Like a local: Where to eat, drink and hang on a weekend in Munich

– What you get – 

– How you get it –

Fridays are for fun 

BREAKFAST // LUNCH // APERITIF // SUSHI // BAR(S) 

Madam Anna Ekke

@brigittebuck

Everything from Eggs Benedict with salmon on sourdough bread to Israeli Shakshuka with a spicy vegan dip. Various great coffees, sweet sun deck, very artsy walls and interior, plants hanging from the ceiling, and a relaxed atmosphere with a little bit of indie/ pop in the background. Saturdays and Sundays can be fully booked, so you'll have much better chances here on Fridays. Also, be prepared: Most of the waitresses and waiters are concerningly gorgeous here.

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Caspar Plautz

@brigittebuck

Theoretically: Art on a potato. Practically: Weekly changing dishes topped on a crispy baked potato. Sometimes ragout of Alpine Stone Sheep with lamb, red wine, koji, fresh corn salad and a chive dressing. Topped with goat cream cheese and herbs. Another time mini-pretzel-dumplings with wild mushrooms, red cabbage salad, pickled onions and a ginger dressing. Without a doubt my favourite stand at Viktualienmarkt, run by lovely, amazing, kind, genuine people and chefs. They'll make you feel like home – inside and out.

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Loretta Bar

@brigittebuck

No fuss, just great aperitifs. If you don't have a favorite drink yet: Ask the bartender, and you'll have one. Great outdoor area (good people-watching spot), extensive menu, professional bartenders with attention to detail, and a genuinely perfect place to take that afternoon sun in."

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UKIYO Sushi & Wine

@brigittebuck

Definitely the most aesthetic sushi space around town. Beautiful, clean interior with concrete walls, light oak wood, Japanese art, and sage-green sofas. Only art on the plates as well: Beautifully decorated sushi rolls on ceramic porcelain, accompanied by drinks like the "Matcha-Dream" with Haku Vodka. Almost always fully booked, so be sure to reserve ahead of time!

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The High

@brigittebuck

Tiny bar with a Downtown Manhattan vibe to it. No menu, just individually crafted, stunning, professional drinks on the spot, no matter how your evening is going. Perfect for that Friday night when you might only need one drink, but that one's gotta be perfect. Your glass is burning, smoking, or dripping on purpose, by the way (I had to learn as well).

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Curtain Call

@brigittebuck

The one and only colour-changing gin that slowly turns into a pinkish purple when adding tonic. Created in Munich, the spirits brand called Illusionist runs a small, intimate bar in the heart of one of the hippest neighborhoods around town and is the perfect place for some serious late night pre pillow talk and (feels like) home to everyone with great taste in spirits. Owned by an amazing bunch of full on creatives with the necessary sensitivity for Munich‘s bar scene, a tireless spirit of experimentation and a huge passion for aesthetic drinks, Illusionist never fails to send my taste buds on an alcoholic rollercoaster (in the best way possible!) and therefore is a must go to on a Friday night.

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// CHECK OUT ON THE WAY //

Viktualienmarkt

@brigittebuck

Munich's holy grail when it comes to delicatessen, cheese, fresh veg and fruits, five thousand varieties of pickled olives, local salmon, truffles, Italian salami, and generally everything that feels like a hug for your palate. For some locals, it's their weekly grocery shopping destination, for most, it's a "meet your friends and family for a glass of Prosecco, morning coffee or some chocolate croissants in the sun and pretend you life on a farm in rural Germany" kinda spot. Community to go, if you will.

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Prater Island

@brigittebuck

As close as you can probably get to an island in southern Germany: Just a very beautiful place by the water and in the sun. Take a picnic blanket and your swimmers/ bathers/ boardies/ bikinis (whatever you wanna call them), find a spot on the pebbles and enjoy this little peaceful moment of your weekend. Also: Get a Spezi or Radler (trust me) at one of the kiosks around the corner and drink it with your feet in the cold water.

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Gärtnerplatz

@brigittebuck

Munich's heart and soul for all those small, intimate bars and cafes, boutique stores, and private designer studios. Depending on the size of your wallet, either archenemy or breeding ground for your budget. Definitely one of Munich's flagship districts. Pretty places to go to: Kauf dich Glücklich, Robinsons Bar, Homegirl Store

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// DANCE //

Milla

@brigittebuck

Underground concert venue with guaranteed great live acts, intimate atmosphere and probably Munich's best kept secret for meeting friends for a genuine boogie.

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Saturdays are for Spritz

BREAKFAST // LUNCH // WINE // DINNER // BAR (ON A BOAT)

Café Faber

@brigittebuck

A wellness retreat for your stomach, heart, and mind. Weekly changing delicacies from someone who couldn't bring more passion, inspiration, and mostly locally sourced, seasonally dependent high-quality products to your plate. Mouth-watering perfection meets homemade lemon cake, bay leaf whipped cream and summer fruits, or warm lentils with quince, radicchio, and blue cheese.

