Munich Beer Hall or Restaurant

Ann, its a very large city. Where will you be?

I've had great German food in all beer halls/restaurants. Just ask at your hotel where the best beer hall is closest to you. I promise you won't be disappointed!

My hotel is the Hotel Vitualienmarkt. It appears it is a 7 minute walk from the Glockenspiel.

I've eaten several times at the Ratskeller (English menu) in the basement of the Neues Rathaus, the same building as the Glockenspiel.

The Hofbräuhaus (English menu) is nearby. It's a traditional Munich beer hall. I've eaten there multiple times. It's probably less expensive than the Ratskeller although some people (not me) might not like the food. They have live entertainment (Oktoberfest style band).

We liked the Augustiner beer garden. There's also an inside restaurant -- http://www.augustinerkeller.de/home/?L=1.

I was near your hotel (on Klenzestrasse) last month for six nights...which meant six beer hall dinners. Many to choose from in the tourist area near Glockenspiel. They are all similar in menu offerings and ambiance/experience. Maybe it's simply what I ordered, but I really liked 3: Haxnbauer (you have to look for it, had beef goulash), Andesher am Dom (veal in mushroom cream sauce over spaetzel) and Der Pschorr (veal goulash w/spaetzel). Not places to eat a leisurely dinner (menus are not strong on appetizers) unless you plan to simply keep drinking the delicious beer. Enjoy!

The Hofbrauhaus is probably the most fun option, but don't expect a quiet or intimate dinner. The quality of the food is usually good enough, although probably not the absolute best.

I've found the food more consistent at the Spatenhaus (right across the street from the Bavarian National Theater), and it provides a much more sedate atmosphere.

For a not-quite-as-rowdy/not-so-quiet option, try Zum Augustiner, a stone's throw away from Marienplatz. The Schweinshaxe here is particularly good.

I've found the food more consistent at the Spatenhaus

I'd second that. Other options include Weisses Bräuhaus (im Tal), Wirtshaus in der Au, Lilienstr. 51, and my personal suggestion, outside the inner city and by no means "touristy": Zum Brünnstein, Elsässer Strasse 36, a few steps from the Munich East station (easily accessible by S-Bahn). All with good Bavarian (not: German) cooking.

http://www.schneider-brauhaus.de/
http://wirtshausinderau.de/de/wirtshaus/
http://www.zum-bruennstein.de

We liked the Ratskeller that Lee mentions. Easy to get to from where you are. The outdoor cafes on the Marienplatz are expensive, but OK as well, if you want to watch the glockenspiel. You have to at least visit the Hofbräuhaus once during your visit anyway.

We ate at the Augustiner and hated it... There are multiples and I can't remember which one, it was on a cute Main Street near karlstor.

We loved zwickl near the viktualmarkt (sorry spelling) and the hofbrauKELLER (not haus) a bit east of there.

Kim

The Hofbrauhaus has turned into a pathetic tourist trap rip off with only a small chance of actually being treated humanely. I've been there multiple times over the last several years and last year was the absolute worst. Surly surly waiter who refused to wait on us (go figure) and spent his time clearing tables while most of the tables in his section were trying to pay their bills or order food/drinks. I finally had to go in search of the manager and raise h****. We got him removed from our table, 2 NEW waiters for us as well as free drinks all around for our group. Absolutely incomprehensible why some of the waiters treat customers that way. We won't be back for VERRRYYYY long time (if ever).

Loved the Augustiner.

The English Garden's Chinese Tower Beer Garden is so much fun! We also loved the Ratskeller in the cellar of City Hall.

Hi Ann- As donagle4 replied, there are many restaurants and beer halls in your area. I also liked the Andechser am Dom restaurant as there are plenty of outside tables. However, In my experience the place with the best schnitzel in this area is Zum Spoeckmeier at Rosenstrasse 9. It is about 1 block south on the street at the west end of the Marienplatz , which is the location of the Glockenspiel. Try to get a table downstairs as the temperature is sometimes a little warm upstairs. As I remember, there are no outside tables. I was less than impressed by the food in the Hofbrauhuas, but the beer hall atmosphere is great along with the beer.. For lunch pick up some food and a beer in the Vitualienmarkt and snag a seat at one of the outside garden tables. If you want, you can actually order food there if you set at one of the tables with a tablecloth.

Have a great trip!!!

We liked the Park Cafe, a less than 15 minute walk from the Glockenspiel. As name implies, it's in a park, we sat outside with the friendly folks, and there's an inside too in case the weather's not great.

In my opinion, the best Bavarian places in the city center are: Zum Augustiener, Augustiner Klosterwirt, Nürnberger Bratwurst Gloeckl am Dom, and Dönisl.

Personally, downstairs at Klosterwirt is my current favorite. Or on a warm day, Dönisl is nice when they retract the roof.

Der Pschorr, right by your hotel, is good. Personally not a huge fan of Hacker-Pschorr beer, but the atmosphere and food are top. Get reservations for a busy night.

If you’re looking more upscale, try Spatenhaus an der Oper or Zum Franziskaner. Spatenhaus has very good food, but quite pricey.

The Bavarian places on Tal can be good, but are often very full and touristy. I like Schneider and Tegernseer, but I like them when they aren’t too busy.

Maybe pop in the Hofbrauhaus once to say you’ve been, but don’t stay long. Avoid the Ratskeller, it’s touristy and overpriced in my opinion.

If you’re more into wine, try the Pfälzer Weinstube. The have great outdoor seating in the courtyard on warm days.

Thank you everyone, so many choices. I will make sure I have them handy. I really appreciate everyones advice and suggestions!

I second the recommendation of the Pfalzer Weinstube - it's one of my favourite places to drink in Germany. It is definitely NOT Bavarian, though. The Bavarian royal family at one time also ruled over the Rhine-Mosel area known as the Palatinate (one of those European dynastic marriage things) and the wine and food served there is from that region.

The Bavarian royal family at one time also ruled over the Rhine-Mosel area known as the Palatinate (one of those European dynastic marriage things) and the wine and food served there is from that region.

Let me guess... Sauerbraten and Samaugen feature on the menu?

Let me guess... Sauerbraten and Samaugen feature on the menu?

Saumagen does, Sauerbraten, being a dish from the Rheinland, does not:

http://www.pfaelzerweinstube.de/Unsere-Speisenkarte.52076.html

In my experience, the Weinstube is one of the places in the center of Munich where you get good value for money.

BTW:

The Bavarian royal family at one time also ruled over the Rhine-Mosel area known as the Palatinate

The "Pfalz" was Bavarian untill 1941, when the Nazis split off it from Bavaria. So, after the still pending inevitable annihilation of that illegal act, it will have to return to us. ;)