Restaurants and Bars

No German city is better known for relishing the culture of eating and drinking than Munich. Spending hard-earned cash on culinary extravagances has become second nature to the locals.

The city boasts many restaurants ranging from the good to the very good, however it should be noted that the quality of the cooking is not the only thing that is high, the prices are fixed accordingly. Restaurants are mostly located in the inner city areas: City Center, Schwabing, Maxvorstadt and Isarvorstadt.

Altstadt

Those who fear the tourist crowds of the famous Hofbräuhaus should head for the Andechser am Dom, where they serve beer brewed by monks at the Andechs Monastery, 50 kilometers outside Munich. For those who have had their fill of Bavarian beer, there are always the fine wines of the Pfälzer Weinprobierstube. Of course Munich is not without its share of traditional Bavarian cooking and is famous for its roast pork, dumplings, cabbage and white sausages. Traditional dishes from Upper Bavaria, prepared in the good old-fashioned way are available at Weißes Bräuhaus.

Maxvorstadt and Schwabing

International cuisine is served at Hunsinger's Pacific, which offers "Fusion Cooking" and a luxurious ambiance, at the higher end of the price scale. Some consider Munich to be "Italy's Northern-Most City," which is confirmed by the sheer number of Italian restaurants. Try the pizza at Bei Mario and the traditional Italian cooking at Osteria Italiana.

The Spanish taste for fish has also left its mark on Munich, in cozy restaurants with a relaxed and laid-back feel to them, such as Casa de Tapas. The Asian influence can also be felt, with restaurants like Man Fat serves traditional Chinese cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere.

Those who relish a skillfully prepared fish dish should try one of the Japanese restaurants - their numbers are increasing rapidly in Munich as Sushi becomes more and more popular. Tokami is a good place to try some great food.

Young people congregate in the fashionable Tex-Mex bars such as Enchilada and Tijuana. Specialties from the African continent are to be had at the Blue Nile. Those who have tried and tested it all should perhaps head for the land down under at Outland, which offers the exotics of Australian cuisine.

Isarvorstadt

The flagship of Munich's gastronomical community is Tantris, which has won several awards by the Michelin Guide critics. Munich's luxury restaurants also includes small and intimate places with a loyal regular customer base; such as Boettner, which has remained true to its elegant tradition for generations, as well as Kleinschmidtz, which has in recent years successfully transformed itself from a stylish French bistro into a popular venue for those in the know. Interview, an Italian restaurant popular among Munich's elite can be found here, across the street from the Gärtnerplatztheater. Pacific Times serves pan Asian dishes with plenty of fresh seafood and vegetables. Pimpernel is a hip gay bar that is frequented by straights, and which serves light bar food until the early hours.