Tucked away in the light-filled courtyard of the elegant Gampenrieder Palais, Aimy offers a hidden retreat where we sit outdoors in summer, enjoying imaginative cocktails and dumplings.

In winter, we cozy up in plush chairs under the warm red-gold lighting, savoring spicy green curry or glazed beef with sweet chili jam.

Viet Hai Pham and his team are devoted to using the finest ingredients, crafting a remarkable fusion of traditional Thai dishes blended with Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and even Western influences - a combination that never fails to delight.

“Not for vegetarians” - that might be the first thought when you catch sight of the glass-fronted aging cabinet filled with mouthwatering cuts of meat.

But that wouldn’t be quite fair to Theresa Grill.

Sure, we mostly come here when we’re craving a proper rib eye steak.

But some of our absolute highlights are the smaller plates - dishes so good, it feels wrong to call them “sides“ - grilled cauliflower with passion fruit, parsley and egg yolk or spinach with caramelized cream and crispy fried onions or  our all-time favorite - sweet peas à la Parisienne with butter lettuce and breadcrumbs.

“Pas de réservation – simplement s’y rendre” reads the Petit Fritz website.

And that’s exactly how it is here -just show up!

This unpretentious French bistro is the charming little sibling of the refined Chez Fritz.

We can drop by any time, where cozy tables await, serving up unfussy French delights.

For petit déjeuner on the weekends, we love croque madame, pain perdu, or a croissant with café au lait.

In the evening, we gather with friends over crevettes rosé, moules frites, and tartines with duck rillettes, paired with a glass of crémant.

Sometimes I don’t want to share my food. I’d rather enjoy the whole portion unabashedly for myself.

But at Nana, I always look forward to filling the entire table with small bowls and plates.

Deep red beets with bulgur, green Israeli pickles, eggplant in tomato sauce, marinated mushrooms with herbs, labaneh, shakshuka…one of everything, please.

Then gather as many friends as the little spot can fit, all seated around the table, clinking glasses of Maccabee beer.

For us, Nana is Munich’s happiest place, one that must be shared with our nearest and dearest.

Earth apple, Murphy, Tattie, Pratie, Tubers, Spud…the potato has been given the most delightful names.

Originating in South America, they traveled across Spain and Italy to spread throughout Europe. And for hundreds of years, they’ve been cultivated here.

But rarely have we seen potatoes in as many varieties as at Caspar Plautz at Viktualienmarkt.

The best part? This potato stand doesn’t just sell the raw spuds - it also serves up delicious lunch dishes crafted from them right on site.

In front of St. John’s Church, Preysingstraße opens into a small square where we love to sit on warm summer evenings.

Beneath the large linden trees at wooden tables with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, there’s an ambiance that is both elegantly French and profondément détendu - deeply relaxed, right in the heart of Haidhausen.

This beautiful French spot combines the best of refined cuisine with a bohemian ease.

Inside, the atmosphere resembles a Parisian brasserie - more checkered tables, set closely together, an old wooden bar against white tiled walls, warm lighting and super charming guys with suspenders on their aprons.

Munich’s most beautiful beer garden sits high above the Isar in Pullach, to the south of the city.

This picture-perfect beer garden, shaded by ancient chestnut trees, offers fantastic food, live music, a mini-golf course, a playground, Spaten beer on tap and an incredibly diverse mix of guests.

For those preferring a bit of elegance without having to mince across gravel, the historic tavern offers table service.

Families with children who want a casual, budget-friendly visit can grab drinks at the counter and unpack their own picnic at the tables near the playground.

We love sitting by the music pavilion with sizzling roasted chicken or ribs, fresh pretzels and Obazda, grilled fish or cinnamon-sugared Aus‘zogene.

We only bring a tablecloth and candles for added coziness because at the Wawi, we know we’ll be staying a while.

For years, Toshio Kobatake, known as Toshi, ran an elegant Teppan-Yaki restaurant in Munich’s Altstadt, named after himself.

Now, he welcomes us to his Japatapa Toshibar in Schwabing.

Stripped back to the essentials, it’s just as exciting as the original Toshi.

For those who, like us, are passionate about authentic Japanese cuisine, Toshi’s place is a must. Together with his wife, he creates a warm, inviting atmosphere filled with Japanese hospitality and cozy Izakaya charm.

It’s no wonder Toshi was honored as a Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador.

This unique spot, hard to find elsewhere in Munich, is tucked away on the unassuming Marschallstraße.

The charming bistro with the cheerful name belongs to Ella, André, and Corvin.

Right in the heart of Glockenbach, the trio of Munich locals has created a delightful mix of Bavarian coziness and French ease.

Here, they serve small plates made with regional ingredients and inspired by French recipes, accompanied by Bavarian beers or French wines.

The menu simply lists the ingredients, leaving the details to be explained personally at your table.

And “personal” may be the best way to describe the atmosphere at Bingo.

Everyone here takes their time with guests. Even the chefs come out now and then to chat and make sure everything is just right.

Bingo is truly one of our favorite Munich discoveries.

It’s only fair to warn you that we can hardly write about Il Piccolo Principe with any degree of neutrality - we are completely in love with this place.

This small, family-run restaurant in Dreimühlenviertel has been around for over 30 years.

It doesn’t try to follow the latest trends, nor does it aim for perfect Instagram appeal.

What truly matters here is a deep love for exceptional food, wonderful wines, close connections to producers and the joy of being a gracious host.

“The true joy is the joy of others,” as it says in the book The Little Prince.

If that’s true, then at Il Piccolo Principe, the joy is undoubtedly mutual.