Germany: One day trip to Munich (Food, Drinks, Attractions) – GIVEAWAY CONTEST

(The giveaway contest instruction is below)

Munich is one of the biggest cities in Germany but it isn’t difficult to explore the city in within a day. You will not be able to see it all unless you skip enjoying the Bavarian dining and drinking culture which I think it would be a waste if you are in the most cultural part of Germany. If you are in Bavaria, you should NEVER LEAVE OUT eating the food from this region and drink the real Bavarian beers. Let me give you a hint how you could enjoy this city at its best!

1 – DAY TICKET FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (Optional)

Something I find quite ironic that the day ticket for public transportation in Munich is quite cheap compared to the average expense. The cost is about €6.50 and you are able to travel 3 rings. However, you don’t need to go that far, trust me! Most destinations are accessible by foot but you might want to hop from one place to the other at its fastest or it might be a bit tiring after a long trip that you do not feel like walking too much.

2 – Grab your Bavarian breakfast

Start you day right with a good breakfast and it cannot be better than having a real Bavarian breakfast. Not a tradition but people still do so every now and then. A Bavarian breakfast includes Weisswurst (white sausages) & Brezel (pretzel). As you have known, Germany is known for their sausages. If Berlin has Currywurst, Frankfurt has Bratwurst, Munich has their famous Weisswurst. It comes with a pretzel – salty knotted bread.

Suggestion: Miss Lilly’s Restaurant 

3 – Walk the Isar

I wouldn’t say it is a popular attraction because of its stand on the fourth largest river in Bavaria, it is a hot destination for locals to come and chill. Isar looks the best in the summer and you are able to sit down by the river to have some drinks or BBQ.

Suggestion: walking on Fraunhofer bridge towards the city centre

4 – Drink not-so-Bavarian styled coffee

If you are a coffee lover like me, you cannot skip your morning cup of wake-me-up. Munich offers quite a limited amount of cafes and the number is far from what Berlin got. However, quantity does not say anything about quality, does it? Walking from Fraunhofer bridge towards the city, you will cross by Man versus Machine – a Munich based roaster.

Suggestion: If you want to check out other cafés, check out the list of 5 best coffee places in Munich

5- To Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt and climb the church of St. Peter

That one spot that most people come to Munich can never miss – Marienplatz. It is seen as the centre point of the city where the city centre starts. It is easy to reach from Man versus Machine cafe by foot – about 10 minute walk along the Sendlingerstr which you hop in shops for a bit of shopping.

From Marienplatz, it is reachable to Viktualienmarkt where you can find the local market and a beer garden. As I have noticed, Viktualienmarkt is not very touristic and mostly locals enjoy hanging out here. So my recommendation is to join them and experience as a local.
Suggestion: North West of the seafood shop (Nordsee), you can find a hut selling delicious falafel shop where you can have a big plate for a fair price.

From St Peter church, it is a great opportunity to see the city from above. On a clear blue sky day, you might be even lucky to see the Alps from here as well.
Suggestion: another location for a good view is on top of Olympiazentrum

6 – Hofgarten, Eisbach, Haus der Kunst

One of the most beautiful spot in Munich, in my opinion, is Hofgarten. This French inspired garden is stunning on its own but its charm you gotta admit once you stand in front of the pavilion. During the summer time, flowers grow everywhere, which gives the atmosphere around here so romantic.

Take a walk from the garden slowly towards the English garden. Just next to the museum of contemporary art Haus der Kunst, you will find the Eisbach – the favourite spot for surfers. I have never known how that works but it makes continuous waves so that people can surf or practice there. It is catchy for many visitors.

Suggesions: if you are an art lover, check out the collections from Haus der Kunst. And the best part of it, enjoy few afternoon drinks at the Goldene Bar. 

