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Dining in Europe > 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 Munichs gastromical community is Tantris, which has won several awards by the dreaded Michelin Guide critics. Munichs 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 Weies 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 Munichs VIPs and celebrities for several years. Some consider Munich to be "Italys 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 Spados 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; Munichs First Diner, Bobolovskys 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. What about African? Specialities from the African continent are to be had at the Blue Nile as well as Sahara City, which also offers the dubious pleasure of water pipe smoking. Those who have tried and tested it all should perhaps head for the land downunder, Outland, offers the exotics of Australian cuisine. Entertainment in MunichMunich is a place where great value is attached to representing traditional culture, and so classical music plays an important role. Bavarias capital is the home to three important orchestras, lead by prominent conductors: The orchestra of the Bayerische Staatsoper (conductor: Zubin Mehta), the Münchner Philharmoniker (James Levine) located at the Gasteig culutral centre, and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Lorin Maazel). As well as staging ambitious concerts, the Nationaltheater with its cast of world class soloists, the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz and the Prinzregententheater feature outstanding productions of opera, operetta, musical and ballet. With a capacity of over 1,000 the Olympia-Halle, along with the slightly smaller Rudi-Sedelmayer-Halle, hosts the big events in pop and rock. Other popular venues include the Colosseum and the Babylon, both situated at Kunstpark Ost. Friends of jazz shouldn't miss the Unterfahrt, Muffathalle and Wirtshaus zum Isartal jazz clubs. There is a vast choice in theatre: both sides of Maximilianstrae marking the battleground in the eternal competition for spectators and high quality productions between the Bayerisches Staatsschauspiel (its venues include the Residenztheater, the Cuvilliéstheater and the Marstall) and the Kammerspiele. Apart from that, there are more light-hearted theatres such as the Komödie im Bayerischen Hof, small stages like the Metropol-Theater and even smaller ones, such as the Theater am Sozialamt. Contemporary dance and experimental drama can be seen at the Neues Theater. A slightly crazy blend of opera, operetta, musical, ballet, drama and comedy is on offer at the Pasinger Fabrik. Munich holds a unique position in the history of German political satire. This great tradition is still represented at the Lach- und Schiegesellschaft and the Theater im Fraunhofer. The stars of political stand-up (the comedy scenes modern day equivalent to satirical revues) appear at the Lustspielhaus. Visitors will find an abundance of cinemas spread over all parts of the city. Currently the most modern multiplex is Maxx at Isartor, the most impressive are Filmtheater Sendlinger Tor and Arri-Kino and there is also the Türkendolch in Schwabing for more ambitious cinema-boffins. As a consequence of having been the royal residence of the art-loving Bavarian kings, Munich has inherited a rich legacy in the way of art. The Alte Pinakothek exhibits European paintings and sculpture from the 14th to the 18th century, while fine arts from the 18th and 19th century are shown next door at the Neue Pinakothek. Currently under construction, the Pinakothek der Modernes exhibition of 20th century paintings and sculpture is being temporarily housed at the Staatsgalerie Moderner Kunst. The Staatsgalerie is part of the Haus der Kunst, whose constantly changing temporary exhibitions attract many visitors. The Städtische Galerie im Lenbach-Haus is dedicated to works by the "Blaue Reiter" group, which was founded in Munich by Wassily Kandinsky. In all parts of the city (especially in and around Gärtnerplatz) galleries and art traders offer paintings, graphics and sculpture that cater to all tastes. The most famous of Munichs museums is the Deutsches Museum situated on an island in the river Isar. Visitors to the museum are taken on a vivid and spectacluar voyage through the history of human technology from its early beginnings into the future. The Museum Mensch und Natur at Nymphenburg Castle is also well worth the visit. The Bayerisches Nationalmuseum documents the culture, art and technology of Bavaria. The Stadtmuseum lies at the cultural heart of Munich. The BMW-Museum, where the history of the car producer is shown, is particularly noteworthy - it also informs the public about issues concerning modern mobility and current-day traffic problems. In the event that a day in Munich wasn't enough to wear you out completely, Munich also offers a wide range of nightclubs to spend the hours until breakfast. Nachtcafe is the classic late-night retreat, the piano bar at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof offers the most stylish way to spend the evening. The young and hip head for Titania at Kunstpark Ost. AREAS Since the swinging sixties Schwabing has been Munichs entertainemnt centre and still today small theatres, cabarets, cinemas, pubs and bars congregate in this area. In the streets around Münchner Freiheit the local youth mix with tourists from all over the world. Maxvorstadt is the link between Schwabing and the old city. Here is where you find both the Ludwig-Alexander-Universität and the Technische Universität. So there is much student life to be had, with favourable prices at pubs and cinemas away from mainstream. Isarvorstadt, with the unique atmosphere of Glockenbachviertel, is currently the most serious contender to Schwabigs "entertainement district" throne. With so many galleries and bars to choose from, the pace of life quickens around the Gätnerplatz-Theatre (which boasts a constantly changing repertoire of operas, operettas, musicals and ballet). Altstadt and Lehel have many examples of historical architecture and are the jewels in Munichs crown. This is where the municipal and state theatres are to be found, most of the big art museums and numerous nightclubs are all within walking distance. Dining in Europe > Munich
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