Munich is a great place to visit for many reasons: the culture; the parks; the stunning architecture; the festivals; and the surrounding beauty of Bavaria, the list is endless but what about the delicious delicacy the city is most famous for? Beer! From Munich’s many brewhouses to its beer gardens (which boast the best atmosphere in the summer months), Bier is at the heart of Bavarian culture. And what best soaks up beer? Hearty, carby, delicious, traditional Bavarian food.
While on a culinary tour of Munich, we recommend looking past the restaurants and heading to one of the city’s many local food markets instead, such as Viktualienmarkt. Located just off Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt is the city’s favourite. Here, you will find quite literally all the Bavarian food you could wish for, making it the perfect place to refuel after sightseeing.
So, from schnitzel and strudel to bratwurst and beer, here’s a list of traditional Bavarian tipples and what to eat in Munich when visiting the city.
Bratwurst
Bratwurst (a type of German pork sausage that is usually fried or grilled) comes in a plethora of forms. On its own, it is often served with a bun and sometimes topped with mustard. Bratwurst is also often paired with sauerkraut, a food which translates to “sour cabbage” and tastes far better than it sounds!
Weisswurst, otherwise known as Weißwurstfrühstück, is Munich’s iconic breakfast staple. Weisswurst consists of white veal sausages with pork fat and spices, paired with a freshly baked, doughy pretzel studded with salt.
Another famous bratwurst dish is currywurst, otherwise known as Germany’s answer to McDonald’s or Great Britain’s fish and chip shops. Currywurst is a street-food meal consisting of steamed, then fried, pork sausage seasoned with curry ketchup (a spiced ketchup sauce, topped with curry powder). Love it or hate it, it cannot be missed on your trip to Munich, or anywhere else in Germany for that matter!
Pretzels
Those delicious pretzels I mentioned previously? They are a meal in their own right in Bavaria! Munich and the rest of Southern Germany take pretzels very seriously. Not your average little hard-crispy pretzel, these are fresh-from-the-oven, enormous, soft, fluffy treats. Enjoy a pretzel from a bakery as an afternoon snack or at the local beer garden, paired perfectly with a German beer. Top tip: Find these cute and very romantic cable car pods at a little takeaway kiosk in the Englischer Garten!
Schnitzel
You may be thinking that schnitzel is originally from Austria, which is true, but it’s just as common in Germany! If you’ve never tried it before, schnitzel is meat that is usually thinned after being pounded with a meat tenderizer and then fried. In Munich, this meat is typically pork although turkey and veal are also common. Schnitzel can be served with a whole host of sides, from French fries and salad to spätzle, a scrumptious German noodle/dumpling/pasta concoction that you absolutely can’t say no to.
Strudel
It’s not hard to stumble across delicious desserts whilst exploring Munich, especially when street food is involved! One of Germany’s most beloved desserts is apfelstrudel (or strudel of any kind, really). In Germany, there is a handmade tradition of making the strudel by rolling the entire widespread dough into fine sheets and filling it with yummy apple mousse or crispy apple chunks. Soaked in cream, apfelstrudel makes for the perfect afternoon snack or evening dessert.
Beer
Beer in Munich needs no introduction. The region accounts for more than 50% of Germany’s national production of brews. Whether you’re visiting Munich during Oktoberfest or not, there’s no better place to enjoy a warm beer stein. Visiting a beer garden is a must for any visitor to Munich. Many of Munich’s beer gardens are dotted around the city, usually in the most idyllic spots like the Englischer Garten. Beer gardens are also fantastic places to find a range of hot and cold traditional Bavarian dishes – plus, you can even bring your food to save money!
Glühwein
Glühwein (otherwise known as mulled wine) isn’t an inherently Bavarian beverage but it is common in the whole of Germany during the Christmas period. Wandering around the famous Christmas Markets with a hot mug of glühwein is a surefire way to get yourself into the festive spirit.
If you want to discover more about Munich and its unique attractions, read our dedicated travel guide.