As soon as the days start getting chillier, expect to feel a yearning to be warmed from within. Glühwein, literally translated as “glow wine” is the German take on mulled wine, and we have put together a list of the best spots in the city to enjoy it – from the Christmas market to a heated café terrace, as well as ideas for neighbourhood mulled wine walks. Of course, you can also find delicious non-alcoholic alternatives.
- Mulled wine stalls
- Mulled wine to go
- Bars and cafés
- Non-alcoholic alternatives
The period between mid-November and early January is wonderful for enjoying mulled wine at Munich's Christmas markets, as there’s something for every taste. Those looking for a traditional experience can head to Marienplatz to visit the Münchner Christkindlmarkt, which has roots all the way back to the 14th century. As the city’s largest Christmas market, it boasts numerous mulled wine stalls encompassing organic options, a fruity version made from berries, and even the well-loved Feuerzangenbowle hot punch made with rum-soaked flaming sugar.
Meanwhile, the Viktualienmarkt food market's Winter Magic programme and the Christmas village in the Kaiserhof courtyard at the Residenz (Weihnachtsdorf im Kaiserhof der Residenz) are less hectic options but still conveniently located in the historic Altstadt district. In Glockenbachviertel Pink Christmas, the queer Christmas market, invites visitors to enjoy mulled wine and prosecco, vegetarian and vegan fare and any amount of colourful stage shows.
Every district of Munich has its own Munich Christkindlmarkt (the Munich Christmas market): in Haidhausen, for example, you can stroll through the cosy, tranquil Christmas market around Weißenburger Platz; in Schwabing, the market at Münchner Freiheit invites you to sample all the delicacies on offer; and at the mulled wine festival in the Bogenhausen Christmas Enchantment Forest, over 30 varieties of mulled wine, punch and Feuerzangenbowle await guests!
You can find an overview of all the Christmas markets in Munich here.
Mulled wine walks are a lovely trend and perfect for anyone who likes to combine meeting up with friends with a warm drink and a short stroll. Many of Munich’s kiosks offer mulled wine to go every winter, with Milchhäusl a particularly popular choice. This organic food kiosk is in the Englischer Garten and includes cosy decommissioned cable-car gondolas that you can get comfy in as you savour a white, red or even rosé mulled wine. Milchhäusl also surprises drinkers with a new guest punch every week, such as blackberry and raspberry or peach and apricot.
If your mulled wine tour is in the Englischer Garten, be sure to stop by the Fräulein Müller or Fräulein Grüneis kiosks.
If you want a mulled wine walk with a river view, arrange to meet at the Isarwahn or Isar Alm kiosks – so you can get your fix directly beside the waters of the Isar. If you're out and about further north in Giesing, you can stop by the kiosk in the Grünspitz green space, or at Crönlein.
In Maxvorstadt you'll find mulled wine on offer at the Minna Thiel – a decommissioned tram that has been installed on the green in front of the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). It makes the perfect starting point for a wonderful walk through the Kunstareal museum area. The winter garden of the Pinakothek der Moderne is home to the new FLUX, a colourful venue for culture, sport and gastronomy. It probably serves the cheapest mulled wine in town, at just €2.50!
When it gets cold outside, a winter atmosphere takes hold at the Krüner Kiosk in Sendling: from Thursday to Sunday, you can warm up with organic mulled wine and enjoy raclette sandwiches, Rahmfleckerl or bratwurst rolls (also available in vegan options).
Some Munich bars serve mulled wine all winter long too – perfect for those who prefer a comfortable seat or would simply rather be indoors. You can meet with friends in cosy indoor spaces or sit out on a terrace – some of which are heated.
The Gärtnerplatz Alm serves mulled wine every winter alongside its warming cheese fondue. Back in Maxvorstadt you'll find organic mulled wine, hot vermouth and hot apple juice at Salon Irkutsk – to take away if you like!
The deck of the now-land-bound Alte Utting pleasure boat in Schlachthofviertel is a particularly beautiful spot: this is where the “Sternenflotte” (Starfleet) Christmas market takes place every year, with hot spiked punch and Feuerzangenbowle, as well as mulled wine. At the Gans am Wasser trailer café in Sendling, guests can warm themselves beside an open fire as they listen to live music and order a portion of chips with their mulled wine.
And at the Gans Woanders on Kolumbusplatz, you can either enjoy your mulled wine on-site, in the cosy little witch’s cottage hut, or take it to go in a reusable beaker so the drink can keep you warm as you walk along the banks of the Isar – before returning the cup to get your deposit back.
Visitors to Westend can not only enjoy mulled wine in one of the ski gondolas on the Cloud 6 pop-up roof terrace of the Marriott Hotel City West, but also try their hand at curling. If you get hungry, you can order fondue or raclette.
In Schwabing, the Wintergarten at Elisabethmarkt will be transformed into a mulled wine oasis. From Thursday to Saturday, you can enjoy original mulled wine from Veneto, homemade gingerbread liqueur and hot Hugo!
Anyone who’d prefer to avoid alcohol can, of course, still enjoy a warming Christmas market drink: almost all of Munich’s Christmas markets offer non-alcoholic alternatives. These range from various types of punch, such as raspberry punch or blood orange punch, to non-alcoholic mulled wine for children and honey milk.
A particular highlight: at the Christmas market by the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), there’s even a punch with zero per cent alcohol.
