Munich
Munich, Bavaria’s capital, is home to centuries-old buildings and numerous museums. The city is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer halls, including the famed Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1589. In the Altstadt (Old Town), central Marienplatz square contains landmarks such as Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (town hall), with a popular glockenspiel show that chimes and reenacts stories from the 16th century. Here is our guide to Munich, Germany.
STAY
ROSEWOOD MUNICH The Rosewood Munich comprises two historical buildings: a former aristocratic residence called the Palais Neuhaus-Preysing, dating from 1703, and the one-time headquarters of the State Bank of Bavaria, built in 1894. While the imposing historical facade—featuring sculptures crafted from Bavarian limestone—remains, the inside was reimagined by local architectural firm Hilmer Sattler Architekten Ahlers Albrecht in an airy, contemporary style. Brasserie Cuvilliés (named after the architect of the Palais that makes up part of the hotel), serves up contemporary Alpine dishes. In fact, many of the dishes’ ingredients come from nearby regions, including fish from their sister property, Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, near Salzburg. Bar Montez, named after 19th-century dancer (and mistress to King Ludwig I of Bavaria) Lola Montez serves up classic cocktails. The hotel has a very convenient location in the middle of Munich’s old town (Altstadt), the former royal palace of the Residenz Museum, the Englischer Garten (English Gardens), the Munich Cathedral (Frauenkirche), and Marienplatz, home to the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, which chimes every day at 11 am and noon (and at 5 pm from March to October), the nearby Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera), Alte Pinakothek, and Kunsthalle München. The city’s largest food market, the Viktualienmarkt, is also nearby as is the infamous Hofbräuhaus München, a requisite stop for your beer fix. Kardinal-Faulhaber-Straße 1; rosewoodhotels.com/en/munich
THE CHARLES, A ROCCO FORTE HOTEL This five-star property bordering the botanic garden is celebrating its tenth birthday this year. The comfortable rooms and suites designed by Olga Polizzi combine modern design, Art Deco touches, and original art by Franz von Lenbach, a portraitist whose widow established the Lenbachhaus. The bright, airy restaurant Sophia’s, which was renovated last year, is a favorite lunch spot for editors of Condé Nast’s German editions, whose office is nearby. Sophienstraße 28; roccofortehotels.com
MANDARIN ORIENTAL The Munich outpost of the Mandarin Oriental hotel chain feels more like a boutique property, with 48 rooms and 25 suites designed in the brand’s signature Eastern-influenced aesthetic. It’s located in the Old Town right next to the famous Hofbraühaus beer hall, a great (albeit touristy) place to eat and drink; though for a fine-dining experience, you might want to try the hotel’s Matsuhisa restaurant, part of chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s empire. The hotel also has a stylish cocktail bar in the form of Orly, bright airy rooms, and a roof garden for summertime mahjong. Neuturmstraße 1; mandarinoriental.com/en/munich
HOTEL BAYERISCHER HOF The 300-room Hotel Bayerischer Hof is a proper, old-school Grande Dame, and holds down an entire side of the Promenadeplatz. It sprang from the mind of King Ludwig I, who mentioned one day in 1839 that he wouldn’t mind a first-class hotel in Munich, and so, of course, he got one. The Volkhardt family has owned and run it since 1897, with the fourth generation’s Innegrit Volkhardt now at the helm. The service is impeccable, as behooves an institution that has had to please both Sigmund Freud and Michael Jackson. It’s modern-day improvements include designs by Axel Vervoordt and a movie theater. Am Ausbesserungswerk 8Promenadepl. 2-6; bayerischerhof.de
HOTEL VIER JAHRESZEITEN KEMPINSKI MÜNCHEN Set in a refined building surrounded by upscale shops, this polished hotel in the city center is a 7-minute walk from Lehel U-Bahn station and 8 minutes' walk from lively Marienplatz, the city's main square.There's a posh Bavarian restaurant, an elegant cocktail bar, and a lobby lounge with a fireplace. There's also a spa with an indoor pool and a gym. Maximilianstraße 17; kempinski.com/en/hotel-vier-jahreszeiten
