The Galao Strip or Portuguese Quarter in Hamburg

My wife and myself like Portugal a lot. When we heard that in Hamburg there was a "Portuguese Quarter" (in German "Portugiesisches Viertel" or also called "Galao Streifen") we were looking forward to visiting it. At first we did not have a clue why the people called it "Galao Streifen". We understood Streifen, as in Line. But Galao?

We were in Portugal twice already and we have never heard the word. It is not that we can speak Portuguese, but we really could not figure out what it was for. Finally we asked in a Portuguese restaurant what it was.

Galao is a word for "cafe au lait", or something like that. I am still not sure, as when we were in Portugal, we heard more the words "Meio de Leite" for this kind of coffee. Anyway, we were in the Galao Streifen this Saturday.

As you can see in the pictures above there are several Portuguese restaurants. The owners do speak Portuguese but we believe they are second or third generation Portuguese Immigrants to Germany. The food was indeed very good, the best meat I have had in Germany. And, after the dessert, we asked for a Galao. If you still wonder what a Galao is, I took a photo of the coffee for you to imagine.

And the best advice I can give you if you love coffee and you are in Hamburg. Don't go to Starbucks or Balzacs or any of the big coffee chains, or you will be disappointed, with 3 euros less in your pocket and with a disgusting taste of milk.

Go to a Portuguese coffee place (they are everywhere in Hamburg) and enjoy a Galao. The people preparing the coffee will be experts, they will be very nice to you and it won't be as expensive as in the chain coffee shops. And I can guarantee you that the atmosphere will be much better.