Tourist information - Munich
No German city is better known for relishing the culture of eating and drinking than Munich. Spending hard-earned cash on culinary extravagances has become second nature to the locals. The city boasts several restaurants ranging from the good to the very good, however it should be noted that the quality of the cooking is not the only thing that is high, the prices are fixed accordingly. Restaurants are mostly located in the inner city areas: Altstadt, Schwabing, Maxvorstadt and Isarvorstadt.
The flagship of Munich's gastromical community is Tantris, which has won several awards by the dreaded Michelin Guide critics. Munich's luxury class of restaurants also includes small and intimate places with a loyal regular customer base; such as Boettner, which has remained true to its elegant tradition for generations, as well as Kleinschmidtz, which has in recent years successfully transformed itself from a wine merchants into a popular venue for those in the know.
Of course Munich is not without its share of traditional Bavarian cooking and is famous for its roast pork, dumplings, cabbage and white sausages. Those who fear the tourist crowds of the famous Hofbräuhaus should head for the Andechser am Dom, where they serve beer brewed by monks at the Andechs Monastery, 50 kilometres outside Munich. Traditional dishes from Upper Bavaria, prepared in the good old-fashioed way are available at Weißes Bräuhaus. The Wirtshaus zum Huterer has a small yet refined atmosphere, and for those who have had their fill of Bavarian beer, there are always the fine wines of the Pfälzer Weinprobierstube.
International cusine is served at Hunsinger Pacific, which offers "Fusion Cooking" and a luxurious ambience, at the higher end of the price scale. Slightly lower prices but a higher perspective are offered by the Metropolitan, where you can enjoy an outstanding view over Marienplatz and the town hall. Kays Bistro has been a favourite of Munich's VIPs and celebrities for several years.
Some consider Munich to be "Italy?s most northern city", which is confirmed by the sheer number of Italian restaurants. Pizza at Bei Mario, traditional Italian cooking at Osteria Italiana and the unique Italian way of life at Acquarello to name but a few.
Unimpressed by Italian domination of the culinary lanscape, the French infulence is also at work here: Chez Philippe is more like a living room, serving delicacies by our western neigbours. Fans loyal to La Bretagne treasure it for the freshly prepared fish dishes from the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The Spanish taste for fish has alsoleft its mark on Munich, in cosy restaurants with a relaxed and laid-back feel to them, such as Spado's or the earthly Andalusian El Perro y el Griego.
Those who relish a skillfuly prepared fish dish should try one of the Japanese restaurants - their numbers are increasing repidly in Munich as Sushi become more and more popular. Good Sushi restaurants include Enshu and Tokami. Other options for fans of Asian cooking are Hong Kong Bar, Man Fat (Chinese) and Shida (Thai) or the Indian Tandoori and Ganga.
Even the USA has gastronomical ambassadors in Munich, they include; Munich?s First Diner, Bobolovsky?s and Dillinger. Young people congregate in the fashionable Tex-Mex bars such as Enchilada, Tijuana and Zapata.
Away from the noisy crowds of the trendy bars, Greek and Turkish restaurants are pleasant places for families. Schwimmkrabbe is a favourite meeting place for locals, Robinson often host jam sessions and Lucullushas the additional appeal of reasonable prices.