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8 Seasons
This flirty dancing den has a famous after-work party on Tuesdays (one free drink and a buffet), a chill rooftop terrace, a sensuous designer look and changing DJs that spin 'Happy Feet'-inducing house and electro beats.
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Alter Simpl
Thomas Mann and Hermann Hesse used to knock 'em back at this legendary thirst parlour which is also a good place to satisfy midnight munchies as bar bites are available until one hour before closing time. The curious name, by the way, is an abbreviation of the satirical magazine Simplicissimus .
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Augustiner Bräustuben
Depending on the wind, an aroma of hops envelops you as you approach this ultra-authentic beer hall inside the actual Augustiner brewery and hence popular with the brewmeisters themselves (there's an entire table reserved just for them). The Bavarian grub here is superb, especially the Schweinshaxe . Giant black draft horses are stabled behind glass on your way to the loo.
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Augustiner-Grossgaststätte
This sprawling place has a less raucous atmosphere than most and better food. Altogether it's a much more authentic example of an old-style Munich beer hall, complete with secluded courtyards and hunting trophies.
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Baader Café
This literary think-and-drink place gets everyone from short skirts to tweed jackets to mingle beneath the conversation-fuelling map of the world. Lines for the awesome Sunday brunch are longer than for the clubs that got everyone hungover the night before.
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Bau
Bilevel bar that's party central for manly men with nary a twink in sight but plenty of leather, Levis and uniforms. The foam parties in the small cellar darkroom are legendary.
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Bei Carla
This energised scene staple behind the drab façade has been keeping lesbians happy since, well, like forever. It's a popular spot with a good mixed-age crowd, lots of regulars and snack foods if you're feeling peckish.
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Biergarten Muffatwerk
Think of this one as a progressive beer garden with reggae instead of oompah, civilised imbibing instead of brainless guzzling, organic meats, fish and vegetables on the grill and the option of chilling in lounge chairs. Plus it's open late.
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Black Bean
If you think the only decent 'brew' Bavarians made is beer, train your Java radar to this regional retort to Starbucks. The organic coffee gets tops marks and so do the muffins.
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Braunauer Hof
Near the Isartor, this pleasingly twisted beer garden is centred on a snug courtyard. There's a hedge maze, a fresco with a bizarre bunch of historical figures and a golden bull that's illuminated at night.
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Café Cord
A good stop for breakfast (served to ), a light lunch or coffee, Cord also makes for an ideal first pit stop for a long night ahead on the club circuit. In summer, the super-tasty global fare tastes best on the romantic, twinkle-lit courtyard.
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Café Glockenspiel
Not exactly an insider tip but still much beloved for eye-level views of the Neues Rathaus glockenspiel, ideally from the rooftop terrace.
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Die Carmens
This sizzling venue for dancing, cruising and drinking attracts the entire GLBT community with quirky décor and an upbeat music mix of '80s, charts and club sounds. Transgendered folks get in for free.
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Dreigroschenkeller
Cosy and labyrinthine, this cellar pub has rooms based upon Bertolt Brecht's Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), ranging from a prison cell to a red satiny salon. There's great beer and wine, and an extensive menu (mostly hearty German stuff).
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Eat the Rich
Strong cocktails served in half-litre glasses quickly loosen inhibitions at this sizzling 'meet' market where wrinkle-free hotties mix it up with banker types halfway up the career ladder. A great spot to crash when the party's winding down everywhere else. Food is served till .
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Erste Liga
You better be a top-rated 'player' to make it into hot 'n heavy 'Premier League'. Beyond the velvet rope awaits a stylish basement club dressed in shock green where high-profile DJs whip the crowd into a frenzy with sassy electro. The cool dance floor lights up with LEDs.
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Götterspeise
If the Aztecs thought of chocolate as the elixir of the gods, then this shop-cum-café must be heaven. Cocoa addicts satisfy their cravings with rave-worthy French chocolate cake, thick hot drinking chocolate, handmade ganache and even chocolate-flavoured 'body paint' for those wishing to double their sins.
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Günther Murphy's Irish Tavern
One of the most popular Irish pubs in Munich, this cellar bar is usually packed to the gills with a good mix of locals, expats and tourists. Well worth a visit.
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Harry Klein
An amazing alchemy of electro sound and visuals, this party palace gets a punky-funky crowd fired up for extended dance-a-thons. Great place to crash in the wee hours. Major cool factor: live video art mixes projected onto the walls.
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Hirschau
This beer garden for 1700 people has live jazz almost daily in summer, and Spaten and Franziskaner on tap. Kids get their kicks on the playground and adjacent minigolf course. Take the U6 to Dietlindenstrasse, then it's a 15-minute walk.
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Hirschgarten
The 'Everest' of Munich gardens can accommodate up to 8000 Augustiner lovers, but still manages to feel airy and uncluttered. It's in a lovely spot in a former royal hunting preserve and rubs up against a deer enclosure and a carousel. Steer here after visiting Schloss Nymphenburg - it's a only a short walk south of the palace.
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Hofbräukeller
Not to be confused with its better-known cousin in the city centre, this sprawling, very atmospheric restaurant-cum-beer garden retains an early 20th century air. Locals in Tracht (traditional costume) come here to guzzle big mugs of foaming beer alongside the regular specials of roast pork (around €5 ).
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Jodlerwirt
One of Munich's earthiest pubs has an accordion-playing host and stand-up comic who spread good cheer in yodelling sessions at the upstairs bar. By the end of the evening you'll find yourself locked arm-in-arm with complete strangers.
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K&K
Only the name and some of the furnishings recall the days when this was a stuffy Austrian gourmet restaurant and not an upbeat DJ-and-drinks den. Creative lighting gives even pasty-faced hipsters a healthy glow.
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Kilombo
Having been kicked out of its Haidhausen outpost, Christian Blau reopened his cult pub in September 2007 in multicultural Westend, which he considers Munich's most 'urban' area. Check your attitude at the door and make new friends over reasonably priced drinks and at occasional literary readings.