7 – Eat Bavarian dinner

Start with Bavaria, end with Bavaria! In Munich, there are several restaurants that you can eat Bavarian food. The most popular thing that most tourists like to do is to visit a Brauhaus. However, if you want to escape from the touristy places, Spezlwirtschaft is the right restaurant for you. With a modern design concept, Spezlwirtschaft is definitely the most stylish Bavarian restaurant in town.

Suggestion: if you want to get a snack in between, get a Bazi’s box at Schlemmerkucherl on Müllerstr.

---

WIN A FREE SELF-GUIDED CITY WALKING APP WITH GPSMYCITY

YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR OWN LOCATION

Thank to GPSmycity, a company that I have been always interested in because of their creative app offering city walk tours that you can easily access and manage by yourself.

I am giving away 20 promo codes that you can use to purchase the app without fee and the best thing of all is you can use the promo code for any location as you wish. However, please keep in mind that each promo code can only apply once to one destination.

The app is available on both iOS and Android devices!

 

How-to?

Easy enough
Go to my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/angesvoyage/
and post on my wall let me know which location you want to get the app for.

Deadline: 27 June 2016, 12:00pm UTC +1 

I will contact the winners personally to follow the procedure.

Good luck! 🙂

Germany: The ultimate guide to dine & drink in Munich #2

The gastronomy industry in Munich has been growing for the last 2 years. Dining in Munich gets more interesting day by day because of the development in style and cuisine. The drinking game in this city is nonetheless showing some impressive images as well with great cocktail bars or an enormously innovative change in coffee culture. Before getting into it, a warning is given for those who are not willing to pay over €10 a drink. Munich is certainly an expensive city for both dining and drinking but the city offers the best for each cent you pay. Moreover, a good drink deserves good care and high respect for baristas or bartenders who are behind the bar making you that full-of-pleasure drink.

DRINKING

---

COFFEE

If you haven’t checked the list of top 5 coffee places in Munich, it is a must because you should not waste your time on drinking bad coffee.

Recommend:

MAN VERSUS MACHINE 
Address: Müllerstraße 23
Website: www.mvsmcoffee.com

MAHLEFITZ
Address: Nymphenburger Str. 51
Website: www.mahlefitz.de

COCKTAIL BARS

THE FLUSHING MEADOWS HOTEL & BAR
Address: Fraunhoferstrasse 32
Website: http://www.flushingmeadowshotel.com

I have always been crazy about this rooftop hotel bar because of its beautiful interior design and its amazing offers for cocktails. The space is very cosy like a living room so that whenever you are here, you would feel like home. Read further on my review on The Flushing Meadows Hotel & Bar.

LORETTA
Address: Müllerstraße 50
Website: www.loretta-bar.de

This spot might be so vivid but very much hidden. No name at the entrance, you could only recognise the place by its big two windows looking through the whole bar. With a great amount of liquors, you will not be disappointed being at Loretta. Read more on my review for Loretta bar.

ZUM WOLF
Address: Pestalozzistraße 22
Website: http://zumwolf.com

My first impression for Wolf was not a wow but after coming back few times, I understand why it got so much attention from so many people. They don’t only have good cocktails but also a great atmosphere that makes people feel like coming back again and again. This American inspired bar is a cosy bar for you to check out.

JAMES T. HUNT 
Address: Schellingstraße 32, 80799 München
Website: www.jameshuntbar.com

Definitely, JTH is my all time favourite. Maybe the fact they have it all – good drinks, good vibe, good interior. I have always been thrilled when a drink comes. Head over to my review for James T. Hunt to find out why I love this place so much.

HOTEL LUX
Address: Ledererstraße 13
Website: http://www.hotel-lux-muenchen.de/restaurant.php

My recent obsession belongs to Lux. The space is quite small but it is perfect to have a romantic date. At Lux, there is a great team of bartenders always being ready to serve you real good cocktails. Some of the cocktails at Lux got a prize from mixology competition. Why don’t you come and check that out?