KOENIGSHOF The 5-star Luxury Collection Hotel offers a warm atmosphere in Ludwigsvorstadt in the very heart of Munich, near Burgersaalkirche, plus Stachus is nearby. Popular natural sights near the Konigshof Munich are Old Botanical Gardens and Hofgarten. The hotel includes a lobby bar along with a steam room, a Jacuzzi, and sauna facilities. Guests can have breakfast in the restaurant. Taklamakan is ideal for tasting Asian cuisine and is situated in front of this Munich hotel. Karlsplatz 25; marriott.com/en-us/hotels/muclk-koenigshof
CORTIINA HOTEL
The charming Cortiina hotel is ideal for business travelers and tourists alike. Its 75 rooms (including some suites and deluxe rooms with kitchenettes) feature bog oak floors, natural stone, and touches of linen and brass to create a cozy feel. The common areas feature an open fireplace and a happening bar scene. Ledererstraße 8; cortiina.com
LOUIS HOTEL
This boutique hotel located in the heart of Munich, right on the Viktualienmarkt, is the perfect jumping-off point to visit the theater, museums, opera houses, shopping destinations, and restaurants. Its 72 rooms are well appointed, the breakfast buffet plentiful (think vegan pancakes and chia seed pudding), and the Finnish sauna is the perfect respite after a long flight. Viktualienmarkt 6; louis-hotel.com
FLUSHING MEADOWS HOTEL Named after Flushing Meadows, Queens, this new property—a member of Design Hotels—brings some indie New York style to Munich. Located in hip Glockenbach near the Isar River, the hotel features a rooftop bar that draws creative types from near and far. Third-floor rooms were designed by local artists and surfers, while the owners designed the rooms on the fourth floor. Fraunhoferstraße 32; flushingmeadowshotel.com
PLATZL HOTEL A traditional choice — warm wood interiors extend from the lobby paneling to the rooms’ built-in closets—it’s sleek and homey at the same time, very comfortable, but in a dynamite location. Embracing Munich’s old-meets-new sensibility—a product of Bavarian legacy and reconstruction after World War II, this hotel in the Old Town combines Bavarian charm with modern amenities. Its standout features are its romantic Moorish-style spa and the Pfistermühle restaurant, housed in a restored 16th-century flour mill, that serves traditional but upscale Bavarian cuisine. Sparkassenstraße 10; platzl.de
ADINA APARTMENT HOTEL MUNICH Housed in a 24-story skyscraper in the Werksviertel-Mitte development, which occupies 16 floors of a 24-story tower over what had been a huge silo for potato flour, and offers some of the best views in Munich). The Adina is an apartment hotel, meant for both shorter and longer stays. Atelierstraße 22; adinahotels.com
AMERON MÜNCHEN MOTORWORLD Integrated into the spectacular Motorworld complex, experience a stay in the midst of the world's most fascinating automobiles. Am Ausbesserungswerk 8; ameroncollection.com/de/muenchen-motorworld
ROOMERS MUNICH, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION A modern, sleek hotel with a popular Izakaya Asian Kitchen. Keep your eyes peeled here—there’s a secret drinking spot called the Hidden Room that’s been known to host some wild parties. Though the hotel is about a mile outside the Old Town along Landsbergerstrasse, it’s across the street from the historic Augustiner brewery, and only a 15-minute walk from the Theresienwiese grounds. Landsberger Str. 68; roomers-hotels.com/munich
BEYOND BY GEISEL With just 19 rooms, this is an intimate boutique hotel that’s quickly gained a reputation as one of the best stays in Munich since opening in 2017. The elegant, warm-toned rooms are centered around a shared kitchen (guests are welcome to use the facilities themselves, or have a private chef cook for them), living room, and wine room. The hotel also has one of the best locations in town—it’s right on the Marienplatz across from the New Town Hall. Marienplatz 22; beyond-muc.de
DO & CO The city-center building in which DO & CO Munich makes its home is an unusual one: FC Bayern World is a monument to the storied local football club, an immersive retail experience with contributions from partners like Audi and the DO & CO hospitality brand. The latter is responsible for a thoroughly tasteful and luxurious high-end boutique hotel, a worthy sequel to its older sister in Vienna. Along with 30 stunningly stylish rooms and suites — one for each of Bayern’s league championships to date — the hotel contains a pair of fine restaurants, one a contemporary Asian experience and the other an upscale Mediterranean-inspired bistro. Filserbräugasse 1; docohotel.com/munich
DRINK
MAN VERSUS MACHINE COFFEE ROASTERS
This café and roastery whips up great coffee (try the iced flat white or cold brew) and tea alongside delicious cakes (banana bread is the star) in hip, intimate spaces throughout the city. mvsm.coffee
