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FrenchSchwabing
Tantris has anchored Munich fine dining in Schwabing since 1971; Benjamin Chmura now cooks the two-star tasting menu in the original orange-and-brown 1970s.
OrderThe full evening tasting; no a la carte here. Booking required, the room only opens for dinner.
TipBar Tantris on the ground floor takes walk-ins and pours the same wine list at a fraction of the room's prices.
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Modern EuropeanSchwabing
Brothers in Munich's Schwabing took a Michelin star in 2023, three months after opening; Daniel Bodamer cooks a modern carte on classical foundations.
OrderThe full tasting; the wine pairing leans on the room's 60-page bottle list.
TipThe small dining room seats around 30; book three to four weeks ahead at the website.
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Modern EuropeanAltstadt Lehel
Mural in Munich's Altstadt holds a Michelin star inside a former transformer station; Bastian Falkenroth runs a sustainable, regional carte over six courses.
OrderThe 6-course tasting; vegetable courses are the kitchen's strongest.
TipThe dining room sits inside MUCA, the museum of urban art; check the museum exhibitions before dinner.
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Modern EuropeanAltstadt Lehel
Ali Güngörmüs's Pageou in Munich's Fünf Höfe arcade cooks Middle Eastern plates on French foundations; the four-course Levante is the easiest entry.
OrderThe Levante vegetarian tasting, four courses; ask for the lamb when it is on the carte.
TipThe sheltered courtyard terrace inside Fünf Höfe is the room's best summer seat.
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ItalianBogenhausen
Mario Gamba's Acquarello in Munich Bogenhausen has held a Michelin star since 2000 on cucina del sole; the Italian list runs over 1,000 labels in the cellar.
OrderWhichever risotto is on the carte plus the chef's tasting menu.
TipLunch is a quieter and cheaper way in than dinner; the wine cellar tour is available for groups.
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Modern GermanNeuhausen
Broeding in Munich Neuhausen runs a Michelin Plate kitchen on a quiet residential street; the menu rotates daily and the cellar is a working wine shop.
OrderThe five-course tasting; the Alpine cheese course is the kitchen's signature.
TipOpen Monday to Saturday from 18:00 only; the wine list comes off the in-house shop.
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BavarianAltstadt Lehel
Spatenhaus an der Oper, opposite the Bavarian State Opera in Munich's Altstadt, pours Spaten beer and cooks classic Bavarian; the suckling pig.
OrderThe Wiener Schnitzel with cucumber salad; the suckling pig with braised red cabbage if you want one big plate.
TipBook the upstairs room for opera pre-shows; the ground floor is the casual side.
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BavarianAltstadt Lehel
Andechser am Dom in Munich Altstadt pours the Andechs Monastery's beers a minute from the Frauenkirche; the kitchen cooks classic Bavarian for the lunchtime.
OrderThe Schweinshaxe with potato dumplings, washed with a half-litre of Andechser Doppelbock.
TipDaily 10:00-01:00; the Weinstrasse terrace is the room's best summer seat.
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BavarianAltstadt Lehel
Weisses Bräuhaus on Tal is the Schneider Weisse flagship in Munich's Altstadt, in business since 1872; this is one of the city's strongest pre-noon.
OrderWeisswurst with sweet mustard and a Brezn before noon; pair with Schneider Weisse Original.
TipKronfleisch (organ-meat) is the house specialty for lunch and dinner; lighter eaters stick to the Schweinsbraten.
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BavarianAltstadt Lehel
Augustiner-Stammhaus on Munich's Neuhauser Strasse, in business since 1829, is the city's oldest Augustiner room; ask for the 1897 Muschelsaal hall.
OrderThe Schweinsbraten with two dumplings; pair with Augustiner Helles tapped from the wooden cask.
TipThe Muschelsaal (Seashell hall) is the most atmospheric room; ask when reserving.
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BavarianAltstadt Lehel
Augustiner Klosterwirt sits under the towers of Munich's Frauenkirche in the Altstadt; the gasthaus pours Augustiner Helles vom Holzfass to 400 indoor seats.
OrderThe Schweinshaxe with dumplings; pair with Augustiner Helles tapped from the wooden cask.
TipDaily 09:30 to midnight; the open-air terrace is the spot in summer with Frauenkirche views.
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BavarianAltstadt Lehel
Hofbräuhaus on Platzl has poured Hofbräu beer in Munich's Altstadt since 1589; the ground-floor Schwemme hall seats 1,000, the upstairs Festsaal handles.
OrderMass of Hofbräu Original (one litre) with Schweinshaxe and a pretzel.
TipThe ground-floor Schwemme is walk-in only; reserve the Bräustüberl upstairs for parties of four or more.
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BavarianAu Giesing
Wirtshaus in der Au on Munich's Lilienstrasse, between Deutsches Museum and Gasteig, cooks Bavarian; the room is best known for its Knödel and dumpling.
OrderThe Knödel sampler: spinach, semmel and a sweet plum for dessert.
TipWalk to it after the Deutsches Museum; book Friday and Saturday two weeks ahead.
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BavarianAu Giesing
Paulaner am Nockherberg above the Isar in Munich's Au is the birthplace of Paulaner beer; this is where the Salvator Doppelbock tapping kicks off Lent.
OrderThe Salvator Doppelbock with Schweinshaxe and a soft pretzel.
TipStarkbierfest runs the last week of February through mid-March; the rest of the year is calmer.
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BavarianHaidhausen
Hofbräukeller on Wiener Platz in Munich Haidhausen is the calmer Hofbräu room: the city's locals come here instead of the Hofbräuhaus tourist hall.
OrderA Mass of Hofbräu Helles with the Schweinsbraten and dark gravy.
TipThe beer garden on Wiener Platz is one of the city's most family-friendly; bring a picnic for the self-service section.
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BavarianAltstadt Lehel
Wirtshaus Ayinger am Platzl is the Ayinger Privatbrauerei flagship across from Hofbräuhaus in Munich's Altstadt; eight draught beers run on tap year-round.
OrderA half-litre of Bräu-Helles with the Schweinsbraten and a soft pretzel; weekday lunch sets are the bargain.
TipQuieter than its Hofbräuhaus neighbour; the upstairs is the spot for parties of six or more.
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Modern EuropeanAltstadt Lehel
Brenner Grill on Munich's Maximilianstrasse cooks over an open fire under high vaulted ceilings near the Bavarian State Opera, three rooms run bar, pasta.
OrderSomething off the open fire (ribeye or whole fish) plus the house bread.
TipSit at the open kitchen counter for the show; the bar pours pre-opera Negronis.