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Munich Travel Guide

From hotels to hidden gems — our personal picks for experiencing Munich like a local.

Munich has a lot to offer — but knowing where to go can make all the difference. As local guides who live and work here, we’ve put together our personal recommendations to help you experience the city beyond the usual highlights.

From where to stay and eat to our favorite beer gardens, hidden spots, and places to relax, this guide is designed to help you make the most of your time in Munich.

If you’re looking to go beyond the city, consider one of the region’s most iconic experiences — our Neuschwanstein Castle tour from Munich — or explore Munich’s history in depth on our Dachau Memorial Site tour or Third Reich walking tour.

Where to StayWhere to EatBeer GardensNightlifeHidden Gems

Where to Stay in Munich

From luxury hotels to social hostels, here are our recommended places to stay in Munich based on location, comfort, budget and overall experience.

Luxury Accommodation

Bayerischer Hof

Best for: Landmark stay, full experience

Munich’s most iconic luxury hotel with multiple restaurants, a rooftop pool, and historic charm.

DO & CO Hotel Munich

Best for: Design, location, food

Modern, high-end hotel right in the city center with a rooftop restaurant and views over Frauenkirche.

Mandarin Oriental Munich

Best for: Premium stay, privacy

One of the most exclusive hotels in the city with a rooftop terrace and refined, quiet atmosphere.

Sofitel Munich Bayerpost

Best for: Comfort, spa, central location

Luxury hotel near the main station combining French elegance with Bavarian style. Spacious rooms, spa, and a strong all-around experience.

Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski

Best for: Traditional luxury, shopping district

Classic five-star hotel on Maximilianstraße offering timeless luxury and top-tier service.

Mid-Range & Boutique Accommodation

Adina Apartment Hotel

Best for: Space, longer stays

Spacious apartment-style rooms ideal for longer stays or travelers wanting more flexibility. Located in a very cool upcoming neighborhood.

Ruby Hotels (various locations)

Best for: Design, affordability

Stylish and efficient hotels with a “lean luxury” concept and central locations.

Platzl Hotel

Best for: Location, Bavarian charm

An elevated traditional Bavarian hotel right in the old town, next to Hofbräuhaus.

Cocoon Hotel

Best for: Value, modern stay

Clean, modern boutique hotels with multiple locations and a strong focus on comfort and design.

Munich Marriott City West

Best for: Comfort, business travel

Modern hotel with spacious rooms and strong amenities, located slightly outside the center.

25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian

Best for: Style, central location

Creative, design-focused hotel near the train station with a relaxed and playful atmosphere.

Budget / Backpacker

Euro Youth Hotel

Best for: Backpackers, social travelers, meeting people

Classic Munich hostel with an amazing bar, social vibe and excellent location near the main station. Some of our tours meet and begin here!

Wombat’s City Hostel

Best for: Solo travelers, meeting people

Popular, lively hostels known for their social atmosphere and clean facilities. Has 2 locations in Munich.

4 You Hostel

Best for: Budget stays, central location

Simple and affordable hostel with both dorms and private rooms in a central location.

The Tent

Best for: Budget, camping, unique experience

Unique summer-only accommodation where you sleep in tents in a relaxed outdoor setting.

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Where to Eat in Munich

Munich has everything from traditional Bavarian food to modern dining. These are our personal favorites — places we actually go to and recommend to our guests.

Andy’s Krablergarten

Best for: Schnitzel, massive portions

A no-frills Bavarian restaurant known for HUGE schnitzels and very generous portions. It’s busy, loud, and exactly what you want for a proper local meal.

Blue Nile

Best for: Authentic experience, sharing food

An authentic Ethiopian restaurant where you eat with your hands from shared platters. It’s something completely different, very authentic and is especially fun as a group.

Mamma Bao

Best for: Quick lunch, casual food

Small, casual spot serving bao buns, Asian street food, and fresh hand-pulled noodles. It’s quick, popular, and more of a grab-a-bite place than a long dinner.

