Café 44QM in Ottensen closes: A farewell with waffle towers!

Café 44QM in Ottensen closes: A farewell with waffle towers!

The Hamburg café scene is experiencing a change these days: the popular café “44QM” in Ottensen has to close its doors. On July 1, 2025, an era that was best known for its delicious waffle towers, iced lattes and the beloved “breakfast for two” will end here. The team around owner Miroslav Ilic is saying goodbye to day-to-day business and handing over the fortunes of the café to a new operator. The decision to close was not an easy one for the team; They emphasized in an emotional post on Instagram that they had a wonderful time and will now focus on catering. The restaurant will remain open to loyal guests for another ten days until it closes.

In Hamburg's gastronomy scene, which is constantly changing, not everything stays the same. Ilic had already closed a café of the same name in Altona ten weeks ago and is now daring to make a new start. While taking a leisurely walk with his daughter, he discovered the vacant lot across from Kemal Altun Square and decided to rent the space. He probably received his approval via a handwritten letter to the landlord. His new café, which opened on July 26th, has the same name - 44QM - and has an area of ​​​​almost 50 square meters, although the name has remained the same. Renovation work initially delayed the start because there was only one socket available in the warehouse.

What did Hamburg have to offer?

Amid these changes, Hamburg remains a stronghold of culinary diversity. According to DISH's trend report, over 1,200 restaurants in the Hanseatic city were examined and the results show that the most popular cuisine is German, followed by Asian and Italian cuisine. Popular districts are Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg-Nord and Eimsbüttel, with Hamburg-Mitte being the hotspot - when it comes to long-established restaurants and new cafés.

Café “44QM” in Ottensen represents the latest wave in this lively scene, offering everything from traditional fish sandwiches to fine dining. The location in Ottensen attracts not only coffee lovers, but also foodies who expect local products and creative dishes in the neighborhood.

Café with potential

The new café concept will also include lunch options in the future. The balance between savory and sweet dishes ensures that there is something for every taste. However, there is currently no information about the new operator and the future concept. The closure of the old café is definitely a loss for the community, but the hope remains that the successor project will be a good match for the needs of the Ottensen residents.

How will the gastronomy scene in Hamburg continue to develop? Let’s stay tuned for the next steps in Café “44QM” and what new culinary experiences the city has in store for its residents and visitors. Either way, gastronomy remains a moving field that always provides surprises - and makes the foodie in us have our mouths watering.

Further information about the closure and the future of the café is available here, while details about Ilic's new café in Ottensen are up Genussguide can be read. DISH also provides information about the entire gastronomy scene in Hamburg and thus remains the trendsetter in the city's culinary development.