Waldwirtschaft - Beer Garden above the Isar
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.
Helma - Favourite Café by the Church Square
in short…
a dream location on the church square of St. Johannes in Haidhausen
inspired by Aunt Helma's cake scents and Japanese memories
and, by the way, they serve the best waffles in southern Germany
I love that scene from Shrek where Donkey tries to cheer up the grumpy ogre.
„We can stay up late, swapping manly stories and in the morning I'm making waffles!“
That works just as well after a girls’ night out and always makes me cheerful - waffles for breakfast!
Hot and buttery is exactly how André and his husband serve them at Café Helma.
Helma is a place for long, leisurely breakfasts, rotating lunch specials and homemade cakes paired with carefully selected teas in the afternoon.
And if the night is young? A Yuzu-Prosecco and a cheese platter make for a perfect start.
We wouldn’t mind spending the whole day here in cozy Helma.
Sorry Johnny - three Friends and a Coffeehouse
in short…
teeny tiny café with a great breakfast
run by three friends with a lot of heart
the French toast here is soooo good
Katrin, Flo, and Johannes run Sorry Johnny together. Katrin takes care of the guests, Flo mans the bar, and Johannes handles the kitchen.
Well, technically… because just as often, they switch roles, with each stepping in for the other.
Everything here flows effortlessly, hand in hand.
It’s clear at first glance - and taste, that these friends love being hosts.
That’s why this tiny café in Haidhausen isn’t just our top breakfast spot in Munich, but, above all, a place where you feel right at home, in the truest sense - with friends.
Suuapinga Café - Specialty Coffee from Schwabing
in short…
craft coffee from three friends in Schwabing
cinnamon and cardamom rolls from their own bakery
our favourite spot - the wooden hut on sunny Wiener Platz
100% Arabica - whole beans - roasted in Bavaria - that’s how Lucas, Pete and Emanuel sum up their approach to specialty coffee.
But their concept goes a little deeper than that. The three friends from Schwabing have crafted a vision that extends beyond the beans themselves.
In their bright, minimalist Suuapinga cafés, now dotted across Munich’s most charming neighborhoods, expertly trained baristas serve up coffee with precision and care.
But their passion doesn’t stop at the perfect cup, it flows seamlessly into a love for fresh, handmade pastries.
And let’s be honest, that’s a combination we’ll never say no to.
Sweet Spot - Specialty Coffee by the Viktualienmarkt
in short...
our most beloved coffee moment – with a view of the Old Peter
speciality coffee - not snobbish at all, but delivered with a smile
sweet bite – tiny homemade marble cakes
The term Sweet Spot describes a moment of perfect balance .
And that’s exactly where Markus Pyttel’s coffee can take us.
With a view of Old Peter’s spire, sipping a cup at his Viktualienmarkt stand or on a break at his café on Reichenbachstraße, we might just feel it.
Markus himself strives to hit that sweet spot for his coffee every single day.
He sources top-quality beans from a rotating cast of roasters and pours his full attention into every preparation.
Tiny homemade marble cakes are for us the perfect little bite to go with it.
But if you’re hungrier, there are croissants, pain au chocolat, cinnamon and cardamom rolls, banana bread or Franzbrötchen.
And when the bottom of our cup reveals his chosen logo - a smiling face - it might just reflect our own, after the perfect brew.
Standl 20 - Specialty Coffee at Elisabeth Market
in short...
the best coffee break while market shopping
no way is too far for Paul's cappuccino
even better - spoil yourself with a cinnamony Franzbrötchen
„Da wo‘s an Kaffee gibt“ (where there’s coffee) is how Paul and Johannes subtitle the unpretentious name of their little coffee booth.
Though honestly, they could say it with far more pride - where there’s some of the best coffee in Munich.
We’re big fans of Standl 20 and don’t think twice about cycling across town - just to settle into the cozy little hut or bask on the sunny terrace right in the middle of Elisabethmarkt, sipping Munich’s finest cappuccino.
Add a cinnamon-laced Franzbrötchen to the mix, and it’s hard to imagine anything better.
The Standl 20 team is always in high spirits, warm and welcoming and always ready for a quick chat - maybe about their beans, which Johannes roasts himself or about the perfect brewing technique, passionately perfected by Paul and passed on to the whole crew.
This is how truly great coffee is made.
The best specialty coffee at Munich’s markets
in short…
for everyone who loves seeing a marketplace come to life
breakfast with coffee and a small pastry at a market fountain
the most picturesque locations - Elisabethmarkt, Viktualienmarkt and the market at Wiener Platz
“Da wo’s an Kaffee gibt,” (where there is coffee), boasts Standl 20 at the Elisabethmarkt.
