When my younger brother came to visit me in Hamburg for a few days in October, we decided to keep our last day together fairly relaxed. He was heading back to Budapest on the 12th, so the plan for the day before was simple enough: set off reasonably early, take a leisurely stroll down to the harbour, have a look around and hop aboard the number 62 ferry, which operates along the Elbe as part of Hamburg’s public transport network. We would enjoy the boat ride, perhaps wander along the waterfront for a little longer afterwards, and be back home by five or six in the evening.
Or so we thought.
Unfortunately, the weather forecast had already made it clear the previous day that we could probably forget about an early start, with rain expected until at least nine or ten in the morning. Neither of us particularly fancied beginning our last day together by getting thoroughly soaked, so I came up with a Plan B. If we were going to set off later anyway, why not find somewhere for a leisurely brunch before heading down to the harbour?
The trouble is, finding a suitable café or restaurant isn’t quite as straightforward for me as checking a few reviews and booking a table.
For one thing, there’s Susi, whom I try to take along with me whenever possible. This is partly because she plays an important role in my life as an emotional support dog, helping me with the challenges associated with my neurodivergence – although, unfortunately, the letter from my therapist confirming her role doesn’t carry much practical weight in most places in Germany.
But there’s another reason, too: I genuinely want her to experience as much of the world as possible. I believe dogs deserve adventures, new places to explore and proper quality time with their humans just as much as we do. Naturally, always at their own pace and with their individual needs in mind.
Then there’s the small matter of food. I absolutely love eating, discovering new flavours and watching food programmes, particularly those made by the likes of Gordon Ramsay and the late Anthony Bourdain. Unfortunately, having to follow a gluten-free diet does complicate matters rather considerably. An entire menu might look absolutely wonderful, but that doesn’t help much if there’s hardly anything on it I can actually eat. And that’s before we even get to finding lactose-free milk for my coffee. So the mission was fairly straightforward, at least on paper: find somewhere with delicious food, gluten-free options, lactose-free milk and a warm welcome for Susi.
That’s how I stumbled across Dieter’s Café in Hamburg’s Altona district, completely by chance. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, and a look at the menu suggested that it ticked all the right boxes. I didn’t need much more convincing, so I booked a table for the three of us.
A little café tucked away among Altona’s residential streets
Our first pleasant experience with the team at Dieter’s actually came before we even arrived. The weather was still being rather uncooperative, and I had to give them a call to explain that we were unfortunately going to be a little late. Thankfully, the person on the other end of the phone couldn’t have been more understanding, so at least we didn’t have to worry about losing our reservation.
We eventually arrived about fifteen minutes later than planned. By then, the rain had stopped, so we decided to walk from Hamburg-Altona station rather than rush straight to the café.
Dieter’s is tucked away among the residential buildings of Neue Mitte Altona, in a neighbourhood that most tourists probably wouldn’t find themselves exploring by accident. There are no enormous crowds or major attractions right outside its doors; instead, it feels very much like a local spot, woven into the everyday life of the people who live nearby.
Inside, we found a small, welcoming space with only a handful of tables. The atmosphere was relaxed and homely, and judging by how busy it already was when we arrived, the café clearly had no shortage of regular customers. The staff greeted us warmly, including Susi, who was still observing everything from the safety of her backpack at that point. She eventually grew a little braver, however, and became rather interested in a dachshund sitting at the neighbouring table, with whom she managed to strike up a bit of an acquaintance.
At the time, I simply thought how lovely it was to find somewhere that treated four-legged guests as a perfectly normal part of café life. As it turns out, though, there’s considerably more to Dieter’s dog-friendly philosophy than simply allowing dogs through the door.
So, who exactly is Dieter?
Dieter’s Café isn’t named after its owner. It’s named after his dachshund – and, by all accounts, this really is a place where the dachshund’s in charge. Dieter, affectionately known as Diddi, is a particularly striking little Tigerdackel, with a beautifully mottled coat and two different-coloured eyes, one blue and the other brown.
His human, Tom Dolling, spent many years working in marketing, a career that involved a considerable amount of travelling. This meant regularly having to leave Dieter in someone else’s care, something Tom eventually decided he wanted to change. So he took the opportunity to fulfil a long-held dream of opening his own hospitality business, creating a place where he could work and spend more time with his dog.
And that’s how Dieter’s Café came into being in June 2025.
Dieter isn’t merely featured in the café’s name, logo and decorations, either. When he feels like it, he also makes personal appearances to greet the customers. Presumably whenever his busy schedule allows. I must admit, when I later discovered the story behind Tom and Dieter, the parallels made me smile.
I might not have opened a café for Susi, but the idea that our dogs should have a natural place in our everyday lives is something I can certainly relate to. And judging by the relaxed welcome we’d received, not to mention Susi’s encounter with the dachshund at the next table, it was already clear that this wasn’t just a marketing concept. They genuinely meant it.
When breakfast is almost bigger than the person eating it
Anyway, back to the original reason we’d come: food.
The menu at Dieter’s isn’t particularly long, but it offers a good variety of dishes and is refreshingly easy to navigate. For me, that’s usually a promising sign. After years of watching Gordon Ramsay and Anthony Bourdain, I’ve come across the same principle time and again in their programmes and interviews: a good kitchen doesn’t necessarily need to serve everything under the sun. Sometimes, knowing exactly what you do well is far more important.