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Nana – Meze & Wine

@brigittebuck

Small, intimate Middle Eastern restaurant, hidden in one of the most beautiful streets of the city. A couple chairs to sit in the sun, mosaic patterns on the floor, creamy Shakshuka, homemade meatballs, great wines, oriental interior, and just generally a delicious slice of Tel Aviv in Munich.

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Domaines Kilger Weinhäusl

@brigittebuck

Saturday 3PM and this cobblestone square with a pretty church in the backdrop turns into little Florence. Everyone that lives close (in one of the cities most beautiful but also most expensive areas) rocks up in fancy weekend outfits to soak up the sun and a couple of glasses of wine. This will make you feel like a part of Munichs "Schickeria" – no doubt.

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Gans Woanders

@brigittebuck

Enchanted witch-house with a plants overgrown piano, a small stage, lots of old furniture, candlelight, amazing pizza and (truffle) fries, three floors with a spiral staircase and creaking wooden floorboards, disco balls and lots of fairy lights. One of the most unique places, bars, and restaurants in Munich with a million percent character, regular live music, a sun deck and lots of space to explore.

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Alte Utting

@brigittebuck

An old boat/ferry on a bridge that has been turned into a bar and (of course) put on a bridge. At sunset, you've got beautiful views over the city, you're also in one of the most creative corners of Munich, have a choice between pizza, pasta, curry, fries, and lots of other food stalls, plus you can sit either in the bow of the ship or on deck. Wood interior with velvet sofas - on Sundays, there's the occasional flea market here, but in general, it's one of my favorite places to hang out, have a beer and meet interesting people.

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// CHECK OUT ON THE WAY //

Wiener Platz

@brigittebuck

Something between "typical Munich" and "typical Italy" – a beautiful square with a small, copper-colored church in the background, cobblestones, 1960s buildings, a small wine bar, and plenty of space to sit and people-watch (preferably with a piece of cake or wine in your hand).

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Maximilianeum

@brigittebuck

Since 1949, the Bavarian State Parliament. Since forever and always the probably most beautiful place to watch the sunset in Munich, which sinks directly opposite into a sea of church towers.

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Kabelsteg

@brigittebuck

Not to sound too "Munich is Italys most northern city" but this REALLY is a little piece of Venice in town: Beautiful, ornate iron bridge crossing the river and a small weir (plus in summer, hundreds of people sunbathing on the pebbles). Along the water, one of the most beautiful walks in Munich that later leads you along a larger bridge by the water, either to the English Garden or to the district of "Haidhausen".

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Wittelsbacherbrücke

@brigittebuck

Another bridge by the water - this time, with a kiosk on the corner where you can grab a (have a guess) 'to-go beer' and walk along the waterfront. No I'm not kidding and yes this is what Germans do.

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// DANCE //

Bahnwärter Thiel

@brigittebuck

Creative quarter with graffiti-sprayed containers, bicycles in the sky, disco balls and stuffed Barbie dolls, small photo booths, and an old train turned into a techno floor. Plus, an indoor area with trumpet-shaped lamps, live DJs, the occasional open-air event, winding alleyways, and (I don't really wanna say it, but) probably the closest thing you'll get to Berlin in Munich

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Sun(ny)days are for serenity 

BRUNCH // COFFEE // APERITIF // PIZZA // SUNSET DRINK(S)

Max Emanuel Brauerei - Wirtshaus und Biergarten

@brigittebuck

Brunch from 10 am to 3 pm. If you were banging your head to some techno at Bahnwärter Thiel until the early hours yesterday, then this is the perfect place to spend three to five hours of your Sunday morning stuffing all the Bavarian delicacies that exist into your alcohol-soaked stomach. Must order: Spätzle, Knödel, Bratkartoffeln. Soak it all up and get ready for the next glass of sparkling wine.

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Man versus Machine Coffee Roasters

@brigittebuck

Specialty coffee, roasted in Munich, with three beautiful small branches in the city. For those who aren't in the mood for another Spritz on a Sunday (or generally have had enough glasses of wine over the weekend), this is your safe haven. Pair a flat white or a drip coffee with a piece of their delicious banana bread or a "Franzbrötchen" (which is very northern Germany but still an amazing pastry, I gotta admit) and the day's yours.

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Lost Weekend

@brigittebuck

Entirely vegan café, located in the heart of Munich's student district, run by two very lovely Aussies (so naturally, excellent banana bread ofc), plenty of rugs on the floor, 60s interior with vinyl records, books, and magazines by local artists to borrow, and a beautiful sun terrace. The perfect place to sit next to uni on Sundays and know that you don't have to go.

