The 13 Best Bavarian Restaurants in Munich (2023)
Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Madison Krigbaum
If you’re a fan of affordable beer, potato-heavy cuisine and hearty, meat-centered dishes…Bavaria is the vacation spot for you! During the three months I spent in Munich operating Springfest and Oktoberfest trips for study abroad students, I made it my mission to find and try the best Bavarian restaurants in Munich.
I’ll level with you.
German food is not for everyone.
If you’re a vegetarian, gluten-free or sticking to anything resembling a diet, you might want to reconsider a European vacation. On the flip side – if you’re a dedicated carnivore, carb-lover and willing to gain a couple extra lbs on vacation, book that ticket and get ready to eat tons of traditional Munich food at the best restaurants in Munich.
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🥨 The Best Bavarian Restaurants Munich: Top 5 Ranked
- BEST BAVARIAN RESTAURANT MUNICH: Gasthaus Isarthor ⭐️
- BEST BIERHAUS: Hofbräuhaus 🍺
- BEST CURRYWURST: Steinheil 16 🌭
- BEST SCHNITZEL: Andy’s Krablergarten 🥔
- BEST VEGAN: Max Pett 🥒
The Best Bavarian Restaurants in Munich
It would be a shame to visit Germany without eating your fill of delicious German cuisine while you’re there! The famous Munich restaurants listed below are filled with Bavarian charm and literal centuries of history. Dining rooms in Bavaria are filled with long wooden tables, German beer poured from wooden barrels, barmaids dressed in dirndls and freshly baked pretzels on every table.
Better pack some loose-fitting jeans…because you’re about to visit the best German restaurants in Munich.
*I’ll be heading back to Munich in September of 2023 for my third Oktoberfest season. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter below for more authentic Bavaria content headed your way.
Hofbräuhaus
Although it’s not technically the oldest restaurant in Munich, Hofbräuhaus has been serving up frothy steins of beer in their 3-story bierhaus since 1589.
Literally meaning “royal brew,” almost 500 years later Hofbräuhaus remains one of the most famous biergartens and best Bavarian restaurants in Munich. Along with frosty Hofbräu beer, brewed in accordance with the German Purity Law, Hofbräuhaus serves a wide variety of hearty, German cuisine.
The restaurant itself is enormous and lively year-round, so it’s the perfect place to go for a Bavarian dinner that turns into drinks. If you visit, do yourself a favor and try the Munich sauerbraten with German beef (pot roast, sour gravy, bread dumplings and cranberries).
Price: $$
Hours: 11:00AM–12:00AM
Location: Platzl 9, 80331 München, Germany
Gasthaus Isarthor
A tiny and traditional German inn, Gasthaus Isarthor served me the best meal I’ve ever had in Munich. The roasted pork was crispy on the edges and buttery in the middle and was served with an ice-cold Augustiner beer and a warm and chewy bread dumpling. There are rarely ever tourists inside, so you know everything on the menu is traditional and delicious.
The waitresses wear traditional Bavarian dirndls so you’ll be sure to get the full experience while dining. Gasthaus Isarthor is, in my opinion, the best Bavarian restaurant in Munich for an authentic German dining experience.
Price: $$
Hours: 10:00AM–11:00PM Saturday through Thursday, 10:00AM–1:00PM Fridays
Location: Kanalstraße 2, 80538 München, Germany
💡 PRO TIP:
My favorite place to buy pretzels in Munich is actually at München Hauptbahnhof – or Munich Central Station. There are a few bakery stands selling freshly-made pretzels cut in half and filled with cream cheese and chives. Yum 😋
Löwenbräukeller
Löwenbräukeller is another of Munich’s famous biergartens and high on my list of recommendations for traditional German food in Munich.
As a bonus, it’s also hands-down the cutest biergarten I’ve ever visited! We ordered the Löwenbräu Original and Dark, the portion of duck and potato dumpling, 1/2 grilled Oktoberfest chicken with potato & cucumber salad and Franziskaner Rostbratwürste with sauerkraut and gravy. Roasted poultry, German sausages and potato salad all make the list of the best food to eat in Munich before you leave!
Löwenbräukeller is a great place to spend an afternoon with a few cold beers, some tasty German food and great company.
Hours: 11:00AM–11:00PM Monday through Thursday, 11:00AM–12:00AM Fridays & Saturdays, 11:00AM–10:00PM Sundays
Location: Stiglmaierplatz, Nymphenburger Str. 2, 80335 München, Germany
Lindwurmstüberl
Say that five times fast.
After Gasthaus Isarthor, Lindwurmstüberl is near the top of the list of the best Bavarian restaurants in Munich. Clearly I have a favorite meal since I ordered the same thing at both of these Munich Bavarian restaurants.
