The Munich hipster scene might be the most hipstery in the world. Ok, ok… maybe not. Sure it is not as big as London’s or Williamsburg’s, but it is damn near impossible to find and quite underground. Therefore, just about everything hip happening in Munich has yet to break into mainstream activities. It is a scene only known mostly to locals. Despite being relatively unknown, there are plenty of hipster things to do in Munich to ensure you experience an alternative side of Munich. Following this hipster guide to Munich will ensure you leave the city with memories other than just eating pretzels and watching Europe’s second most overrated tourist attraction (the clock at Marienplatz). We will explore farmers’ markets, go thrifting, support local shops, find the best coffee, brunch, street art, hipster things to do, co*cktail bars, unique breweries, and boutique hotels – so, let’s dive in.
This guide complements my sustainable guide to Munich. I also recommend tagging it onto a more traditional itinerary of Munich as a second-day, so you can get a taste of traditional Munich mixed with some of the alternative sights and attractions.
Eat Brunch in Munich
As with all my hipster guides, we start with brunch! Finding the best brunch in Munich is as hard as finding a unicorn in the forbidden forest – unless Voldemort does all the hard work for you of course. Why is brunch so hard to find? Who knows, maybe peeling WeißWurst for decades turned Germans off to the whole brunch thing? Either way, here are a few of my favorites worth checking out. These are all great spots for lunch too and some even stay open for dinner.
Hungriges Herz
Starting with my favorite spot, this has a little bit of everything including amazing coffee, breakfast energy bowls, and bagel egg sandwiches. They have a large menu complete with vegan and vegetarian options, and home-brewed ice tea. The large dining area has ample seating with rustic wooden tables and staff who usually speak English. I could hang out here late into Sunday afternoon drinking coffee or chugging brunch co*cktails.
Fraunhoferstraße 42, 80469 München
Varying hours
Oh Baby I Like It Raw
Looking for something raw to start your day? Well, stop your mind from going into the gutter and head over to “Oh Baby I Like it Raw.” This tiny intimate cafe has tasty meals served up by welcoming owners. Order the smashed avocado toast with salmon and egg – all still considered raw – or try one of their colorful bagel selections.
Rumfordstraße 39, 80469 München
Tue-Fri 9 am – 6 pm, 10 am weekends. Closed Monday
Cotidiano
Another one of my top choices this place has several locations throughout the city. My favorite is the one near the city center at Maxburgerstraße, they have a larger menu and better decor than the other locations. Enjoy everything from burgers garnished with an egg to smashed avocado toast. My favorite part about coming here is ordering their cold brew coffee with coconut infusion. Cold-brew is rare to find in Munich, and this might be the only spot to get it on a hot day!
Maxburgstraße 4, 80333 München
Most days 7:30am – 11pm
Mr. Pancake
The best spot for the wanderlusting hipster. Take a trip around the world with pancakes from 15 countries. Try German Pfannkuchen with cherries and vanilla cream, Spanish pancakes with honey and nuts, English pancakes with lemon and sugar, or classic American style pancakes. This is a family-owned business with an open kitchen, so you’ll see the owner and chef flipping pancakes with both hands on a single stove. This place is quite small and the food comes out when it comes out, so it is not ideal for a large group, but it is a great spot to eat traditional pancakes from around the world!
Gabelsbergerstraße 34, 80333 München
Mon-Fri: 8 am-4 pm Sat-Sun:9 am-5pm
The Victoria House
This place is like what would happen if high tea had a baby with an American style brunch. That means a tea menu larger than the tea tax that caused the Boston Tea Party and lots of mimosas. Pair one of the many tea options with a classic eggs benedict or strawberry pancakes. This is one of the few places in Munich you can get eggs benny. The restaurant is reservation only and is a more upscale option with white tablecloths and timed seatings.
Frauenstraße 14, 80469 München
Mon-Sun: 9:30am – 6pm
Reservations Required
Cafe Puck
A great spot to cure your hangover, Cafe Puck is quite similar to a diner that you might find in the U.S. They are serving up big greasy plates of sausage, eggs, french toast, potato skillets, and much more. Make sure you order a Weißbier with brunch to get the full experience.
