Cucina d’Elisa

The story

Cucina d'Elisa, Italian Restaurant in Hamburg on Rothenbaumchaussee

Cucina d'Elisa is an Italian restaurant at Rothenbaumchaussee 101 in Hamburg, rated 1.5 Kochlöffel in the Schlemmer Atlas 2026. Elisa Jessen-Papagna opened it in July 2008 in the premises of her father Lello's former restaurant.

Elisa and her kitchen

Elisa grew up in her father's restaurants and spent hours watching him cook. She started out in advertising, then took over the restaurant and trained under the star chef Anna Sgroi. Today chef Luis runs the kitchen with his crew, and Elisa still returns to the stove herself.

What comes to the table

The Schlemmer Atlas points to dishes ranging from salmon pasta to beef tagliata. The menu also lists zucchini carpaccio with goat cheese and tagliolini al tartufo served in a Parmesan waffle. There is grilled dorade too, and a pizza patate for those who want something simpler. A set lunch menu runs early in the week.

The rooms

The dining room is split into two areas of about 30 seats each, with a bar in between where guests eat on stools and have a glass of wine. In total there are 65 seats inside and 50 on the terrace. Elisa repainted the former ox-red walls cashmere grey and replaced the decorative bottles with art. When the music goes up a notch, the room turns lively and personal.