Munich Journals

Christmas in Munich

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A December 2011 trip to Munich by ch2001

Pea Soup Photo - Wirtshaus Kleine Schmausefalle, Munich, Germany More Photos
Quote: Is there a place better than Munich to celebrate Christmas? Nope, which is why we decided to escape for the holidays, and spend the week drinking Glühwein and eating Schnitzel.

Dorint Novotel Muenchen City

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Hotel | "Great amenities, awesome location and a good deal"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
We spent a great deal of time debating where to stay in Munich. There were many factors at play, none more so than cost. The hotel needed to have a restaurant, be within walking distance to Marienplatz, and having a pool was a bonus. We quickly realized this was not possible on our budget in the city center, so we looked by the train station and in Haidhausen - the district around the Ostbahnhof. The reviews of the area around the train station said it lacked any sort of quaintness and was a bit seedy (having walked around that area I agree). Uneasy about these reviews we settled on Haidhausen. This more residential neighborhood is just east of the Deutsches Museum and only a 10 minute walk to Marie...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Dorint Novotel Muenchen City
HOCHSTRASSE 11 BAYERN
Munich, Germany
49-49-661070

Munich Christmas Market

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Attraction | "A Christmas market to remember"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
There is no place more synonymous with Christmas that Bavaria (except maybe the North Pole), which is why we chose to spend our holiday in Munich. The highlight of Christmas in Munich is the Christkindlmarkt, or I should really say the Christkindlmarkts, as they are all over the city.The main market is in the old town but each neighborhood has its own. Near our hotel in the Haidhausen neighborhood there was a quaint market in the center of a roundabout. Since this was a residential neighborhood the crowd was mainly local. Over in the gay neighborhood around Stephansplatz was the festive pink market. It was only open in the evening and we visited during the day, but the giant pink plastic ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Munich Christmas Market
Marienplatz-Old Town
Munich, Bavaria

Wirtshaus in der Au

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Restaurant | "Neighborhood beer hall, authentic lederhosen clad waiters"

Wirtshaus in der Au Photo - Wirtshaus in der Au, Munich, Germany
Quote:
I absolutely loved the Wirtshaus in der Au. Located just east of the old town, it's smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood - and nearly everyone was a local. The interior was very warm and cozy. From the waist up the walls were a smoke-stained white, and below the walls were covered in dark wood. The large room had a vaulted ceiling with dark metal orb shaped chandeliers, and nearly every table had a flickering candle. Half a dozen large windows overlooked the street.The restaurant was packed when we arrived and we did not have a reservation. We talked to a couple waitresses before finding someone that spoke English, and we were directed to the bar where we waited about 1...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Wirtshaus in der Au
Lilienstrasse 51
Munich, Germany 81669
+49 89 4481400

Wirtshaus Kleine Schmausefalle

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Restaurant | "Cozy locals spot with great food"

Pea Soup Photo - Wirtshaus Kleine Schmausefalle, Munich, Germany
Quote:
The Wirtshaus Kleine Schmausefalle is attached to the Golden Leaf Hotel. From the main entrance to the building you take a left to enter the hotel or a right for the restaurant. The restaurant is down a couple steps from the street level - the windows were similar to what you would see in a garden apartment. It was very cozy and warm. The dining room was a large square with a stairwell in the center, which resulted in a few intimate rooms around the space. Each seemed to have a character of its own. Right inside the door were a row of tables with bench seating on the outside wall and a couple single tables on the inside wall. Moving counter clockwise the next room was smaller and very cozy - with the ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Wirtshaus Kleine Schmausefalle
4 Mariahilfplatz
Munich, Germany
089 4421 8821

Hofbräuhaus

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Restaurant | "Too touristy, but only place open on Christmas"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
Hofbräuhaus is one of Munich's most famous sites, and perhaps its most famous restaurant. We were a bit apprehensive to visit the Hofbräuhaus given its high place on the tourist map, but as it was one of the only affordable places open on Christmas Eve we had no choice.We made a reservation a month before - which in theory was a good idea since the restaurant was absolutely packed. However, we had no idea what to do when we arrived so we asked a waiter who told us to find ‘the waitress in blue.’ After 15 minutes of looking for her we nearly gave up, walked outside and in through a different door. We found a gentleman wearing a vest who looked at our printed reservation, smiled, and called...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Hofbräuhaus
Am Platzl 9
Munich, Germany 80331
+49 89 221676

Metzgerei A. Klobeck

Restaurant | "The best Leberkäse!"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
As the shops around Viktualienmarkt were closing for the Christmas holiday we were attempting to get as much German food in our bellies as possible, as we wouldn't have another chance before we left Munich. Thinking one last Leberkäse was needed, we walked over to a spot we tried the day before, but upon seeing a dozen people standing in front of Metzgerei A. Klobeck, faces stuffed with yummy looking Leberkäse, we changed our plans.Primarily a butcher shop selling fresh and aged meats, a few chalkboard signs announced the days selection of hot sandwiches. The interior was charming. One large display case along the lefthand wall and a shallow, chest high counter to the right on which cust...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 24, 2012

Metzgerei A. Klobeck
Viktualienmarkt 15
Munich, Germany 80331
089 265999

Munchner Suppenkuche

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Restaurant | "Soup to warm you up on a cold day..."

