You should know one thing about German culture. It is
probably one of the biggest traditions to have coffee and cake. It goes through
all ages, from teenagers to retirees. That means if you travel to Munich you
will find yourself in good company if you look for a place where you can eat
delicious cake and have a decent cup of coffee (most people are really into their
drip coffee). Read For coffee addicts - 6 espresso-based drinks.
I walked the streets of Munich, the capital city of Bavaria, to find the
best places for coffee and cake. I found grand café houses, drank coffee while
sitting on a giant illy cup, went to a café where they collect glasses to
donate them to people in need, found a few places where I was served third-wave
coffee by a guy with a beard, had fun in a former public toilet, and even found
a retiree hotspot. It is all there. After a while, I also found out that hardly anyone
offers Wi-Fi in Munich, not sure why. It might be a fantastic idea to simply
switch off after all. Enjoy the atmosphere, the coffee, the cake, and watch
the world go by.
Cafés
and Coffee shops Old Town and Lehel
Fraeulein
Grueneis
This cute café in a former public toilet, built in 1904, is
close to the Eisbach, Munich’s artificial wave. All products you eat in this
true gem of a café are sourced locally. In summer it is the perfect place to
sit under huge trees in the garden and when it gets colder the inside is
welcoming too.
Fraeulein Grueneis. Lerchenfeldstrasse 1a, 80538 Munich. Hours:
Monday to Friday 8am till nightfall. Saturday and Sunday 10am till nightfall.
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| Fraeulein Grueneis near the Eisbach |
Goldene
Bar
Surround yourself with happiness and warmth. Make your
way to the Goldene Bar at Haus der Kunst. The Monumental structure with its
imposing columns was built by the Nazis as the ‘Houses of German Art” in 1937.
With paintings on golden walls, that show the maps of Europe and the New World the
Nazis demonstrated their internationality. That is one word, perverse. Gruesome
history but I love to visit this bar for drinks, food or coffee and cake. It is
a true gem for design and architecture lovers.
Goldene Bar. Prinzregentenstrasse 1, 80538 Munich. Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am to 2am. Sunday 10am to 8pm.
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| Coffee and Cake at Goldene Bar at Haus der Kunst |
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| Goldene Bar at Haus der Kunst |
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| Goldene Bar at Haus der Kunst |
Patisserie
Dukatz
French delicacies
freshly made? This is the place to be. It is super busy, but guests don’t mind
to give each other space so that everybody can have their fair share of all the
heavenly creations. It is a charming place and every time I visit I find it very hard
to leave.
Patisserie Dukatz. St-Anna-Strasse 11, 80538 Munich. Hours
Monday to Friday 7.30am to 7pm. Saturday 8am to 7pm. Sunday 9.30am to 12.30pm.
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| Patisserie Dukatz in Lehel |
Kaffee
Roesterei Viktualienmarkt
There is a small counter with a view of the light-blue La
Marzocco and a beautiful ceiling. Buy a handmade Florentiner or a cinnamon Danish
together with your coffee. The coffee is sourced from small farmers and roasted
right here on the market, the milk is organic and if you decide to have a takeaway coffee, the cup is biodegradable. This is the place where Munich is as
everybody expects Munich to be. It simply is magical.
Kaffee Roesterei Viktualienmarkt. Viktualienmarkt, 80331
Munich. Stall 3/26. Hours: 8am to 6pm.
Eataly
You heard of Eataly? This temple of Italian Food is right
next to the famous Viktualienmarkt. I go here for quick bites and often just to
grab an Espresso. The most exciting thing is that one can sit on a giant illy
cup. Buy pasta to cook at home.
Eataly. Viktualienmarkt 15, 80331 Munich. Hours: 7.30am
to 11pm.
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| A giant illy cup at Eataly Munich |
Café
Arzmiller
Close to Odeons Platz. Through a gateway. Off
Theatinerstrasse. In a courtyard. One might think this is a hidden secret, but
it isn't, at least not for the over 70-year-olds. The cake is oh so delicious. The
Strudel catapults you into other spheres. The Café is not pretty (decorated in
beige). It is not trendy. It is a retiree hotspot. A visit allows you to have
an excellent sneak peek into how your life in the future will be. Rest assured,
from what I’ve seen, the future is going to be fun too. Go and eat cake here,
you won’t regret it.
Café Arzmiller. Theatinerhof. Salvatorstrasse 2, 80333
Munich. Hours: Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 6.30pm. Sunday 10am to 6pm.
