Maxxwell, Munich

I’ve had a lot of German food in my time, but the food that we ordered from Maxxwell in Munich was a very delicious, very modern take on the traditional cuisine. We stopped in for lunch to a very quiet restaurant and a very friendly waitress. We ordered the schnitzel, which was lightly breaded and crispy without being heavy, while keeping the meat moist.

We also ordered the curry-wurst, or, as on the English menu “big red sausage,” which we saw a lot of around Munich. Curry-wurst is made with a smoked sausage (for our American readers, it’s similar to a large, tasty hot dog), smothered in red curry sauce.

Maxxwell is a few blocks away from the Deutsches Museum, and a much tastier option than eating at the museum café.

1516 Westbrau at Am West Park, Ingolstadt

This is a restaurant that is definitely off the beaten tourist path, but on a rainy day in Munich, taking a drive or the underground system out to Ingolstadt, to Am West Park, a shopping mall, is an enjoyable afternoon.

Not too far from Am West Park is the Audi Forum, which has tours hourly until 5 p.m., with the last tour at 4 p.m. 1516 Westbrau is a full service restaurant inside Am West Park. The waitresses here are less likely to speak English than those in downtown Munich, but much friendlier as well.

We ordered the pork filet with roasted potatoes, as well as the turkey schnitzel with a side of potato salad, and shared a side order spaetzel. Everything was delicious. For those that are used to the “Amish Potato Salad,” which is mayonnaise-based, it is very different from German potato salad, which has a heavier mustard and vinegar taste.

The only strange thing about this restaurant, was that we paid for our meal in cash and the waitress didn’t give us our change (which was around €0.40). It may have been normal for the area, but we’ve never had this happen to us before when we paid cash for meals at other places.

Viktualienmarkt, Munich

For a quick bite, a snack, or just to browse, Munich’s Viktualienmarkt is a great spot. The market has vendors that sell fresh produce and meats, jams, honey and other goodies. For tourists in the city looking for a cheap dining option, there are plenty of grab-and-go options at the market, as well as vendors selling mugs of beer.

There are also many, many tables in the center of the market, with a few of the tables closest to the vendors reserved for table service, which is slightly more expensive.

Hofbrauhaus, Munich

One of the most popular attractions and dining options in Munich, the Hofbrauhaus, is definitely a must-do when in Munich, and really, who would skip it?

However, some suggestions:

1. There is a second floor with seating, don’t give up when you can’t find any open seats on the first floor. There is also outdoor seating on nice days, rooms tucked back farther into the building and a few rooms that are frequently emptier (and quieter) across the court yard.

2. For our American readers, don’t be afraid to sit down with another couple or another family if there are open seats next to them. You will almost never find a fully open table here.

3. Don’t be put off by the relatively rude waiters.  We were during our first night here then realized that our waiter was taking care of numerous tables that had more than one party at it. They will bring your check shortly after they bring your order and to order more you will have to wait.

That said, we had two enjoyable experiences here. We stopped in for lunch one afternoon, and ordered the smoked sausage with potato salad and the pork steak with potatoes au gratin. We also ordered the plum studel.

We also finished our tour of Munich with the Hofbrauhaus’s apple strudel and a couple of liters of beer.

Chinese Tower at the Englischer Garden

Recommended by a local, the Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten, was what I expected from a Bavarian beer garden. There are plenty of tables and many are under the shade of trees or umbrellas.

You can grab a full lunch here, including salads, sandwiches, and hot meals; as well as snacks and sweets, oh and beer. Hofbrauhaus beer is served, in all varieties, including their Radler, a combination of their Helles beer and lemonade – a refreshing combination that’s nice for a late afternoon drink.

There are parking lots near the Chinese Tower if you’re visiting Munich with a car. If you, like us, are planning on exploring the city by public transit, underground lines U3 and U6 stop at Universitat and Gielastrasse, which are the closest to the Chinese Tower, and then you’ll have to wind your way through the Englischer Garten. A few bus lines also stop at the Chinese Tower, you’ll want to look for the stop “Chinesischer Turm,” which drops off right out front.

The Englischer Garten has a lot of wide open green space that’s perfect for picnicking or letting the little ones blow off some steam.

Deutsches Museum, Munich

The Deutsches Museum is a very large museum that is great for children and adults, with a lot of exhibits that will interest everyone in your family. We truly enjoyed the aero-space exhibit, which even included a Lufthansa plan that was cut in pieces so that visitors can see what’s inside a plane.

This is a great rainy day activity, and is large enough that it will fill a good portion of your day.

With your ticket to the Deutsches Museum, you also get free admission to one of their other museums in Munich.

Alpenhof Restaurant

In a small town like Garmisch, we were thankful for the few restaurants that remained open later into the evening, as most stores and cafes closed at 6 p.m. The Alpenhof Restaurant is open late into the evening (we left the restaurant at 9 p.m. and people were still walking in for food and drinks). We ordered both the veal and the pork schnitzel, both served with roasted potatoes.  The service was a bit slow, but the food was excellent.  As long as you have time for a relaxed meal, this is an ideal place to eat in Garmisch-Partenkirchen as you get to sit in the center of town outdoors and eat.