Muchner Suppenkuche Photo - Munchner Suppenkuche, Munich, Germany
Quote:
Munchner Suppenkuche was all over the Munich food blogs - so when we had an opportunity to grab a bowl of soup we gladly ceased it. Located in the Viktualienmarkt, Munich 's food meccha, it promised to be a great meal.Throughout the market restaurant's were set up in fancy tents with full service kitchens, bars and plenty of seating. The Munchner Suppenkuche tent was no different. Right inside the entrance is a window where all orders are placed - eat in and take out. The soups were in large heated containers so customers could see them before ordering. Around the side and back of the kitchen were high quality wooden tables and chairs - two and four seaters. Near the ordering window th...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on April 22, 2012

Munchner Suppenkuche
Viktualienmarkt Off Of Frauen Str.
Munich, Germany

Schmalznudel

Attraction | "Donuts from heaven"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
Upon opening the door of Schmalznudel-Cafe Frischhut you will faint from the amazing smell of donuts being made in this small Munich institution. Not in any guidebook or travel blog I read, it was a recommendation from a young German couple we met on our return train ride from Salzburg.The narrow space had some tables toward the back with a counter just inside the door. Golden rings of goodness were floating in a vat of oil. Our train friends wrote down the names of two donuts we had to try: Schmalznudel and Krapfen. After attempting to pronounce them I handed the paper over. She read them off and nodded; a fellow customer with a think German accent said "Good choice. Those are the best...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Schmalznudel
Prälat-Zistl-Straße 8
Munich, Germany 80331
+49 89 268237

Vinzenzmurr

Restaurant | "Cheap, quick and tasty snacks"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
Vinzenzmurr is a chain of butchers based in Munich, with locations around Bavaria. They specialize in meats, but sell cheeses and dairy products. In addition, they offer a limited selection of sandwiches and hot snacks.We stumbled across this location on the edge of Viktualienmarkt as we unsuccessfully searched for some breakfast - looking for something we normally eat in the morning, perhaps eggs or pastries. It was here we realized a breakfast of meat and bread was the norm in Bavaria.You can enter the store through either of the large doorways. The left side had the cabinets of meat, cheese and other products, and the right side had the hot snacks and tables by which custome...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 22, 2012

Vinzenzmurr
Viktualienmarkt 15
Munich, Germany 80331
089 2604527

Munich Residenz

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Attraction | "Walk the same halls as the Bavarian Kings"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
The Münchner Residenz is the largest palace in Germany and was home to generations of Bavarian monarchs. Located in the center of Munich it's a great way to take a break from upscale shopping on Maximilianstrasse.Take the U-Bahn or S-Bahnof to Marienplatz and walk just a few short blocks north.In addition to touring the 130 rooms of the palace, you can visit the Treasury and Cuvilliés-Theatre - you can visit two or three on a combined ticket or just visit one. Here are the admission costs from the website:Residenz Museum€7 regular€6 reducedTreasury€7 regular€6 reducedCombination ticket "Residenz Museum/ Treasury"...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Munich Residenz
Max-joseph-platz 3
Munich, Germany 80539
49 (89) 290-671

Glyptothek

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Attraction | "An unexpected museum in Munich, open on Christmas"

Photo of Munich, Germany
Quote:
You wouldn't normally think of visiting a Greek and Roman sculpture museum while in Germany, unless you're visiting Munich on Christmas day and the Glyptothek is one of a select few attractions open.The building is right next to the Königsplatz S-Bahn station. We opted for the 20 minute walk from Marienplatz, which I highly recommend as the path takes you along some of the prettiest streets in Munich.Built by King Ludwig I to hold his collection of Greek and Roman sculptures, the Glyptothek now houses the State Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities. The building is massive with a large portico featuring a series of Ionic columns (thank you classics courses in college). T...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 8, 2012

Glyptothek
Königsplatz 3
Munich, Germany 80333
+49 89 286100

Christmas Eve & Day in Munich

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Story/Tip

Englischer Garten Christmas Market Photo - Munich, Germany
Quote:
Every blog, discussion board and book I read said all the restaurants and attractions were closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Munich. We nearly altered our plans because so many reviews said Munich was a ghost town these two days - I'm glad we didn't.Christmas EveShopping on Christmas Eve is crazy. The good news is that shops are open till around 2 PM, so you will be able to get those last minute gifts or food for your hotel room. The bad news is that everyone is doing the exact same thing - stores are packed and lines are long. Around 3 PM all stores are closed and the city shuts down - the perfect time for an afternoon architecture stroll.As we know, Eurp...Read More