Every year during carnival season, Munich turns into a Krapfen paradise. These sweet, fluffy doughnuts with all kinds of fillings can be found on every corner! We have put together a list of bakeries where you can get really good Krapfen.
Krapfen, Berliner, Pfannkuchen, Kräppel – they have different names depending on where you are in Germany. But no matter what they are called, people love to eat them, especially at carnival time. Why? Because Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent, when people traditionally abstain from rich foods. So, in the old days, before Lent began, people wanted to feast one last time – and Krapfen were the perfect treat! They are packed with fat and sugar and easy and cheap to make. Today, you can find Krapfen everywhere in Munich, especially during carnival time. Here are a few bakeries that make particularly delicious ones.
A true institution in the heart of Munich: Right next to the Viktualienmarkt food market, is the tiny Café Frischhut, which has been around since 1973. The locals affectionately call it “Schmalznudel”, after the popular Bavarian pastry that is served here hot, crispy and fresh. This delicacy is prepared from yeast dough, deep-fried in hot fat and sprinkled with sugar. Besides Schmalznudeln (also known as Auszogne), the café offers Rohrnudeln, Striezerl and, of course, Krapfen. The classic version, filled with apricot jam, is available all year round. What makes Frischhut special? The delicacies are freshly prepared in front of the customer. You can sit down and enjoy your Krapfen and other treats with filter coffee or queue up and grab something to go!
Café Frischhut, Prälat-Zistl-Strasse 8 (Old Town)
More than 20 years ago, master baker Ludwig Neulinger took over a long-standing bakery in Neuhausen and gradually switched to organic. Today, Neulinger's organic bakery is so popular that it has four branches in Munich. Besides bread, rolls and cakes, the Sendling branch also makes Krapfen – using high-quality ingredients and no artificial additives. In addition to the classic fillings such as plum, rosehip and apricot jam, there are always a few special flavours on the menu just in time for the carnival season.
Bäckerei Neulinger, Gotzinger Strasse 48 (Sendling)
Wörthstrasse 17 (Haidhausen)
Volkartstrasse 11 & Volkartstrasse 48 (Neuhausen)
Café Kustermann on Lindwurmstrasse has been around since 1887 and has been family-run for over a hundred years. The young restaurateur Katharina Stadler recently took over the café, and although she has modernised a few things, the café largely sticks to its traditional recipes. Just like their cakes, pralines and tarts, the Krapfen are baked, filled and decorated by hand with great care in their own bakery. Apart from the nine classic flavours like rosehip, plum and vanilla, they offer daily-changing Krapfen specials. Be sure to try flavours like salted caramel, champagne and pistachio-vanilla cream!
Café Kustermann, Lindwurmstrasse 36 (Ludwigsvorstadt-Isarvorstadt)
If you want to enjoy Krapfen in the city centre, Rischart is the place to go. With multiple branches from Karlsplatz-Stachus to Sendlinger Tor (gate), their colourfully decorated Krapfen even appear on advertising posters during the carnival season. The selection changes slightly each year, but classics like vanilla, apricot and chocolate are always available. Why not try something different, for example their Bienenstich (German bee-sting cake) or eggnog Krapfen? Rischart is also famous for its Germknödel – a fluffy yeast dumpling filled with plum jam and topped with vanilla sauce and poppy seeds. Unfortunately, the vegan selection has been reduced, but at least the vegan rosehip Krapfen is still available.
Rischart, multiple locations
In recent years, small artisan bakeries have been popping up in Munich alongside the big chain – like Brotraum in Schwabing. Known for its homemade sourdough bread, pretzels and cinnamon buns, the bakery also offers seasonal specialities, such as their unique baked Krapfen. Unlike conventional Krapfen, these are not fried in oil, but baked in the oven, which gives them a more compact texture. Brotraum currently offers four flavours: bourbon vanilla mascarpone, raspberry compote with white chocolate, chocolate cream with chocolate chips, vegan krapfen with rosehip jam and redcurrant sugar.
Brotraum, Herzogstrasse 6 (Schwabing)
No Munich Krapfen experience would be complete without a high-end version. Dallmayr – a historic delicatessen in the Old Town since 1700 – is famous not only for its coffee but also for its exquisite delicacies. In the patisserie, you will find a refined selection of Krapfen specialities, including Limoncello, Grand Marnier and Marc de Champagne. Prefer something more classic? They also offer raspberry, apricot and rosehip Krapfen. You can buy them in-store, online, or enjoy them in the café on the first floor.
Dallmayr, Dienerstrasse 14-15 (Old Town)
With over 20 bakeries across Munich, Kistenpfennig has grown while maintaining its family-run charm – now in the third generation. They offer a wide selection of breads, cakes and sandwiches, but what truly sets them apart is Munich's largest Krapfen selection during carnival season. There are a staggering 19 different flavours to choose from – from apricot to apple-cinnamon, from Baileys to biscotti. And if you buy ten doughnuts, you get the eleventh for free!
Kistenpfennig, multiple locations
