RESTAURANTS | CAFES & BARS| BEER GARDENS|MUSEUMS

Restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, beer gardens, and even museums are everywhere in Munich. When faced with so many options, choosing one can be difficult – choosing the right one nearly impossible. So here we provide you with reviews of the city’s hottest and best known spots.

Ca’Doro
Perfect if you’re in a hurry and want to grab a quality and generously sliced piece of pizza – for only €1.60-2.50. That’s super. There’s also a self-service section where you can load up on pasta and salad of the Italian variety. For those who have more time, try the restaurant in the back. The menu, which comprises pasta and salad and seafood dishes, changes regularly, so the food is always fresh and tasty. Main courses €5-18. Beer (0.4L) €2.90. Bayerstr. 31. S/U-Bahn Hauptbahnhof. Tel 594600. Hours 9-12am daily. Map 1, 2

Hackerhaus
Open since the 15th century, this cozy restaurant-brewery feels like you just walked into Grandma’s house for a traditional Bavarian meal. The extensive menu offers everything from soups and salads to schnitzels, pork knuckle, and veal. For those who are really hungry, try the Hackerhaus Special: a generous portion of German meats. Main courses €6-16. Beer (0.5L) €3.10. Sendlinger Str. 14. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Tel 2605026. Hours 9-12am daily. Map 1, 2

Joe Peñas
This Mexican restaurant is large and popular, with specialties like nachos, fajitas, cocktails. The food is pricey, but on Sundays they offer an all-you-can-eat-fajitas-special for €10.75 per person, not bad if you like gorging yourself with cheese and salsa… in Germany. Happy hour for cocktails is 5-8pm. Menus in English available. Main courses €8-16. Beer (0.5L) €3. Buttermelcherstr 17. S-Bahn Isartor. Tel 226463. Hours 5pm-1am daily. Map 1, 2

L’Angolo della Pizza
This Italian restaurant, famous for the quality of its pizza, is sadly not a secret in Munich. The place is always jammed and the staff is always stressed out, but the bustle actually adds to the atmosphere. For the easily amused, watch the cooks tossing dough in the air and then into the stone oven. Happy hour cocktails are €4.50 (10:30pm-12:30am). Main courses €5-9. Beer (0.5L) €2.70. Breisacherstr 30. S/U-Bahn Ostbahnhof. Tel 4488979. Hours 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-12:30am Monday-Friday; 4pm-12:30am Saturday-Sunday. Map 1

Pasta e basta
Refreshingly low prices for Munich at this Italian restaurant with a focus on pasta: spaghetti bolognaise, penne all’arriabata, gnocchi with pesto, lasagna, etc. Compliment your meal with a bottle of wine. The interior is simple and welcoming. This place is new, so go before too many people find out about it. Main courses €3-5. Beer (0.5L) €2.20. Feilitzschstr. 23. U3/U6 Münchener Freiheit. Tel 38998883. Hours 11:30-12am daily. Map 1

Pfälzer Residenz Weinstube
This beautiful restaurant was once the guardhouse of the Royal Residency on Odeonsplatz. Ancient portraits of the palace’s former owners decorate the walls. Traditional and quality German food. The wine specialist offers a huge wine list from the Pfalz region. There is a great midday menu deal: €4.90 for a main dish, (Monday-Friday 12-3pm). Main courses €6-12. Wine by glass €2.60+, bottles €8.90+. Residenzstr 1. U3/U4/U6 Odeonsplatz. Tel 225628. Hours 10-12:30am daily. Map 1, 2

Prinz Myshkin
This restaurant lives up to its reputation as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in town. And no worries, the menu will also please the most die-hard carnivore. The food is international and very creative. The high arched ceilings give the atmosphere a spacious feeling. The service is friendly and attentive. Main courses €7-13. Beer (0.5L) €2.50. Hackenstr. 2. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Tel 265596. Hours 11-12:30am daily.
Map 1, 2

Steinheil
Steinheil serves what could very well be the largest Wienerschnitzel on Earth. (Wienerschnitzel is breaded and fried veal, a traditional German dish.) Accompany your meal with a beer and feel like a bona fide German. This little restaurant is popular among Munich’s students; finding a seat after 6 pm is difficult. Main courses €5-11. (The Wienerschnitzel is €8.90 – a great price considering the size). Beer (0.5L) €2.90. Steinheilstr. 16. U2 Theresienstr. Tel 527488. Hours 10-1am daily. Map 1, 2

