Spatenhaus an der Oper, opposite the Bavarian State Opera in Munich's Altstadt, pours Spaten beer and cooks classic Bavarian; the suckling pig is the signature.
Signature dishes: Wiener Schnitzel, Suckling pig with red cabbage
Must order: The Wiener Schnitzel with cucumber salad; the suckling pig with braised red cabbage if you want one big plate.
Tip: Book the upstairs room for opera pre-shows; the ground floor is the casual side.
Address: Residenzstrasse 12, 80333 München, Munich
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 crowd.
Signature: Schweinshaxe, Andechs Doppelbock
Order: The Schweinshaxe with potato dumplings, washed with a half-litre of Andechser Doppelbock.
Tip: Daily 10:00 to 01:00; the Weinstrasse terrace is the room's best summer seat.
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 Weisswurst rooms.
Signature: Weisswurst with sweet mustard, Kronfleisch
Order: Weisswurst with sweet mustard and a Brezn before noon; pair with Schneider Weisse Original.
Tip: Kronfleisch (organ-meat) is the house specialty for lunch and dinner; lighter eaters stick to the Schweinsbraten.
Augustiner-Stammhaus on Munich's Neuhauser Strasse, in business since 1829, is the city's oldest Augustiner room; ask for the 1897 Muschelsaal hall.
Signature: Schweinsbraten, Augustiner Helles vom Holzfass
Order: The Schweinsbraten with two dumplings; pair with Augustiner Helles tapped from the wooden cask.
Tip: The Muschelsaal (Seashell hall) is the most atmospheric room; ask when reserving.
Augustiner Klosterwirt sits under the towers of Munich's Frauenkirche in the Altstadt; the gasthaus pours Augustiner Helles vom Holzfass to 400 indoor seats.
Signature: Schweinshaxe, Obatzda with Brezn
Order: The Schweinshaxe with dumplings; pair with Augustiner Helles tapped from the wooden cask.
Tip: Daily 09:30 to midnight; the open-air terrace is the spot in summer with Frauenkirche views.
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 groups.
Signature: Schweinshaxe, Mass Hofbräu Original
Order: Mass of Hofbräu Original (one litre) with Schweinshaxe and a pretzel.
Tip: The ground-floor Schwemme is walk-in only; reserve the Bräustüberl upstairs for parties of four or more.
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 sampler.
Signature: Knödel (dumplings), Spinatknödel
Order: The Knödel sampler: spinach, semmel and a sweet plum for dessert.
Tip: Walk to it after the Deutsches Museum; book Friday and Saturday two weeks ahead.