Türkenstraße 33, 80799 München
Mon-Sun: 9am-1am
GartenSalon
Perfect for a lighter brunch, this small cafe looks like a garden with green table bases and flowering pink tabletops. They serve premade chia pudding, baked goods and can also make various types of toasts with toppers like lentils or avocado. They have vegan cakes and vegetarian options. They also fresh press juices, so you can start your day with a healthy cleanse. This one is a bit tricky to find, but they usually have a sign out in front of a passageway you have to enter.
Türkenstraße 90, 80799 München
Closed Mon. 9 am-7 pm
Sip Amazing Coffee in Munich
The Munich coffee scene is underwhelming, to say the least. Limited to a few coffee shops that excel in good coffee and citywide hate for wifi, it is damn near impossible to find a place that serves good coffee AND has free WIFI. Trust me, it sucks to work remotely in Munich. But the few that do exist are amazing and these are the best coffee shops for my hipster guide to Munich.
Sustainable Tip: Remember that avoiding dairy is one of the best things you can do for the environment. Always order a non-dairy milk. While multiple alternatives aren’t as available in Munich as they are in some cities, every coffee shop I recommend at least has soy and most have options such as oat and almond.
Cafe Blá
My favorite shop in Munich because they have lots of vegan snacks and drink options, great coffee, ample seating, AND free WIFI, seriously that is so rare for Munich. This Scandinavian coffee shop is ideal if you need to get some work done and add caffeine to your blood while you’re at it. They serve savory and sweet waffles, salads, and yummy baked goods for lunch or breakfast. I recommend the oat milk flat white.
Lilienstraße 34, 81669 München
Most day 9am – 6pm
Man Vs. Machine
Winning the award for the best coffee, according to many a local, this ultra hipster hot spot is complete with tattooed and bearded men making your coffee and offering bite-sized beetroot brownies. With a small interior and no WIFI this isn’t a place to hang out all day, but it is perfect for a great cup of coffee.
Müllerstraße 23, 80469 München
Mon-Fri: 8am – 6pm Sat: 9am – 7pm Sun: Closed
The Lost Weekend
This hip university hangout has plenty of room and an all-vegan drink and snack menu. The tables are made from old cardboard boxes, and there is a little bookstore attached and free WIFI. Popular among students this is an ultra hipster hangout that meets all your zero waste and vegan goals by serving food in glass reusable jars and recycling everything they can. They just opened a second location in the 25Hours Hotel. This second location has live music and a large working space hidden along with green plants, so you feel like you’re in an atrium. This is a great place to hang out and get some work done regardless if you’re staying at Munich’s best hotel or just need a place to escape.
Schellingstraße 3, 80779 München
Mon-Fri: 8am – 8pm
Gangundgäbe
A specialty and boutique roster in Munich their coffee is top-notch and tasty! The roster is in the seating area, so the smell of fresh beans fill your nostrils while you enjoy a perfect cappuccino. It is a small location, but don’t let that fool you with a 5-star review on Google, you really can’t go wrong here.
Kapuzinerstraße 12, 80337 München
Really weird hours and closed on the weekend for some ungodly reason.
Standl 20
Some argue the coffee here is better than Man vs Machine and the service is even better. I agree with the later, but the former is up for debate. Shop at Elisabeth market and take a break at this cozy little store. The menu includes a few tasty little treats to give you some energy for your day. You can also buy beans here if need to stock up.
Elisabethmarkt, Elisabethpl. Stand Nr. 20, 80796 München
Mon-Sat: 8:30am -5pm Sun: Closed
Explore Munich’s Best Street Art
At first look, Munich looks incredibly clean and organized with no street art adorning the walls, but commissioned art has been popping up more frequently and there are a few spots for some uncommissioned art as well.
Sustainable Tip: Make sure to rent a bike or use your own two feet to check out Munich’s street art! While our public transportation is great, seeing all the street art is actually better on a bike, since a lot of the pieces are along our gorgeous Isar bike trail or away from an U-Bahn.