SCHUMANN’S Any good night out in Munich either begins or ends at Schumann’s. Its unfussy, streamlined design and impeccable service are throwbacks to a more dignified era in cocktail culture—and certainly a far cry from the throngs you’ll encounter at any biergarten. Unlike other mixology spots, the emphasis here is on carefully mixing strong spirits. Think fewer foams, infusions, and extrusions: The Clarito Maria, for instance, is a masterful mix of English gin, Campari, Carpano Antica Formula bitters, and a lime twist. Odeonspl. 6-7; schumanns.de
SOPHIA’S Located in The Charles Hotel, and recently renovated, this glossy hot spot is a favorite among Munich’s power lunchers. Roman Kern leads the bar, with an exciting menu designed to complement the adjoining restaurant’s Mediterranean menu. Don’t leave town without trying the namesake Sophia’s cocktail, a perfectly balanced blend of thyme, lemon, Champagne, and Gin Mare, a Mediterranean-inflected gin made with olive, rosemary, thyme, basil, and mandarin. Sophienstraße 28; roccofortehotels.com
ZEPHYR BAR It’s all about the drinks at Zephyr Bar, where the spare and unassuming walls, furniture, and decor allow for the gleaming bar itself to take center stage. Shelves behind the bar are filled with rare spirits, fresh-cut herbs and fruits, flowers, and ingredients beyond imagination. What makes Zephyr’s mixology offering stand out is its unique use of German wines on the drink menu—a Turtle Toe, for instance, comes with vodka, tarragon, grapefruit, pineapple, and a healthy glug of Grüner Veltliner. Baaderstraße 68
HERZOG BAR This one is worth visiting for the design alone. While most of the architecture in Munich has a traditional Bavarian feel, Herzog sits inside one of the city’s few landmarked Modernist buildings, and the mid-century interiors harken back to the glory days of cocktail culture while remaining sexy and current. Brass “veins” run through the space, framing the bar and demarcating the bar’s different seating areas. Soak in all the Don Draper vibes with a Paper Wave, a potent blend of spiced rum, sherry, whiskey, burnt orange slices, and caramelized pineapple. Im Innenhof zum Mini Pavillon, Maxburgstraße 4; herzog.bar
HADERNER AUGUSTINER It’s really Bavarian, so you have schweinshaxe, which is pork leg. You get a great pork roast; it has a really crunchy crust. They have a nice beer garden, too, and the building is almost 300 years old. It’s one of the first breweries in Munich. Würmtalstraße 113; haderner-augustiner.de
HADERNER BRÄU MÜNCHEN In Hadern, most of the beers produced are traditional ones, like the dunkels, the popular dark Munich beer, or a hefeweizen or a lager. In the past, only dark beer was brewed in Munich. The popular beer is the natural, cloudy helles lager. It’s very tasty and only slightly hopped here. Großhaderner Str. 16; haderner.de
AUGUSTINER-BRÄU The oldest brewery in Munich. The building was an old monastery, and they have a really nice beer garden. The biggest breweries here, like Augustiner and Hofbräuhaus, have similar beers on tap because they are serving the crowds. Landsberger Str. 31-35; augustiner-braeu.de/en/brewery
TILMANS BIERE A smaller brewery serving traditional beers. Try the oyster stout, which has impressions of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee. Thalkirchner Str. 53; tilmansbiere.de
GIESINGER BRÄUSTÜBERL A contemporary brewhouse with a patio serving hearty helpings of Bavarian eats, plus house brews. Martin-Luther-Straße 2; giesinger-braeu.de
CREW REPUBLIC Mario and Timm, two friends and workmates, were unsatisfied with their jobs and took time off in 2010 to travel the world. In Australia, Timm tried beers that blew him away. In Colorado, Mario ordered "a beer" and was served a revelation. And they both wondered: Why are such beers not available in Germany? They returned home and founded their own beer start-up: CREW Republic. Andreas-Danzer-Weg 30; crewrepublic.de
WIRTSHAUS IM SCHLACHTHOF A classic Bavarian beer hall famous for its live music and comedy shows. Zenettistraße 9; im-schlachthof.de
ALTE UTTING Offbeat bar on a former steamer ship featuring pizzas & crepes, plus vegan & West African fare. Lagerhausstraße 15; alte-utting.de
HOFBRÄUHAUS After centuries of producing beer for the royals, in 1828 the Hofbräuhaus was opened to the public by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. The beer hall quickly became the center of public and political life in Munich, counting famous names such as Mozart and Lenin amongst its regular customers. On February 24th, 1920 the beer hall became infamous when Adolf Hitler announced the official program of the Nazi Party to a meeting of around 2,000 people. Platzl 9; hofbraeuhaus.de