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| Strudel and vanilla ice cream at Arzmiller |
Cafés
and Coffee shops Glockenbachviertel
Das
Maria
Polished grey concrete walls, wooden furniture, Moroccan
lamps and a few Marias here and there (Maria as in the one from that bible
story). You instantly know that they are serious about what they do here when
you look at the menu. Bavaria meets Orient. On the menu are Bavarian classics
and also many creations from the Middle East. Dishes are cooked with high
quality and regional products when they are in season. They created the cutest
name for their dishes: Exercising Maria. Speedy Maria. Maria on the mountain
pasture. I had Maria in the Souk, chickpea omelette with dried tomatoes, potatoes, capers, with soy yoghurt,
date cream and roasted pistachios. Fun and friendly atmosphere plus great food,
what is not to like?
Das Maria. Klenzestrasse 97, 80469 Munich. Hours: Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm. Monday to Friday 8:30 am - 10:00
pm.
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| Das Maria - Munich - Maria in the Souk |
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| Das Maria - Munich |
Aroma
Kaffeebar
Sweet and friendly place, chocolate croissants are served
warm, the Flat White is as it should be. The owner founded “Shades of Love. The Himalayan Eyewear Project,” a charity that supports people in the Himalayan Mountains.
At an altitude of 3500 metres UV rays are especially aggressive. Citizens get
eye diseases that could be easily prevented with wearing sunglasses. He
collects used as well as new sunglasses to donate them. If you go for coffee,
please don’t forget to check whether you have sunglasses that you would like to
donate (it makes no sense if they sit unused in a cupboard). Collection points
can be found in Germany, Spain, France and The Netherlands. Jump onto their
website to find out more: Shades of Love.
Pestalozzistrasse 24, 80469 Munich. Hours: Monday to
Friday 7am to 7pm. Saturday and Sunday 9am to 7pm.
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| Aroma Kaffeebar Glockenbachviertel |
Baeckerei Alof (Baeckerei - bakery)
This is a cosy neighbourhood hangout and
bakery. The products are freshly made on the premises. Order the cheesecake
with a coffee that is prepared on a Marzocco. What a welcoming and friendly
place this is.
Hans-Sachs-Strasse 12, 80469 Munich. Hours: 7am
to 7pm.
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| Alof Baeckerei - Alof Bakery Glockenbachviertel |
Man
versus Machine
This is the place where I order a Flat White and get a
Flat White: Right acidity under a flat foamy milk hat. This is Munich's
coffee heaven. I also love their brownies, chocolatey rich. Been here a few
times so far, sitting outside in the sun or inside, both options are equally
lovely really.
Man versus Machine. Muellerstrasse 23, 80469 Munich. Hours:
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Saturday 9am to 7pm. Sunday Closed.
Hungriges
Herz
The cafe used to
be a gourmet shop. Gold and pink, together with wood create a welcoming
atmosphere. I just love to sit here, browse magazines or read the papers. Order
the chocolate-cherry cake not to miss out the yumminess. If you aren’t into
cake you will love the little red chocolate heart you get together with your
coffee.
Hungriges Herz. Fraunhofer Strasse 42, 80469 Munich.
Hours: Friday to Thursday 8am to 7pm. Saturday and Sunday 9am to 7pm.
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| Hungriges Herz Glockenbachviertel Munich |
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| Hungriges Herz Glockenbachviertel Munich |
Cafés
and Coffee shops Haidhausen
little
RABBIT’S ROOM
On Wiener Platz you find stalls selling groceries, there
is this typical warm and laid back gourmet atmosphere that I love so much about
Munich. If you enter the little RABBIT’S ROOM you feel a bit like falling
through a rabbit hole into a café fantasy world. The all-white cafe is inspired
by the rabbit house in Lewis Carroll's book. It is a café and a shop in one. In
the latter customers can buy kitchen utensils, home accessories and sweets.
I highly recommend the warm Cinnamon Escargots. Food is
cooked daily and homemade with love, they don't use preservatives nor
artificial flavours. All ingredients used, such as for example seasonal fruits
and vegetables are sourced locally. When I was there I overheard another guest
talking really badly about another café she went to, the waitress didn’t get
involved and diplomatically refused to comment with steering the conversation
into another direction. The world needs more places like this.
little RABBIT”S ROOM. Wiener Platz 7, Au-Haidhausen,
Munich. Hours 9am to 6pm. Closed Sundays. Note that it reopens mid-September 2023.