Weisses Bräuhaus
Traditional Bavarian food that is real hard to find these days – items from animals you didn’t know were edible: brain, lung, tongue, heart, etc. Soberer choices are of course available too, including some vegetarian dishes. The well restored interior makes this restaurant feel traditional and classic. Owned by the Schneider brewery, well established in Germany. Main courses €7-14. Beer (0.5L) €3.10. Tal 7. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Tel 2901380. Hours 7-2am Monday-Sunday (3am Saturday). Map 1, 2

Barschwein
Cool little place with excellent prices, which cause this bar to get real busy with people 25-35. There’s table football through the back if you’re in that mood. A weird way of paying: on entry the friendly bouncer hands you a card. All your drinks will be marked on the card. When you pay the bill, the card will be stamped and you must give it back to the bouncer. Loss of the card costs €50! Beer (0.4L) €2. Siegestr. 19. U3/U6 Münchener Freiheit. Hours 6pm-late daily. Map 1

Bierkeller 90
This is the type of bar you go to for a pre-party drink and next thing you know it’s 3 am. Bierkeller 90 is one of Schwabing’s oldest bars. It welcomes people of every interest. Anyone and everyone fits in. A basement bar. Artsy black and white photographs hang from the walls, candles light the tables, and an eclectic music selection plays in the background. Ask the friendly staff about the weekly drink specials – for instance, five shots for the price of four. Beer (0.5L) €3.20. Feilitzschstr. 15. U3/U6 Münchener Freiheit. Tel 349843. Hours 8pm-2am Monday-Thursday, 8pm-4am Friday-Saturday. Map 1

Black and White
Unwind after a hard day of sightseeing in this dimly lit underground bar: kick back in the comfy sofas, drink a tall beer, and puff on a waterpipe. Amsterdam coffee-shop ambience. DJs usually play reggae, chill music, and even some R&B, but they’re always open for requests. Beer (0.5L) €2.80. Siegestr. 17. U3/U6 Münchener Freiheit. Tel 349954. Hours 8pm-late. Map 1

Gap
Smoky, studenty café-bar with a run-down, shabby appearance – a welcome break from Munich’s typical leather-sofa cocktail bars. The bar snacks (nachos, sandwiches, etc.) are good, served after 6:30 pm. Food €2-7. Beer (0.5L) €2.90. Goethestr. 34. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Tel 54404094. Hours 9-1am Monday-Thursday, 9-2am Friday, 12pm-2am Saturday, 7pm-1am Sunday. Map 1, 2

Kilians / Ned Kelly’s
A cellar bar split into two halves: an Irish pub and an Australian pub. Both feel authentic. Both are great for sitting back to enjoy a Guinness or Victoria Bitter, watch sports, eat food (from fish & chips to kangaroo steaks), and chat with expats or tourists. Located in the center of town, beside the Frauenkirche. Main courses €7-12. Beer (0.5L) €3.30. Frauenplatz 11. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Tel 24219899. Hours 3:30pm-1am Monday-Thursday, 11am-2am Friday-Saturday, 12pm-1am Sunday. Map 1, 2

Peaches
Welcome to Munich’s tropical paradise bar. Order classic beach favorites (like a “Sex on the Beach” or a “Long Island Iced Tea”) or try something more original (like a “Suffering Bastard” or a “Dream in Barbados”). You can get beer too. Listen to hits from the 80s and 90s, eat the free popcorn, maybe play some table football, and otherwise just chill out and enjoy some good drink. Bar food €5. Beer (0.5L) €3.10. Cocktails €5-17 (pitchers). Feilitzschstrasse 14. U3/U6 Münchner Freiheit. Tel 348470. Hours 7pm-2am Sunday-Thursday (3am Friday-Saturday). Map 1

Shamrock
If you’re looking to get out of Munich and get back to Ireland, or if you’re interested in watching some football (soccer for you Americans) and draining some pints of Guinness, check out this Irish cellar bar. There is also live music as well as karaoke on Tuesday nights. Go here to hang out and chat with English speaking expats and tourists. Beer (0.5L) €3.30. Trautenwolfstr. 6. U3/U6 Bahn Giselastrastr. Tel 331081. Hours 7pm-3am Monday-Friday, 2pm-3am Saturday-Sunday. Map 1