DINE
BUFFET KULL
The Parisian-style bistro offers comforting favorites like tuna tartare, the famed Bavarian white asparagus hollandaise, and steak frites. With outdoor seating, this casual boîte is a great place to do some people-watching. Marienstraße 4; buffet-kull.de
BRENNER GRILL
Rudi Kull’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner restaurant features an open kitchen and grill where fresh fish is grilled to perfection. The outdoor terrace at this power lunch spot is a lovely place to relax over an Aperol Spritz and a bowl of homemade spaghetti after a long morning at the Maximilianstrasse shops. Maximilianstraße 15; brennergrill.de
GARDEN This highly rated restaurant inside the Bayerischer Hof—Munich’s most luxurious hotel—serves sophisticated European cuisine inside a sleek, elegant space. High ceilings and skylights imbue it with a greenhouse effect, while rustic wooden tables are juxtaposed with steel-framed chairs and beams. Promenadepl. 4,; bayerisherhof.de
WIRTSHAUS IN DER AU For a sophisticated take on the traditional Bavarian beer garden, head straight to this corner bistro with sidewalk seating. In the summer, it comes alive with locals enjoying crisp brews; cheese-and-charcuterie boards with pretzels, pickles, and mustard; and typical Bavarian dumplings. Lilienstraße 51; wirtshausinderau.de
ELLA Bright museum restaurant with Italian-inspired fare & views of the imposing Propylaea city gate. This upscale but laid-back Italian bistro takes its design cues from its setting attached to the Lenbachhaus. Framed posters from the museum’s past exhibitions adorn the wall near the luminous stone bar, and midcentury tables and chairs fit right in. The menu draws inspiration from all over Italy, from the Alto Adige to Sicily, with dishes like an excellent fritto misto and shrimp with polenta fries, fig, and thyme. Luisenstraße 33; ella-lenbachhaus.com.de
FRISCHE PARADIES A specialty food shop, and the best place in Munich to get fresh food. It’s actually an Italian-style deli, market, and bistro in one; you can see the kitchen in the middle of it. They have fresh fish and nice wine. Try the fish platter — the type of fish changes daily depending on what’s available. It’s served with vegetables and wild-herb salad. They also have our Haderner Bräu organic beers on tap. frischeparadies.de/muenchen
BÜFFELHOF BEUERBACH A buffalo farm, and the restaurant is run by four top chefs who make great dishes from everything buffalo: buffalo meat, buffalo milk, buffalo butter. My favorite dish is their baked buffalo schnitzel with cranberries, horseradish, and potatoes. It has a fabulous taste, different from any other schnitzel you had before. It’s a really special place. You can walk through the farm and see the buffalos.” Benediktstraße 4; bueffelhof-beuerbach.de
RATSKELLER Very good Bavarian cuisine. with lots of wood: wood floors, wood paneling, wood chairs and Gothic stained glass and painted vaulted ceilings. Marienplatz 8; ratskeller.com
WEINHAUS NEUNER Completed in the late 15th century, this distinguished townhouse began serving wine in 1892 and has continued that tradition ever since, benefitting from a restoration and refit in 2016. Unsurprisingly the wine list is special and features an extensive range of bottles from both Germany and Austria. But Weinhaus Neuner is more than a mere wine bar. Chefs Benjamin Kunz and Johann Rappenglück oversee a kitchen that focuses on Bavarian and Austrian dishes, using regional ingredients that are fresh and appealing. Try the raw, marinated white fish, which has echoes of ceviche, or the Saibling (char), which works delightfully with a side of sauerkraut. Then there’s the Wiener schnitzel, which is teamed with hand-picked cranberries and horseradish cream. 8 Herzogspitalstrasse;
weinhaus-neuner.de
ATLANTIK FISCH In Werksviertel-Mitte, dine on seafood at this little red restaurant. The compact brick building abuts the slaughterhouse and transforms into a minor disco at the weekend. It sounds a bit brutal, but this is where, it seems, everything cool is happening. Zenettistraße 12; atlantik-muenchen.de
PFISTERMÜHLE Back in the center of the city, the best Bavarian fine dining in the Michelin Guide can be found at dine on salted cod and tenderest veal beneath the vaulted ceiling of this 16th-century mill, or sitting outside on the picturesque cobblestone street. Pfisterstraße 4; pfistermuehle.de
