From the highest rooftop bar to the oldest pub – we went in search of records in Munich's restaurant scene and found some unusual bars, restaurants and cafés! Here you can enjoy a snack in Bavaria's largest beer garden or sip cocktails in Munich's smallest bar.
On the 25th floor above the Werksviertel, Otto 25 sets several new standards: Munich’s highest bar combines spectacular rooftop views with design and a creative bar culture. Whilst down below the new district around Ostbahnhof buzzes with activity, up here you can enjoy signature cocktails and, on a clear day, even a panoramic view of the Alps. It’s particularly lovely up here at sunset, as you have a 360-degree view across the whole city. Incidentally, the rooftop bar is only open during the summer months, whilst the indoor bar remains open even in bad weather and throughout the winter.
Otto 25, Atelierstraße 22
Gourmet chef Jan Hartwig cooked at the Atelier restaurant in the Bayerischer Hof Hotel for several years and earned three stars there between 2017 and 2021. After leaving, he opened his own restaurant JAN in Munich's Kunstareal in autumn 2022 - and also convinced the Guide Michelin with three stars. Hartwig has also been named "Chef of the Year" several times. His new restaurant not only impresses with its simple, beautiful interior design, but also with its innovative cuisine. Another new addition to the pantheon of Munich’s Michelin-starred restaurants is Tohru Nakamura: the Michelin Guide voted Tohru in the Schreiberei 2025 as Munich's three-star restaurant. This means that the city now has two restaurants that have received the highest gourmet award.
Restaurant Jan, Luisenstraße 27
Tohru in der Schreiberei, Burgstraße 5
The Hundskugel Inn on Hotterstrasse was long considered Munich’s oldest inn: the wonderful building has stood in the historic Altstadt district of the city since 1440 and is itself certainly worth a visit. Since its closure though, the Alte Wirt in Obermenzing can make a claim to the crown, having recently celebrated its 600th anniversary. The listed building was handed over to the first owner in 1417 and the establishment has been winning people over ever since, as it offers everything a traditional village inn should have: a beer garden, bar snacks and a maypole. The Alte Wirt is also a popular destination for outings because it stands right beside Schloss Blutenburg (Blutenburg castle). The inn underwent extensive renovations at the end of the nineties.
Gasthof Zum Alten Wirt, Dorfstraße 39
Milchstrasse in Haidhausen: Barroom is just as cute as its address – on “Milk Street” – sounds. Munich’s smallest cocktail bar has three tiny tables, two large windows, and manager Emanuele Ingusci behind the bar. He especially enjoys taking his guests on voyages through the international rum scene, from Latin America to Australia. The bartender is also happy to share his many years of experience and impressive knowledge through the cocktail-making courses he runs, which can be booked for up to six people on the premises, or online in his Virtual Barroom – meaning participants can join in with friends from the comfort of their homes. We do recommend visiting the establishment in person though – Munich’s smallest bar is simply a must-see!
Barroom München, Milchstraße 17
Beer benches as far as the eye can see. With 8,000 seats, the Hirschgarten is not just the largest beer garden in Munich, but in all of Bavaria. Though this does bring in visitors from outside the city, customers here are mostly locals, as the Hirschgarten is a real favourite with Munich residents. Aside from offering numerous places to sit, another thing that makes the beer garden special is that guests can pour their own Radler (beer shandy), and then watch deer grazing in the neighbouring wildlife reserve while they savour it. The park of the same name has been a local recreation spot since 1780 – in days gone by it was where the nobility came to hunt; nowadays, children play in the playground while the adults relax in the adjoining beer garden.
Königlicher Hirschgarten München, Hirschgarten 1
