Top 5 bars in… Munich

With a bar scene now tuned in to new cocktail flavours and techniques, Munich combines classic and modern styles to create something new, writes Haley Forest

Munich’s bar scene combines classic and modern cocktail styles

** This feature was first published in the March 2016 edition of The Spirits Business

Munich is a city going from strength to strength. Rich both in cultural and economic terms, it’s a city where drinkers have been going out and enjoying the finer things in life for a long time, demanding only the best.

While ‘American’ cocktail bars have been popping up around Europe ever since the US prohibition in the 1920s, for Munich it started in 1974 with the arrival of Harry’s New York Bar, sibling to that of the same name in Paris, in partnership with the original McElhone family. Given that Munich is traditionally a beer city, these classic cocktails were a bit of a stretch for most drinkers, but owner Bill Deck believed this was the way forward – and he wasn’t wrong.

This small, late start opened the door for a new trickle of bars, most importantly Schumann’s, in 1982, which followed in the classic American style. Schumann’s was really the training ground for both today’s bartenders and the guests whose palates have been slowly embracing new flavours and techniques. Today, Munich combines both classic and modern, keeping the taste for simple and elegant style while welcoming the cornucopia of knowledge that is slowly seeping into the cocktail scene.

“Munich has always been a wealthy city, so people like spending money on food and drink,” says Lukas Motejzik from Zephyr. “They’re quite classic in what they like.”

“Consumers here are a little more sceptical about new trends,” adds long-time Munich bartender Timon Kaufmann, “so everything needs a little bit more time over here. But as soon as they understand, they’re willing to pay for it and enjoy.”

A high standard of drinks is thankfully becoming more and more common wherever in the world you find yourself, and in Munich a high-end bar experience is becoming expected. Schumann’s set it up perfectly, creating another world for its guests, and now drinkers are starting to enjoy other deviations from the norm.

At the understated cocktail den Zephyr, Lukas Motejzik has been steering cocktail progression very carefully. Known on one hand for its solid gin selection and highball classics, it has also developed a menu full of creative and beautiful drinks which frequently highlight regional flavours. Beautiful presentations, with special detailing on garnishes and glassware, have made Zephyr a go-to cocktail spot that entertains both visitors and locals alike.

Kaufmann explains how it’s all coming full-circle: “People starting to care less about the drink itself and want to enjoy the whole package again. Just a good drink is not enough any more to fill up the your bar.”

Luckily for everyone, that whole package happens to be expertly executed in Munich under the careful hand of some of the industry’s best.

Click through the next few pages to discover our pick of the top five best bars in Munich.

Circle by Cihan Anadologlu

Lenbachplatz 2A, 80333, thecircle.bar

A Japanese-style cocktail bar that was inspired by Anadologlu’s travels over the past several years. The bottles are all unbranded and the bar is circular, giving it a very comfortable yet elevated feel. One of the newest kids on the block – there are great expectations from this award-winning bartender’s first venture.

Zephyr

Baaderstraße 68, 80469, zephyr-bar.de

Minimalist and deceptively paired back, this bar can be as complex or simple as you want it to be. Known for its artwork-esque drinks and garden of local ingredients. The bartenders here are all at the top of their game, drawing in a crowd as diverse as the back bar.

Schumann’s Bar

Odeonsplatz 6, 80539, schumanns.de

Having shown Munich how to drink for over 30 years, this classic watering hole is all about quality, style and keeping it simple. Winner of the 2014 Spirited Award for Best International High-Volume Cocktail Bar, Schumann’s has nurtured many of Germany’s best bartenders through the decades and shows no sign of slowing any time soon.

Goldene Bar

Prinzregentenstraße 1, 80538, goldenebar.de

This all-in-one number ticks most boxes for a high-quality venue: cafe, cocktail bar, high-volume lounge. Grand and very gold (as the name would suggest), the drinks programme is run by Klaus St Rainer and focuses as much as possible on local products, flavours and ingredients while keeping things classic.

Mauro’s Negroni Club

Kellerstraße 32, 81667, negroni-club.de

Now in it’s third and largest incarnation, this place is still cosy and seeped in culture. Two rooms are regularly filled with locals and lovers of Italian bitters, with bartenders taking the time to wax lyrical about the history of drinks, spirits and bar know-how. Mauro is a collector of bar and cocktail books, so if you’re lucky he’ll bend your ear while you sip one of many Negroni variations.