Of course, a short menu is no guarantee of quality, but it’s certainly a good place to start.
My brother went for the Salmon-Drop, which sounded rather substantial even on paper: brioche, four organic eggs, salmon, cream cheese, guacamole, cucumber, rocket and homemade mayonnaise. I chose the Rühreier mit Brot, consisting of three fluffy scrambled eggs served with bread and butter, opting for gluten-free bread, naturally. We both ordered cappuccinos, mine with lactose-free milk.
We didn’t have to wait long for our food, and when the plates arrived, it immediately became apparent that nobody at Dieter’s was particularly interested in serving tiny portions. My scrambled eggs were already a very generous helping, accompanied by a delicious fresh salad that I hadn’t even expected.
My brother’s Salmon-Drop, however, was in a league of its own.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that the enormous tower of food on his plate was almost the size of his head. For a while, we were genuinely entertained by the question of how long the whole construction would remain upright, and which direction it might eventually topple. Fortunately, it stayed in one piece, and we were finally able to tuck into our breakfasts.
And the best part? The portions weren’t simply enormous for the sake of being enormous. Both dishes were absolutely delicious, the ingredients were plentiful, and despite the substantial servings, we never felt that quantity had come at the expense of quality.
When I looked into the café’s background afterwards, I discovered that this approach was entirely intentional. In an interview with a local magazine, Tom Dolling explained that offering good value for money and properly satisfying portions was particularly important to him. He didn’t want customers to have to order three different dishes just to leave feeling full.
Well, based on our experience, I’d say he’s succeeded rather spectacularly.
Naturally, Susi wasn’t going to miss out on breakfast either. She had a little taste of my scrambled eggs, which she seemed to appreciate enormously, although the real treat was still to come. Towards the end of our meal, one of the team brought her a puppuccino, a little cream-based treat for dogs, which she devoured with the greatest enthusiasm imaginable.
I think it’s fair to say that, by this point, Dieter’s had thoroughly won over all three of us.
Dachshunds everywhere – and a few other lovely details
After such a substantial breakfast, I needed a little time to recover before we could contemplate setting off again. So, while slowly finishing the last of my cappuccino, I took the opportunity to have a proper look around.
The interior is fairly simple but wonderfully welcoming, and, as you might expect from a café named after a dachshund, there are little nods to its four-legged inspiration throughout the room. I particularly liked the dachshund-themed gifts available to buy, along with a sweet guestbook where visitors can leave a few words about their experience.
They’re the sort of small touches that give a place personality without making it feel overly themed or contrived. Near the till, there was also a tempting selection of cakes and sandwiches, meaning that anyone popping in for a takeaway coffee and something to eat could easily find what they were looking for without sitting down for a full meal.
And the longer we stayed, the more I felt that one of Dieter’s greatest strengths wasn’t necessarily a particular dish, or even its charming canine concept, but the genuinely thoughtful way the team treated their guests. From the understanding response to my phone call about our late arrival to the puppuccino brought over for Susi, there was a consistent sense of care and attention throughout our visit.
And during a busy Sunday brunch service, that’s certainly not something I’d take for granted.
A little café with big plans
It turns out that the story of Dieter’s doesn’t end with its cosy Altona café, either.
Tom Dolling and his four-legged business partner are already working on their next venture: Dieter’s Deli, a second location, also in Altona. Situated at Harkortstraße 105, the new deli is scheduled to open on 1 November and will focus primarily on Italian-style pizzas to take away, rather than brunch. The planned menu also includes gluten-free pizza options, alongside salads and desserts.
Naturally, Dieter will have his own spot there as well, although according to reports, he and Tom will still be spending most of their time at the original café.
I’ll certainly be interested to see how this new chapter develops, especially where the gluten-free pizzas are concerned.
Definitely worth changing our plans for
By the time we finally got up to leave, all three of us were thoroughly satisfied.
The rain had completely stopped, although the sun was still refusing to make an appearance, and we could at last head towards the harbour for the outing we’d originally planned. Our leisurely brunch might have altered the day’s schedule considerably, but we certainly weren’t complaining. We’d eaten extremely well, enjoyed our coffees without having to rush, and hadn’t once needed to wonder whether Susi’s presence might be bothering anyone.
It was exactly the kind of hospitality that makes me want to return somewhere. Dieter’s might not be Hamburg’s most famous or spectacular café, but it’s certainly one I’d recommend making the effort to find.
My brother left with a very full stomach, I’d enjoyed a genuinely delicious breakfast without having to compromise on my dietary needs, and Susi had made a new acquaintance and discovered the joys of a puppuccino.
Not a bad outcome for a rainy Sunday, really.
Dieter’s Café – Good to know
Address: Susanne-von-Paczensky-Straße 5, 22765 Hamburg, Altona-Nord
On the menu: Breakfast, brunch, coffee, cakes and snacks to take away.
Dog-friendly: Absolutely. Four-legged visitors are warmly welcomed, and Susi was even treated to a puppuccino.
Dietary options: Gluten-free bread and lactose-free milk were available during our visit. If you have food allergies or coeliac disease, it’s worth checking with the café beforehand about ingredients and possible cross-contamination.
Reservations: Highly recommended, particularly at weekends. The café isn’t very large and is clearly popular with the locals.
Kitchen hours: According to the information we received during our visit, hot food is served until 3 pm, after which coffee and cakes are still available.
Instagram: @dieters.cafe
Leave a Reply