Open Air Gallery/Streetgalerie Donnersbergerbrücke
Munich’s open-air art gallery is a great place to see commissioned street art under a busy bridge in Munich. The main purpose of the area is a parking lot, but the eccentric and colorful art pieces make it worth a peek. Take a wander from piece to piece and grab food from the food trucks nearby for a full hipster experience.
Donnersbergerbrücke, 80636 München
Isar Bike Path Street Art
The entire stretch of the Isar from Wittelsbacherbrücke to Luitpoldbrücke is filled with commissioned and noncommissioned street art. I suggest renting a bike and riding that entire stretch to check out the art, stopping at Muffathalle Biergarten for a drink, which happens to be covered in street art. Give yourself some time at Luitpoldbrücke, but be careful of the bike traffic if you stop for photos. The tunnel here is painted with some trippy Alice in Wonderland art.
Student Housing at Olympia Dorf
The student and university housing over at Olympia Dorf celebrate art by allowing students to turn their dorms into works of art. Each housing unit has its own personality that shines through. You can wander the alleyways and check out the unique pieces of art.
Thanks to my friend Christina from Happy to Wander for lending me this photo. Christina used to live in one of these buildings, look for her art that is Lion King-themed!
Connollystraße 3, 80809 München
Shlachthof
What a fun name, huh? The name translates to the slaughterhouse. No longer used to kill animals this area was transformed into a cultural center and covered in street art. There are some cool events inside, which I talk about in the hipster things to do before they’re cool section, but take some time to walk around the entire brick wall along the outside of the Schlachthof and appreciate the art. Some of the pieces are commissioned and some are not, but they are all great!
Zenettistraße 9, 80337 München
Hipster Things to do Before They’re Cool
I mentioned before, the Munich hipster scene is quite underground, so you can officially say, “I did that before it was cool,” by experiencing these hidden gems.
Explore Werksviertel Mitte
This ultra-hip container park is one of the best hipster things you can do in Munich. It is an added bonus the area supports local and small businesses. This large compound is filled with reused shipping containers painted with street art, making this another good stop on your street art tour. The concept here is to allow small businesses to lease a container for three months for a low cost. This enables the small business to test the waters and see if people are in interested enough in their product before they sign a permanent lease. I think this is such a great idea and more small businesses should have this opportunity. Inside the containers, you’ll find local spirits, handmade crafts, food, bars, art, and much more! Support your small businesses and come to the Werksviertel Mitte!
Grafinger Str. 2, 81671 München
Party at Bahnwärter Thiel
Similar vibe to the Werksviertel Mitte, (lots of shipping containers covered in street art), but without the small businesses and add a party. A retired U-Bahn or subway car set the stage for a DJ booth and bar. Dance in the dance floor pit with recycled pallets for seating when you need a break, climb a ladder to sunbathe in a loft with recycled carpets and pillows, or swing from the hammocks while the party happens around you. This is a seriously cool and hip place to party and it reminds me a lot of something you would see in Berlin.
Tumblingerstraße 29, 80337 München
Hit up A Tollwood Festival
There are two Tollwood festivals that happen every year, a summer and a winter event. If you are headed to Winter Tollwood, which is a large sustainable Christmas market, check out this post on winter activities in Munich. The summer Tollwood is a festival with live performances, handmade goods, beach bars, and outdoor beer gardens.
Explore A Graveyard
I’m obsessed with the alter Südfriedhof, which is the old south graveyard. Some of the graves here date back to the 1700s, but it is still well maintained, making it a great place to explore. This massive half kilometer long park/graveyard has walking and running paths, so you can stroll among the dead. Keep an eye out for the faceless angel, which is my favorite tombstone.
Thalkirchner Str. 17, 80337 München
Shop at a Zero Waste Store
Ohne Laden is a zero-waste supermarket that is making waves for minimal living in Munich with its progressive and responsible methods. Stop by to get a bamboo travel toothbrush, bar shampoo, reusable water bottles, coffee, snacks for the road, and even gin! This small local business has been huge for the Munich community, and they are worth checking out to see how the rest of the world should shop!
