The hottest clubs around the city
Until recently Munich has not enjoyed the reputation of being a “young” city. Compared to Berlin, Cologne or even Hamburg, it often appeared rather middle-aged and sedate. Beautiful it may be, but terms like “party scene,” “hip” and “trendy” do not combine naturally with Munich. In fact it is possible that the picture-book architecture and traditionalist mentality of the Bavarian capital is what has kept youth culture at bay. Nonetheless, over the past few years the club and party scene in the city has seen an unprecedented expansion. The Kunstpark Ost, which opened in 1997, led the way, and although the action has now fizzled out at that location, it seems that the appetite for cool venues has been whetted and now clubs are springing up around the city like magic mushrooms. This month MUNICH FOUND takes you on a tour of the hippest places in town. Situated in the Oberanger 37, about a ten-minute walk from Marienplatz, lies Penthaus. Owned by Damir Fister and Philipp Jung, alias “Brain and Pain,” and once bouncers at the hugely famous P1, they have taken the plunge and started their own club. The first impression of Penthaus is not going to knock you over, but don’t be discouraged. After a quick look-over by the friendly bouncer, visitors pay the € 8 admission fee, leave their jackets and bags at the generously proportioned coat check and then it’s into the mayhem of small but busy dance floor, filled with gyrating bodies. The fantastically clear sound system plays trendy House music at full blast and thirsty dancers can choose from two small bars that are located on either side of the dance floor. Patient and friendly barstaff keep the drinks flowing. At the end of a small corridor lined with couches you find yourself in the chill-out area of the club. Kicker tables, large, comfortable lounge chairs, a nice size bar and some small tables give the place a cool, easy atmosphere. It takes a while for the club to fill up and most people seem to gravitate towards the kicker tables in the early part of the evening, till a few souls brave the dance floor. A fairly large crowd is the norm and by two o’clock the place is pumping. It’s a young, well-dressed crowd—experienced clubbers will find it similar to the old P1 scene. An upbeat club with a fresh atmosphere, no tacky decoration and friendly staff all make Penthaus a decent weekend jam. Blumenstrasse 28 is where you will find Funky Kitchen, an interesting and diverse club. It’s a five-minute walk from the place where you pay your € 6 admission fee to the actual entrance to Funky Kitchen, so be prepared to feel a bit weird when, after walking through a courtyard, you suddenly find yourself in a large room where Hip Hop music is being played at ear-splitting levels. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a coat check, so visitors have to find a chair to drape their jackets over. Funky Kitchen features some top acts, like Daddy G from Massive Attack and Richard Dorfmeister. On some evenings the club also holds readings for those who wish to enjoy a bit of culture in a laid-back environment. On music nights a good-size dance floor with a stage and an awesome video beamer projecting thrilling visuals on the wall behind make for a scintillating experience. The whole club has a designer feel to it, from the chairs and tables to the crowd who frequent the place. The bars are well stocked with every kind of drink and mix, but the beverages are not cheap, so keep an eye on the bill. The club has a well-equipped kitchen and anyone can hire the location and throw a party according to their own tastes. On request Funky Kitchen can even supply you with a DJ. The contact number for reservations is (089) 23 68 57 39. Funky Kitchen has an old school feel to it—probably because it used to be a works canteen for the city of Munich employees—and the visuals and music make a surreal contrast. If you actually manage to find the club—how about putting up a few signs, Funky Kitchen owners?—you will be surprised at how well it has managed to pull off this mix, without ending up looking like a Sunday garage sale. Remember though that the action only really kicks off at around midnight, so don’t get there too early. In the same building as Funky Kitchen on Blumenstrasse 28 is the new club Registratur. As you approach the building, look out for a pink light overhead; it’s just about the only sign that there is a club on the site. As with Funky Kitchen, you have to walk through a large passage into a courtyard to reach the actual location. The entrance is through a tiny metal door with a peephole. There’s no bell, just knock and one of the bouncers will let you in. Admission to Registratur normally costs between € 5 and € 10, depending on what’s on offer on that particular night. And the program is certainly varied: films from independent movie makers from all over the world, exhibitions, debates and forums on art, culture and media—all these can be found at Registratur. For those who come to dance or just enjoy the music on the weekends this place rocks with House and Hip-Hop. Owned by Sebastian Kruse and David Walker, Registratur, once an office block, is now a 1970s-style location with wood paneling and old-fashioned armchairs and couches. The lighting is great and lends an ambient feel to the club. The bar stocks a good variety of drinks and the prices are fair. Probably one of this club’s best selling points is the mix of people it attracts: from a young teenage crowd to a more mature group of clubbers. Registratur is a meeting place for everyone, with something for every taste, and looks set to make a name for itself in the club scene. Just around the corner from the two aforementioned clubs is Monofaktur, at Sonnenstrasse 27. Like the other locations in this area, it is only a short walk from either Stachus or Sendlinger Tor, so consider using public transport rather than a car to get there, as it is almost impossible to find a parking space in the area. The entrance to Monofaktur is not particularly prepossessing—a dingy door at the end of a small passage that leads out on to Sonnenstrasse—however the owner of Monofaktur, Wanja Belaga and ex-Atomic-Café DJ Flo Burgess, have created a sophisticated little club that features an exciting program, including clubbing, concerts, readings and exhibitions. An enormous, back-lit fish tank is the chief decoration at the main bar, so visitors can sit, have a drink and, if the band is really dire, which is unlikely to happen here, count the fish. Monofaktur serves all the standard drinks and at the second bar there is a lounge “area” with some sofas and comfortable armchairs where you can take a break from dancing. The stage is actually in the middle of the club, which makes for a welcome change as it turns the band into the center of attention. Hip-Hop DJs like Nikias Hoffman, DJ Real and DJ Petko are just a few of the names that play every Friday, on “Freak of the Week” nights. Specials of the night include smoking Sheesha—flavored tobacco—through a large water pipe and free vodka shots. The club is open Tuesday to Saturday night and features music from the 1960s to the 1990s with Brit Pop, Experimental and House music all thrown in for good measure—a definite must for those who are looking for an alternative to the more commercial scene. One of Munich’s newest dance locations—club seems a rather tame expression for this huge place—is 4004, at Landsbergerstrasse 169. If you can’t make up your mind what you want to dance to and you’re not too cool to visit such a blatantly commercial venue, then 4004 will deliver. In an area covering more than 4,000 square meters—could this have been the inspiration for the name?—you will find the “Mainstream-Hall,” the “House Club & Orient Lounge,” the “Party Area” and the “Cubanito Club.” What you lose in intimacy at 4004 is made up for by the smart, young crowd (the required minimum age is 20) that hangs out here. Admission prices vary from night to night, but you should reckon on paying around € 8. As is to be expected from this mall-style dance location, there are a number of drawbacks. The large crowds mean you may have to stand in line for a while at the coat check (one disgruntled visitor complained of a 20-minute wait) and the bathroom facilities are not large enough. Further, though not everyone will think of this as a disadvantage, the music is not as loud as in many smaller clubs. Wherever you decide to party this weekend in Munich a lack of choice is not going to be your premier headache. For more information on all the clubs mentioned here visit www.munichx.de.