Wirtshaus Ayinger am Platzl is the Ayinger Privatbrauerei flagship across from Hofbräuhaus in Munich's Altstadt; eight draught beers run on tap year-round.
Signature dishes: Schweinsbraten, Ayinger Bräu-Helles
Must order: A half-litre of Bräu-Helles with the Schweinsbraten and a soft pretzel; weekday lunch sets are the bargain.
Tip: Quieter than its Hofbräuhaus neighbour; the upstairs is the spot for parties of six or more.
Address: Platzl 1a, 80331 München, Munich
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, grill.
Signature: Open-fire grill, Pasta course
Order: Something off the open fire (ribeye or whole fish) plus the house bread.
Tip: Sit at the open kitchen counter for the show; the bar pours pre-opera Negronis.
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 room.
Signature: Tasting menu, Seasonal game course
Order: The full evening tasting; no a la carte here. Booking required, the room only opens for dinner.
Tip: Bar Tantris on the ground floor takes walk-ins and pours the same wine list at a fraction of the room's prices.
Brothers in Munich's Schwabing took a Michelin star in 2023, three months after opening; Daniel Bodamer cooks a modern carte on classical foundations.
Signature: Tasting menu, Seasonal vegetable course
Order: The full tasting; the wine pairing leans on the room's 60-page bottle list.
Tip: The small dining room seats around 30; book three to four weeks ahead at the website.
Mural in Munich's Altstadt holds a Michelin star inside a former transformer station; Bastian Falkenroth runs a sustainable, regional carte over six courses.
Signature: Tasting menu, Sustainable regional course
Order: The 6-course tasting; vegetable courses are the kitchen's strongest.
Tip: The dining room sits inside MUCA, the museum of urban art; check the museum exhibitions before dinner.
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.
Signature: Levante tasting menu, Chef menu
Order: The Levante vegetarian tasting, four courses; ask for the lamb when it is on the carte.
Tip: The sheltered courtyard terrace inside Fünf Höfe is the room's best summer seat.
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.
Signature: Tasting menu, Risotto course
Order: Whichever risotto is on the carte plus the chef's tasting menu.
Tip: Lunch is a quieter and cheaper way in than dinner; the wine cellar tour is available for groups.
