Munich

When a foodie thinks of Munich, their first thoughts are usually of traditional beer halls, serving huge steins of German pilsner.  But there is more to Munich than just beer – here are just some of our favourite foodie things to do in Munich.

• Starting the day with a good coffee is important and like any large city in Europe, you can get some great coffee, and some truly horrible coffee.  Our favourite in Munich is Story Cafe on Augustenstraße, for a fabulous organic Flat White or Capuccino (they do syphon and cold brew as well), and a tasty breakfast.  They also sell gorgeous ceramics as well, if you fall in love with the coffee cup you are drinking from.
• No visit to Munich for a foodie is complete without a visit to the historic Viktualienmarkt.  Located in the old town, not far from the Marienplatz, this historic market has been trading daily (except for Sundays and public holidays), since 1807.  There are over a hundred stalls selling everything from fruit and vegetables, fish and meat to bread, spices and delicatessen products.  Wandering the many stalls is a great way to work up an appetite for that next hearty Munich meal.
• Pretzels!  For those who appreciate a fine bakery product, a fresh warm pretzel is heaven for the tastebuds.  There are many places to experience a great pretzel in Munich, but if you are near the Marienplatz, then try the Rischart bakery.  It has been operating since 1883 through five generations, and the branch near Marianplatz has over a million visitors a year!  And save some room for the many other cakes and baked goodies on offer.
• Bavarians love their sausage, and the different types of würst in Munich can seem infinite.  Whether you are craving a weisswürst (white sausage), a blutwürst (blood sausage), knackwürst (smoked sausage), or a traditional bratwürst (finely chopped meat sausage), the options are endless (there are many other varieties).  And when you find you can’t indulge in any more sausage, then every good dining establishment will be able to serve up a hearty wiener schnitzel or a whole pork knuckle, served with a side of potato dumplings and coleslaw.
• Munich and beer go hand-in-hand, and there are 6 main breweries (Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Lowenbrau, Paulaner, Spaten and Hofbrau) that have been serving their brews up to Bavarians for the last several centuries.  All German beers, from a Helles to a Weissbeer, a Doppelbock to a Marzen, are brewed to the strict Bavarian Beer Purity law, or Reinheitsgebot, introduced in 1516 by Duke Wilhelm IV and his brother Ludwig X.  The law states that beer must be made with only barley, hops, and water (yeast was later added) or it could not be called beer.  Munich is dotted with beer halls and beer gardens across the city, and some of our favourites are Hofbräuhaus München (opened in 1589, it was originally established solely to supply beer to the Bavarian court), Augustiner Klosterwirt (on Augustinerstraße, it is away from the main busy thoroughfare to the Marienplatz, and sits on a quieter square near the Frauenkirche), and on a hot day, try the Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm (the beer garden at the Chinese Tower in Munich’s English Garden, a large park beside the Isar River).
• If large steins of German beer are not your thing, then Munich is dotted with fantastic bars where you can get a great cocktail or glass of wine.  We can recommend the Rischart Café am Markt, where you can try some sensational kuchen or torten (cake) to go with your afternoon coffee or aperol spritz.  It’s a great place to people watch as well, as it overlooks the Viktualienmarkt.  Another great spot to enjoy a wine in the sun is at the Winestore Max & Moritz (also near the Viktualienmarkt, on Rohrauerstraße), they feature tasty wines and special rarities from the best wine regions in Germany and South Africa.
• If you are lucky enough to be in Munich in late September to early October, then you can experience Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival and carnival.  It has been running for over 200 years, the first festival being held in honour of Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen in 1810.  Festival goers can partake in the revelries in a number of big or small beer tents, so there are different options available for everyone. Some of the tables in the large Oktoberfest tents are kept free for spontaneous visitors, but it can get busy in the evening, so reservations are recommended, especially if you want to visit a particular tent.  Alternatively, you can book one of several guided tours or packages, but we recommend booking early.
• Visitors to Munich during the Christmas season are stepping into a festive wonderland.  The city’s many enchanting Christmas markets transform its charming squares into magical realms of twinkling lights, festive music, and the intoxicating aroma of Glühwein (a hot, spiced mulled wine) and roasted chestnuts.  Enjoy the festive spirit as you wander through the main Christkindlmarkt in Marienplatz, where artisans showcase handcrafted treasures, and serve up tasty treats such as Kartoffelpuffer (Potato Pancakes), Currywurst (Curried Sausages) and Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel).  If you want to avoid the crowds, it is recommended that you head to the markets earlier in the day, or where possible, during the weekdays rather than the weekends.