Munich is not the capital of Germany, but it is the capital of the annual Oktoberfest. However, Munich is much more than a big festival dedicated to beer. The third-largest city in Germany has lots of charms and a southern-style vibe between the Alps and numerous lakes. Expect friendly people, lots of green spaces and lots of cool places for a fun, great and unforgettable weekend. Here are a few personal suggestions how to make your Munich weekend a fantastic experience. Let’s go!
Mary’s Coffee Club:
One of my favorite places for a delicious breakfast is Mary’s Coffee Club. This cool and Insta-perfect café and restaurant is located in a leafy and quiet courtyard in the lively university quarter Maxvorstadt. This place has such a good menu, you will not want to leave quickly! Try the amazing avocado toast, the coconut yoghurt and the halloumi bowl. Also take the iced coconut coffee – you can thank me later!
Stroll through Maxvorstadt: Right after your breakfast I recommend you stay in the Maxvorstadt area. This is Munich’s university quarter so it brims with cool little cafés, shops and bars. Enjoy also some hidden courtyards and take a little break in the sunshine to get an idea of the ‚Gemütlichkeit’ (coziness) of Munich life.
Museum Brandhorst: No visit to Munich without art! This city is known for its rich art scene and hosts some of Germany’s finest museums. Luckily, most museums are gathered in the same area. One of my favorites is the Museum Brandhorst that features a contemporary art collection with remarkable pieces from Jannis Kounellis, Alex Katz, Andy Warhol and Cy Twombly. The building’s architecture is also amazing.
Fancy something sweet after the art? Just cross the street from the museum and you will find Balla Beni, one of Munich’s best ice cream parlor. Choose whatever you love, but my favorite combination is chocolate and coconut. The artisanal ice cream is really something!
Munich is perfect to walk around or rent a bike. From Maxvorstadt it is a relaxed 15 minutes walk to the famous English Garden – one of the biggest city parks worldwide! Now you can get lost for a whole day in the park if you want, but why not walk around and sit in the grass during a sunny day and simply relax? This park is the most famous outdoor area for all Munich citizens. So do like the locals do!
Eisbach Welle: At the edge of the park there is a famous spot called Eisbach Wave. This little creek runs through the park but at this very spot you can see that Munich is also a city of – surfers! Even though Munich is far away from the seaside, you will see some incredibly cool and good surfers right there in this little creek!
Time for coffee! Head to the cool Glockenbach district and make a stop-over at the Man versus Machine coffee place. Enjoy some excellent coffee prepared by baristas in front of you and try the famous ‚Franzbrötchen’, a typical cinnamon bun.
If you are hungry and you like pizza, I recommend Soul Kitchen. This cool pizzeria serves original Neapolitan style pizza and is always packed with Munich’s hipster crowd.
A few meters down from Soul Kitchen, at the address Fraunhoferstrasse 31, you will find my favorite jewelry maker and silversmith in town named Werkstatt München. Enter the big wooden door, go to the courtyard and you will discover a gem of a boutique. Pick a beautiful silver necklace or bracelet as the perfect souvenir from Munich. Who needs kitsch if you can have beautiful handmade jewelry from Munich instead?
Last but not least you need a place to stay, right? My tip: The Flushing Meadows hotel in the city center. It is literally opposite of the last two mentioned places and has cool design rooms and a great hotel bar with a nice balcony overlooking the rooftops.
Welcome to Munich!
Photography by Sophia Mayrhofer