The pork served at Lindwurmstüberl was delicious and tender, with crispy, fried skin on the outside. The potato dumpling was delicious as well…once you figured out how to cut it without rolling it around your plate.
Price: $$
Hours: 11:00AM–12:00AM Monday through Saturday, 11:00AM–10:00PM Sundays
Location: Lindwurmstraße 32, 80337 München, Germany
Wirtshaus in der Au
Wirtshaus in der Au is a large indoor biergarten with a great atmosphere. Only a 10 minute metro ride from Marienplatz, the restaurant is filled with mostly locals and the food is fantastic.
Unfortunately, food in Munich Germany can sometimes get expensive…and the only downside of Wirtshaus in der Au is that it’s a bit on the pricier side of Munich Germany restaurants.
My entrée, two dumplings consisting of pretzel pieces, roasted pork and Paulaner beer, were extremely filling but cost me €14.50. Not completely unreasonable, but I paid €5.90 for a fountain Coca Cola…which was completely unreasonable.
Price: $$
Hours: 5:00PM–11:00PM Monday through Friday, 10:00AM–11:00PM Saturday and Sunday
Location: Lilienstraße 51, 81669 München, Germany
Steinheil 16
Steinheil 16 is one of Munich’s hidden gems and definitely earns on a spot on my list of the best Bavarian restaurants in Munich. Tucked away down a quiet street, the restaurant is small and doesn’t have a lot of seating space. I would recommend making a reservation if you plan on coming during peak hours.
Steinheil 16 has a fun, friendly and cozy atmosphere and the food is both to-die-for-delicious and very affordable. I ordered the currywurst & fries and an Oktoberfest beer, paid only €13 and left feeling ready to burst.
Price: $
Hours: 11:00AM–1:00AM
Location: Steinheilstraße 16, 80333 München, Germany
Nage & Sauge
After a few days in Munich, I decided my body was in dire need of some greens.
Nage & Sauge is well-known in the area for it’s giant and delicious salads. Let me tell you…its reputation turned out to be very accurate. The Rusti El Greco salad was filled with grilled halloumi, roasted red peppers, chicken, garlic bread and parmesan cheese. In hindsight it probably wasn’t the healthiest salad I’ve ever consumed. My body just needed something that wasn’t a cream cheese covered pretzel.
If you start to feel a little potato-dumpling’d out after a few days in Munich, Nage & Sage serves some of the best non German food in Munich for a little veggie pick-me-up.
Price: $$
Hours: 5:15PM–12:00AM Monday through Thursday, 5:00PM–1:00AM Friday and Saturday, closed Sundays
Location: Mariannenstraße 2, 80538 München, Germany
Max Pett Das Vegane Restaurant
If we’re talking about eating habits, I could not be any further from being a vegan. I normally don’t eat anything that isn’t full of meat and cheese, especially in Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.
However, Max Pett’s vegan German cuisine really exceeded my expectations. I ordered the Viennese schnitzel with a creamy potato and cucumber salad. To be honest, you really couldn’t tell the difference. The only downside of the restaurant was that they didn’t serve any alcohol (my liver probably thanked me for that) and it was a bit on the pricier side.
Max Pett is a great option for anyone with vegan or vegetarian dietary restrictions who wants to experience authentic German food.
Price: $$
Hours: Closed Mondays, 5:00PM–11:00PM Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30AM–11:00PM Fridays, 10:00AM–11:00PM Saturdays and Sundays
Location: Pettenkoferstraße 8, 80336 München, Germany
Ratskeller Munchen Bavarian Restaurant Marienplatz
If you’re looking for Munich restaurants near Marienplatz, look no further than the Ratskeller München – a true slice of Bavarian history.
The Restaurant Ratskeller München is located underneath the Rathaus. The patio is directly behind the Glockenspiel itself and is the perfect spot for a lunch with a historic view. Since it’s in the middle of a touristy area, the prices are a bit higher than normal, but the food is definitely worth the extra charge. I suggest trying the potato pancakes, a traditional German appetizer and one of the best things to eat in Munich.
Price: $$
Hours: 11:00AM–11:00PM
Location: Marienplatz 8, 80331 München, Germany
Augustiner Braustuben
The original Augustiner brewery is the oldest brewery in Munich. It dates all the way back to 1328 when the monks in the Augustinian Monastery began brewing beer.
Nowadays, the restaurant is wildly popular and serves some of the best Bavarian food in Munich. The space is full of long, communal tables filled with Germans drinking Augustiner beer and eating pretzels out of the complimentary baskets. The Augustiner itself is a piece of history and one of the top restaurants in München.
