Where to eat in Munich
Munich eats Bavarian: weisswurst before noon, roast pork and dumplings, pretzels and beer in a hall or a garden. The best food is plain and well made. Go in at lunch, share a table, and book for dinner at weekends.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The Viktualienmarkt for lunch, Haidhausen and Glockenbach for dinner, and a beer garden for an evening.
- Order this
- Weisswurst with a pretzel before noon, then Schweinsbraten with dumplings.
- When to eat
- Weisswurst traditionally before noon. Dinner from 6pm.
- Book or walk in
- Book beer halls on Fridays and Saturdays and in Oktoberfest. Beer gardens take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up the bill by 5 to 10 per cent and say the total when you pay.
What to eat in Munich
- WeisswurstA white veal sausage served in a bowl with sweet mustard and a pretzel, eaten before noon.
- SchweinsbratenRoast pork with a crackling crust, served with dumplings and cabbage.
- ObatzdaA spiced cheese spread eaten with a pretzel in beer gardens.
- LeberkäseA baked meat loaf served in a roll, a quick lunch from a butcher.
- BreznThe Bavarian pretzel, soft inside and salty outside.
- KaiserschmarrnA shredded sweet pancake with plum compote.
Where to eat in Munich, by neighborhood
Viktualienmarkt and the Altstadt
Market stalls, beer halls and traditional restaurants. Busy and good for lunch.
Haidhausen
Village-like streets with a mix of Bavarian and international restaurants.
Glockenbach
Lively and varied, with bars, small restaurants and wine bars.
Maxvorstadt
Student cafes, quick lunches and bookshops with a cafe.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Augustiner-Keller
€€Beer garden · Maxvorstadt
OrderBeer from the wooden barrel and roast chicken
A large chestnut-shaded beer garden run by Munich's oldest brewery, with room for over 5,000.
- Book
- Walk in, book on weekends
Confirmed open: augustinerkeller.de
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Schneider Bräuhaus im Tal
€€Brewery tavern · Altstadt
OrderWeisswurst and Schneider Weisse
The Schneider Weisse tavern at Tal 7, open since 1872 (formerly the Weisses Bräuhaus), with a Weisswurst breakfast from 9am.
- Book
- Book for dinner
Confirmed open: schneider-brauhaus.de
-
Hofbräuhaus
€€Beer hall · Altstadt
OrderBeer and a pretzel
The best-known beer hall in the city, with live music daily. Busy and touristy, but worth a drink.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: hofbraeuhaus.de
-
Wirtshaus in der Au
€€Bavarian inn · Au
OrderA dumpling dish
A Bavarian inn famous for its large and varied Knödel, with a traditional but stylish room.
- Book
- Book for dinner
Confirmed open: opentable.com
Food markets in Munich
- ViktualienmarktA daily food market with stalls for cheese, sausage and fruit, and a beer garden.Monday to Saturday, stalls roughly 8am to 8pm, many close earlierSource: munich.travel
How Munich eats
- Meal timesWeisswurst before noon, lunch from 12 and dinner from 6pm.
- BeerBeer comes in a one-liter Mass or a half-liter. Say Prost and clink.
- Sharing tablesIn a beer hall you may be asked to share a table. It is normal.
- TippingRound up the bill by 5 to 10 per cent and say the total.
Signs of a place to walk past
A tourist menu with photographs of every dish.
A beer hall with only tour groups inside.
A weisswurst place that serves it all day without a locals' crowd.
Eating in Munich: questions people ask
What food is Munich known for?
Weisswurst, Schweinsbraten, pretzels, Obatzda and beer. Bavarian cooking is meaty and filling.
Where should I eat in Munich?
The Viktualienmarkt for lunch, a beer garden for an evening, and Haidhausen for a quieter dinner.
When do you eat Weisswurst?
Traditionally before noon, with sweet mustard and a pretzel.
Do I need to book in Munich?
For beer halls on weekends and during Oktoberfest, yes. Beer gardens usually take walk-ins.