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Munich has a lively night scene ranging from beer halls to bars to chic clubs. The fun areas for a night out are in Altstadt, Isarvorstadt (Gärtnerplatz and Glockenbachviertel are arguably the best in the city), and Schwabing around Schellingstrasse and Münchner Freiheit. Regardless of their size or style, many bars, especially around Gärtnerplatz, have DJs spinning either mellow background sounds or funky beats.
However many fingers you hold up, just remember the easy-to-pronounce "Bier bitte" ("beer please") when ordering a beer. The tricky part is, Germans don't just produce one beverage called beer; they brew more than 5,000 varieties. Germany has about 1,300 breweries, 40% of the world's total.
In Munich you'll find the most famous breweries, the largest beer halls and beer gardens, the biggest and most indulgent beer festival, and the widest selection of brews. Even the beer glasses are bigger: a Mass is a 1-liter (almost 2-pint) serving; a Halbe is half a liter and the standard size. The Hofbräuhaus is Munich's best-known beer hall, but you are more likely to find locals in one of the English Garden's four beer gardens or in a Wirtshaus (tavern).
In summer, last call at the beer gardens is around 11 pm. Most of the traditional places stay open until 1 am or so and are great for a few hours of wining and dining before heading out on the town. Most bars stay open until at least 3 am on weekends; some don't close until 5 or 6 am.
Munich has dozens of beer gardens, ranging from huge establishments that seat several hundred to small terraces tucked behind neighborhood pubs; the rest of the beer gardens are a bit farther afield and can be reached handily by bike or S- and U-bahn. Beer gardens are such an integral part of Munich life that a council proposal to cut down their hours provoked a storm of protest in 1995, culminating in one of the largest demonstrations in the city's history. They open whenever the thermometer creeps above 10°C (50°F) and the sun filters through the chestnut trees that are a necessary part of the scenery.
Everybody in Munich has at least one favorite beer garden, so you're usually in good hands if you ask someone to point you in the right direction. You do not need to reserve. No need to phone either. If the weather says yes, then go. Most—but not all—allow you to bring your own food, but if you do, buy your drinks from the beer garden and don't defile this hallowed territory with something so foreign as pizza or a burger.
There are a few dance clubs in town worth mentioning, but the larger the venue, the more difficult the entry. In general, big nightclubs are giving way to smaller, more laid-back lounge types of places scattered all over town. If you're really hankering for a big club, go to Optimolwerke in the Ostbahnhof area. Otherwise, enjoy the handful of places around the City Center.
Munich also has a decent jazz scene, and some beer gardens have even taken to replacing their brass oompah bands with funky combos. Jazz musicians sometimes accompany Sunday brunch, too.
The only true beer garden in the center of the city, and therefore the easiest to find, is the one at Viktualienmarkt. The beer on tap rotates among the six major Munich breweries to keep everyone happy throughout the year.
The young sommeliers here take a fresh, modern approach to wine, departing from the typical German Rieslings and French Pinot noirs (though those are on the menu, too) and offering many lesser-known varietals. The well-curated list of wines by the glass includes natural and biodynamic options; ask for the separate card of rare (and pricier) wines, also by the glass. The loungelike space and small garden terrace attract a well-heeled crowd; weekend evenings are particularly lively.
As befits its name, this minuscule bar has just a handful of tables and stools, but it’s big on atmosphere, with wood-lined walls decorated with vintage posters, an antique cash register, and an old piano wedged in the corner.
Around the corner from the Hofbräuhaus, Bar Centrale is a friendly Italian café by day, but come evening, it morphs into a dimly lit lounge, with cocktails (many with an Italian bent) served at cozy tables in the retro-looking interior. There's also a small, ever-changing menu of international dishes and a nice selection of Italian wines by the glass.
Tucked inside the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, this sophisticated spot, outfitted with plush carpeting, leather seating, and an open fireplace, serves a wide range of sparkling wines, whiskeys, and cocktails.
Just behind the Frauenkirche, Kilian's Irish Pub and Ned Kelly's Australian Bar (adjoining bars) offer an escape from the German tavern scene. Naturally, they have Guinness and Foster's, but they also serve Munich's lager, Augustiner, and regularly televise international soccer, rugby, and sports in general. There's also free live music every evening except Sunday at Kilian's starting at 9 pm.
A Munich fixture since 1974, the nautical-style Pusser's Bar pours great cocktails and Irish-German black-and-tans (Guinness and strong German beer). Try the rum-based "Painkiller," a specialty of the house. Enjoy live piano music Thursday to Saturday evenings in the downstairs piano bar.
Exotic cocktails are the specialty at the Polynesian-themed Trader Vic's, a smart cellar bar in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. Dating back to 1971, it is as popular among out-of-town visitors as it is with locals.
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