We will be in Munich for the night of January 4, 2007. We arrive from FRA at 6:15 pm and fly to IAD at 3:05 on the 5th. We currently have a room booked at the Sheraton Grand.

First, since we're there for so little time, we want to get a hotel that is close to enough things to keep us busy for the 21 hours. (We're very interested in checking out some beer gardens.) We like Starwood, but since this is just one night, we're not too particular about the brand of hotel in which we stay. The Sheraton Grand is 135 Euro for the night. The Marriott Munich seems to be available for ~US$65 using Priceline.

Any favorite restaurants that people have in Munich? Since we'll be in Germany, we're looking for good German food.

Thank you for any suggestions.

The Le Meridien is the best Starwood choice. It is pretty central and next to the train station which is the best option for getting to and from the airport. The Hofbrauhaus is the requisite place for beer hall, oompah bands and German food. It is next to the Mandarin Oriental which is my favorite hotel in the city. Just wander around that area and you will have fun.

We had a fabulous meal at Schuhbecks in Den Sudtiroler Stuben. Expensive but worth every penny. You may not be able to get a reservation at this point.

A slightly less chaotic beer hall is Augustiner at Neuhauser Strasse 27.

My wife and I stayed at the Hotel Der Tannenbaum in Feb. 2003 and it was good. About three blocks off the Marienplatz.

On the Marienplatz we went to the Augustiner Grossgaststatte which I guess is one of three Augustiner beer halls. That's where I had weisswurst for the first time and we found out our waiter's sister lived in Houston too. It's on the south(?) side which is the right if you're coming from the Hauptbahnhof end. Everything was very good there...a lot of locals.

There was also a Spaten "cellar" that we had dinner at (at the end closest to the bahnhof on the right). Also very good.

We also had beers at the Rathskeller in the basement of the "new" city hall. Definitely worth a stop in.

The Hofbrauhaus was OK. I may get flamed but they probably had the worst beer that I've ever had in Germany. It's worth going to say you've been there but there are many better places I'd rather drink my hefe-weizen mit citrus.

Are you familiar with the "Stammtisch" concept? It's basically a table reserved for regulars. I never tested it but the custom is if they don't recognize you, you won't get served unless you move. There's usually a sign on or above the table.

A slightly less chaotic beer hall is Augustiner at Neuhauser Strasse 27.


This is the one I was talking about...Neuhauser is the Marienplatz.

I just did a similar trip (1 day in MUC mostly to visit the christmas markets) and chose to stay at the Sheraton Grand (which is the nicest Starwood in MUC). But I knew the location and was familiar with MUC; the location is on the perimeter in Arabellapark, so it was a 20 minute subway ride to Marienplatz. But the U-Bahn is very efficient and runs all night. However staying downtown is more convenient for most people. The big advantage with Sheraton Grand was easy/short travel to/from the airport as well as being one of the nicer hotels in MUC.

I've always prefered Augustiner amongst the Munich breweries, and it is less widely distributed in the US than the competition. Though Spaten is maybe the best for weiss beer. However some US breweries have improved to the point of surpassing Augustiner and most german beers (Bridgeport for example has several beers like that; but those are low volume and hard to find). Quite a stunning development in the evolution of beer in the US (quality instead of quantity). However the beer hall atmospherer is unique to Germany and at its height in Munich.

Very intereresting are the small (Weisswurst**, Weissbier) restaurants next/behind Viktualienmarkt....before noon:

Viktualienmarkt
Created in 1807, you could spend all day tasting Bavarian cuisine, drinking Weissbier, nibbling on seafood, fresh produce and even sushi at Munich's largest outdoor market. You can also buy flowers, local crafts and sip some of the most refreshing freshly squeezed fruit juices on 22,000m2 of prime shopping real estate.

Address : Between Frauenstr, Tal and Marienpl.
Tel : 23 32 34 73
Website : www.viktualienmarkt.de

Open daily :10:00-18:00
except:
Saturday: 10:00-15:00
Sunday: Closed

**Weißwurst - Bavarian sausage
The locals' second breakfast washed down with beer in place of coffee. 'Weißwürste' are served up individually. Made mainly from veal, water and some ingredients known only to Bavarians, the sausage must be heated slowly (heat too quickly and they'll burst) in water and served with sweet mustard and a pretzel. The art of Weißwurst-eating has been the source of many an argument. Non-connoisseurs slice it straight down the middle and then cut up the inside. The enthusiastic Bavarian eats it the traditional way: lift it up, dunk it into mustard and suck out its inside. The connoisseur spears the sausage at one end, then cuts about three-quarters of the skin and elegantly pulls out the inside (the sausage must be heated to perfection for this). An old proverb used to say that if a Weißwurst hears the 'midday chimes', then it is no longer ripe for the eating. Thankfully this proverb has been forgotten and today you can even buy from the Viktualienmarkt, Munich's bustling food market.

More about food:

http://home.leo.org/~stumpf/muenchen/eat.html

The Augustiner beer hall at Neuhauser Strasse (pedestrian mall) seems to be somewhat of a FT favorite for food & beer, but I also like the Unionsbräu (in Haidhausen neighborhood), and the Nürnberger Bratwurstglöckl (near the Frauenkirche) for sausages. (Munich, of course, has a host of other food options, but I assume by "German" you meant beer hall atmosphere.)

Thank you all for your suggestions. They are quite helpful.

I was able to find a slightly lower rate at the Sheraton Grand (125 Euro instead of 135 Euro) so I think we'll stay there unless there's a compelling reason to stay at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten for 225 Euro. It seems that the public transportation in Munich is efficient, so hopefully we'll have no trouble with the Sheraton Grand's area.