Tambosi
A very fine café by the Hofgarten. This coffee house opened in 1775, making it older than the United States. Today it remains popular with both locals shopping on fancy Ludwigstraße and with tourists visiting the Residenz. Great outside seating. Soak up the sun, sip a “kaffee,” and eat a slice of cake. Free wireless internet. Main courses €3-47 (the luxury breakfast – champagne, salmon and caviar). Beer (0.5L) €3.10. Odeonsplatz 18. U3/U4/U5/U6 Odeonsplatz. Tel 298322. Hours 8-1am daily. Map 1, 2

Augustiner Bräustüberl
A legitimate beer hall, famous even among locals. The beer is delicious. (Augustiner is considered one of Germany’s best beers.) The food is tasty and plentiful – think heaping portions of sausage, sauerkraut, or fried veal. The service is fast and English-friendly. The atmosphere is welcoming. Main courses €4-11. Beer (0.5L) €2.40. Landsbergerstr. 19. S-Bahn Hackerbrücke. Tel 507047. Hours 10-12am daily. Map 1

Augustiner-Keller
The oldest beer garden in Munich. The beer – stored in the cellar beneath the garden – is awesome, and served from wooden barrels. Chat for hours with friends beneath the tall chestnut trees and drink fine, Munich beer while surrounded by locals, always a sign of authenticity. It’s the kind of place that makes you think, “Now this is Munich. You can get food too. Indoor section as well. Main courses €6-18. Beer (1L) €6. Arnulfstr. 52. S-Bahn Hackerbrücke. Tel 594393. Hours 10-1am daily. Map 1

Hofbräuhaus
The most famous beer hall in the world, jammed with tourists, but it’s a must-see. Old men with burly beards and pot bellies wear lederhosen and play traditional Bavarian music, but the Americans, Brits, and Japanese are the ones who dance and take pictures. Beer is served by the liter while women amble through the crowd carrying baskets filled with huge pretzels. Food is available (with menus in English). Hofbräuhaus is an interesting combination of tradition and tourism. Main courses €6-10. Beer (1L) €6.40. Platz 9. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Tel 29013610. Hours 9-12am daily. Map 1, 2

Park Café
This beer garden, nightclub, and restaurant is set in the old botanical gardens. During the day, it is an oasis of calm, yet only a few minutes walking from the downtown shopping district. The food is pricey but good. By night, the bar-nightclub hosts regulars parties with big-name DJs, usually of the hip hop, R&B, or house variety. The bar is a well-dressed lounge, and the club attracts the fashionable youth of Munich. Club entry starts at around €8 but is occasionally free for women before midnight. Main courses €5-13. Beer (0.5L) €3.10. Sophienstr. 7. S/U-Bahn Karlsplatz. Tel 598313. Hours 11am-11pm daily (club 10:30-late Wednesday, Friday, Saturday). Map 1, 2

Restaurant am Chinesischen Turm
With about 7,000 seats, this beer garden is one of the biggest in the world. It lies in the heart of the Englischer Garten. The beer garden gets its name from the famous (and fake) Chinese pagoda that sits in the middle. Sit beneath the chestnut trees, drink a gigantic beer (only served by the liter), and eat a humongous pretzel. Hot food is available too. Be warned: there is a €1 deposit on glasses, so be sure to return them. Main courses €5-15. Beer (1L) €6-6.40. Englischer Garten. U3/U6 Universität. Tel 38387320. Hours 10-12am daily (weather permitting). Map 1

Viktualienmarkt Beer Garden
This bustling beer garden is in Munich’s equally bustling city market (Viktualienmarkt), and is often a stop on the New Munich Free Tour (see back cover). They serve beer from all of Munich’s six large breweries – but never at the same time, so you’ll have to come back six different times if you want to try them all. Food is available too. Main courses €4-9. Beer (0.5L) €2.60. Viktualienmarkt 6. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Hours 9am-10pm Monday-Friday (7pm Saturday). Map 1, 2
Clubs

4004
Munich’s largest club: 4,004 square meters spread over four areas. The music is usually hiphop and R&B. Drinks are reasonably priced, but be prepared to wait a while in line, which is a bummer, so consider pre-partying before you arrive. You must be at least age 20 to get in. Landsbergerstr. 169. S-Bahn Donnerbergerbrücke. Tel 01711548038. Hours 9:30pm-late Friday, Saturday, and days before holidays. Map 1

Atomic Café
A funky club with diverse musical-theme nights: from reggae to soul to punk. There is often live (occasionally famous) bands performing. Whichever night you go, you’ll find a young, attractive crowd who prefer partying to posing. Neuturmstr 5. S/U-Bahn Marienplatz. Tel 2283054. Hours 10pm-3am Monday-Thursday, 10pm-4am Friday-Saturday. Map 1, 2