Schellingstraße 42, 80799 München
Escape Room
Munich has several escape rooms, but the best ones are Fox in a Box and Munich Escape Room, as both have English options. Fox in a Box has many escape options from a Tesla escape mystery, a prison break, and a bunker escape. Munich Escape Room only has two, a Brewery escape from a mysterious 7th brewery and a lost island theme. These are great for group trips or meetups for work.
Watch the Surfers
This might be a bit basic by now, but it is still really cool to see the surfers in action. Head to the Isar river for endless surfing. Rain or shine some people will be there to entertain you with their wild surfing antics!
Prinzregentenstraße, 80538 München
Find an Alternative Christmas Market
If normal Christmas markets are too basic for you, which trust me they are, check out any of the alternative markets. Munich has an LBGTQI market called Pink, and a boutique artisan market, and more. Check them out here.
Rave at the World’s Largest Science and Technology Museum
Are you a party monster? Head over to Blitz, one of Munich’s underground techno clubs located in the belly of the Deutsches Museum. This clubs has 2 rooms, a no-phone policy, a state of the art sound system, and dirty dirty German techno.
Museumsinsel 1, Access via Ludwigsbrücke, 80538 München
Open Fri-Sat night
Take the Hey Minga Tour
The “Hey Minga Tour” is an alternative Munich tour owned and operated by a German company. The tour guides are local and know some of the city’s best-kept secrets. The tour highlights local businesses while stopping at little Venice in Munich and teaching you about some alternative sights. Personally, after doing the Hey Minga tour I think my guide is more comprehensive, but if you have a few hours to kill and want to talk to a local this tour might be for you!
Indulge in Street Food and Tasty Treats
Don’t miss some of Munich’s best treats and street food, your Instagram will thank you!
Sustainable Tip: Make sure to have your own spoon ready to eat the ice cream and to have your own utensils ready to go at the food trucks. Places in Munich are transitioning to more zero-waste options, but they still have a ways to go.
Ice Cream and Froyo
Munich locals LOVE ice cream so it is no surprise there are dozens of fantastic ice cream and gelato shops around. However, these are a few of my favorite.
Der verrückte Eismacher – im Wunderland This Alice in Wonderland themed ice cream parlor is a funky stop for great ice cream. Sit among mushrooms and caterpillars while you enjoy a wide variety of flavors including an “only in Munich” flavor of Augustiner Beer, which literally tastes like straight-up beer.
EisCafe Eismeer This lovely ice cream spot is in the heart of the LBGTQI district and owned by a gay couple. They serve gourmet ice cream bowls overflowing with decadent toppings. They also have a full bar where you can get ice cream beer floats and champagne ice co*cktails.
I love Leo It took a while for the Froyo craze to hit Munich, but as an avid Froyo lover, I am glad it did. “I love Leo” is one of the best spots for this treat. With fresh local berries and homemade sauces, this tart real frozen yogurt will cool you off on a hot day.
Gute Nacht Wurst
A perfect mix of traditional German Wurst and a modern approach. Try vegan currywurst, or any of their other types of wurst with sausages, enter their spicy sauce wurst competition, or just stop by when you have the late-night munchies.
Food Trucks
Grillin Me Softly – Munich’s first fast gourmet food is on mobile wheels. In a different part of the city every day of the week, this moving truck is making waves. They have gourmet burgers, including a veggie and fish option along with a healthy salad. Find the location.
Tram Cafe this hipster crepe cafe in an old tram car serves up everything from sweet to savory crepes. Wredestraße 10, 80335 München
Donnersburgerbrücker Food Trucks Underneath the Donnersburgerbrücker S- Bahn station you’ll find a hand full of food trucks from kebap to Bavarian-style roasted chicken.
