Munich, Germany

No German city is better known for relishing the culture of eating and drinking than Munich. Spending hard-earned cash on culinary extravagances has become second nature to the locals.

The city boasts many restaurants ranging from the good to the very good, however it should be noted that the quality of the cooking is not the only thing that is high, the prices are fixed accordingly. Restaurants are mostly located in the inner city areas: City Center, Schwabing, Maxvorstadt and Isarvorstadt.

Altstadt

Those who fear the tourist crowds of the famous Hofbräuhaus should head for the Andechser am Dom , where they serve beer brewed by monks at the Andechs Monastery , 50 kilometers outside Munich. For those who have had their fill of Bavarian beer, there are always the fine wines of the Pfälzer Weinprobierstube . Of course Munich is not without its share of traditional Bavarian cooking and is famous for its roast pork, dumplings, cabbage and white sausages. Traditional dishes from Upper Bavaria, prepared in the good old-fashioned way are available at Weißes Bräuhaus.

Maxvorstadt and Schwabing

International cuisine is served at Hunsinger's Pacific , which offers "Fusion Cooking" and a luxurious ambiance, at the higher end of the price scale. Some consider Munich to be "Italy's Northern-Most City," which is confirmed by the sheer number of Italian restaurants. Try the pizza at Bei Mario and the traditional Italian cooking at Osteria Italiana .

The Spanish taste for fish has also left its mark on Munich, in cozy restaurants with a relaxed and laid-back feel to them, such as Casa de Tapas . The Asian influence can also be felt, with restaurants like Man Fat serves traditional Chinese cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere.

Those who relish a skillfully prepared fish dish should try one of the Japanese restaurants - their numbers are increasing rapidly in Munich as Sushi becomes more and more popular. Tokami is a good place to try some great food.

Young people congregate in the fashionable Tex-Mex bars such as Enchilada and Tijuana . Specialties from the African continent are to be had at the Blue Nile . Those who have tried and tested it all should perhaps head for the land down under at Outland , which offers the exotics of Australian cuisine.

Isarvorstadt

The flagship of Munich's gastronomical community is Tantris, which has won several awards by the Michelin Guide critics. Munich's luxury restaurants also includes small and intimate places with a loyal regular customer base; such as Boettner , which has remained true to its elegant tradition for generations, as well as Kleinschmidtz , which has in recent years successfully transformed itself from a stylish French bistro into a popular venue for those in the know. Interview , an Italian restaurant popular among Munich's elite can be found here, across the street from the Gärtnerplatztheater . Pacific Times serves pan Asian dishes with plenty of fresh seafood and vegetables. Pimpernel is a hip gay bar that is frequented by straights, and which serves light bar food until the early hours.

Munich has a lot of diversity to offer. The old part of Munich, the Altstadt, is extremely elegant and is well worth exploring; however, food options for a small budget are rare. From Karlsplatz to the Isartor , Munich's various culinary facets should be explored, as well as the beautiful architecture dating back centuries.

Karlstor From the Karlsplatz , which the natives call "Stachus", you walk through the Karlstor , which was once part of the city wall that Ludwig the Bavarian built at around 1300. Today, only two towers can be seen, the main tower was demolished following concerns about its structural safety. If you now walk into the Neuhauser Straße, which is the city's main pedestrian zone, you will see the church of St. Michael to your left. This 16th-century church was built for the Jesuits. From the outside, it looks big but not particularly impressive, but don't be fooled. Its interior is picturesque and the domed ceiling is second only to St. Peter's in Rome. Should you feel hungry, the exclusive Restaurant Vue Maximilian located inside the Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten has a variety of delicious dishes to offer all cooked with regional and seasonal ripened produce.

