The 8 Best Bars In Downtown Munich

Munich is Germany‘s third largest city, so whether you’re looking for a dive bar or a posh cocktail joint, the city has something to suit every occasion. While being spoiled for choice can make choosing difficult, we’ve done the hard work for you – here are 8 bars to guaranteed to make your night.

Das Labor

Labor in this instance means laboratory, not hard work, and Das Labor takes the scientific approach to cocktails – waiters here wear lab coats and serve shots ranging from toxic to radioactive to flammable in test tubes. If that all sounds a bit too contrived, the Thursday evening beer pong tournament brings it all down to earth. Be aware that arriving after 9pm on Thursdays means you have to pay an cover. Every other time, entrance is free.

Zephyr

Bar, German

No less a publication than The New York Times named Zephyr as one of the best places to grab a drink in Munich. At Zephyr, ordering a cocktail is akin to buying your very own piece of edible art – how the drink looks is just a important as how it tastes. With an emphasis on local spirits, fresh ingredients and quirky names (Microwave Safe, anyone?), an evening here results in a singular cocktail experience.

Les Fleurs du Mal

Bar, Pub Grub

This bar is a spare room above an already-famous bar with a single table carved from a walnut tree – the perfect setting for imbibing one, or several, of the 150 whiskies, absinthes, cognacs and rare spirits waiting behind the bar at Les Fleurs du Mal. Cheers, Baudelaire.

Bar Gabányi

Bar, Pub Grub, Wine, Beer, Cocktails, Fast Food

Poetry readings, dance performances, chamber music and jazz concerts – these are just some of the highlights at Bar Gabáyani, a sophisticated cocktail lounge in the same neighbourhood as the Oktoberfest grounds. The bartender, Stefan Gabányi worked at Schulman’s American Bar before opening his own place, which includes plenty of deliciously dark corners, couchs and nooks for when the evening starts to slow jam.

Couch Club

With more than 130 types of gin in stock, Couch Club is Valhalla for fans of the juniper berry. Gin tastings happen on the regular and give guests a chances to try more than 100 gin and tonic combinations – malaria prevention never tasted so good. Those who aren’t into gin will still find plenty of alternatives on offer, and the vibe here is chill and relaxed with couches, foosball, music and snacks.

Bar Muenchen

Bar, German

For those times where paying more than €50 for a Simmertal steak is just the right thing to do, Bar Muenchen is the place to do it. Wood panelled and located on one of Munich’s most fancy streets, there’s little not to love about this little slice of heaven. If dinner isn’t on the cards, stopping by for a pre-opera cocktail like the Stagger Lee (cherry liqueur, cherry marmalade, mint and Wild Turkey) is snazzy way to get the evening started.

Padres

Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, German, Street Food, Beer

Lovingly named after what the bar calls “the worst baseball team of all time”, Padres is not your father’s cocktail bar. The rowdy, party-hearty crowd here enjoys original and classic highballs fixed by cocktail historian Marco Beier, along with Bundesliga games on flat screen TVs, making Padres a sports bar for the sophisticated gent.

Cocktail House

Bar, German

For more than 30 years, Cocktail House has been a romantic hotspot in the Schwabing neighbourhood of Munich. Perfect for a date and also for group events, the bar has entire rooms that can be booked ahead Sunday to Thursday for whatever special event you’re looking to celebrate. The vibe is cosy and nostalgic, and the cocktails strong and free-flowing – difficult to get better than that.