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| Wiener Platz Haidhausen Munich |
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| little RABBIT'S ROOM at Wiener Platz Haidhausen Munich |
Vogelmaier
Kaffeerösterei
Enter, and you feel the passion for coffee. You can
watch the roasting during your visit, just walk towards the back, up the stairs
and look to your left. They use hand-roasted speciality coffees only. The smell
is divine. Espresso drinks are made using a La Marzocco. The café is decorated
with a 100-year-old workbench, old wooden window frames, large photos, and a
ladder. That all creates a true alpine atmosphere right here in Munich.
Vogelmaier Kaffeerösterei, Einsteinstrasse 125,
81675 München. Hours Tuesday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 2
pm. Mondays, Sundays and bank holidays closed.
Cafés
and Coffee shops Schwabing
Occam
Deli
In general, a Deli
is a delicatessen plus snack bar. Breakfast at this deli named after the street
it’s on, is great here, I had Granola that comes with fresh fruit and yoghurt. The
coffee and cake, I recommend the poppy cheesecake, is served with a smile. The
place is beautifully decorated, light and airy. It is super busy for dinner,
but during the day I never had any problems to get a table and to stay for as
long as I want. You can buy oil, salt and coffee to take home with you.
Feilitzschstrasse 15 (corner Occamstrasse), 80802 Munich.
Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 1am. Saturday and Sunday 9am to 1am.
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| Occam Deli Schwabing |
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| Occam Deli Schwabing - Coffee and Poppy Cheesecake |
Kaisergarten
This restaurant in the residential area of the Munich
borough of Schwabing also has a romantic beer garden. High ceilings. Lavish
chandeliers. Wooden furniture. Just stop by for a coffee because of its quiet
location, friendly staff and pretty interior.
Kaisergarten. Kaiserstrasse 34, 80801 Munich. Monday to
Sunday Hours: 10am to 1am.
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| Kaisergarten Schwabing |
Cafés
and Coffee shops Kunstareal area
Cafe
Klenze
Make your way to the Old Pinacotheca,
enter and turn to the left. You won’t have to pay the entrance fee for the
museum if you only plan to visit the café. The coffee is surprisingly good for
a cafe in a museum. Visit, and if not only for the impressive setting order the
Cherry Crumble.
Barer Strasse 27, 80799
Munich. Hours: Monday Closed. Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm.
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| Cafe Klenze Kunstareal Munich |
Café
im Vorhoelzer Forum
Make your way to the Technical University, after you
enter turn to the left and walk all the way down the long hallway, turn right
and enter the lift that brings you to the rooftop café. From here you can see
the Frauenkirche and the Alps in the far distance (if you visit on a clear
day).
Café im Vorhoelzer Forum. Institutsbau,
Arcisstraße 21/Raum 5170, 80333 München. Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9am to
10.30pm.
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| Cafe and Rooftop Bar Vorhoelzer Forum Munich |
Cafés
and Coffee shops Maxvorstadt
Café
Luitpold
The coffered ceiling, columns and palm trees and the
atmosphere of this grand European coffee house are delicious. I go here often to
eat the Luitpold Torte. It is a chocolate-covered cake made from thinnest
layers of sponge cake and named after a 1900 Prince regent of Bavaria. Before
you sit down, take a stroll along the cake buffet, to choose your favourite.
One can also have dinner here, and I hope to taste this soon too.
Brienner Strasse 11, 80333 Munich. Hours: Tuesday to
Saturday 8am to 11pm. Sunday 9am to 7pm. Monday 8am to 7pm.
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| Cafe Luitpold Munich |
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| Luitpold Torte at Cafe Luitpold Munich |
Joon
Café
I jumped in for a quick coffee, I was welcomed with a very
friendly smile, the coffee tasted as yummy as the waiter was kind. Joon is Persian
and translates to “My love.” This café, it was love at first sight for me, and I
didn’t even search for it. Perfect.
Joon Café. Theresienstrasse 114, 80333 Munich. Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10am to 1am. Sunday 10am to 6pm.
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| Joon Cafe Maxvorstadt Munich |
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| Coffee at Joon Cafe Maxvorstadt Munich |
This is in reality an Indian restaurant, but I went for
coffee and cake and loved the interior and friendly service. The counter is
made from wooden trays. They cook without emulsifiers and ingredients are
sourced locally. It is super busy around lunchtime but I got a warm welcome.
Deli Dosa. Barer Strasse 48, 80799 Munich. Hours: 12pm to
5pm.
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| Deli Dosa Maxvorstadt Munich |