AUROOM
Address: Hans-Sachs-Straße 20
Website: http://www.auroom.de

Not only specialised in cocktails, Auroom got the winner of German bartending championship behind the bar. Certainly, the title is just not a title but Auroom has proven that they deserve that prize. Selective and creative! I cannot get enough of Auroom.

---

WHERE TO DINE IN MUNICH?

Germany: The ultimate guide to dine & drink in Munich #1

Having travelled to many different big cities, Munich stands out as a not-so-stylish one when it comes to dining and drinking. It might sound strange but the majority of Münchner is still quite conservative and it is hard to adapt changes. Therefore, gastronomy field in Munich has got a hard time to bring their new signature into this town. Nonetheless, this place has changed slowly for the last two years. Cafés and restaurants have been growing and bringing a fresh breeze to Munich. Surprisingly, people here are getting used to them and adapting day by day. New born restaurants or cafes will not be coming after each other in within six months but once there is good one in town, it is definitely a divine spot for each of you to be pleased.

DINING

---

Good food needs to be served in a good service as well as good atmosphere.

Bavarian cuisine

SCHLEMMERLKUCHERL
Address: Müllerstraße 43

A hidden spot that only the local knows. It is known by its traditional Bazi’s box (or Bratenbox) with the typical flavour of Munich or Bavaria in general. In one traditional Bazi’s box is served with potato dumpling (knödel), red cabbage and crunchy pork belly. Duck is another option as well.

SPEZLWIRTSCHAFT 
Address: Ledererstraße 3
Website: http://spezlwirtschaft.me

Located in the middle of the city, Spezlwirtshaft offers a good range of Bavarian dishes. Brauhaus is an experience that people want to have when they are in Munich but to have real good food from this region in a great atmosphere and nicely designed interior, Spezlwirtshaft is a place to be.

Vietnamese cuisine

As a Vietnamese, I always look for good Viet food wherever I am. Here is the list of 5 best Vietnamese restaurants in Munich

Recommend:

MONSOON GLOCKENBACH 
Address: Hans-Sachs-Straße 9
Website: http://www.monsoonrestaurant.de

ANH THU
Address: Kurfürstenstraße 31
Website: http://www.anh-thu.de

BURGERS

TASTE MY BURGER 
Address: Augustenstraße 16
Website: http://www.tastemyburger.com

Comparing Taste my burger to other burger places in town, this spot might not have a good eye for interior but the quality of each burger is phenomenal. During lunch time, they have a great offer – €6 for burger and fries which I find impossible in Munich. I have lingered my feet here again and again because of the friendly service and their tasty burgers.

SCHNELLE LIEBE 
Address: Thalkirchner Str. 12

Not a friendly service burger bar but the style and the concept would make up for it. Burgers here are made with organic products and there are great options for you to choose. The menu is creative with complemental sauces – from peanut butter jelly to mango chutney to apricot flavour mustard.

VEGAN

GRATITUDE 
Address: Türkenstraße 55
Website: http://www.gratitude-restaurant.de

It is a divine spot in town and vegan food is not just food with vegetables anymore when you are here. Find out more on my review for Gratitude

BREAKFAST

MISS LILLY’S
Address: Oefelestraße 12
Website: http://www.misslillys.de

Breakfast all day long is what Miss Lilly’s offers. With great options for different breakfasts, you won’t be bored of eating breakfast anymore. What I love about this place is the cosy atmosphere and beautiful interior. Find out more on my review for Miss Lilly’s

CORTIDIANO 
Address: Gärtnerpl. 6
Website: http://www.cotidiano.de

A French bakery which offers you delicious brunch. Cortidiano is located in one of the most popular spots in Munich – Gärtnerplatz – which makes it more popular among locals. Price is reasonable and quality is high. Isn’t that what we all look for?

LAX EATERY
Address: Neureutherstraße 1
Website: http://www.lax-muc.com

LAX is an LA inspired eatery which offers basic but tasty breakfast. The space is relaxing and friendly that you can make it as a working space as well.

