Boilerman Bar runs inside the 25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian at Bahnhofplatz, focused on highballs poured from a tight spirits programme, with a no-reservations door and a loose, walk-in railway-station crowd.
Tip: Highballs are the order; the bartender will adjust soda-to-spirit on request. First-come first-served, no bookings.
Address: Bahnhofplatz 1, 80335 Munich
Negroni opened in 1998 on Sedanstrasse in Haidhausen as a classic American bar, with a tight cocktail list, an Italian-inspired weekly menu and a sun terrace that runs through the warm months.
Tip: Walk-in; bartenders mix off-menu on request. The weekly Italian small-plates list pairs to the cocktails.
NY.Club has run for 44 years near Karlsplatz as Munich's reference queer dance club, with a split-level room, hi-tech sound and rotating party series from Luxuspop on Fridays to Output techno and the men-only Dark nights.
Tip: Doors at 23:00 Friday and Saturday. Output and FagGods are the monthly slots to chase; Luxuspop runs every Friday.
Prosecco has run a small, late dance bar on Theklastrasse in the Glockenbachviertel for decades, with pop on the speakers, a mixed crowd of all ages and a 04:00 close most nights of the week.
Tip: Free entry, walk-in; the room peaks well after midnight. Theklastrasse is a one-block detour from Mullerstrasse.
Ochsengarten opened in 1967 on Mullerstrasse as Germany's first leather fetish bar for men, and 58 years later it still anchors the Glockenbachviertel scene with a strict dress code, a back room and a packed weekend crowd.
Tip: Dress code (leather, jeans, uniform, rubber, skin); no street wear. Doors from 20:00 or 21:00 depending on the night.
Deutsche Eiche has stood on Reichenbachstrasse since 1864 as one of the most historical meeting places of Munich's gay village, with a Bavarian restaurant, a 24-hour reception, a men-only sauna and a small rooftop terrace.
Tip: The sauna is paid and men-only; the restaurant and bar run alongside. Freddie Mercury kept a regular suite here.
Sub on Mullerstrasse runs as Munich's gay and queer community centre with a cafe-bar on the ground floor, exhibition walls for local artists and a steady programme of readings, concerts and counselling.
Tip: More community room than club; the bar is the place to start the night before walking to Ochsengarten or Prosecco.