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Restaurant & Bar Casa Nostra

@brigittebuck

Modern, fancy Italian restaurant with great inner and outer values: Beautiful, warm marble interior, brown velvet sofas, lots of plants, dimmed lighting inside, huge outdoor terrace, wonderful wines, wood-fired oven for that fresh pizza you need, great drinks, mouth-watering antipasti, meat and fish. Amazing Italian comfort food to wrap up the weekend if you ask me (which you do, otherwise you wouldn't be here I'm guessing).

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Die Goldene Bar

@brigittebuck

Ever wondered where Picasso and Matisse used to catch up for single malt(s) during their lifetimes (when in Munich)? Probably here. Behind a thick black velvet curtain, the "golden bar" is part of the German "House of Art", where you sip your drinks under glass-chandeliers, surrounded by golden mosaic-walls adorned with an old, hand-painted map, all on an ancient wooden floor, that has most likely seen more than I ever will in this lifetime. Well, hopefully, since it's from the 1940s. The building is one of Germany's stony, architectural flagship projects of its time and also home to Munich's most magnificent bar.

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// CHECK OUT ON THE WAY //

English Garden

@brigittebuck

Apparently larger than Central Park (Never made it to the end, so don't know, but could be a good sign of its truth), the English Garden is probably what people refer to as the 'green lung' of a city. Bring your swimmers, jump into the water (if you feel like it, you can drift along the river and hop out before the surf-wave) and have a picnic, take a walk, enjoy the sun, play volleyball, and unwind on a Sunday.

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Eisbachwelle

@brigittebuck

Yes, it's a wave in the middle of the city in an (almost) landlocked country. This is what happens, if you're not born by the sea, I guess. Have fun watching!

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// MUSEUMS ARE 1 Euro (!) ON A SUNDAY IN MUNICH //

Museum Brandhorst

@brigittebuck

The youngest, most modern, contemporary, and fun museum in Munich. Changing art exhibitions ranging from pill-covered walls to black-and-white photographs, colorful paintings to various works by Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys.

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Haus der Kunst

@brigittebuck

Not quite as classic as the "Alte Pinakothek", but also not as abstract as the "Brandhorst" – this one is somewhere in between, which not only hosts pretty good exhibitions but also runs a great bookstore. Wonderful place as the last museum to visit on a Sunday and stop at the house "golden" bar for one last drink on the stoney terrace.

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Alte Pinakothek

@brigittebuck

The most classical museum in Munich. Beautiful oil paintings from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, set in wooden, golden frames. Magnificent stone building with towering ceilings and an endless staircase. If you wanna experience how Munich felt in the past, spend a few hours here.

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Pinakothek der Moderne

@brigittebuck

Beautiful art collection focusing on modern art, graphics, architecture, and industrial design. Light-filled, new building from 2002. For those seeking more diversity and only visiting one museum, this is your place to be.

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How to get around 

Munich is relatively small and like many German and European cities, it's made for bicycles. So, if you really want to feel like a local, hop on a bike and pedal away (though it's not for the faint-hearted on some bike lanes, as some turn into highways/ autobahns on busy days).

Also, if you take this guide to heart so much that you try every single bar and therefore glue your hands to the glass, then maybe keep it away from the handlebars and buy a weekend ticket for public transportation instead. 

For those seeking a bit of everything: You can rent a bike for a day, use buses and trains on another, and on Sunday, rent a motor scooter with the 'Emmy' app and ride away. 

Here are some apps that you might find helpful over the weekend: 

MVG: Public Transport (Bus, Train, Tram)

www.mvg.de

TIER: E-Bikes & Scooters

www.tier.app

EMMY: Motor scooter for two

emmy-sharing.de

LIME: Scooters

limebike.app.link

Survival of the fittest

• Germans LOVE cash and HATE an American Express, so please don't even think about wanting to pay with your black piece of plastic. Get those coins and euro euro bills out! Also: Please tip! Yes, everyone's lovely, but that has a reason too (Sorry, I'm sure you've got a great character as well).

• NEVER WALK ON THE BIKE PATH! Have you ever heard of the autobahn? Well, Munich cyclists approach bike paths with the same attitude. If you don't get out of the way, you will be gotten out of the way (and cursed at, but hopefully you won't understand that anyway).

• When in doubt: Bring your sunnies. People in Munich celebrate every bit of vitamin C like the fleshly embodiment of Virgin Mary. In Munich, drinking Aperol Spritz without your shades on is like wearing unbranded leggings in Vancouver. Doable, but getting a "I'm a Tourist" tattoo on your forehead would be much easier.

•  People in Bavaria see swearing as part of their culture. If you get cursed at, see it as a compliment.

If you've enjoyed this guide, you can leave me a love(ly) letter or pay for my next coffee and guide.