And in typical Bavarian confidence, that’s their way of saying – this is where you’ll find the only true coffee.
In Munich, you can enjoy this coffee experience not just here, but at three lovely market locations, each offering a slice of the most delightful market atmosphere.
If you love sipping your coffee while watching the city wake up, these Specialty Coffee spots will surely make you happy.
Actually, there’s something so peaceful and beautiful about mornings when the Bärenbrunnen fountain at Elisabethmarkt, the Fischerbuberl fountain at Wiener Platz or the eight fountains of Viktualienmarkt gently splash away as the flower stalls roll up their shutters.
Dukatz - French Pâtisserie and Café au lait
in short...
for lovers of fine French pastries
croissants and éclairs fresh from their own bakery - along with café au lait
beneath the trees in Lehel or in bustling Glockenbach
In Glockenbachviertel and Lehel, you’ll find this charming French café.
The two locations are quite similar, with wooden furniture, fabric-covered lamps casting a warm glow and blackboards elegantly scribbled with chalk – places where the daily newspaper is still clipped into a wooden holder and rustles gently as we sip coffee from large cups.
Bright display cases are filled with the most beautiful pastries and baskets overflow with baguettes and breads.
In Lehel, it’s a joy to sit outside on the terrace under the trees, while at Klenzestraße, bistro chairs line the sidewalk.
No matter which one we visit, we always feel wonderfully Parisian.
Alexa von Harder - Pâtisserie in pastel tones
in short…
small café with London charm
dreamy cupcakes and extravagant tortes
and for breakfast - fluffy pancakes or poached eggs
A bit like in London - where tidy houses line quiet neighborhoods around well-kept little parks and where tiny cafés display pastel-colored cupcakes in flower-framed windows - that’s the feeling at Alexa von Harder.
It’s no surprise, as Alexa spent her passionate years training as a confectioner and patissier at Peggy Porschen in the British capital.
From there, she brought back just the right amount of "snugness" to keep us coming back to her romantic café.
Brot & Butter - Café and Bakery at Manufactum
in short…
a little break from the bustling city centre
wood-roasted coffee & organic raw milk
come right in the morning - that's when the yeast rolls are still warm
Manufactum, the store, known for its carefully curated selection of high-quality goods for home and garden, is, of course, not a hidden Munich gem - it’s found in several other cities too.
However, not every location boasts its own café “Brot & Butter”, like here in Munich.
Tucked into an unassuming corner at the front of the shop, it offers a wonderfully cozy spot to sit while watching the hustle and bustle of the city drift by through the large windows.
And everything from the in-house stone oven bakery can be taken home, fresh and ready to enjoy.
Coffee Box - the best coffee in the smallest space
in short…
little café with huge warmth
no free seat - so just grab your coffee and enjoy it in the nearby Maximilians Auen
delicious treat - the homemade chocolate rugelach
The Oxford dictionary defines a box as a “rectangular container” – which might sound a bit too uncharismatic to describe the small cubic space of Coffee Box in Haidhausen.
However, the example provided: “…a practical box for your lunch break…”.
That feels much more fitting for this cozy spot.
Located just a stone’s throw from Wiener Platz, the Coffee Box is indeed tiny.
Yet, within its few square meters, wel find everything a coffee lover could wish for during a break – perfectly creamy cappuccino, delicious sweet and savory pastries, homemade lemonade and a generous dose of warmth and hospitality.
Sama Sama - Gold Dust, Rose Petals and Dark Chocolate
in short…
small chocolate manufactory at the Viktualienmarkt
artistic pralines with gold dust and candied flowers
little luxurious dilemma - eating them yourself or sharing them as gifts
Chocolates couldn’t be more artfully crafted! “Too beautiful to eat, but too delicious to merely admire,”
That’s how Wilhelmine Raabe describes her little masterpieces.
So, we’re left with a delightful dilemma—do we savor them right away, or should we admire them just a bit longer?
And with this luxury problem, we are left to decide on our own. “You’re welcome,” says Mrs. Raabe with a smile, for that’s the meaning of “sama sama.”
Julius Brantner Brothandwerk - Munich’s best Bakery
in short...
limited selection - highest quality
best bread in town and a different sweet pastry every day
on Wednesdays - „French country bread", the most delightful loaf of white bread ever
„Tuesday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. until the last loaf” - the opening hours of the two Julius Brantner bakeries are to be taken quite literally.
The delicious bread is always freshly baked, using traditional craftsmanship and the finest organic ingredients.
In line with the principles of mindfulness and sustainability, nothing goes to waste.
The selection is intentionally kept small, but the quality is simply outstanding.
So, it’s well worth arriving early.
And for those who are still a bit sleepy, you can grab an excellent coffee in a charming Brantner cup to go.
