Munich like a local

Start with a stroll in the celebrated Englischer Garten. Larger than New York’s Central Park, it stretches from the centre towards the city’s northern limits, past the cultural district, Maxvorstadt, and leafy, well-heeled Schwabing. Follow its paths past sunlit meadows, beer gardens and beech-dappled creeks, or watch as intrepid pro surfers take on the Eisbachwelle, a standing wave that can reach up to a metre high.   

Not far from the famous wave, the neoclassical Haus der Kunst was built by the Nazi party in the 1930s, and now stages contemporary art exhibitions. Its grand Goldene Bar has a park-facing terrace for sundowners and an epic drinks list; you can’t go wrong with its namesake champagne cocktail, laced with Campari dust. 

Alternatively, head back towards the hotel, pausing to plot up below the chestnut trees at the Augustiner Keller, a handsome historic brewery, whose beer – freshly tapped from wooden barrels – is among Bavaria’s best. Back at the Dean Munich, Ibasho is a contemporary take on Japanese concept dining. Highlights include Head Chef Alex Craciun’s signature pressed sushi, from yellowtail with avocado and truffle to wagyu with oscietra caviar, not forgetting incredible cuts of sashimi. A dedicated robata section has expertly grilled steaks and seafood, complemented by a curated caviar offering. 

Top tip  - start with the Seijaku Martini, a crisp blend of sake, Haku vodka and saline with pickled ginger and cucumber to wake up your palate. 

Stroll through the Westend district to pared-back coffee counter Stray, who roast their own beans and champion single-origin coffees. An exemplary flat white in hand, make your way to the Kunstareal, the city’s museum-packed cultural quarter. The Lenbachhaus is a must, with a colour-flooded collection of works by Der Blaue Reiter and a chic café, ELLA, set in a gold cube extension designed by Norman Foster.  

For lunch, walk to the nearby Max Emanuel Brauerei for bold modern Bavarian dishes, like the schnitzel burger with salted lemon, before a quick espresso at the tiny, tucked-away Humpback Whale Specialty Coffee. Alternatively, take your pick from the stalls at the open-air Viktualienmarkt, around half an hour’s walk away. Follow the locals’ lead and stop for a truffled pesto and porchetta sandwich at Marinas Feinkost, snack on pickles at Saure Ecke, or order Turkish eggs, beetroot hummus and fresh gözleme at Gürmet Wine & Meze am Markt. For dessert, join the line at Cafe Frischhut for schmalznudel (Bavarian doughnuts): deep-fried, sugar-dusted and delicious. 

Spend the afternoon exploring the Altstadt (Old Town), scaling the church tower of Alter Peter,admiring Italianate Odeonsplatz and spotting the devil’s footprint in the cathedral. Look out, too, for interesting independent shops, like SOIS Blessed, a flower-filled concept store, or the design-forward Magazin.  

If time permits, consider a dip at Müller’sches Volksbad, a turn-of-the-century art nouveau pool on the banks of the river Isar, complete with saunas and steam baths. Its Italian-leaning bar and restaurant is perfect for a post-dip spritz, while its riverside neighbours include Muffathalle, a turbine hall-turned gig venue, and the Praterinsel, an island with a summer beach.  

For dinner, join the cool crowd at the nearby Taqueria con Salsa, known for its spicy micheladas and exemplary tacos :don’t miss the carnitas Bavaras, made with local pork knuckle. Afterwards, stroll along the river to the hip Glockenbach neighbourhood, where Weinbar Garbo offers curated wines and crafted snacks, and Zephyr Bar conjures up inventive late-night cocktails. Still going strong? Hop in a cab to electro and techno club Rote Sonne, seen as a worthy successor to 90s techno institution Ultraschall.   

Borrow the hotel’s bikes and cycle to the south of the city, home to a new wave of bakeries. Bageri is famed for its sugar-dusted cardamom buns, while Brotatelier serves stellar sourdough and parmesan-flecked pão de queijo from an old shipping container. Also not to miss in this part of town is Alte Utting, a decommissioned boat now resting on a railway bridge, open from 11am on Sundays for drinks and street food. From here, bike over to the riverside area known as the Flaucher, with its pebbled islands and driftwood-dotted gravel banks.  

Where to spend your final afternoon? One option is Nymphenburg Palace, a Baroque masterpiece and former royal summer residence in the west of the city. Set amid formal gardens, it’s a vision of gilded excess, with its opulent salons, mirrored halls and ‘Gallery of Beauties’, hand-picked by King Ludwig I. Lunch options in nearby Neuhausen include Acetaia, a polished Italian restaurant by the canal. Ask for a table in the courtyard, and feast on pecorino ravioli with butter and marjoram, or swordfish with courgette flowers.  

If fairytales palaces aren’t your thing, head back to the Kunstareal instead, where many of the biggest galleries and museums offer one-euro entry on Sundays. Take in masterpieces by Macke and Picasso at the Pinakothek der Moderne, admire the Alte Pinakothek’s old masters or wander amid the Glyptothek’s ancient sculptures. Contemporary art gallery Museum Brandhorst has a light-filled café in its foyer, for a final lunch, while nearby Café Puck is a local favourite: a buzzing all-day café that serves up an excellent brunch.