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 Stay | Where to Eat | Beer Gardens | Nightlife | Hidden 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 experienceMunich’s most iconic luxury hotel with multiple restaurants, a rooftop pool, and historic charm.
DO & CO Hotel Munich
Best for: Design, location, foodModern, high-end hotel right in the city center with a rooftop restaurant and views over Frauenkirche.
Mandarin Oriental Munich
Best for: Premium stay, privacyOne of the most exclusive hotels in the city with a rooftop terrace and refined, quiet atmosphere.
Sofitel Munich Bayerpost
Best for: Comfort, spa, central locationLuxury 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 districtClassic five-star hotel on Maximilianstraße offering timeless luxury and top-tier service.
Mid-Range & Boutique Accommodation
Adina Apartment Hotel
Best for: Space, longer staysSpacious 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, affordabilityStylish and efficient hotels with a “lean luxury” concept and central locations.
Platzl Hotel
Best for: Location, Bavarian charmAn elevated traditional Bavarian hotel right in the old town, next to Hofbräuhaus.
Cocoon Hotel
Best for: Value, modern stayClean, modern boutique hotels with multiple locations and a strong focus on comfort and design.
Munich Marriott City West
Best for: Comfort, business travelModern hotel with spacious rooms and strong amenities, located slightly outside the center.
25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian
Best for: Style, central locationCreative, design-focused hotel near the train station with a relaxed and playful atmosphere.
Budget / Backpacker
Euro Youth Hotel
Best for: Backpackers, social travelers, meeting peopleClassic 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 peoplePopular, lively hostels known for their social atmosphere and clean facilities. Has 2 locations in Munich.
4 You Hostel
Best for: Budget stays, central locationSimple and affordable hostel with both dorms and private rooms in a central location.
The Tent
Best for: Budget, camping, unique experienceUnique summer-only accommodation where you sleep in tents in a relaxed outdoor setting.
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 portionsA 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 foodAn 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 foodSmall, 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 spotVery 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 qualityA 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 dinnerA 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 afterAuthentic 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 occasionsA 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 atmosphereA 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, dinnerOne 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 pastryFamous local bakery near Viktualienmarkt known for fresh pastries like Schmalznudeln and Dampfnudeln. Perfect for a quick breakfast stop.
Viktualienmarkt
Best for: Variety, casual eatingA central food market rather than a single restaurant, with everything from quick bites to traditional stalls. Ideal if you want variety in one place.
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, atmosphereLocated 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 groupsOne 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 drinksA 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 atmosphereLarge 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 rightsThe 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 atmosphereA quieter beer garden tucked away near Theresienwiese. Good option if you want something more relaxed and less crowded.
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. (€€€€)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. (€€)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.
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.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.