My Indigo
Right in the centre of Münchner Freiheit, this cute little cafe gives off very indie soul-food vibes. Lots of choice of tasty curries and bowls, with plenty of vegan and veggie options, paired with generous servings of rice and fresh toppings. Not the most German vibes, but a cosy little spot for very reasonably priced nutritious and comforting bowls. The African Peanut Pot with coconut rice is genuinely one of the most satisfying things I have ever tasted.
Leopoldstraße
Between Münchner Freiheit (the centre of Schwabing, where I’m staying) and the Innenstadt (the very central old town), there’s currently building works on the U-bahn, so this week I’ve been walking a stretch down Leopoldstraße (a central boulevard-style street running through Schwabing directly into the centre of town) towards the University (picture below), and in the gorgeous weather the pavement culture really comes to life. Whether on my way in in the morning or back out in the afternoon, and especially in the evening, the vibes have been very summery, with people sitting out in cafés, restaurants and bars.
Vorhoelzer Forum cafe
Once you’ve navigated your way through the LMU Technische Universität (if you’ve assumed you’ve taken a wrong turn and are doubting whether you’re actually heading to a cafe any more then you’re probably just nearly there, google maps isn’t lying I promise), and then scaled the five flights of stairs to this rooftop cafe, you’re really hoping it’s worth it. And it definitely is. A simple menu of drinks, light bites, breakfast plates and homemade pizzas after 12pm is all that’s needed to offset the utterly gorgey views. You get a panoramic perspective of Munich, plenty of sun (be warned - there’s very little shade up there after 11.30am), and slightly edgy vibes thrown into the bargain. Tucked away but worth the effort, a real find, and ideal for a morning reading session with a Butterbrezel and a Saftschorle.
Café Flower
Located on Theresienstrasse, right in the heart of the university and museum district, the Maxvorstadt, this cute little restaurant doesn’t stand out at first, but it’s a brilliant (if sadly not especially vegan) foodie find. The daily lunch menu has a choice of two starters and two mains, and at €10,50 for 2 courses to eat in, it was an absolute steal. Quality touches like homemade pasta, combined with (classically German) friendly but efficient service made this a real lunchtime treat, and one look at the week’s menu was enough to make me want to come back every day.
Jawz - The Bowl Company
Another less typically German find, and not quite so tucked away, this modern health-bowl spot is right on Leopoldstraße, just before you get to the Siegestor. The front opens right onto the street with a cosy little seating area where you can people-watch to your heart’s content while tucking into your personalised poke bowl. Customisable for veggie and vegan, and packed full of feel-good goodness.
Peutelpark
About a 15 minute walk from the apartment, this narrow strip of park in the heart of Schwabing isn’t mind-blowing, just an especially peaceful but lively spot to sit and enjoy the sun, with shady benches, grass, and walkways.