Hofbräuhaus
Munich
Even if you don't like beer, every visitor to Munich should make a pilgrimage to the mothership of all beer halls, if only once. Within this major tourist…
Augustiner Bräustuben
Munich
Depending on the wind direction, the bitter-sweet aroma of hops envelops you as you approach this traditional beer hall inside the Augustiner brewery. The…
Alter Simpl
Munich
Thomas Mann and Hermann Hesse used to knock 'em back at this well-scuffed and wood-panelled thirst parlour. A bookish ambience still pervades, making this…
Chinesischer Turm
Munich
This one's hard to ignore because of its English Garden location and pedigree as Munich's oldest beer garden (open since 1791). Camera-toting tourists and…
Harry Klein
Munich
Follow the gold-lined passageway off Sonnenstrasse to what some regard as one of the best Elektro-clubs in the world. Nights here are an amazing alchemy…
Schumann's Bar
Munich
Urbane and sophisticated, Schumann's shakes up Munich's nightlife with libational flights of fancy and an impressive range of concoctions. It's also good…
Pacha
Munich
One of a gaggle of clubs at Maximiliansplatz 5, this nightspot with its cherry logo is one of Munich's hottest nights out, with the DJs spinning their…
MilchundBar
Munich
One of the hottest addresses in the city centre for those who like to spend the hours between supper and breakfast boogieing to an eclectic mix of…
Waldwirtschaft Grosshesselohe
Munich
One of Munich's nicest beer-garden oases, this one pumps Spaten beer to 2500 drinkers under shady chestnuts. There are idyllic views of the Isar valley…
Augustiner-Grossgaststätte
Munich
This sprawling place has a less raucous atmosphere and superior food to the usual offerings. Altogether it’s a much more authentic example of an old-style…
Cafe Pini
Munich
Bibite, panini, giornali (drinks, sandwiches, newspapers) is the holy trinity served up at this Italian cafe, which takes you back to the days of the…
Augustiner Keller
Munich
Every year this leafy 5000-seat beer garden, about 500m west of the Hauptbahnhof, buzzes with fairy-lit thirst-quenching activity from the first sign that…
Hirschgarten
Munich
The Everest of Munich beer gardens can seat up to 8000 Augustiner lovers, making it Bavaria's biggest – an accolade indeed. It's in a lovely spot in a…
Trachtenvogl
Munich
At night you'll have to shoehorn your way into this buzzy lair favoured by a chatty, boozy crowd of scenesters, artists and students. Daytimes are…
P1
Munich
If you make it past the notorious face control at Munich's premier late spot, you'll encounter a crowd of Bundesliga reserve players, Q-list celebs and…
Zum Flaucher
Munich
This congenial restaurant-cum-beer garden in the Isar River meadows feels a like a microvacation from the city bustle. The spare ribs are fall-off-the…
Munich
The few battered cafe chairs and vintage barstools get bagged quickly at this small, friendly, open-fronted bar, meaning drinkers often spill out onto…
Baader Café
Munich
Around since the mid-'80s, this literary think-and-drink place lures all sorts, from short skirts to tweed jackets, who linger over daytime coffees and…
Braunauer Hof
Munich
Near the Isartor, drinkers can choose between the traditional Bavarian interior or the beer garden out the back, which enjoys a surprisingly tranquil…
Niederlassung
Munich
From Adler Dry to Zephyr, this gin joint stocks an impressive 80 varieties of juniper juice in an unpretentious setting filled with books and sofas and…
Substanz
Munich
About as alternative as things get in Munich, this low-key, beery lair gets feet moving with music ranging from house to indie to soul and brings out the…
Biergarten Muffatwerk
Munich
Think of this one as a progressive beer garden with reggae instead of oompah, civilised imbibing instead of brainless guzzling, organic meats, fish and…
Café Cord
Munich
Set back from busy Sonnenstrasse in a modern precinct, clean-cut Cord is a good stop for a light lunch or coffee, or an ideal first pit stop when…
Viktualienmarkt
Munich
After a day of sightseeing or stocking up on tasty nibbles at the Viktualienmarkt, find a table at this chestnut-shaded beer garden surrounded by stalls,…
Hirschau
Munich
This mammoth beer garden in the northern half of the English Garden can seat 1700 quaffers and hosts live music almost every day in the summer months…
Hofbräukeller
Munich
One of the original beer halls, this wood-panelled, staunchly traditional tavern serves nine different types of the finest Hofbräu, including two alcohol…
Del Fiore
Munich
Come to this buzzing Italian coffeehouse, the only one with outdoor seating on the Gärtnerplatz, where there's standing room only from the first rays of…
Cafe Zeitgeist
Munich
Go with the zeitgeist and take a pew at this perfect spot where you can enjoy a hearty breakfast or pore over coffee and cake as you watch, from a shady…
Zephyr Bar
Munich
At one of Munich's best bars, Alex Schmaltz whips up courageous potions with unusual ingredients such as homemade cucumber-dill juice, sesame oil or…
Optimolwerke
Munich
Just behind Kultfabrik, Optimol is a real clubber's nirvana, with around 10 venues after dark. Latin lovers flock to Do Brasil, while Die Burg keeps the…
Rote Sonne
Munich
Named for a 1969 Munich cult movie starring it-girl Uschi Obermaier, the Red Sun is a fiery nirvana for fans of electronic sounds. A global roster of DJs…
Eat the Rich
Munich
Strong co*cktails served in half-litre glasses quickly loosen inhibitions at this sizzling nightspot, a great place to crash when the party's winding down…
Backstage
Munich
Refreshingly nonmainstream, this groovetastic club has a chilled night beer garden and a shape-shifting line-up of punk, nu metal, hip-hop, dance hall and…
Strom Club
Munich
Indie rock, postpunk, and underground are the speciality of this industrial club near the Theresienwiese. Live bands, both local and international, and…
Black Bean
Munich
If you thought the only decent brew Bavarians could mash was beer, train your Arabica radar to this regional retort to Starbucks. The organic coffee gets…
NY Club
Munich
After a move to near the Old Botanical Gardens, it's again 'Raining Men' at Munich's hottest gay dance temple, where you can party away with Ibiza-style…
Prosecco
Munich
Fun venue for dancing, cruising and drinking that attracts a mixed bunch of party people with quirky decor and a cheesy mix of music (mostly '80s and…
Seehaus
Munich
Situated on the shores of the English Garden's Kleinhesseloher See, the Seehaus has a family-friendly beer garden with an attached almost-upmarket…
Ochsengarten
Munich
The first bar to open in the Bavarian capital where you have to be clad in leather, rubber, lycra, neopren or other kinky attire to get in. Gay men only.
Park-Cafe
Munich
A hidden gem, this typical Munich beer garden in the Alter Botanischer Garten serves Hofbräu suds and lots of filling food.
More destinations you need to see
- Regensburg
- Nuremberg
- Berchtesgaden
- Bamberg
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen