Pusser's New York Bar opened on Falkenturmstrasse in 1974 as Munich's first dedicated cocktail bar, with mahogany walls, naval memorabilia, a jazz pianist downstairs and the British-Virgin-Islands Painkiller as the house drink.
Tip: The Pianobar downstairs runs Thursday to Saturday from 19:30. Smart-casual dress; the bar rewards a slow conversation.
Address: Falkenturmstrasse 9, 80331 Munich
Goldene Bar sits at the back of the Haus der Kunst overlooking the English Garden, with 1937 gilded walls, a wide terrace and Klaus St. Rainer's cocktail programme that won German Bartender of the Year for the room.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Daytime cafe service from 11:00; the terrace opens through the warm months and is the seat to chase.
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.
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.