Com-Viet

Best for: Authentic food, low-key spot

Very unassuming spot on Dachauerstraße that’s easy to walk past without noticing. Nothing special in terms of decor, but the food is incredibly good and reliably consistent. Also very central.

Saint's Burger

Best for: Burgers, top quality

A small, independent burger spot focused on quality over quantity — they only make 100 burgers for lunch and 100 for dinner, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Known for juicy smash burgers, great ingredients, and their standout blooming onion on the side.

La Vecchia Masseria

Best for: Pasta, Pizza and relaxed dinner

A family-run Italian restaurant slightly off the beaten path, known for its pasta and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Feels more local than touristy.

Khanittha

Best for: Thai food, dinner + drinks after

Authentic Thai restaurant with a lively street food vibe, including those small stools and food-cart-style elements. Good quality dishes in a more relaxed and energetic setting, and close to plenty of bars and rooftops for afterwards.

Savanna Grill

Best for: Steak, special occasions

A high-end steakhouse with a classic feel, known for quality cuts as well as a selection of more exotic meats. Better suited for a special night out.

Secret Garden

Best for: Vegan sushi, quiet atmosphere

A tucked-away vegan restaurant with a relaxed outdoor setting and beautifully presented, plant-based dishes. Easy to miss, but a great spot to slow things down.

Bodhi

Best for: Vegan food, dinner

One of Munich’s best vegan restaurants, serving plant-based versions of traditional dishes. Opens at 5pm and is popular, so reservations are recommended.

Café Frischhut

Best for: Breakfast, local pastry

Famous local bakery near Viktualienmarkt known for fresh pastries like Schmalznudeln and Dampfnudeln. Perfect for a quick breakfast stop.

Viktualienmarkt

Best for: Variety, casual eating

A central food market rather than a single restaurant, with everything from quick bites to traditional stalls. Ideal if you want variety in one place.

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Best Beer Gardens in Munich

Beer gardens are at the heart of Munich’s culture. These are our favorite spots to enjoy a Maß, relax under the chestnut trees, and experience the city the way locals do.

Want to experience Munich’s beer culture with a local guide? Join one of our beer tours →

Chinesischer Turm (English Garden)

Best for: First-time visitors, atmosphere

Located in the English Garden, this is the 2nd largest beer garden in the world and one of the most iconic beer gardens in the city. Busy, central, and great for people-watching.

Augustiner Keller

Best for: Classic experience, large groups

One of the most famous beer gardens in Munich with a strong local feel. Big, lively, and a classic place to experience Bavarian beer culture. Our beer tour visits this beer garden.

Seehaus

Best for: Scenic setting, relaxed drinks

A more polished beer garden right by the water in the English Garden. Feels slightly more upscale and is especially nice on sunny days.

Hofbräukeller

Best for: Traditional atmosphere

Large and lively beer garden that feels more local than the Hofbräuhaus, with a good mix of visitors and locals.

Königlicher Hirschgarten

Best for: Space, local vibe, bragging rights

The largest beer garden in the world with plenty of space and even deer in the nearby park. Very local and more relaxed than central spots.

Wirtshaus am Bavariapark

Best for: Calm atmosphere

A quieter beer garden tucked away near Theresienwiese. Good option if you want something more relaxed and less crowded.

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Bars & Nightlife in Munich

Munich’s nightlife is more diverse than most people expect — from relaxed cocktail bars to lively late-night spots. These are places we actually go to or recommend after a tour.

Explore our hangover tour or  beer & nightlife tours →

Bar Gabányi

Jazz, Whisky, Sophistication (€€€)

Steeped in old-school cool, this moody basement lounge pairs legendary cocktails and rare whiskies with the city’s best late-night jazz. It’s Munich’s ultimate sophisticated hideaway—where high-end spirits meet high-ceilinged, leather-bound style.

Lost Weekend

Concerts, Cafe, Students (€)

By day, it’s a bright, minimalist hub for specialty coffee and campus studying; by night, it transforms into a vibrant cultural space for indie concerts, poetry slams, and vegan snacks. Located right in the university district, it’s the ultimate meeting point for Munich’s creative and student crowds.

