Working-class south of the Isar, now home to Florian Berger's one-star Gabelspiel and Dominik Kaeppeler's Showroom, plus the Nockherberg's strong-beer hall.
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.
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.
Signature: Demeter tasting, Alpine cheese course
Order: The five-course tasting; the Alpine cheese course is the kitchen's signature.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday from 18:00 only; the wine list comes off the in-house shop.
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.
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.
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.
Signature: Salvator Doppelbock, Schweinshaxe
Order: The Salvator Doppelbock with Schweinshaxe and a soft pretzel.
Tip: Starkbierfest runs the last week of February through mid-March; the rest of the year is calmer.
Dominik Käppeler's Showroom in Munich's Au district is the city's smallest Michelin-starred restaurant at 20 seats; the surprise menu rotates every two weeks.
Sabrina and Florian Berger run the one-star Gabelspiel in Munich's Giesing in a 20-seat room; the six-course tasting reads modern, the service runs informal.
Mario Gamba's Acquarello in Munich Bogenhausen has held a Michelin star on cucina del sole since 2000; the dining room is hushed, the Italian list runs deep.
Wirtshaus in der Au on Munich's Lilienstrasse, between Deutsches Museum and Gasteig, is the city's best room for Knödel and dumpling sampler plates.
Order: The Knödel sampler: spinach, semmel and sweet plum dumpling for dessert.
Tip: Open evenings only weekdays; Saturday and Sunday lunch is the easier reservation.
Fausto in Munich's Untergiesing is one of the city's largest roasters at 200kg per hour; the warehouse café in the Kraemersche Kunstmühle pours espresso made.
Sources from: Brazil, Ethiopia, Honduras
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail, Subscription
Giesinger Bräu in Munich's Giesing district moved into a former electrical substation on Martin-Luther-Strasse in 2012, one of the youngest Munich breweries.