TAPAS

ITXASO 
Address: Pestalozzistraße 7
Website: http://itxaso.de

Itxaso is definitely one of my greatest find in Munich. The restaurant is small but that makes it cosy. The range of food is simply but what they serve would make you pleased.

LUNCH

LO STUDENTE 
Address: Schellingstraße 30
Website: http://www.lo-studente.de

If you want to find a good spot for real good Napoli pizza, Lo Student offers you a great deal for lunch. Everyday has a different offer and it costs about €5.50. It is located in the University area, and it tells by its name, it has become the hottest Italian restaurant in town where you can have good Italian cuisine under a budget.

STEREO CAFE
Address: Residenzstraße 25
Website: http://www.stereo-cafe.de

The atmosphere at Stereo is quite different from other restaurants you visit in Munich. Classy and modern. Everyday offers a great menu with some delish dishes. Since it is located in the most expensive area in the city, the price is not very affordable (Price range in between €9 – €20). However, you will be happy with what you pay because of its quality.

Gratitude – The contemporary vegan eatery

GRATITUDE

Address: Türkenstraße 55, 80799 München
Website: www.gratitude-restaurant.de

---

If you have to rate from 1 to 10 how big a meat lover you are, I would probably call myself a 9. I have tried being a vegetarian for some times but it never worked because there is a thing that makes you unable to quit and it creates the addictive energy needed for my body. If you say vegan people are boring, I would deny. Besides the fact that their vegan routine is some kind of a religion and they are the pickiest people, I pay my respect to people who are able to create food with only vegan products. It requires a great creativity and a wide knowledge in flavours in order to create a good plate on the table. My seek for that vegan adventure has landed in Gratitude – a vegan restaurant known by its amazing culinary and creative vegan dishes made with only veggies.

After three years since it first opened, Gratitude is now being managed by Patrick Janoud – who has had 5 years in the gastronomy world. As a vegan himself, he shared with me how passionate he was with green products. “I enjoy eating and serving clean food. That’s why Gratitude only serves food vegetables based” – said Patrick. Coming from the environment of working with food since he was little, the help from his father’s food truck got him inspired and has brought him standing today at Gratitude. The rush in the kitchen is the main energy keeping him going. If the man loves working with food and pays so much respect to the food and its quality, what he brings on the plate would be something that people should be excited for.

I arrived ten minutes before the opening time for some light to get some photos taken and to have the chat with Patrick. This place is a cosy space with some simple but tasteful pieces of interior. Customers came in quite early and in a blink, the restaurant was totally filled up. I did not expect that coming but I could tell how popular this place is and how many people actually either are vegan or interested in this kitchen. I started off with a glass of Chenin blanc “Les Bouillon” to freshen up while waiting for my order to come. The business seemed running very well and quite hectic on that Saturday evening. After observing for a while, my main course came beautifully to my seated table. I’d heard so many people talking about the food here that made me have quite an expectation for this visit. Crunchy looking deep-fired Frisee was sitting on top of green quinoa with Vitelotte on the side decorated with a touch of purple from violet potato slices and creamy white from the celery cream. It was certainly playful to look at. But we all look for the “what does it taste like”. To me, the only question I had was how it could be different from other vegetarian dishes, how it could be lifted to another level when the only ingredients are veggies. That is the tricky part in cooking with only vegetables because you need  play around with different taste to make it more flavourful. The first bite on Frisee was somewhat doubtful – that crunchiness of the breadcrumb cover complimented the main taste of the dish with that bit of sweet- and sour-ness in celery cream, which gave me a playful mouth of wonder. I might not like the deep fried taste but the quinoa balanced it all somehow. The celery cream got the strongest statement on that dish which I enjoyed the most. One element on that plate I had never tried before was Vitelotte – potato flavoured but purple and rich texture. Interesting and delicious – something that I would go for over and over again.

