The story
Our Hotel Louis C. Jacob looks back on an eventful past. The oldest documents about the hotel property are dated back to 1625. Immerse yourself in the exciting history of the house, which you can still experience live in the Jacob's underground ice cellar.
1625
The history of the hotel grounds dates back to the year 1625. Documents show that in 1648, a farmer named Heinrich Lüdemann sold the so-called Kätner Hof to Tobias Fabricius Schmidt, the pastor of Nienstedten. After passing through several hands, the property came into the possession of Margaretha Catharina Burmester in 1765. In 1780, Burmester inherited house no. 401 from her mother and soon began delighting the people of Nienstedten with delicious sweet treats.
In addition to her confectionery talents, her husband – an enthusiastic amateur pyrotechnician – would greet all incoming and outgoing ships with ceremonial cannon fire from his self-made launcher.
For ten years, all went well. But in 1789, as he fired his homemade cannon as usual, tragedy struck: a fatal explosion occurred. His wife, Maria Elisabeth, was left behind – along with six children and a thriving confectionery business.
1789-1791
At the same time, French landscape gardener Daniel Louis Jaques fled the turmoil of the French Revolution and made his way to Berlin via Dresden. In Dresden, the “charming young man” had already opened a small coffee garden.
Peter Godeffroy, a successful Hamburg merchant, hired Daniel Louis and brought him to Hamburg to give his park in Dockenhuden a proper French touch.
It was during this time that Daniel met the widowed Mrs. Burmester. He fell in love with the beautiful confectioner, married her – and Germanised his name to Jacob.
From July 1791
On 1 July 1791, he opened the house on the Elbe as a wine tavern. In the very same year, he created the now-famous Lindenterrasse. From then on, he no longer seduced his guests with sweets – but, true to his French roots, with fine wines and sophisticated cuisine.
In 1802, he received an official letter from Copenhagen: the “Royal Highest Concession for the innkeeper Dan. Louis Jacob in Nienstedten, in the Pinneberg district, to run a public house in his residence.”
No one could have known at the time – but this was the beginning of over 230 years of culinary excellence.
1826-1866
The Jacob family’s wine tavern, with its spacious terrace and stunning view of the Elbe, quickly became an insider’s tip among gourmets. In 1826, Carl Louis Jacob took over the inn. Under his leadership, the Jacob flourished.
Carriages now travelled regularly between Altona and the Elbe suburbs – bringing with them a steady stream of potential guests for the wine tavern and the famous Lindenterrasse.
1866-1895
In 1866, a new era began with Louis Carl Jacob. At the age of 40, Jacob III took over the inn. The great-grandson of the founder had a modern mindset but remained deeply rooted in family tradition.
Early in his tenure, he built the now-famous ice cellar in 1870. He also added two single rooms and nine double rooms for guests. The horse stables were torn down and replaced by a ballroom “of considerable size.”
1895–1922
In 1895, Heinrich Louis Jacob took over the business from his father and completed his father’s renovation plans. Distinguished guests from politics, nobility, and high society came and went. Business was thriving.
1902
During Heinrich Jacob’s tenure, the renowned Berlin Impressionist Max Liebermann took up residence at the hotel for several weeks in 1902. He had accepted an invitation from Alfred Lichtwark, founding director of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
Liebermann was commissioned to create views of the area for the gallery’s “Collection of Paintings from Hamburg”. What followed became one of the highlights of German Impressionism.
One of these paintings holds a place of honour in the Jacob’s Wohnhalle; another can be admired at the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
1902
The painting that hangs at Louis C. Jacob offers a view down the Elbe. Its title is strikingly similar to that of the famous work housed at the Hamburger Kunsthalle: “Elbe View – Terrace on the Elbe, Restaurant Jacob.”
Long believed lost, the painting resurfaced unexpectedly and was acquired by the Rahe family in 1995.
In honour of the renowned guest, the hotel created the Liebermann Room – the very room where the famous Impressionist once stayed during his time in Hamburg. It offers a view of the Lindenterrasse he so beautifully immortalised – and is adorned with additional drawings by the Berlin artist.
Louis Heinrich Jacob managed the hotel until his death in 1922. His son Matthias, however, had no desire to follow in his father’s footsteps.
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1922-1955
The house was leased – at first with great success – and the legacy of the Jacob family was respectfully preserved. In 1922, restaurateur Albert Nibbes took over the Jacob and invested significantly in its renovation and refurbishment. In 1933, he passed the management on to his son, Albert Hans Nibbes. Darker times were to follow.
After the Second World War, the house was first used as quarters for the Royal Air Force, and later transformed into a children’s home for German children, run by Elizabeth Harvey.
1922-1955
In 1949, the Jacob reopened its doors. Today’s guests might smile at the prices back then: a single room was 8.00 Deutsche Mark, a double room 15 DM. A double room with salon came in at 20.00 DM – while a driver’s room was a real bargain at just 3.00 DM.
Albert Hans Nibbes managed the Jacob until his death in 1952. His wife continued to run the hotel on her own until 1955.
1955-1970
That same year, Jürgen Parbs took over the reins of the hotel. The country was celebrating its Wirtschaftswunder – the economic miracle. Under his management, the Jacob welcomed world-renowned stars such as Maria Callas, Zarah Leander, Henry Miller, and Hans Albers. The hotel regained its former splendour.
In 1956, the building – including the iconic Lindenterrasse – was officially listed as a historic monument by the city of Hamburg.
1955-1970
The Jacob reached its lowest point in 1970, when the entire contents of the restaurant were auctioned off. The new leaseholder was Armin Gustav. His most striking change: a wood-panelled restaurant with rustic furnishings and an open grill. Seven linden trees were felled to make way for the renovation.
On 3 April 1971, the Jacob reopened. Seating capacity increased from 260 to 350, and all 14 hotel rooms were completely refurbished – each now equipped with a private bathroom, toilet, telephone, and radio.
In 1975, the heirs of the Jacob family intended to cease hotel and restaurant operations altogether and applied for a licence to open a casino in Hamburg. In hindsight, it’s fair to say: we were lucky that the application was denied.
1993
Throughout the 1990s, the hotel changed hands frequently. It wasn’t until 1993 that a sense of stability returned – thanks to the new owners, the Rahe family, who set the course for lasting success.
In just three years, they transformed the old Jacob into a modern luxury hotel. With great sensitivity and attention to detail, the house was renovated, restored, and expanded. Together with the historic buildings on the opposite side of the street, a stylistically coherent and now listed ensemble was created.
1996
During the restoration work, builders uncovered a historic ice cellar. Once used as a brick-vaulted refrigerator, it now serves as a unique venue for special events. Hidden beneath layers of plaster, original wall paintings were also discovered, carefully uncovered and restored.
In 1996, the grand reopening was celebrated. To this day, Hotel Jacob continues to delight guests from all over the world.
October 2023
As part of the Franco-German cabinet retreat, we had the honour of welcoming some very special guests to Louis C. Jacob on 9 and 10 October 2023: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and their ministers.
We are still overjoyed, deeply moved – and incredibly proud, especially of our one-of-a-kind Jacob team.
