Flensburg's drinking culture is inseparable from rum. The city was Germany's main rum-importing port for two centuries, and several specialist rum bars in the harbour district still stock rare Caribbean rums alongside the local blends. These are serious establishments rather than tourist gimmicks — bartenders here know their products.
The harbour promenade (Speicherline) has a string of cafes and bars with views over the Flensburg Firth toward Denmark. On summer evenings, the outdoor terraces are packed until late. In winter, the same establishments fill up with a more local crowd. The Holm and Norderstraße pedestrian zone has cafes for daytime use; the harbour is where the evening drinking happens.