Alte Utting

Shipwreck, Sunset, Culture. (€€)

Perched atop a railway bridge, this repurposed excursion steamer boat offers one of Munich’s most surreal and romantic settings for open-air drinks and international street food. It’s a creative urban playground where you can sip cocktails on the deck while watching the sun dip below the city skyline.

Fox Bar

Retro, Cozy, Living-room. (€)

Tucked away in Maxvorstadt, this “shabby-chic” local favorite feels like stepping into a quirky 1970s apartment complete with vintage sofas and an indoor swing. It is a beloved neighborhood secret known for its friendly, unpretentious vibe and affordable prices, offering a perfect escape from Munich’s more polished bar scene.

M’Uniqo Rooftop Bar

Skyline, Cocktails, Sunsets. (€€€€)
Perched atop the Andaz Hotel, this glitzy destination is Munich’s highest rooftop bar, offering breathtaking 360-degree views that stretch all the way to the Alps. It’s the city’s premier spot for Venetian-inspired cicchetti and high-end mixology, set against a backdrop of unforgettable sunsets and a sleek, cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Kennedy’s Irish Bar

Guinness, Sports, Live-Music. (€€)

Located right on Sendlinger Tor, this sprawling Irish pub is a Munich institution known for its authentic craic, hearty comfort food, and vibrant international crowd. Whether you’re there for the high-energy karaoke nights, live football matches, or a perfect pint of stout, it delivers a classic, welcoming atmosphere every night of the week.

The Keg Bar

Sports, Pub, International. (€€)

This lively, international hub is Schwabing’s go-to for craft beer, hearty pub fare, and a massive schedule of live sports on big screens. Known for its welcoming English-speaking staff and legendary trivia nights, it’s the perfect spot to find a friendly crowd and a high-energy atmosphere.

Jodlerwirt

Tradition, Schnapps, Music. (€€)
Tucked away in the city center, this rustic tavern is a quirky local legend famous for its lively alpine atmosphere and spontaneous yodeling performances. It is a destination for anyone seeking an authentic, high-energy Bavarian night out filled with old-school folk charm.

Pusser’s

Painkillers, Classics, Maritime. (€€€)

As the first bar outside the Caribbean to bear the Pusser’s name, this legendary wood-paneled cellar is a masterclass in classic mixology and naval tradition. It’s a sophisticated sanctuary for serious drinkers, famous for its potent rum-based cocktails and an atmosphere of refined, old-school hospitality.

Yokocho Karaoke Box & Bar

Karaoke, Cocktails, Tokyo (€€)

Hidden behind a vibrant neon façade, this high-energy Japanese-style karaoke bar transports you straight to the bustling backalleys of Shinjuku. With private themed booths and a sleek main bar serving up colorful cocktails, it’s Munich’s premier destination for those who want to sing their hearts out in a stylish, authentic setting.

Jazzbar Vogler

Jazz, Soul, Intimacy. (€€)

Widely considered one of the best jazz clubs in Europe, this intimate riverside venue specializes in high-caliber live performances ranging from swing and bebop to Latin soul. With its classic bar culture and candlelit tables, it offers an authentic, sophisticated listening experience for true music lovers in the heart of Munich.

Flex

Punk, Pinball, Underground. (€)

This legendary, gritty alternative haunt in the Glockenbachviertel is Munich’s sanctuary for rock, metal, and punk fans who prefer their drinks cheap and their music loud. With its well-worn interior, classic pinball machines, and unpretentious vibe, it remains the city’s premier “authentic” dive bar for the late-night rebel crowd.

Rote Sonne

Techno, Underground, Avant-garde. (€€)

Located right on Maximiliansplatz, this dark, minimalist basement is Munich’s premier temple for cutting-edge electronic music and experimental live acts. With its world-class sound system and “no-photos” policy, it offers an authentic, high-intensity clubbing experience for those who live for the beat.