Chocolaterie Beluga
A local Munich chocolate shop, this cozy little spot is inviting and the perfect place to take a much-needed chocolate break. They serve gourmet chocolates from Belgian pralines to hot chocolate on a stick. Look for them open seven days a week in the Viktualienmarkt
Viktualienmarkt 6, 80331 München
Schmalznudel – Cafe Frischhut
The oldest pastry shop in Munich was hipster before you were a hipster. Located in an old building with a vintage sign hanging above the door, you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. They serve up a traditional Bavarian pastry called Schmalznudel, which is almost like a light airy cheese danish, without the cheese. Ask for it dusted in sugar or without and take one to go, you won’t find anything like this every day.
Prälat-Zistl-Straße 8, 80331 München
Mon-Sat: 8am – 6pm
Wir Machen Cupcakes
What is a hipster guide without an instagrammable cupcake? This adorable small business serves homemade cupcakes shaped like unicorns and foxes in a variety of flavors and styles. This is the perfect little spot if you need a sugary pick-me-up to get you through the day or are celebrating anyone’s birthday.
Frauenstraße 11, 80469 München
Eat Vegan and Vegetarian Food
While Munich might be known to the outside world for their pork knuckle and schnitzel, vegan and vegetarian diets are quite popular among Munich hipsters and environmentally responsible locals. As long as you avoid German restaurants that consider vegetarian food gnocchi or baked potato, you’ll find that Munich has an amazing vegan and vegetarian food scene.
Sustainable Tip: Are all vegetarians hipsters? We like to think so, haha. Not eating meat (and dairy as mentioned above) is the single best way to help the planet, don’t believe me read this.
Gratitude
If you are vegan, treat yourself to dinner here at least once on your trip to Munich. This fully vegan restaurant serves up a flavorful coursed dinner menu paired with organic wines. It is an upscale restaurant that has a great ambiance and wait staff. The food was so tasty, even my non-vegan family loved it!
Türkenstraße 55, 80799 München
Lunch seating and a dinner seating
Closed Monday
Reservations Recommended
Emmi’s Kitchen Glockenbachviertel
You’ll feel right at home with hearty vegetarian soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries. This small intimate cafe is a great escape from many of the large meat-heavy restaurants in Munich. The owners are friendly and go above and beyond to make sure you are happy. The last time I visited they also had a yoga studio attached, so if you feel like you want to get some stretches in, check out their classes.
Buttermelcherstraße 11-15, 80469 München
Mon-Sat: 11am – 6pm Sun: Closed
Wagners
One of my favorite places for a quick healthy lunch, they serve up acai and other superfood bowls, smoothies, juices, and salads. They have comfy seating and WIFI, so if you need to get any work done, this is a great place to do so!
Fraunhoferstraße 43, 80469 München
Mon-Fri: 8am – 6:30
Siggis
A 100% vegan restaurant that wonderfully cooks up fresh fusion food with Mexican and Asian flavors. Come for a nice intimate candle dinner, or just swing by for a wrap to-go. They also have vegan sweet treats like ice cream and pastries.
Westenriederstraße 37, 80331 München
Mon-Sun: 11am-10pm
READ MORE: Check out my entire post dedicated to vegan and vegetarian food in Munich.
9. Drink Craft co*cktails and Microbrews in Munich
Munich is so much more than the 6 major breweries, for a massively detailed guide, check out my nightlife guide to Munich. But for the best hipster brews and co*cktails check out this shortlist.
Sustainable Tip: Remember to ALWAYS order your drink without a straw and make sure you carry your own if you need it. Even more so, if you’re at an outdoor event using plastic, bring your own cup! To say without straw in German you say, “Ohne (oh-ney) Strohhalm (strow halm).”
Flushing Meadows
My favorite bar in Munich, this rooftop hidden gem sits atop a boutique hotel in the heart of Munich’s most vibrant neighborhood. They serve rotating drinks with Bavarian names sourced from local ingredients and they top it off with a paper straw. It doesn’t get more hipster than this!
Fraunhoferstraße 32, 80469 München
Unsure of the hours, but later around 7 pm-2 am-ish
Jaded Monkey
A co*cktail bar that belongs in Melbourne or New York this swanky bar serves up some wild co*cktails with unique ingredients and complex recipes. The mixologists are talented and only make some of the best drinks in Munich. This place is expensive and the drinks are so complicated at times it can take a while to make. The money and the time is well worth the end result though.
