Talk about blink and you’ll miss it! We’ve only been away a month, but while we were putting our feet up and tucking into turkey, turkey and more turkey, those Munich gastronomes were busy opening up ever more bars and restaurants...
Prize for the strangest newcomer goes to Suicide Sue (Thierschstrasse 5), which describes itself as a rock ’n’ roll kung-fu bar. Apparently owner Damir Fister, who was formerly a bouncer at P1, decided that the ubiquitous lounge concept had had its day, so came up with the kung-fu thing instead. Fair enough. Before you set foot in there, though, take a peek at the Website, which features a pretty specific list of who’s welcome. Approved guests include: easy girls, heavy boys, models, robbers, gendarmes, young vegetables and old bananas, apparently. All of which sounds fairly scary.
Another place that’ll have you running for cover is Spektakel (Pfeuferstrasse 32). While it may look inviting, with the interior designed to look like a twee little village square surrounded by huts, the Bavarian bar/restaurant features an “indoor storm” at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Gimmicks to attract the punters? Whatever’s wrong with enticing them with, er, good food and beverages?
If you prefer real weather, head to the Blue Spa Eis Bar on the rooftop of the Bayerischer Hof hotel. Made entirely out of ice, the bar can survive temperatures of up to 20 degrees, apparently, before it melts away. Go while it lasts—for cocktails, hot drinks, oysters and other posh bites.
Speaking of unusual concepts—check out the city’s first Bavarian tapas bar, Mongdratzerl (Arnulfstrasse 1), where regional specialties have been reduced to nibble-size. As long as we’re not expected to drink Helles out of sherry glasses…
If you prefer something classical, how about a taste of Mozart? To mark the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birthday, newly opened coffee bar Kaffeedscherl (Westenriederstrasse 13) at the Viktualienmarkt is running Mozart Mondays from now until spring. Each week, owner Michael Zillner will be offering guests the chance to sample his new creations—Mozart coffee, made from Viennese coffee with Mozart liqueur, and Mozart strudel.
Meanwhile, over the other side of town … there’s plenty of eastern promise around in Lehel with the opening of new oriental bar and restaurant Samara Oriental (Bruderstrasse 6). The intriguing menu features Egyptian poultry specialties, including pigeon and quail, as well as a range of other unusual dishes.
For those of you happy to settle for a schnitzel and salad, on the other hand, there are a couple of new spots that have opened, apparently void of any quirky “concept.” These include Bernstein at the Forum am Deutschen Museum (Museumsinsel 1), Sofias Lunch & Lounge (Alfred-Arndt-Strasse 1), Baaders (Fraunhoferstrasse 39), replacing the former Isar Grill, and Zar Bar (Rosenheimerstrasse 240), which offers a business special on Tuesday nights, when diners receive a welcome drink and can enjoy a “business dinner” for just € 6. What’s more, beer and prosecco are a bargain € 1 a go, from 4 pm until closing. Finally, we like the attitude of Marktwirt (Heilig-Geist-Strasse 2), which offers Austrian / Bavarian specialties and whose Website asks: “A draft Augustiner and a good schnapps—what more could you want?” Precisely. Storms? Kung-fu? Give us a break…
