Munching on Munich: A Guide to its Cafés and Culinary Highlights

Munich doesn’t only have the best beer in Germany, it also has great food.

On this walking tour through the city’s historical center, I’ll show you my favorite cafés and eateries off the beaten track. Starting at Isartor (Isar Gate), one of the city’s three remaining medieval gates, you’ll have an opportunity to visit Turmstüberl, a traditional café in the Karl Valentin Museum which is hidden within one of Isator’s towers. You’ll then venture into the city center, passing by the quirky Beer and Oktoberfest Museum and the wonderful Willy-Wonka-esque House of Cacao. From there, you’ll make your way to what is probably Germany’s most well-known market, Viktualienmarkt, where you can get the best cheeses, spices, fruit and even horse-meat sausages! Passing through the former Cattle Market, our tour ends at Café Glockenspiel where you can enjoy a slice of cake overlooking Marienplatz, the famous square.

On this Munich food tour, you’ll have the chance to:

• Have coffee in a 700-year-old tower
• Find out who Karl Valentin was and hear some of his famous quotes
• Pass by Sterneckerbräu, the pub where, in 1919, members of the newly founded German Workers’ Party used to get together
• Buy some of the best chocolates you’ll ever try
• Stroll through the famous Viktualienmarkt and hear about Germany’s maypole tradition
• Sample delicious pastries including German doughnuts at Café Frischhut
• Take in Löwenturm, Lion’s Tower, and find out the truth behind a local misconception
• See Ruffinihaus, a beautiful historical house with intricate decorations, frescos and stuccos
• Pop into Spöckmeier, the Bavarian-style restaurant that locals love to visit

Join me on this quick culinary tour of the city that, depending on how many stops you make, can be completed in just 30 minutes or three hours.

Please note: Unfortunately, the Karl Valentin Museum (located inside the Isartor) will close for renovation on October 7, 2024. It is supposed to reopen in 2026. So you won't be able to visit the Turmstüberl. We'll keep you posted.