ZUM DÜRNBRÄU A casual option for classic Bavarian dishes (the succulent duck is not to be missed). Dürnbräugasse 2; zumduernbraeu.de
LITTLE LONDON Refined, British-inspired steakhouse & bar offering cocktails & an extensive wine list. Tal 31; little-london.de
VIKTUALIENMARKT A bustling daily food market just off Marienplatz with stalls upon stalls of local produce and food made from that produce and biergartens in which you are encouraged to eat that food alongside a nice cold beer. Don’t miss Caspar Plautz. The market is zoned into little neighborhoods, and each neighborhood honors within its bounds a no-compete agreement—there will be no stand that sells the same produce. In Caspar Plautz’s case, the only ware not already on sale was the humble potato. Not to be discouraged, the enterprising duo who sought to open a market stand of their very own took the potato and ran with it—here, you can buy seasonal potato-of-the-week dishes (past examples include the Papa Pataca, featuring mashed topinambur topped with creme fraiche, roasted shiitake, and capers, and a baked potato stuffed with feta cream, cucumber, and cilantro) so long as you’re willing to brave an ever-growing line of fans. Viktualienmarkt Abt III, Stand 38; viktualienmarkt-muenchen.de.
SPEZLWIRTSCHAFT On Pariser Strasse (it means Paris Street, and it’s one of a number of French street names in Haidhausen’s so-called French Quarter). Spezlwirtschaft serves what has come to be called “nouveau Bavarian cuisine,” but don’t be misled. This is not Munich’s equivalent of France’s nouvelle cuisine, with its lighter ingredients, smaller portions, and overall spirit of deprivation. New Bavarian cuisine favors fresh local produce — and is usually served in rooms with funky décor — but retains the no-holds-barred pleasure principle Munich lives by. Try dishes like crispy roast pork and potato dumplings served with a dark-beer sauce. Pariser Str. 34; spezlwirtschaft.me
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
LENBACHHAUS
The stunning gold Lenbachhaus museum occupies the historic villa and former residence of artist Franz von Lenbach, “the prince of painters.” It was renovated in 2013 to include a new Foster + Partners–designed addition. An entire wing dedicated to Joseph Beuys is a must-see. If you visit only one museum, it should be this one. An incredible collection of paintings by Kandinsky and the other members of the Blaue Reiter group he founded shed light on the artist community living in Munich before WWII. In addition to Kandinsky’s early works, there are some incredible paintings by his partner Gabriele Münter, who risked her life to save their art by hiding it from the Nazis in a farmhouse. lenbachhaus.de
MUSEUM BRANDHORST
The Brandhorst opened in 2009 to house the impressive 20th- and 21st-century art collection of Udo and Anette Brandhorst. The striking building was designed by Sauerbruch Hutton and features a facade clad out of 36,000 ceramic rods in 23 different colors. Some of the contemporary artists in its collection include Bruce Nauman, Andy Warhol, Mario Merz, Dan Flavin, and Cy Twombly. Theresienstraße 35a; museum-brandhorst.de
PINAKOTHEK DER MODERNE
This museum is one of the largest dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century art in the world. Designed by architect Stephan Braunfels, the spacious building is adjacent to its sister museums, Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek, which makes it easy to hit all three. Barer Str. 40; pinakothek-der-moderne.de
ALTE PINAKOTHEK The Alte Pinakothek is an art museum located in the Kunstareal area in Munich, Germany. It is one of the oldest galleries in the world and houses a significant collection of Old Master paintings. The name Alte Pinakothek refers to the time period covered by the collection—from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. Barer Str. 27; pinakothek.de/de/alte-pinakothek
NEUE PINAKOTHEK The Neue Pinakothek is an art museum in Munich, Germany. Its focus is European Art of the 18th and 19th centuries, and it is one of the most important museums of art of the nineteenth century in the world. Barer Str. 27; pinakothek.de/de/neue-pinakothek
KUNSTHALLE MÜNCHEN This space for temporary exhibitions inside the Fünf Höfe shopping center designed by Herzog & de Meuron shows a dynamic roster of rotating shows. The current show explores the zeitgeist of famed photographer Peter Lindbergh, who ushered in the era of the supermodel in the ‘90s and became one of Vogue’s go-to photographers. The exhibition brings together large-scale photos of Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and other supermodels, portraits of the world’s most important fashion designers, archival magazines, and Polaroids that give some insight into Lindbergh’s artistic process. Theatinerstraße 8; kunsthalle-muc.de