Carta Pura - a Paper Shop with a Sense for Beauty
in short….
for paper lovers and everyday aesthetes
precious papers up to the ceiling and the most elegant stationery
Carta Pura makes our work desk the most cherished place
A really good pair of scissors, a pretty notebook with a matching pen, glue that we won’t want to hide in a drawer…don’t we all wish for everyday items that look beautiful and bring us joy?
At Carta Pura, you’ll find all of this, from writing utensils to bookbinding supplies and fine stationery.
Plus, there are artistic sheets for paper enthusiasts who truly appreciate them.
Ballabeni Icecream - Scooping up Summer Bliss
in short...
for anyone who loves smooth Italian ice cream - and who doesn't?!?
lovely bonus - the tasting spoon on top
then hop over to the lawn outside the Pinakothek and savor it in peace
At the corner of Theresienstraße and Türkenstraße, from March to October, you’ll find Munich’s best ice cream. During this time, the restaurant owners in Maxvorstadt wistfully tuck away their dessert menus.
Because everyone knows – by 10 p.m. at the latest, after the main course, the guests head off in the same direction anyway.
The goal is to get a portion of the creamiest Ballabeni ice cream for dessert, before they close at 10:30.
Käfer Deli - exquisite Patisserie and Chocolaterie
in short…
labyrinth full of delicacies – Käfer on Prinzregentenstraße
pink cakes, brightly coloured macarons and the most delectable berry tarts
and in late summer - the best plum cake in Bavaria
The beautiful corner building at the edge of Bogenhausen’s villa district has been home to Feinkost Käfer, a Munich delicatessen icon, since 1933.
A refined restaurant on the first floor, a cozy bistro with a garden below and in between, like in a hobbit hole, stairs up and down, are the finest gourmet delights.
What captivates us most, however, is the in-house patisserie, decked out in sugar-baker white, presenting the most beautiful tarts and cakes.
Blumen die Leben - floral magic and vintage charm
in short….
our most beloved flower boutique
from snowdrops to peonies, from dahlias to pine cones - a dream throughout the seasons
plus lovingly collected vintage treasures
By late May, when the scent of peonies and lilacs fills the air, when lilies of the valley and columbines are in bloom, while carnations and mallows unfold their pastel petals, the little flower shop overflows with beauty.
No one knows better than the florists here how to tame this floral abundance into small and great bouquets.
Their creative presentations never cease to amaze - violets arranged in an old coffee cup, dried flowers in a vintage suitcase, pussy willows in an ostrich egg…
The quality of the flowers is so exceptional that they last for a good while, giving us maximum joy.
Isar Mist, Dallmayr Treats and a Hint of the South Seas
sn't it the most beautiful thing letting yourself drift without a schedule, daydreaming by the water for an afternoon, guiltlessly transitioning from the finest bakery to the most delightful ice cream parlor or enjoying an endless breakfast?
We believe, this approach can often provide a deeper sense of a metropolis’s rhythm, than a rigid cultural itinerary and sometimes it reveals the true treasures of a city.
Even if it’s just a brief weekend trip, it would be a pity to let haste and stress intrude. After all, when a city is enjoyable, we are bound to return.
Here, we share a few personal tips and secrets on how to savor a wonderful city walk and how to make our Munich-Day truly perfect.
City Gardens, Beer Gardens and the Sound of the Isar
Isn't it the most beautiful thing letting yourself drift without a schedule, daydreaming by the water for an afternoon, guiltlessly transitioning from the finest bakery to the most delightful ice cream parlor or enjoying an endless breakfast?
We believe, this approach can often provide a deeper sense of a metropolis’s rhythm, than a rigid cultural itinerary and sometimes it reveals the true treasures of a city.
Even if it’s just a brief weekend trip, it would be a pity to let haste and stress intrude. After all, when a city is enjoyable, we are bound to return.
Here, we share a few personal tips and secrets on how to savor a wonderful city walk and how to make our Munich-Day truly perfect.
Hantverket - Swedish Culinary Craftsmanship
in short…
Stefan Ekengren's Hasselback Potatoes are truly as fabulous as everyone says
the Spritbordet - a great cocktail or mocktail pairing
our sunny weather tip - the pretty courtyard garden
The atmosphere here is unpretentious and friendly, while the food is incredibly refined and artistic without being affected.
Traditional Swedish dishes, crafted with careful handwork by Stefan Ekengren and his team, are presented with a modern twist and sometimes a touch of humor.
There is also a bar where experienced, cool bartenders mix remarkably good cocktails with great passion.
For those interested, a "Spritbordet" five-course menu is available, perfectly paired with cocktails or mocktails.

