
I found Don Draper’s uncle is alive and well in Hamburg, Germany and we’ve become good friends. His name is Henri. Well, , actually.
I knew as soon as I walked into the lobby/living room at this stylish Hamburg hotel, and was promptly greeted by a friendly receptionist in a pleated skirt, that I was in for a treat. Wooden bookshelves and local Hamburg products with a retro flair welcome you into Henri’s library, as I affectionately came to know it, and an entire wall of windows send light pouring across the Mad Men-like desk complete with a typewriter. (Don’t worry, there’s also a real computer for any of your 21st century needs.)
And in case you thought the fun stops in the lobby, you’re quite wrong. Each of the 65 rooms at “Uncle Henri’s Place” are bursting with tasteful nods to the past, like a retro espresso machine (with modern functions), pop-art adorned storage boxes, and knobs, pulls & handles all conveying that “blast from the past.” There’s custom Henri wallpaper littered with retro icons, and cheerful Henri sayings. But what struck me most about this room, is that it’s not playing dress up. It’s functional, practical, and has every modern convenience a hotel room should have. But with style.
As I sat and had a coffee with the energetic, young Hotel Manager Jan, I told him that staying at the Henri Hotel felt like stepping into my (fictional) great uncle’s fantastical library. “Well then, we’ve done our jobs!” said Jan.
There are tables aplenty, cushions to get comfy, and snacks and drinks that are just begging for you to pull up a chair and hang out in Henri’s house. So one evening, after wandering along Hamburg’s beautiful waterfront, I came back and did exactly that. And I found myself surrounded by businessmen and women, radio hosts, and a whole crop of characters who fell for the charm of a hotel that stands for the exact opposite of generic and corporate. And man, is that refreshing.
I’ve seen a lot of hotels, so I’ve put a lot of careful thought into who I would take to Uncle Henri’s House.
Have a friend getting married who’s more of a martini and pencil skirt gal, instead of a drunken bachelorette night in sequins? Take her to the Henri. Do you spend your weekends looking for vinyls and sipping old fashioneds? Um, pretty sure Henri has a room with your name on it, for a weekend getaway. And if you ever donned a flouncy skirt with a canine on it, idolizing the generation you wish you could’ve been born into (despite a host of social issues unbeknownst to an 8-year-old), then my friends, it’s time for you to go and meet Uncle Henri.
And while you’re at it, dive into the many charms of Hamburg that will take you back in time, like , one of my favorite cocktail bars of all time (complete with. velvet. walls.), the sweet and stylish eatery , and the plentiful vintage shops lining the streets of the Sternschanze neighborhood.
And when the bubbles have been sipped, the dessert plate has nothing left but crumbs (let no Franzbrötchen go to waste!), and you’ve upcycled an outfit fit for Betty Draper’s dreams, exit the subway car at Mönckebergstraße and ring your Uncle Henri. He’ll be oh-so-happy that you’ve paid him a visit.
(And something tells me you will be too…)
*This post is in partnership with the Henri Hotel, but all opinions and Mad Men references are my complete and honest thoughts.