DEUTSCHES MUSEUM It’s the biggest science-and-technology museum in the world. It’s in the city center and for all ages. They have exhibits about planes, animals, the first moon walk, everything. Museumsinsel 1; deutsches-museum.de
OLYMPIATURM Olympic Tower, in the Olympic Park, you can dine in the restaurant at the top. The whole space turns, so you can see all of Munich as you sit there. It also has a wonderful view of the Zugspitze, which is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains. Olympiapark München, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 7; olympiapark.de/de
BMW WELT MUSEUM Munich is the headquarters of BMW — which traces its history back to its first motorbike. The BMW Welt is a combined exhibition, delivery, adventure museum, and event venue located in Munich's district Am Riesenfeld, next to the Olympic Park, in the immediate vicinity of the BMW Headquarters and factory. The BMW Museum is the corporate museum of BMW history and was established in 1973, shortly after the 1972 Summer Olympics opened. From 2004 to 2008, it was renovated in connection with the construction of the BMW Welt, directly opposite. Visit the Michelin two-starred restaurant, EssZimmer on property. Am Olympiapark 1; bmw-welt.com/de
OKTOBERFEST A rite of passage for any beer enthusiast. Every year, for just over two weeks, as September turns to October, some 6 million tourists from around the world travel for a bacchanal of lederhosen, pretzels, and, of course, plenty of the bubbly brew. But if the thought of being surrounded by stein after stein of beer is not quite your thing, don’t be so quick to cross Munich off your bucket list—a cocktail movement has been rising to the surface for the last couple of years, and now Munich has plenty to offer beer and spirit aficionados alike. oktoberfest.de
LOTHRINGER 13 HALLE A contemporary art space that’s rare in the Bavarian capital. It’s one of just five municipal galleries in the city and, ever since it was converted from an auto-repair shop in 1980, still bears the hallmarks of its industrial past: the high ceilings and large steel doors lend it a character that many of the city’s art spaces lack. A platform for avant-garde artists both local & international, hosting a busy program of events. Lothringer Str. 13; lothringer13.com
HERZ-JESU-KIRCHE The grandeur of German churches is due in part to the tax that the congregation pays for their upkeep. One impressive example is the Herz-Jesu-Kirche, which reopened in 2000 after a fire destroyed the original in 1994. The design by architecture firm Allmann Sattler Wappner features glass-and-maple slats that rise above the modernist pews. Artist Alexander Beleschenko devised a symbolic alphabet that denotes passages from the “St John Passion”, which adorn the glass panels on the 14-metre-high doors. 8 Lachnerstrasse; erzbistum-muenchen.de
GLYPTOTHEK The Glyptothek is a museum in Munich, Germany, which was commissioned by the Bavarian King Ludwig I to house his collection of Greek and Roman sculptures. It was designed by Leo von Klenze in the neoclassical style, and built from 1816 to 1830. Today the museum is a part of the Kunstareal. It also holds the most worthwhile of the museum cafés—ivy covers the walls of the structure, and visitors can relax beneath umbrella-clad tables on what feels like sacred ground. In the summer, theatre troupes put up productions in the tranquil space. Königsplatz 3; antike-am-koenigsplatz.mwn.de
MUNICH DOCUMENTATION CENTRE FOR THE HISTORY OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM Offers a thorough (and free) journey through Munich’s history as a major hub of Nazi Germany, with each floor taking on a different decade and detailing Munich's citizens various roles in what was once a fascist stronghold. In the center of town, admire the beauty of the Ohel Jakob synagogue before visiting the adjacent Jewish Museum Munich to learn about the city's Jewish community up to present day. Max-Mannheimer-Platz 1; nsdoku.de
MÜLLER’SCHES VOLKSBAD An art nouveau public swimming pool and spa. Rosenheimer Str. 1; swm.de/baeder/muellersches-volksbad
EISBACH A manmade wave in the Englischer Garten parkserving German surfers. eisbachwelle.de
