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Riva
Watch the pizza acrobats toss and twirl the dough into submission before tickling it with wood fire just long enough to produce perfectly crispy thin crusts. Topping-wise you can go classic with tomato, basil and mozzarella or adventurous with veal slices, tuna creme and capers. Also has a branch in Schwabing.
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Riva Bar
Riva Bar is the sexier sister pizzeria of the original Altstadt branch.
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Rue des Halles
Excellent but expensive French cuisine attracts a 'Rolls-Royce crowd' to this bright modern restaurant near the Gasteig. Count on going into debt for a three-course meal, including a glass of wine.
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Ruffini
This been-there-forever café is a fun place to be no matter where the hands of the clock are. On sunny days, the self-service rooftop terrace gets a steady stream of tattooed scenesters, hip families and wallet-watching students. Organic ingredients are used, wherever possible.
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Schmock
Kosher food gets a gourmet twist at this elegant restaurant with its stucco ornamented ceiling, fresh flowers and complexion-friendly Art Nouveau lamps. The goat cheese in filo is a great overture for such flavour symphonies as venison with chestnut puree.
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Sevenfish
Great and innovative fish dishes, albeit served with a side of trendy aloofness. Get real!
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Shida
Shida's excellent Thai food and intimate atmosphere are justly famous and perennially popular. It's only the size of a shoe box but packs a mean punch in the food stakes. Reservations are essential.
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Showroom
Andreas Schweiger's crossover creations strike just the right balance between adventure and comfort, which is why his restaurant is among the hottest in town. Foie gras spiced with lebkuchen or quail and shrimp with pear-lentil salad pack plenty of substance to please even demanding palates.
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Stragula
This Westend institution has been feeding friendly locals for nearly a quarter century. It maintains a relaxed, livingroom-like feel, holds regular literary readings and serves Bavarian and Italian food.
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Sushi + Soul
The sushi is good, other dishes can be hit or miss but the scene is fun anyway with hipsters washing down piscine morsels with creative cocktails (Tokyopolitan anyone?) while getting showered with Japanese pop. A flirty Sex & the City vibe rules, especially during happy hour ( to and after ) when drinks are half-price.
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Taverna Paros
The simple wooden tables and photos of earthy Greek islanders belie the sophistication of this splendid little eatery. The lamb roast stuffed with fetta cheese will melt in your mouth.
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Tresznjewski
Tresznjewski This classy brasserie has daring artworks and waiters in full-length aprons. Its hip clientele come for breakfast and, later, a flexible menu ranging from delectable pastas and sandwiches to burgers and Bratwurst .
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Unionsbräu Haidhausen
Dried hops dangle from the ceiling of this sophisticated brew-pub that caters to business types at lunchtime and a more rollicking crew after dark. There's a jazz club in the basement (Jazzclub Unterfahrt im Einstein,).
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Vinzenzmurr
Throughout the city, branches of Vinzenzmurr offer the quintessential fast-food experience, with hot buffets and prepared meals. Favourites like Weisswurst (white veal sausage), Leberkäse im Semmel (a spicy meatloaf sandwich) or Schweinebraten mit Knödel (roast pork with dumplings) are among the best lunch deals in town. Salad bars provide some lightweight relief.
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Wasserwerk
This quirky bistro - strewn with ducts, pipes and wheels - plays up the waterworks theme to marvellous effect. Expect a consistently delicious range of quality international cuisine.
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Weisses Brauhaus
Graduates of the sausage-and-pork-knuckle school of Bavarian cooking can mount their own Survivor challenge at this uber-authentic Munich pub, awarded an ecoseal for ecofriendly management.
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Wirtshaus in der Au
A traditional Bavarian restaurant with a solid 21st-century vibe - how refreshing is that? Dumplings are the speciality at this top pick near the Deutsches Museum (try the trio with cheese, red beet and spinach variations) but other favourites, updated of course, also keep regulars coming back. Beer garden in summer, crackling fireplace in winter.
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Woerners
Two cafés merge into one here: the outdoor Café am Dom on the ground floor, giving some of the best seating on the square, and Café Reber upstairs - a Munich institution, with parquet floors, crystal chandeliers and a long, long history.
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Yum2Take
Thai gets a contemporary, healthy twist (all meats are organic) at this stylish lunchtime favourite of cubicle slaves and sales clerks. Luscious dishes like coconut-based tom kha soup, pad thai or a fragrant curry perfectly capture the mood of Siam. Skip the salads - the sickly sweet dressing needs fine-tuning.
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Zapata
It's always fiesta time at Munich's most authentic Mexican cantina where one stiff margarita may be all it takes to drown your sorrows. To stay stable, load up on sizzling fajitas, ginormous burritos and other delicious south-of-the-border staples.
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Zauberberg
Far off the tourist track, this 40-seat locals' favourite will put your tummy into a state of contentment with its elegant, well-composed international creations. Single plates are available but in order to truly sample the chef's talents, you should order a multicourse menu.
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Zerwirk
A vegan haven inside an 800-year-old former meat factory? Kind of a sick twist, but who cares when the chef is a genius at coaxing flavour out of even the humblest vegetable. Swiss chard roulade or spinach bulgur strudel taste delicious in the airy, minimalist dining room. Deli dabblers enjoy healthy soups or salads in the organic food store in the basement.