If vegan kitchen can be so exquisite and creative, why wouldn’t you say no to that? I am not going to turn myself in anytime soon to this religion but I have no excuse for not having vegan food more often. Eating clean is a goal that we all should try to reach. And Gratitude could lead you there right, and certainly there is nothing boring about it.

Germany: James T. Hunt Bar – My second living room in Munich

Jame T. Hunt

Address: Schellingstraße 32, 80799 München
Website: www.jameshuntbar.com

---

Not really a bar hopper but I always appreciate few good glasses of cocktails from time to time. When it comes to cocktails, I want to pay a good amount of money on those. With the experience of bar keeping for the last year, I am even stricter on what I drink. If you ask me about how to make cocktails, to be honest, I did not learn how to do it but just by following recipe and shaking it hard. But how to taste cocktails, I am sure you can trust what I am about to tell you.

It was the middle of the week but I was asked to go out for some drinks at James T. Hunt bar. I never care which day it is to have a good drink because it can always push your spirit and nothing is wrong with a bit of alcohol. Kinda cool that the bar is so vivid but at the same time hidden. I crossed by Schellingstrasse for millions times but never really knew that there was a chic bar standing there.What is James T. Hunt? I don’t really know and don’t even have the urge to ask. But it has got me hooked since the very first time. The fact that I was sitting in a cosy place with great interior, you know me, I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. In the concept of a small living room, James T. Hunt has pull out its friendly atmosphere that people come here could feel like at home. I was, in that case, feeling too much at home that I lost the time. Or was that because those cocktails were hitting on me because to be honest, I did not just take one.

I got my first sip on the Berry Bomb and couldn’t slow myself down. It was quite a different taste compared to other cocktails I had tried, but it was certainly great. I tried to figure out what was wrong with my drink, why was it so good but so strange at the same time. Until the last drop of that Cherry Bomb in the bottom of the glass, I still couldn’t figure it out. All I tasted was absolutely damn fine alcohol with a playful taste but still yet not know what. There came my second cocktail. I think everyone was wondering what was in my mind because of my dull face. YES! I GOT IT! It was not sweet! I realised how we had always been tricked by the sweetness in the cocktails that they fooled your mind that cocktails need to be sweet. Maybe I am the only fool here. However, I found out there was no sugar in my drink and I asked Simon – the bar chef to be sure. A man who can make you a good drink, you just have to watch out before you fall in love with him. No, I am just kidding but what I am talking about is, alcohol could make you happy and a man who knows how to make good one for you…? Back to the cocktails story, I suppose you all have this expectation of sweetness when you order a cocktail. Maybe you do not notice it but your brain has kept a note for you without your permission. Simon shared with me that all sirups added in the cocktails are homemade from fresh ingredients. All the magic is created by this man.

If you love cocktails, come to have a try when you are around in Munich. If you like, come again! That how I did and now I have made it my second living room. A great place to hang and beautiful drinks are something you cannot ask for more. A good company maybe, but you won’t even feel lonely in James T. Hunt. You should find out yourself why!

 

Germany: Cantine Cantona – More than just good food

Cantine Cantona

Address: Schellingstraße 27, 80799 München
Website: cantinecantona.com
Tel: +49 (0) 89 28803795

---

With a catchy appearance, Cantine Cantona seems to be one of Munich’s attractions, or they have been becoming one. I couldn’t stop myself to have my visit. That first time has turned into second and third. At one point, brunch on Saturday has become my tradition. My face showed up too often those Saturdays and became a regular face to people there in Cantine Cantona.

‘You should come try lunch sometimes too’.

And I did.

Cooking is art

 

A bowl of Parsley soup with a touch of pesto came to me to wake up my appetite. No pinch of salt needed. One sip, two sips, licking the last drop of it. It melted in my mouth but the fragrant and the intensity of that touch of pesto still lingered around. It hung around tricking my appetite till a good plate of salad presented in front of me. Either I was too hungry or because that perfect poached egg sitting on top of that salad mountain craved my desire for more food. I am no salad lover but Cantine Cantona has proven me that they could turn me into one. The tremendous freshness of all products on that plate was a call to all food lovers, such as me. What I found interesting was the poached egg. In Germany, not many people know about the poached egg or they have never dared to try. It is quite a risk to introduce it to the German kitchen but seemed like it was a great success. To poach an egg requires skills. When you are able to make a perfect poached egg, congratulations that you have just created a piece of art in the kitchen.