CCHINESISCHER TURM Munich’s second largest biergarten (so-called for its odd, towering Chinese pagoda), as well as the hilltop temple Monopteros, the loveliest spot in town on a sunny day. munichbeergardens.com
SCHLACHTHOFVIERTEL Classic Bavarian restaurant, beer hall & bar with live music & dance performances, plus lodgings. Zenettistraße 9; im-schlachthof.de
MÜNCHNER VOLKSTHEATER The artistic director of which is famous for his work on the Oberammergau Passion Play at the turn of the past two decades. Tumblingerstraße 29; muenchner-volkstheater.de
BAHNWÄRTER THIEL A cultural center with great shopping and artisan studios and a vast indoor-outdoor nightclub open in the summer months with a vast amount of seating available throughout. Graffiti is legal here, and you can kill an hour or two just watching the artists at work—over piles of empty spray-paint cans, gathered in towering mesh enclosures, they are sculptures in and of themselves. Tumblingerstraße 45; bahnwaerterthiel.de
PHILHARMONIE AM GASTEIG A cultural complex, which was built as a temporary home for the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, whose old red-brick headquarters are to get their own top-to-bottom makeover. Rosenheimer Str. 5; gasteig.de
MUNICH MOTORWORLD A cluster of private dealers sell some of the world’s fastest, most coveted, and most fanciful automobiles. The floor is surrounded by 112 glass boxes with a sexy car in each one. Am Ausbesserungswerk 8; motorworld.de/muenchen
WERKSVIERTEL-MITTE Once an industrial neighborhood filled with neglected discos and arcades, this development has hip apartments, shops, and food stalls. Atelierstraße 1; werksviertel-mitte.de
SHOP
NICOLE MOHRMANN
The brand has three Munich stores, but the one at the Fünf Höfen shopping arcade has the best selection. nicolemohrmann.com
TALBOT RUNHOF
Germany’s most famous fashion brand boasts a new flagship designed by Patrick Ferrier. The Palais Preysing late-Baroque townhouse features a modern interior with a showstopping plexiglass-and-chrome spiral staircase, a signature purple motif, and 3-D-effect flooring. It’s the perfect space to show off Johnny Talbot and Adrian Runhof’s metallic gowns, playful printed shifts, and extensive bridal offerings. Theatinerstraße 27; talbotrunhof.com
HOFFLOHMÄRKTE Munich loves flea markets. Almost every week, there’s a flea market in one of neighborhoods. At some, you can buy everything from clothes to chairs, and some have old historical goods. Then there are others that take place outside people’s homes, called You can go from house to house — people will open their garden gates or garages — and you can find many beautiful treasures. hofflohmaerkte.de
RIVIERA RECORDS Most people wouldn’t think to open a record shop in the middle of a pandemic but for DJ and record-label founder David Hornung, it was the right call. Hornung launched Riviera Records with the hope of boosting the city’s sometimes-stagnant music scene – and it worked. Though it’s only been a couple of months since the launch, Riviera’s live-stream DJ sessions and exhibitions have already become popular among Munich’s creatives. Rosental 16; rivierarecords.de
SASKIA DIEZ “I hope that if you’re wearing pieces from my collection you feel beautiful, sensual, strong and sure of yourself,” says Saskia Diez, whose minimalist shop between Isar and Westermühlbach was designed by her former husband, the well-known product and furniture designer Stefan Diez. Saskia’s range includes everything from weekend bags to pairs of sunglasses, although it’s her subtle yet expressive jewellery, which is handmade from responsibly sourced materials, that takes centre stage. “Jewellery is always a gift – a gift from someone or a gift for yourself – so it’s connected to love,” she says, wearing her signature Wire rings, Star ear cuff and Barbelle choker. 20 Geyerstrasse; saskia-diez.com
PORZELLAN MANUFAKTUR NYMPHENBURG The Porcelain Manufactory at Nymphenburg (the German Palace that was home to the Bavarian royal family) has been making the world's finest porcelain since 1747, each piece sculpted and painted by hand. In a remarkable blending of new ideas with a historic practice, they workshop with contemporary artists—the list includes Kiki Smith and Karen Kilimnik, plus a long list of industrial and fashion designers—to push the limits of the craft with modern designs. While their contemporary program produces gorgeous sculpture, Nymphenburg is still the world's best source for fine porcelain plates and teacups. Their pieces are available in boutiques worldwide, but their two flagships are at the Nymphenburg Palace and in Munich opposite the Hofgarten. Odeonsplatz 1; nymphenburg.com