Ory Bar

Luxury, Glamour, Mixology. (€€€€)

Located within the Mandarin Oriental, this stunningly designed venue is Munich’s pinnacle of modern bar culture and high-end elegance. It’s a sophisticated sanctuary where avant-garde cocktails and a chic, dark-wood interior create an atmosphere of pure, cosmopolitan luxury.

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Hidden Gems in Munich

Munich has plenty of famous sights, but some of the best spots are easy to miss. These are places we love that most visitors walk right past or never hear about.

Kabinettsgarten

Serenity, Hidden, Architecture.

Tucked behind the Residenz, this small, award-winning garden is a masterclass in quiet symmetry and calming water features. It is the city center’s best-kept secret for escaping the Marienplatz crowds into a world of peaceful, Mediterranean-inspired beauty.

Juristische Bibliothek

Art-Nouveau, Books, Hidden.

Tucked inside the New Town Hall, this breathtaking two-story library features ornate spiral staircases and golden-age woodwork straight out of a fairy tale. While the bustling Marienplatz roars outside, this silent sanctuary remains one of the most stunning—and least visited—architectural masterpieces in the city.

Asamkirche

Gold, Drama, Intimate.
Tucked into a narrow gap on a busy shopping street, this private 18th-century chapel is a dizzying explosion of gold leaf, ornate stucco, and theatrical lighting. It is a Baroque masterpiece that packs more artistic intensity into its tiny footprint than most of Europe’s grandest cathedrals.

Flaucher

River, BBQ, Fun.

While tourists flock to the Eisbach, locals head to these sprawling pebble beaches and wooded islands along the Isar for sunset beers and open-fire grilling. It’s the ultimate spot to experience Munich’s “Isar-Lust” culture in its most natural, unpolished, and relaxed form. Our Hangover Tour occasionally visits this spot. 🙂

Bahnwärter Thiel

Industrial, Creative, Underground.

Constructed from repurposed shipping containers and old subway cars, this sprawling urban wasteland is the pulsating heart of Munich’s alternative arts scene. Between the graffiti-covered walls, you’ll find everything from techno clubs and cozy ateliers to high-swinging hammocks and flea markets.

Museum Lichtspiele

Cult, Cinema, Rocky-Horror.

Operating since 1910, this quirky basement cinema has screened “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” every single week for nearly 50 years. With its velvet seats and kitschy decor, it’s a living monument to cinema history and the go-to spot for an eccentric, English-language movie night.

Gans Woanders

Treehouse, Fairy-tale, Firepits.

A sprawling, whimsical wooden structure built over a railway bridge, this neighborhood café feels like a DIY fairy-tale come to life. With its flickering fire pits, cozy nooks, and frequent live acoustic sets, it’s the most charmingly surreal place in the city to grab a pizza and a beer.

Hackerbrücke at Sunset

Rails, Sunset, Skyline.

Join hundreds of locals sitting on the steel girders of this historic industrial bridge to watch the sun dip behind the train tracks. It’s a quintessential Munich “rite of passage” that offers a golden-hour view of the city’s skyline that you won’t find in any standard guidebook.

Der Verrückte Eismacher

Alice-in-Wonderland, Quirky, Flavors.

Step through the looking glass into this bizarre ice cream parlor where “Alice in Wonderland” decor meets flavors like Augustiner beer, white sausage, or gorgonzola. It’s a fun, slightly chaotic experience that proves Munich’s culinary scene isn’t afraid to get weird.

Experience Munich Like a Local

Munich is a city best experienced with the right local insight — whether that’s finding the perfect beer garden, discovering a hidden spot, or knowing where to go for a great night out.

If you want to go beyond recommendations and really experience the city, join one of our small-group tours led by passionate local guides. From exploring the city on our Free Munich walking tour, to understanding its past on the Third Reich walking tour or visiting the Dachau Memorial Site, each experience offers a deeper perspective.

For those looking to explore beyond the city, our Neuschwanstein Castle tour from Munich offers a full-day journey into the Bavarian Alps with guaranteed castle entry and a relaxed small-group experience.