Frauenkirche Turn towards the Frauenplatz: this is where the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) stands, which is the city's cathedral. Covering an area greater than the average football pitch and with its distinctive twin towers, Frauenkirche is widely regarded as Munich's most prominent landmark. On entering this late Gothic structure, be sure to look at the floor where you will see a large footprint, said to be that of the devil. From the Frauenkirche, you should now walk towards the heart of the city, the Marienplatz . This square is dominated by the New Town Hall ( Neue Rathaus ), whose carillon attracts hundreds of tourists every day - 38 figurines dance to the tune of the bells at 11a and 5p. Once you have left the church, carry on walking along the pedestrian zone until you reach the German Hunting and Fishing Museum ( Deutsches Jagd und Fischereimuseum , which is housed in what used to be the Augustinian church. Special features here are the skillfully made hunting sledges. For a light Mediterranean meal in surreal ambiance, visit the Garden Restaurant at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof .

St. Peter, Isartor and Viktualienmarkt Karl Valentin was the city's most famous comedian and a museum dedicated to him can be found in the Isartor , which was once Munich's Eastern gate. For those that favor a more cozy atmosphere, there is always the Turmstübl which is part of the Valentin Karlstadt Musäum . End your tour with a coffee, an apple strudel, some sausages or some other typically Bavarian dish in the museum's cafe which is at the top of the Isartor. One of Munich's highlights is located approximately 50 meters (160 feet) next to the Isartor: St. Peter , Munich's oldest parish church. Climb the 302 wooden steps of "Old Peter" (Alter Peter) and admire a view of the city from above. On a clear day, you can see forever, well, to the Alps at least! The surrounding buildings of St. Peter are also a treat. Many gothic buildings haven't been destroyed by World War II. To the South of St. Peter's is the Viktualienmarkt , which is an open-air food market. Stop and have a beer in the beer garden if you feel like it.

Olympiapark The Olympiapark is located about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of the Altstadt. Beautifully integrated into the landscape of Oberwiesenfeld, the park was originally built for the 20th Olympic Games 1972. Today, it is a major attraction for locals and tourists alike. Enjoy the breathtaking view across Munich and the Alpine scenery from the 287-meter (950-foot) tall Olympiaturm or watch the most famous rockstars perform at the Olympiahalle . During the summer months the Sommerfest Olympiapark attracts thousands of visitors to enjoy good music and fantastic food. At the Theatron , located near the picturesque Olympiasee (Lake Olympia) you will be able to listen to the latest Rock- and Jazz bands that Munich has to offer.

Englischer Garten The Englischer Garten (English Garden) is Munich's most famous park with numerous options to enjoy some relaxing peace and quiet. One of the architectural highlights of the park is the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower). The tower was built in 1789 and mainly used for music events, and to have a good view of the park from above. The nearby beergarden invites to a hearty supper, the obligatory Maß (a liter of beer) included, of course. Close to the tower lies the Monopteros , resembling a Greek temple, which was built by King Luis I. In the 1960s the Monopteros was the local hangout of the hippie community. Cafe Monopteros offers coffee and cake for those who prefer something sweet for once. At the south end of the park, you will find the Japanisches Teehaus (Japanese Tea House), which was built because of the Olympic Games 1972. Come for the traditional tea ceremonies, a very relaxing treat.

Guided Tours Verliebt in München (+49 89 64 25 64 86 / http://www.inlovewithmunich.de/) Stattreisen München (+49 89 54 40 42 30 / http://www.stattreisen-muenchen.de/) Weißer Stadtvogel (+49 89 - 29 16 97 65 / http://www.weisser-stadtvogel.de/)

Bus Tours City Tour (www.autobusoberbayern.de/) City Tour (http://www.citysightseeing-muenchen.de/)

Culinary & Art Tours Schlemmerreisen (+49 89 89 40 79 02 / http://www.schlemmer-reisen.de/) Kunst Tour (+49 89 36 10 10 83 / http://www.kunst-tour.de/)

Bike/Rickshaw Sightseeing Spurwechsel München (+49 89-692 46 99 / http://www.spurwechsel-muenchen.de/) Radius Tours & Bike Rental (+49 89 55 02 93 74 / http://www.radiustours.com/) Rikscha Mobil (+49 89 242 16 88 0 / http://www.rikscha-mobil.de/)