Price: $$
Hours: 10:00AM–12:00AM
Location: Landsberger Str. 19, 80339 München, Germany
💡 PRO TIP:
Although I ordered the roast pork at Augustiner Braustuben, I’ve heard that this spot serves the best schweinshaxe – or pork knuckle – in the city. If you try it, drop a comment below and let me know if it lives up to the hype!
Viktualienmarkt
Europe loves a good outdoor market and Germany is no different. When it comes to where to eat in Munich, the Viktualienmarkt is guaranteed to satisfy all your Bavarian food cravings.
Right around the corner from the main square in Marienplatz, you’ll find the Viktualienmarkt. A large farmers market dating back to 1807, it’s the perfect place to grab lunch and people watch in the sunshine. Although not all of us feel the need to grocery shop on vacation, the food stands in the market offer every German specialty you could think of…from giant pretzels to sausages smothered in curry sauce!
Price: $
Hours: 8:00AM–8:00PM Monday through Saturday
Location: Viktualienmarkt 1, 80331 München
Andy’s Krablergarten
Münchner schnitzel is some of the best German food in Munich! If you’re looking to monch down on some during your vacation, look no further than Andy’s Krablergarten.
A schnitzel from Andy’s Krablergarten will cost you only €10 and is guaranteed to feed you for at least four meals. Make sure to come to Andy’s Krablergarten with an empty stomach..or else you’ll be incredibly uncomfortable for the rest of the night.
Price: $
Hours: 12:00PM–11:00PM Sunday through Friday, 12:00PM–10:00PM Saturdays
Location: Thalkirchner Str. 2, 80337 München, Germany
Oktoberfest at the Hippodrome
The Hippodrome is one of only two beer tents open during Fruhlingsfest. They serve a large variety of yummy dishes, but the spaetzle is definitely a crowd favorite. Spaetzle is essentially German mac n’ cheese! It’s served with crispy, fried onions and some sort of fruit chutney, usually apple or pear. Paired with a stein, lunch doesn’t get better than this.
During the day at Fruhlingsfest, it is relatively easy to get a table inside the beer tents. At night, they become packed with Germans and tourists alike drinking beers and dancing on tables to the live music.
Price: $$
Hours: Seasonal
Location: Theresienwiese
If you’re visiting Munich during Fruhlingsfest or Oktoberfest, make sure to try out the food stands at the festival. Each one sells delicious Bavarian cuisine packaged up and easy-to-eat on the go. In my opinion, the food stands are some of the best food in Munich. My favorites are the käsekrainer (a.k.a. cheese weenies), späetzle, and obazda (beer cheese dip) with a fresh pretzel.
Bavarian Food in Munich FAQs:
Bavaria is known for a wide variety of hearty, German dishes. When I think of Munich, I think of pretzels and beer – but there are tons of other options as well. Try schweinsbraten (roast pork – my fav), käsespätzle (German mac n’ cheese), Münchner schnitzel, schweinshaxe (pork knuckle), currywurst (sausage smothered in spicy sauce), sauerkraut, bretzels and obatzda (pretzels and cheese dip), weisswurst (white sausage) and apfelstrudel (apple strudel).
The Viktualienmarkt is the most famous food hall in Munich. It’s located in a large square in Marienplatz – Munich’s city center. This market was started back in 1807, so you’ll get over 200 years of history while you’re shopping for fresh produce, sausages and spices. Read more about the Viktualienmarkt above.
You guessed it – the national drink of Bavaria is beer! Bavaria is known worldwide for brewing delicious German beer. They even refer to it as “liquid bread.”
Yes, tipping is customary in Germany when going out to eat. However, the percentage isn’t as high as it is in the U.S. Tip 5-10% depending on the service.
Germany’s drinking age for beverages containing less than 1.2 % of distilled alcohol is 16 years old. You must be 18 to purchase spirits in Bavaria.
If you enjoyed this post and my suggestions for the best German restaurants in Munich, don’t forget to check out my related posts linked below…
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Sitting at the BMW museum in Munich late this afternoon, my husband and I decided to look online for a great spot for traditional German fare. Google bright me to your blog, you took us to GASTHAUS ISARTHOR and it was delicious, charming and delightful! We had weinerschnitzle with fried potatoes and red cabbage, roast duck and pork with bread dumpling and salad and it didn’t break the bank! Red candles on the tables, dark wood paneling, sparkling copper bar, traditional dress, quick, friendly service and a fantastic meal. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Hi Denise, thank you so much for taking the time to comment on my post. I loved reading about your experience, especially because Gasthaus Isarthor is my favorite restaurant in Munich by a landslide ☺️ Love that you enjoyed it as much as I did and I hope you have a fantastic rest of your trip!