Satisfaction

Sparks on people eyes told me that I was not the only one feeling satisfied here. I came into some business men just to have a chat with them about the place. It was great to hear other people’s opinion rather than just my own. And certainly, they were satisfied with their lunch break, especially with some divine dishes, as I had supposed.

I was sitting in the corner and watching the cook showing his skills. That’s something really great about Cantine Cantona – an open kitchen – it is actually very enjoyable to look at and a part of that, I somehow better understand the pressure in the kitchen. In fact, we all should learn not only to appreciate the good food but also how it is made. The fact that Cantine Cantona has an open kitchen, it gives people ideas of how a real kitchen works.

Starting to feel my stomach craving for more, there came the Polenta. It was definitely not the home food as I suppose you might be expecting but a great innovation of home cooking. Each bite was a dive into a new adventure. That adventure did not end just that because there were more to come. However, the moment I tasted the pulled pork’s shoulder, I forgot the world around me.

Food is passion

I always seek for inspiration and here is where I have found such inspiration. A big passion for cooking, for food, for good quality of products… Having a chance to meet the cook of Cantine Cantona, it brightened up my day after the chat. Misha Nesterenko – the man behind the kitchen and the one had just created those wonderful plates of heaven – spent some minutes to share with me his experience. If you first meet him, you wouldn’t think he could have done so much in his cooking career. Having worked for different restaurants, from a café in Sydney to several Michelin stars’ restaurants in Brisbane, Melbourne, London, Miami, and that has not yet been told, for one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants, he is currently making a short stay in Munich.

I dropped my hat. I felt like sitting there hours just to listen to him talking about his work. He shared with me some experiences of being in the kitchen, how he loved working with fresh ingredients and how passionate he was creating different menu with his own creativity. I mean, talking about food is already great, talking about food with the person who knows about it so well is fascinating.

My visit at Cantine Cantona has always been a pleasure. With a simple interior but neat and clean, the place brings up a great atmosphere that you always feel at ease. And the food, I think I don’t need to tell more. Cantine Cantona has really brought me into the gastronomy world – one with simplicity but perfection. There you can find the love for food, but we all know, food is lovable.

Germany: Breakfast at Miss Lilly’s

Miss Lilly’s Restaurant & Bar

Website: www.misslillys.de
Address: Oefelestraße 12, 81543 München
Tel: +49 (0)89 55062195

---

 

We are living too fast that we forget about the most important meal of the day – breakfast. It’s true that we don’t have the time to get it sometimes, especially to be seated to have breakfast. Grasp some bread, Butterbrezen or just a quicky müsli… But Miss Lilly’s Restaurant & Bar defenses the idea that ‘why breakfast must to be in the morning’. Therefore, they have offered a great deal for you, who say no time for breakfast, to have breakfast anytime during the day from 9:00 until 17:00. Quite a deal that got my attention but there are more!

It was just a usual stroll for seeking for good coffee in town. I crossed over the Isar and found myself in a totally different area which is more urbanised. Somewhere in the corner of Humboldtstraße, a white café/restaurant pops out with the elegant look and sneakily shows the cute interior through the big windows. Then I felt it was a must to check out, purposely. Whenever I go to check out places, the first glance is the most important. I want to first interpret the vibe, the atmosphere, the interior, then comes the food. That sounds weird but I believe if the place has good taste in design would do better job in their food (not always true, but just the first glance, did I just say?).