Milch+Bar (Optimolwerk)
This club-bar is known for having lots of pretty people who are all hitting on each other. It’s also known for getting super busy, so be prepared, especially on Mondays when there is usually an 80s music theme. Tuesdays: party sounds. Wednesdays: 70s disco. Thursdays: 90s. Fridays-Saturdays: party mix. Sundays: hip hop and house. Friedenstr. 10. S/U-Bahn Ostbahnhof. Tel 49003517. Hours 10pm-4am Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (8am Friday-Saturday). Map 1

Nachtgalerie
This gigantic club, reminiscent of a warehouse, holds up to 4,000 guests, most of whom are between ages 18 and 22. Dive into an ocean of people dancing and gyrating to hip hop and reggae. The cover charge is expensive (at times €10), but on the inside drinks are super cheap. Nachtgalerie is also close to many hostels, so it’s practical for backpackers in the mood to explore Munich’s younger-crowd club scene. Arnulfstrasse 31c. S-Bahn Hackerbrücke. Tel 32455595. Hours 10pm-5am Friday-Saturday.
Map 1

Prager Frühling
Inspired by the Prague Spring rebellion of 1968, this little, cool underground club hosts regular theme nights and live music followed by DJs. Funky interior in the spirit of the late 60s. Wednesdays: jazz and rare groove. Thursdays: indie, pop, disco. Fridays: soul, funk, grooves. Saturdays: pop, beat, soul, and ska. Live jazz on Wednesdays. Ainmillerstr. 1. U3/U6 Giselastrasse. Hours 10pm-3am Thursday-Saturday.
Map 1

Schlachthof
Schlachthof (slaughterhouse), hence the scent of fresh meat in the air. An all-in-one location: club, restaurant, bar, and beer garden in the summer. The restaurant serves traditional German food. The club hosts live music and parties, often with jazz and soul themes. It may be a bit out of the way, but it’s great if you’re looking to hang out and dance with an over-30s crowd. Zenettistr. 9. U3/U6 Poccistrasse. Tel 7470782. Hours 5pm-1am Monday-Thursday (3am Friday, 5am Saturday). Map 1

Alte Pinakothek
Munich’s most famous gallery houses a remarkable collection (more than 800 pieces) of European art from the Middles Ages to the end of the Rococo era. The Alte Pinakothek boasts a large compilation of early Dutch and Flemish paintings, as well as other masterpieces by Titian, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, Murillo, and Chardin. The building was controversially restored in a way that enables museum goers to see how the building was nearly destroyed in WW2. The museum staff will evaluate paintings for you on Tuesday mornings for free. Admission €9, €5 for students (€1 Sunday). Barer Str. 27. U2 Theresienstr. Tel 23805216. Hours 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday (8pm Tuesday). Map 1, 2

Deutsches Museum
This technical museum is huge: the permanent exhibits by themselves cover a floor area of 55,000 square meters. Topics include everything imaginable, from archaeology to space travel. Considering the scale of the museum, it’s best to choose specific topics and dive in from there. Admission €7.50, €3 reduced (€3 for everyone Wednesday after 4pm). Museumsinsel 1. S-Bahn Isartor. Tel 21791. Hours 9am-5pm daily.
Map 1, 2

Neue Pinakothek
The Neue Pinakothek claims to be “the most important museum of art of the 19th century in the world.” The core paintings come mostly from King Ludwig I of Bavaria, who opened the museum in 1853 to house his personal collection of contemporary art. These days the museum offers an overview of European art from classicism to art nouveau, with familiar names like Monet, Manet, Gauguin, van Gogh, and many more. Admission €9, €5 for students (€1 Sunday). Barer Str. 29. U2 Theresienstr. Tel 23805195. Hours 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday (8pm Wednesday). Map 1, 2

Pinakothek der Moderne
Munich’s biggest modern art gallery is a work of art itself: ultra-modern concrete and glass architecture, housing an impressive collection of 20th and 21st century art. There are four sections: art, architecture, works on paper, and design – which comprise Kandinsky, Picasso, Warhol, Beuys, as well as furniture, installations, laptops from the 1980s, jewelry, and more. Admission €9, €5 for students (€1 Sunday). Barer Str. 40. U2 Theresienstr. Tel 23805360. Hours 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday (8pm Thursday-Friday).
Map 1, 2