Food and Drink

“Food and drink keep body and soul together”, or so the German saying goes. Thus, given that the Bavarian State Capital is home to some 5,000 bars, cafés, and eateries, Munich’s residents and its visitors can count themselves lucky. Needless to say, the choice includes something to appeal to any taste and any size wallet.

On the one hand, of course, there are Bavaria’s centuries-old inns, whose fare goes well beyond their classic meat-based dishes or Weisswuerste – veal sausages traditionally consumed before noon. Just think of a fresh salt pretzel (Brezn) with some tasty country butter spread on it, or all those wonderful strudel.

Inns and Beer Gardens

Located on Platzl, Hofbräuhaus is a tourist highlight, attracting thousands of visitors every year and boasting a beer garden which is the place to go if you want to enjoy a cold beer on a summer’s day, sitting beneath its old chestnut trees. Also, don’t miss Augustiner, home to Munich’s oldest brewery established in 1328: Its Hall of Shells (Muschelsaal) in the Art Nouveau style is worth at least a short visit. This inn also features an interior courtyard with a cosy beer garden as this type of outdoor dining has a long tradition in Munich. You are welcome to bring your own food to the beer gardens located on Lake Kleinhesselohe or by the Chinese Tower in the English Garden – when in Rome, do as the Romans do!

The Viktualienmarkt

Viktualienmarkt (the Victuals’ Market) is a great place to visit hungry and find things that fill the gap. It’s where some 140 retailers offer exotic fruits and vegetables, wine, all kinds of fish and cheese specialities, as well as ecological foods. Butchers, including Munich’s only horse butcher, sell meat and sausages as well as Bavarian snacks, while the farmers’ market provides hobby cooks with a wealth of regional seasonal products.
When strolling across Viktualienmarkt, be sure to drop by the Pschorr Inn or feast on some tasty international fare available at the Schrannenhalle food stands. You will find anything from pizza and pasta to sushi, Indian curries and original English tea treats.

International Dining

Thanks to a large number of foreign residents, Munich’s international dining options are as varied as they are authentic. Thus, in each district there are numerous Italian restaurants that will pamper your palate, even at the one-star gourmet level. If you like reaching for the stars when you go out to eat, however, you don’t have to settle for Italian cooking. Gourmets that want their palates tickled have a choice of other fine-dining establishments that have been awarded Michelin Guide stars, such as Alfons Schuhbeck’s Südtiroler Stub’n or Executive Chef Hans Haas’s Tantris, which has held on to its two stars for many years.
Whereas Turkish and Greek eateries have been a fixture for decades, most recently Lebanese, Afghan, Indian, and other Asian cuisines have become more and more popular – a trend that is increasingly drawing a response from Munich’s international hotels.

Vegetarian Dining

Vegetarian cuisine is well represented in Munich. Examples include Prinz Myshkin, Gollier in the Westend district, or Vegan in the old Zerwirkgewölbe (Butchers’ Vault). However, if you want to enjoy good food or relax over a coffee while enjoying a spectacular view of Munich, visit the revolving restaurant in the Olympic Tower or Cafe Glockenspiel at Marienplatz. After all, enjoying a feast for the eyes as you eat means doubling your pleasure. What could be more second nature to Munich?