December 2006
Where to go near the Show
Great Places to Eat before or after Performance
Every visit to a concert or theater performance begins with the question: Should we eat before or after? Or, where would be the best place to ring out the evening? Here, we provide a few suggestions in answer to your culinary queries. All located near one of Munich’s temples of the muses, these spots are great for grabbing a quality bite to eat pre- or post-performance. The absence of thumping bass beats will ensure good conversation, and you can even enjoy just a good glass of wine, a cocktail or a fresh beer, if that’s what you’re after.
We begin with
Kulisse (Maximilianstrasse 26), where the delicious roast beef with roasted potatoes has been famous for generations. It’s a necessary stop for those in search of a quick Aperitif before the curtain rises. Of course, this location is not just for visitors to the Kammerspiele, but also for those with tickets to the Opera or the Residenztheater. A bit more rustic, yet with excellent food, the
Blaues Haus (Hildegardstrasse 1) is located behind the Kammerspiele, at the entrance to the Werkraumtheater. Their fantastic mix of Bavarian, Austrian, Italian and South Tyrolean cooking—especially the incredible Morel ravioli with citrus sauce—will make you forget that it’s unhealthy to be eating something so late. The atmosphere is open and lively, and you can even find the occasional performer sitting here with friends after the show.
A bit nearer to the Opera and the Residenztheater, and of a style more appropriate for a grand occasion,
Eisbach reigns on the north side of Marstallplatz, and
Brenner on the south. This wide, beautiful stone plaza just behind the Opera has a very urban, spacious ambience that lends itself to any pre- or post-theater visit. The international cuisine of Eisbach is of a high level, the staff are attentive and their smoked duck breast with a glass of Montepulcano will help even the most indigestible theater performance go down easily. Elegant
Münchner sit and sup here. The quality at Brenner is a bit shakier, but the luxe atmosphere suits the nearby elegance of Maximilianstrasse. If you’d like to dine and sit somewhere with a slightly more intimate atmosphere, walk five minutes further to St. Annaplatz, on the other side of the Altstadtring. Hidden away here is
Gandl, a long-time insider’s tip with fine cuisine and an excellent wine selection. The terrine variation of duck, pigeons and rabbit is pure poetry and, as for the Gazpacho, you wouldn’t find a better bowl in Spain. If you’d only like a good glass of wine, we recommend a wonderful smooth Riesling from the Nahe region. With just one sip, you’ll know what’s behind the good reputation of German wine.
If your evening program is going to take place in the Prinzregententheater,
Prinzipal offers itself up as one of the most convenient options, since it’s located in the same building. Chef Alfons Schuhbeck took over the restaurant one year ago, bringing himself dangerously close to the top dog of Prinzregentenstrasse: the legendary
Käfer-Schänke, located on the other side of the street only a few buildings away towards the city, which is home to Munich’s greatest concentration of Adabeis (Bavarian slang for “wannabes”).
Visitors to the Philharmonic will find dining to be a bit more difficult. If
Gast, located in the same building, is too reminiscent of a cafeteria for your tastes, we recommend going a few steps further to
ATLAS° at the beginning of Innere Wiener Strasse. The food and atmosphere have benefited immensely from a recent change in ownership. Specialties from Asian, Arabic and Italian cuisine, as well as innovative takes on German and Austrian cooking, constitute a fresh new mix with fair prices. The “schickimicki” quotient isn’t as high as when the location belonged to the Lewy empire, which can also be seen as a good thing.
The Staatstheater on Gärtnerplatz is located in the best spot for would-be diners.
Cafe Interview is located directly across the square.
Cafe Forum (Corneliusstrasse 2) is an ersatz living room for the inhabitants of the Gärtnerplatzviertel. If you’d like a more stylish setting, with the best pizza in Munich to boot, walk five minutes to
Nero (Rumfordstrasse 34). As you sink down into the lounge’s soft leather sofas, you’ll have found yourself a deliciously relaxing end to a delightful evening. <<<