The Augustiner beer hall at Neuhauser seems exactly what we're looking for. This trip will take us to Vienna for 3 days, Malta for 5 days, and Munich for 21 hours, so we'll be in the mood for some good beer hall food. The small Weisswurst restaurants near Viktualienmarkt sound like a great thing to go to the morning of January 5th.

I'll be sure to avoid any tables with a "Stammtisch" sign.

I was able to find a slightly lower rate at the Sheraton Grand (125 Euro instead of 135 Euro) so I think we'll stay there unless there's a compelling reason to stay at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten for 225 Euro. It seems that the public transportation in Munich is efficient, so hopefully we'll have no trouble with the Sheraton Grand's area.Sheraton Grand should be fine for your short stay. The Vier Jahreszeiten (Kempinski) is a perfectly-fine 4* business-oriented hotel that is perfectly-located if you are attending a performance at the Nationaltheater (a half-block away) but otherwise I'd save the euros for more food/drink :)

The Marriott is also a good hotel but it is a ways north of the central area (and also north of the Schwabing area) - IIRC it is six stops from marienplatz on the U6 line, so given your time constraints, I'd go for the Grand (and you'll earn points, too) :)

johnep1, I envy you for those 21 hours...

Last time I have been to MUC is six months ago :(

After my time in the US, MUC will be one of the first places in Germany to go to... I miss the Bavarian food and drinks...

Enjoy, have fun and clink glasses for us!!! The beer is amazing and as a lot of FTers mentioned, Augustiner (Edelstoff) is the best...

Another vote for the Augustinerkeller!

SmilingBoy.

I am staying at the Four Points Central in Munich (100 euro AAA rate with breakfast; the grand was 172 euro)...it seems to be in the same general vicinity as the Hbf...

Anyone ever stay here and is this a reasonable choice to spend a day in Munich (14-15 Jan).

- HF

This trip will take us to Vienna for 3 days, Malta for 5 days, and Munich for 21 hours, so we'll be in the mood for some good beer hall food.

I hope you visited Salzburg while you were in Austria. If not, I recommend you put it on your list for "next trip". We always do both cities as they are an enjoyable 3 1/2 hr train ride apart and of course by air, much less. :)

Thank you all for your suggestions. They are quite helpful.

I was able to find a slightly lower rate at the Sheraton Grand (125 Euro instead of 135 Euro) so I think we'll stay there unless there's a compelling reason to stay at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten for 225 Euro. It seems that the public transportation in Munich is efficient, so hopefully we'll have no trouble with the Sheraton Grand's area.

The Augustiner beer hall at Neuhauser seems exactly what we're looking for. This trip will take us to Vienna for 3 days, Malta for 5 days, and Munich for 21 hours, so we'll be in the mood for some good beer hall food. The small Weisswurst restaurants near Viktualienmarkt sound like a great thing to go to the morning of January 5th.

I'll be sure to avoid any tables with a "Stammtisch" sign.

For the best "Weisswurstfruehstueck" (weisswurst breakfast) hit the Weisses Braeuhaus located "Im Tal" (about three blocks east - towards the Isar River - of Marienplatz). Don't forget to have a fresh Schneider Weisse with your Wurst and Brez'n!

The Hofbrauhaus was OK. I may get flamed but they probably had the worst beer that I've ever had in Germany. It's worth going to say you've been there but there are many better places I'd rather drink my hefe-weizen mit citrus.


You won't get flamed. The beer was merely OK. When I went, the crowds were overwhelming and it really wasn't all that enjoyable. Augustiner Brau is fine beer, and I'm sure that their restaurant would serve as a less touristy and much better destination.

An old proverb used to say that if a Weißwurst hears the 'midday chimes', then it is no longer ripe for the eating. Thankfully this proverb has been forgotten and today you can even buy from the Viktualienmarkt, Munich's bustling food market. Those old proverb writers were on to something; Weisswurst (at least the traditional kind) spoils incredibly quickly. Just because it is now possible to buy it at any time of day doesn't mean that is the best idea. To have the authentic peak experience eat Weisswurst for breakfast at an establishment which looks like it's been serving it for decades.

Thank you all for the tips. We ended up spending the evening at the Augustiner and had a great time. The Sheraton Grand was very nice but our executive room didn't include breakfast, lounge, or anything. I was kind of surprised at that.

We also spent our only morning at the market, you know you're doing alright when you get to have beer and brats for breakfast.

Let's see, the hotel was quite easy to reach via public transportation (thanks to all those who posted directions). Plus, when you come out of the subway, there are signs pointing to the hotel, so it really was easy to find.

Thank you all for the tips. We ended up spending the evening at the Augustiner and had a great time. The Sheraton Grand was very nice but our executive room didn't include breakfast, lounge, or anything. I was kind of surprised at that.

We also spent our only morning at the market, you know you're doing alright when you get to have beer and brats for breakfast.

Let's see, the hotel was quite easy to reach via public transportation (thanks to all those who posted directions). Plus, when you come out of the subway, there are signs pointing to the hotel, so it really was easy to find.

I must have just missed you. I was at the Sheraton across the street from you this weekend (AB Sheraton Bogenhausen). I went to Augustiner twice this trip, and it was very good both times. Call me crazy, but the beer in Munich just tastes better for some reason. It was pretty easy to get to on the U4, and I don't think I ever waited more than 10 minutes for a subway.

Anyone else heading out towards Munich in search of a day trip, may I suggest a ride on the BOB out to Bad Tolz? What a pretty little town, with great walks.