With the wild inspired, Miss Lilly’s got the cosy atmosphere from those wooden houses but still keeps it chic and tasteful. The place is decorated simply with wooden lamps, small plants and, my favourite corner, with mounted deer head. You are set in different moods in each corner of the place but still pleasant and delightful.

The whole-day breakfast is definitely a good offer and certainly it is a good spot in town to have a slow and delicious one. From the simple breakfast with Croissant or Pancakes to special ones with a bigger portion you can find them here in Miss Lilly’s. You must think it is nonsense to go out for things that you can easily grab on the way. Think again when you pay a visit at Miss Lilly’s. They prepare great portions for you with deliciously fresh products that your mouth won’t stop watering. And hey, it is a cool place, why would you say no?

 

 

Germany: Ladoug – More than just good interior

LADOUG INTERIEUR

Website: http://www.ladoug.de/
Address:Müllerstraße 30, 80469 München
Tel: +49 (0)89  24 214 990

---

Having been opened for 6 years in Munich, Ladoug has caught some eyes because of its creativity of interior and the uniqueness of each piece of product. For those having the interest in interior design, this is a must-see spot in Munich. And even if you don’t know anything about interior, it would probably open your eyes and you might get hooked. Especially, you can ask the shop owner – Andrea Douglas – who can provide all informational about interior design.

The first impression I got from Ladoug must be the cosy atmosphere it gives. Many people have called this place ‘a little living room’ and they certainly do not lie. Would you imagine feeling at home in a shop? Well, is that what IKEA always trying to create for us? At Ladoug, you are about to experience only one showroom but the feeling is real. That ‘living room’ is snug with full of great products which each product is catchy and original. There is no certain style because it is changed whenever there are products walking out of the door but the chicness stays.

“I have lived with interior design and it was my dream to have my own shop” – with full of passion Andrea shared.

You walk into a place and you know it’s good if the person puts their heart in it. At least, that’s how I see it. Andrea has worked all her life with interior design and her passion showed me precisely through her work on the shop. All products are hand-picked by her own taste from all over the world. Some are from France, some are from Italy, or Morocco, or Vietnam. Everywhere, you name it! Besides that, she creates her own piece of art as well.

Take a look and let Ladoug impress you!

 

Germany: Munich’s Local Favourites

We – as tourists/travellers – know a city, a place through many platforms like Tripadvisor, travel books, blogs, etc. In the end, all sources are mainly reviewed by other travellers. What/how do we really know about a city? As my mission, I walked up to some people at Viktualienmarkt to ask their favourite things to do and to see. I kinda chose the place purposely because that is where you find least tourists around in the centre but at the same time easy to spot locals.

Apparently, our knowledge about Munich is just as much as locals’, as I suppose. For most Münchner, Englischer Garten is the most favourite place to be when they have free time to chill or simply the day is beautiful. I could guess why. The garden is so huge that it could numb your legs if you want to make the whole round. Anyway, it certainly a relaxing place to hang. I walked along the stream of the Isar running through the garden and felt how silence could get me. So quiet and refreshing. On those sunny days, the sun light goes through leaves and makes the water surface sparkle.

One not-so-surprising thing that I was told is sitting at the Biergarten – the second favourite place for locals to spend time at. We have known the German so well that it is something we can never miss out, especially when we are in the region of beer – Bavaria. Two well-known open Biergartens are (1) at the Chinesischer Turm which is located in the Englischer Garten and (2) where I was standing – Viktualienmarkt. On a nice weather day, people go out to Biergartens to have some good time with some good beer. The place could get packed quickly and some people have told me that it could be just as busy as the Oktoberfest. People squeeze in to get a spot to stand or sit to sip their German beer and eating the Pretzel. Oh, how typical!

Museums are mentioned quite many times during my chats with the locals. Even though they live in the city but they never forget to check out museums here every now and then. Based on different interests, if you like art, Pinakothek is what you should look at, or if you are interested in science and technology, Deutsches Museum is perfect for you.

What is your favourite things to do in Munich? How do you turn yourself a local while living in a foreign country?