Germany
We went to this Italian restaurant with our seven-year-old, efficient German and Italian-speaking waiter, calm atmosphere, generous helpings, good pizza and just as good pasta dishes, would definitely go again. Child got lollipop at the end!
Sendlinger Str. 28, 80331 Munich
+49 89 2609377
Google map: bit.ly/TnSLPy
Café/restaurant. We went there with kids for a lovely Sunday brunch. It had a peaceful and colourful atmosphere, delicious pancakes and perfect cappuccinos.
www.playa-cafe-restaurant.de
Kreuzstr 3 b, im Asamhof, 80331 München
+49 89 23232669
Google map: bit.ly/VTLAlK
The Viktualienmarkt is a food market right in the centre of the old part of the city of Munich. While a visit there at any time would be interesting, there are 140 stalls - some free-standing in the open air, others in permanent covered locations - clearly seeing the market and choosing from the extraordinary range of food available would be most rewarding in fine weather.
The market operates throughout the year (Monday to Saturday) and is a good place to eat and drink. Until my recent visit to the city I thought France offered the finest food markets, but the Viktualienmarkt is wonderful and should be included in any visit to Munich.
bit.ly/PJiLBt
Viktualienmarkt 3, 80331 München, Germany
+49 89/89068205
Go to Marienplatz U-bahn, or Bus 52, and the market is a short walk to the south, between Peterskirche and Frauenstrasse. The official Munich Tourist Office online has further information.
Google map: bit.ly/SxUAW5
While most people head, not unreasonably, to the Hofbrauhaus, this provides a typically local experience smack bang in the city centre. Not to be confused with the Augustiner-Bräustuben or the Augustinerkeller (who sell the same beers), it manages to be both enormous and cosy and has traced its beery origins back to 1328. In the style of Munich's Art Nouveau period, it's a vast sprawling beer hall (including the gorgeous domed Mussel Hall) that stretches way back to a gorgeous courtyard - the Arcade Garden - that's particularly pleasant in summer. Service is ultra efficient and the beer is - appropriately enough for a pub linked to an abbey - heavenly.
www.augustiner-restaurant.com/
Neuhauserstrasse 27, 80331 Munich
+49 89 23 183 257
Google map: bit.ly/QuzsTY
All S-Bahn lines to Karlsplatz/Stachus or Marienplatz
Underground: U4 + U5 to Stachus/Karlsplatz and U3 + U6 to Marienplatz.
Yes, it's a tourist trap and every guide book recommends a visit, but the Hofbrauhaus in Munich's old district is wonderful. It is indeed unmissable because the atmosphere is great and the beer is even better. It has room for hundreds of people in a vast set of chambers originally built in 1896. The food is good and served promptly but bear in mind that the beer, Hofbrau naturally, comes in quantities of a litre or more - there are no half measures!
One's fellow drinkers are good humoured, ready to talk and have a good time, and there's even a traditional Bavarian 'oompah' band which strikes up every five minutes or so, but curiously fails to play a complete set. Perhaps the players need regular topping-up with Hofbrau and that interrupts their performance.
www.hofbraeuhaus.de/
Hofbrauhaus, Burgstrasse, Munich. S-bahn Am Platzl 9
+49 (0)89 29013610
Google map: bit.ly/QtC6ch
A little way out of town but easily accessed on foot from the centre. This is a great little restaurant that we went to in order to celebrate a friend’s birthday. They accommodated a booking for 12 at short notice even though the place was jam packed. Food is good and the atmosphere is excellent. They even brought free tequilas for the whole table because they knew we were celebrating. Great menu of cocktails, even I took a rest from my favoured tipple (beer) to try out the Ernest Hemingway Special.
www.joepenas.com
Buttermelcherstraße 17
80469 München, Germany
089 226463
The area just south of Central station (Hauptbahnhof) has many OK hotels, but few nice places to eat and drink. But go a bit west to the 'Westend', by St Paul's Church on the corner of St-Paul-Strasse and Schwanthaler-Strasse, and there's an excellent pub-restaurant with freshly cooked Bavarian food available late into the evening, along with draft beer and appropriate wines. Cheerfully kitsch in décor and friendly too.
It's called 'Gasthous Zur Festwiese', apparently, though the name isn't prominently displayed.
Schwanthalerstrasse 85, 80336 Munchen, Tel 089 5439050 -
by St Paul's Church on the corner of St-Paul-Strasse and Schwanthaler-Strasse
I just moved to Munich - what a wonderful city! Fantastic mixture of historic tradition and anarchic alternatives, accessibly modern and suprisingly friendly. From the moment you arrive in the well-designed (of course!) airport -they check your passport and you pick your luggage up straight at the gate - right the way through to literaly hundreds of independent bars and restaurants it's one the nicest cities in the world!
Best bars are in the Glockenbachviertel. For good restaurants try Schwabing and Liehl. Great beer gardens everywhere.
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