Herzog-Wilhelm-Straße 25, 80331 München
Sun-Mon: 8pm – 3am
Boilerman Bar
A new bar in town this, this one is located inside the 25Hours Hotel, and if you know their brand you know they have good bars! Watering locals and travelers alike, this is a lap-top free bar with tasty drinks and a great vibe. They only serve Highball co*cktails so try the Highball of the day or stick to the classic Scotch and Soda.
Bahnhofplatz 1, 25hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, 80335 München
7 pm – 1 am later on weekends
Geisinger Brew
These guys are just as serious about beer, if not more so than the big six breweries. They don’t joke around when it comes to beer and neither should you. Straying from the traditional purity laws they have flavorful and strong brews that are refreshing compared to the traditional beer. Stop by their brewery for good beer, good food, and all local products. They only ship within Bavaria, so this is a really unique experience.
Martin-Luther-Straße 2, 81539 München
Open by 11 am every day.
Crew Republic
Another hipster microbrew these guys basically say they do what they want and if you don’t like it, too bad. They love their ales, so try their Pale Ale, American Ale or their take on a Helles. Keep an eye out for their beer at any of the bars or head to their brewery for a tour.
Andreas-Danzer-Weg 30, 85716 Unterschlei atßheim
Friday 4–8 PM
Sleep at a Boutique Hotel
Munich hotels are hit or miss. Often times they are over-priced and stuffy and at other times they are old and drab. Finding the right hipstery goodness isn’t the easiest, but thankfully I’ve chosen two of my favorite centrally located boutique hotels so you can get a good night’s sleep.
25Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian
My favorite hotel in Munich, The Royal Bavarian combines luxury and a hip ambiance for the young-at-heart traveler. It is centrally located so you’re not far from both the Hauptbahnhof and Munich’s major tourist sights. You’ll love finding all the hidden gems that showcase the Royal Bavarian bloodline, like swans and the color blue, sprinkled around the hotel. The rooms are comfortable and decorated in line with the Bavarian theme, but are a bit small. You won’t want to spend much time in your room though with a great coffee shop, lounge, bar, and the fantastic Israeli fusion restaurant, NENI all within your reach. They even offer bicycles and mini coppers to explore Munich on two or four wheels. You won’t want to check out once you arrive.
Bahnhof. 1, 80335 München
To book your stay, follow this link.
I would like to thank the 25Hours for inviting me to stay with them to complete the hotel portion of this guide. All opinions are my own and all other recommendations and activities are tried and tested personally and not sponsored in any way.
Flushing Meadows
Another great boutique hotel that focuses on minimal and classy design. Owned and operated by Munich locals this is a great gem in the heart of Munich’s lively Glockenbach neighborhood. Large rooms and floor to ceiling windows facing the Alps set the mood for a relaxing time. Head up to the bar for a great co*cktail if you are looking for a little more action.
Fraunhoferstraße 32, 80469 München
Explore Munich’s Alternative Neighborhoods
Glockenbach
My home turf and a great alternative neighborhood. This is the heart of the LBGTQI district and you’ll find lots of great boutique shops, restaurants, bars, ethical, and rainbow maypoles! This is a vibrant neighborhood where mostly fun-loving locals like to hang out. I suggest using Gartnerplatz as a launching point and checking out any of the roads around there and finishing the day down by the Isar river drinking beer and watching the sunset.
Universität
The most hipster neighborhood in Munich, but also a bit more touristy than Glockenbach. One of Munich’s main universities is the lifeline of this area, so you’ll find lots of alternative university hangouts, lower prices, lots of vegan options, thrift stores, and minimal plastic waste.
Münchner Freiheit
A bit more upscale with pockets of hipster things to do, this area is the old artist district of Munich, so you’ll find lots of good markets and art stores selling locally handmade items. Right around the U-Bahn stop, there are quite a few local bars and restaurants to finish the day on a positive note.
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