Chances are, you already know what you’ll be ordering when you get to Munich: Beer and pretzels and all sorts of schnitzels! But, if you want a bit of variety and want to try a few other authentic German dishes while visiting the stunning Bavarian city, here are some additional options for must-eat foods in Munich and must-have drinks.

Must-eat foods in Munich

Pretzels

You can’t order a beer in Munich without ordering a giant salted pretzel to go with it! You just can’t! It’s no secret that salty foods pair well with beer and when you take your first bite of that soft pretzel, you’ll probably already be looking for your server to order another one.

Obatzda cheese

Want extra flavor with your salty pretzel? Order some obatzda cheese and have fun dipping your bready treat into this interesting Bavarian cheese spread. It’s made from mixing a soft cheese with butter and some seasonings like salt, pepper, and paprika. The reason it pairs so well with beer? There’s a hint of beer mixed in as well!

Any kind of wurst and sauerkraut

Bratwurst, currywurst, cheddarwurst, the list goes on when it comes to sausages you can enjoy in Germany. Be sure to top it with some sauerkraut for the real deal.

Pork Schnitzel

A pork cutlet with breading and often served with a lemon or butter sauce. Pair it with red cabbage or another type of slaw or mashed potatoes.

Jagerschnitzel

Similar to the pork schnitzel but jagerschnitzel is a step above with the delicious mushroom gravy served on top. Pair it with red cabbage or spaetzle.

Bavarian potato-cucumber salad

A popular side dish, this potato salad is made with yukon and red potatoes and thinly sliced cucumber, vinegar, dry white wine, dijon mustard, and a variety of spices.

Spaetzle

One of my favorite german dishes, this side dish (or entree if you just can’t get enough) is made with soft egg noodles and seasoned with butter, salt, and white pepper. I order mine when it’s smothered in cheese, easy to do when dining at German restaurants back in the states.

Red cabbage

Add a serving of braised red cabbage (often cooked with onions, potatoes, and apples for flavor) to your meal for an authentic side dish option.

Knodle

These dumplings are made from potatoes, eggs, and flour and served in a variety of forms and sometimes include fillings like ham. You might even find plum knodle or dumplings on the menu for dessert.

German chocolate cake

We can’t skip on dessert even though all that beer and breading is filling! When in Munich, be sure to save room for some delicious German chocolate cake to round out your meal! The moist, chocolatey cake with gooey caramel and chopped pecans is the best way to finish your dining out experience in Germany and stick to an authentic dish.

Berliners

Another traditional option is to order berliners, or doughnuts with a cream or fruit filling. Go classic with dark chocolate or go tarty with raspberry or cherry! This doughy but decadent creations are definitely worth saving room for – perhaps by skipping that second round of pretzels!

Strudel

At a beer hall in Munich I had an amazing apple strudel with vanilla ice cream with a light dusting of powdered sugar and a little dollop of whipped cream on the side. It was light and elegant and not too sweet.

Must-drink beverages in Munich

When it comes to beer, the Germans definitely know what they’re doing – as they should since beer has been brewed in this region since the 1300s. If you want to do as the locals do when touring Munich, you’ll want to head to the beer halls or beer gardens if you want to try different beers from different brewers.

The biggest brewers have their own beer halls and many supply their beverages to the local beer gardens, and both experiences are worth saving some time for during your trip. Both options have food as well to help soak up all that beer you’re downing. For the best beer hall experiences, you’ll want to visit:

Augustiner-Brau

The original brewery for the Bavarian royal family, the Wittelsbachs, until Hofbrauhaus took over, this historic brewery is known for their dunkels and have been producing beer since the 1200s – though their brewery didn’t receive an official name until 1328. Over the years, they’ve perfected their classic recipes and added new beers to their lineup, like their pils and Oktoberfest brew.

Order their dunkel, helles, or weissbier when there.

Hofbrauhaus

This popular brewery even has locations in the United States, but you should definitely pay a visit to their beer hall in Munich – even it’s just for the atmosphere or live oompah music! The hall is beautiful in itself and a visit there with a liter of beer is a popular bucket list activity for Munich.

Order the Hofbrau original, dunkel, or Oktoberfest when in-season.

Tegernseer Tal Brauhaus

Located in the bustling Marienplatz, is the Tegernseer Tal brewhouse. They’ve been brewing beer since 1433 and they’ve perfected their brews quite nicely.

Go for the dunkel, helles, or weiss beer.

Want to enjoy your beer al fresco? Or, want a variety of options to mix and match different styles from different brewers? Head to these fun Munich beer gardens:

Chinesischer Turm

Located near the university and in the English Garden, a park in Munich that’s larger than New York City’s Central Park, this popular beer garden attracts quite the crowd and for good reason. There’s plenty of outdoor seating (about 7,000 seats) and space for everyone and it’s easy to enjoy a beautiful walk in the park after all your beer and food. They only serve beers from Hofbrau.

Hirschgarten

The world’s largest beer garden, with 8,000 seats, and a great self-service area for food. They serve beer from Augustiner and Tegernseer. There is a deer park neighboring this giant Munich beer garden so you might enjoy some wildlife sightings during your experience there. This garden is also popular for soccer fans as they play the games on five large screens. Don’t forget to partake in the tradition that guests wash out their own beer mugs when finished!

Lowenbraukeller

This beer garden offers Lowenbrau beers as well as other German specialty drinks like the radler (beer mixed with lemon soda) or apfelschorle (apple juice and sparkling water). The trees provide plenty of shade so your beer stays cooler longer, as do you. You’re welcome to bring your own picnic lunch or you can visit the food vendors and get flammkuchen (German pizza), or a variety of barbecued meats and burgers.

Viktualienmarkt

Go where the locals go and visit this beer garden and outdoor market! Find a spot among the 600 seats in the self-service section or enjoy service at one of the 200 available seats in that section. For beer, you can order from the major Munich brewers: Augustiner, Hofbrau, Paulaner, Spaten, and Hacker-Pschorr.

Want more info on what beers to drink in Germany? Check out our beer guide to make sure you order the best beer on the menu!

Wines to drink in Munich

I definitely enjoy a good German lager when the occasion calls for it…

But I inherited my parents’ love of wine and am definitely a wine enthusiast at heart. Luckily, Germany joins in with its European neighbors and creates some wonderful Old World wines in case you need a breather from beer while you’re there. While Germany is the eighth biggest wine producer in the world, their climate isn’t known for turning out exceptional reds so you’re better off ordering a white wine, or expecting a light bodied red. Their climate is ripe for dry rieslings and most of the wines available in restaurants tend to be dry or off-dry.

For what wines to drink in Munich, opt for:

• Sekt (sparkling white wine)
• Riesling
• Gewurztraminer
• Pinot noir

What’s your favorite meal and beer combo in Munich? Tell us in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter!