Business Travel Guide: Munich, Germany
Munich,
the city of beer halls, baroque churches, Olympic Park,
and Octoberfest—right? Right! But that’s only
part of the story. Beyond its folkloric image, Munich
is an economic power player and Germany’s leading
commercial center. Once at the heart of a largely agricultural
region, the Bavarian state capital is now a prime purveyor
of cars, electronics, insurance services, information
technology and lots of other dynamic 21st century industries.
Microsoft, Burger King, BMW, Siemens—the list of
companies based here is as long as a Dostoyevsky novel.
The modern trade fairgrounds alone lure some two million
visitors each year. Lederhosen and laptops: What would
seem paradoxical anywhere else is the day-to-day reality
in this charming, culturally rich city. |
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Currency:
Euro
| Cash
in Munich is the euro, which became Germany's official
currency in 2002. Divided into 100 cents, the euro
comes in denominations of five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200
and 500 notes and one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50 cent
coins. ATMs are ubiquitous. Most business hotels exchange
dollars and other major currencies, although rates
are better at banks or currency exchange offices—even
those at the airport or main train station. Many restaurants
and shops do not accept credit cards; if they do,
a minimum purchase is often required. |
Transportation:
Germany's
second-largest airport, the mega-modern Munich International
is about 19 miles northeast of the city center. It
has repeatedly received accolades for its efficiency,
ease of transit, facilities and ground transportation.
You’ll arrive at one of two terminals linked
by the central Munich Airport Center (MAC), a spectacularly
designed hall with shops, restaurants, car rental
offices, meeting and business facilities, ATMs and
other services. Cabs to downtown or the trade fairgrounds
cost about €50, although the Lufthansa Airport
Bus and commuter trains S1 and S8 are excellent—and
more budget friendly—alternatives. Both bus
and trains depart every twenty minutes and make the
trip to the main train station in about 45 minutes
with several stops along the way. From here, cabs
will whisk you to your hotel or other final destination.
During some trade shows, direct shuttle bus service
to the fairgrounds may be available.
Limousine and private car services are also available,
but these usually need to be pre-arranged. Munich
also boasts an efficient subway system, called the
U-Bahn, which connects to the airport via the S8 train
and to stations and routes across the city. Single
trip tickets and day passes are available for €4.80
and €2.20, respectively. |
Newspapers:
| Munich’s
main daily newspaper is the respected Süddeutsche
Zeitung, which is also widely read in other parts
of Germany. Its Monday edition includes the 16-page
New York Times International Weekly supplement.
Other local newspapers are the Münchener
Merkur and the Abendzeitung. The best
source for general business news is the Handelsblatt,
while the Börsen-Zeitung focuses more
on international financial market news. WirtschaftsWoche
is the leading weekly business magazine. For entertainment
listings, turn to Go München, Prinz
or In München. The English-language monthly
Munich Found also has some good local information.
USA Today, International Herald Tribune,
Wall Street Journal Europe and Financial
Times are among the English-language papers widely
sold in hotels and at newsstands. |
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This ultra-posh contender is tangible proof that size
truly doesn’t matter. Its 48 spacious rooms and 25 suites
translate to a sense of intimacy that’s perhaps
the hotel’s greatest asset. Staff here delivers
superb, personalized service that will make you wonder
whether they’ve been trained as mind readers. Unhurried
and discrete, this is the perfect place for small, high-powered
meetings held in richly appointed salons filled with natural
light and equipped with the full range of high-tech gadgets.
After a day of inking deals, you can unwind at the room's large desk while sipping complimentary libations
from the mini-bar. With their heated floors and separate
tub and shower, the marble baths make indulgent sanctuaries.
In summer, you can swim laps in the rooftop pool with
a view. When hunger strikes you’ll savor palate-pleasing
cuisine at Restaurant Mark’s, the property's
gourmet restaurant. The hotel’s central location
near the Hofbräuhaus and the Maximilianstrasse puts
you within strolling distance of plenty more upscale dining
and entertainment options.
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For
a full-scale immersion in Old European grandeur, you’ll
find no finer hotel than this grand dame of Munich caravanserais.
She has a pedigree going back 150 years, but thanks to
multiple facelifts she’s still a ravishing beauty
in the 21st century. The distinguished lobby with its
kaleidoscopic glass dome is perfect for afternoon tea
and people watching. The hotel boasts a guest list that
includes blockbuster celebrities, leading politicians
and crowned heads—you never know who’ll be
sashaying by. Business guests have a choice of ten conference
rooms that include the stunning Nymphenburger Zimmer,
decked out in handmade porcelain tiles, vases and figurines.
Several bars and restaurants, an exclusive spa and a prestigious
location near the former royal palace are just a few additional
assets that have made the 308-room Vier Jahreszeiten a
top choice for generations of demanding guests.
Dorint
Sofitel Bayerpost München
Bayerstrasse 12
49-89-599 480
www.dorint.com |
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“You
can’t judge a book by its cover” might well
be the motto of the city’s newest five-star entry
in an convenient location adjacent to the main train station.
The neo-Renaissance façade seems to herald old-fashioned
charm, but past the entrance awaits a hotel vibrant with
cosmopolitan charm. The lavish lobby welcomes you with
an intricate lighting design and a clever mix of natural
wood, leather, and stone. Orbiting this space are the
bar, a reading lounge, two restaurants and a sensuous
spa guaranteed to reinvigorate you after a long day of
meetings. These might be held in one of twenty conference
rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 800
people. The exclusive board rooms, each with private lounge
and kitchen, are tailor-made for smaller power gatherings.
For deep and satisfying sleep, a loft suite on the top
floor offers distant views of the snow-capped Alps through
vast slanted windows.
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It
may seem improbable, but the Dalai Lama, Neil Armstrong
and Paris Hilton all have one thing in common: Each has
checked in at this venerable hotel, along with scores
more of the rich and famous. The Bayerischer Hof has provided
the utmost in luxury shelter since opening its doors in
1841 as a guesthouse for the royal Bavarian family. These
days, you can match your mood to five room styles, including
the romantic Laura Ashley, the boldly colored Colonial
and the cozy English Country. All 395 guest chambers come
with all the trimmings and upscale touches you’d
expect. With more than three dozen public rooms able to
accommodate groups from seventeen to an astonishing 2500
people, the hotel is a great place for business meetings.
Helping guests to unwind is taken very seriously here.
Choose from three restaurants and no fewer than six bars,
including the mirrored falk’s bar—the only
room that survived World War II without a scratch.
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Situated
across from the main train station and within easy reach
of the trade fairgrounds and the city center, Le Méridien
is a stylish slice of France in the heart of Munich. An
ambience of effortless sophistication permeates the lobby,
whose edgy look segues nicely into the 381 guest rooms
and suites. Hi-tech fans will rejoice at amenities that
include a large plasma TV, dual phone lines and high-speed
Internet access. The commercial set can choose from ten
corporate meeting rooms, the largest of which can accommodate
250 people. Good post-work stress busters are Le Potager,
a French restaurant where you can relax in the leafy courtyard
in summer; the futuristic La Traction bar with its vehicle-themed
décor; and the oh-so-soothing Le Spa, whose relaxation
stations include a pool, Jacuzzi and steam bath. |
Tantris
Johann-Fichte-Strasse 7
49-89-361 9590
www.tantris.de
Open lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday
Three-course business lunch €62, eight-course dinner
€140, wine extra |
19/20
$$$$$
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Food fanciers with deep pockets have given this gourmet
emporium an enthusiastic thumbs-up since 1971—and
for good reason. Not unlike a circus ringmaster, Chef Hans
Haas directs his kitchen with authority and aplomb. His
formula is deceptively simple: Take only the freshest, choicest
ingredients and turn them into multi-course culinary celebrations
that never fail to impress. Entries such as broiled lamb
with eggplant chutney and black olive noodles are typical
of Tantris’ innovative approach. Plates are delivered
to linen-draped tables set in a sienna-red dining room or,
in summer, the flower-festooned garden terrace. The three-course
business lunch is a perfect palate teaser. To truly sample
Haas’ creative genius, go for the full eight-course
dinner. And be sure to ask master sommelière Paula
Bosch to help you select the perfectly matching wine. |
Acquarello
Mühlbaurstrasse
36
49-89-470 4848
www.acquarello.com
Open lunch Monday to Friday, dinner nightly
Most main courses around €30
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17/20
$$$$$ |
Your taste buds will do cartwheels at what is widely considered
to be one of Munich’s finest Italian restaurants.
Driven by a passion for food, owner-chef Mario Gamba regales
diners with what he has poetically termed “cucina
del sole” (cuisine of the sun), which translates into
nuanced dishes intended to appeal to all five senses. There’s
no pizza in sight at this elegant place—nor are there
empty tables, so make a point of booking ahead. The appealing
décor sets the stage for the theatrically presented
food served to a discerning clientele that includes a number
of local business patrons, especially at lunchtime. Try
the signature brassato al Barolo, or beef cheeks braised
in blood-red Barolo wine. For a flawless finish to a fabulous
meal, order the chocolate ravioli on orange coulis with
peppermint ice cream. |
Schuhbecks
in den Südtiroler Stuben
Platzl 6 & 8
49-89-216 6900
www.schuhbeck.de
Open lunch Tuesday to Saturday, dinner Monday to Saturday,
closed Sunday
Menus from €73 (for three courses)
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17/20
$$$$$ |
Alfons Schuhbeck’s cuisine is a perfect introduction
to Bavarian food for those who think they don’t like
Bavarian food. Here, classics like roast pork or veal knuckle
are reinterpreted as slimmed-down, healthier versions that
sacrifice nothing in terms of texture or flavor. It’s
an approach that has resonated with diners and critics—and
has also garnered Schuhbeck countless toques. This, plus
regular appearances on television and even a stint of cooking
at the White House have accorded him the status of celebrity
chef. Celebrities are frequently spotted in his new restaurant,
which opened in 2003 in the old town center along with a
cooking school, an ice cream parlor, a spice shop and a
wine bistro. |
Hippocampus
Mühlbaurstrasse 5
49-89-4702 7187
www.hippocampus-restaurant.de
Open lunch Sunday to Friday, dinner daily
Most mains around €20
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16/20
$$$$$ |
“Hippocampus” refers to that part of the brain
where information is transferred into memory—and meals
here are memorable indeed. Owner-chef Cosimo “Mimmo”
Ruggiero delivers a unique blend of home cooking and haute
cuisine that represents perfect fusion of substance and
style. Filet mignon with stuffed Savoy cabbage and osso
buco with polenta croutons are just two of the inspired
creations that make loyal customers swoon. Seriously clued-in
patrons, though, don’t even bother with the menu.
They simply leave it to Mimmo to showcase his talent as
he sees fit. The dining room, decked out in chocolate-colored
chairs and vanilla table cloths, is an elegant affair. In
summer, however, the tables on the romantic garden terrace
are coveted. |
Lenbach
Ottostrasse 6
48-89-549 1300
www.lenbach.de
Open 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Mon-Sat, closed
Sunday
Most main dishes €13-24
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15/20
$$$$$ |
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Trendy
Lenbach is the kind of place where the food gets serious
competition from the décor. British design maven
Sir Terence Conran married the elegance of a 19th century
town palace with contemporary design inspired by the Seven
Deadly Sins. The bar (the longest in town), which is dedicated
to Adultery, is backed by a painting of embracing nudes.
Vanity is represented by a catwalk that cuts through the
restaurant, while the facilities pay homage to Wrath with
their diabolical colors. One sin that’ll prove hard
to resist is Gluttony: The food here is simply too good.
Fusion really shines in Maik Haltenbach’s kitchen,
which churns out ambitious combinations such as scallops
with grape-and-mustard pesto or sautéed frog legs
with curried chickpeas. If you want to sup with Munich’s
jet set, or simply spot the occasional celebrity, Lenbach
is the place. |
Käfer
Schänke
Prinzregentenstrasse 73
www.feinkost-kaefer.de
Open 11.30 a.m.-1 a.m. Mon-Sat, closed Sunday
Most main dishes €20-30
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15/20
$$$$$ |
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This
family-owned restaurant has come a long way since its
modest 1930 beginnings as a deli and liquor store. It
has since evolved into a fine food emporium that today
incorporates a shop, a catering service and a bistro-style
restaurant. A recent makeover catapulted the décor
of the latter into the 21st century to make it a great
destination if you fancy superior cuisine in a stylish
but casual setting. The extensive menu hopscotches around
the world with stops in Italy for risotto and carpaccio,
in Asia for sea bass in curry sauce, and in Germany for
honey-nut encrusted venison medallions. The seafood selection,
flown in daily from Paris and beautifully presented on
a triple-tiered étagère, is likely to elicit
oohs and aahs from your fellow diners. Or go for the oven-roasted
Barbary duck, a signature dish, which has just the right
crispy tan and is expertly carved at table. |
Andechser
am Dom
Weinstrasse 7a
49-89-298 481
www.andechser-am-dom.de
Open 10 a.m. to midnight daily
Snacks €4-10, main dishes €10-16
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13/20
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Stumbling
across a restaurant that serves hearty Bavarian food is
easy, but finding a good one requires instinct or insider
knowledge. At this rustically elegant brew pub, you’ll
dine on upscale country cooking in a convivial setting
of vaulted and painted ceilings, shiny wainscoting and
stone floors scavenged from a former military museum.
You can’t go wrong with signature dishes such as
veal sausages simmered in Champagne or roast pork paired
with creamy dark beer sauce. Both go down exceptionally
well with a freshly poured brew, made by the monks of
the Andechs monastery south of Munich and considered among
the finest beers in the world. In fine weather, pick an
outdoor table for front-row views of the Frauenkirche,
Munich’s landmark twin-towered church. |
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If
you’re in the mood for a night on the razzle,
P1 is the Holy Grail of Munich dance clubs. The
door policy is notoriously strict, so throw on your
finest Prada or Armani and bring a sunny attitude
to help get you past the velvet rope. Once inside,
you’ll be mingling with starlets, wanna-be’s
and lots of people who look like they’ve just
stepped off the cover of GQ or Cosmo. With any luck,
you’ll even spot the occasional celebrity.
(Yes, Paris Hilton was here.) P1, which began as
a post-war American officers’ club, has been
one of Germany’s leading Studio 54-type nightclubs
since 1983. The curious name, by the way, is an
abbreviation of the address, Prinzregentenstrasse
1, which proved too much of a tongue twister for
Americans. |
Center of town, south of Marienplatz and
right by St. Peter's Church
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Heaps
of fruit and vegetables, mouth-watering breads and
pastries, handmade cheeses, aromatic olive oils,
artful flower wreaths, and old-fashioned candy—Munich’s
Viktualienmarkt is a feast for the senses and an
excellent place to stock up on unique gifts for
the folks back home. Stalls were first set up on
this square in 1807 after the market had outgrown
its original spot on nearby Marienplatz. Since then
it has evolved into one of Europe’s finest
gourmet outposts, offering 140 stalls set up around
a Maypole decorated with folkloric figurines that
represent local trades and crafts. When the sun’s
out, the people-watching is excellent from a table
at one of the many outdoor cafés and beer
gardens surrounding the square. Or pop into the
recently rebuilt Schrannenhalle, a nearby 19th century
market hall that’s home to an upscale food
court and crafts shops. |
Right by subway exit Giselastrasse
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Munich’s
sprawling English Garden is one of the world’s
largest urban parks and a favorite playground for
locals and visitors alike. It was created in 1789
by Benjamin Thompson, an American-born scientist who
immigrated to Bavaria to escape the aftermath of the
American Revolution. Shed the day’s stresses
as you wander or jog along the park’s paths,
which meander past dense groves of trees, banks of
wildflowers and sprawling lawns. Here nude sunbathing
is a local custom and perfectly legal, so leave your
modesty at home. There’s also a lake, where
you can take your sweetie for a spin, and a couple
of beer gardens that make perfect places for quaffing
a cold one, munching on pretzels and watching the
world on parade. |
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Art
aficionados will hit the mother lode with this trio
of museums bulging with treasures dating from the
Middle Ages. It’s impossible to see everything
in one visit, so concentrate on the period that
interests you most. To see a stunning collection
of canvases from the 14th to the 18th centuries,
including plenty of outstanding works by Dürer,
Rubens, Rembrandt and other heavy hitters, head
to the Alte Pinakothek. Next door, the Neue Pinakothek
zeroes in on the 19th century with works by crowd-pleasing
French impressionists like Renoir, Monet and Gauguin,
brooding landscapes by Caspar David Friedrich, and
Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. Last but not
least is the adjacent Pinakothek der Moderne, Germany’s
largest modern art museum. It opened in 2002 in
an extravagant building that perfectly showcases
works by Picasso, Warhol, Beuys and other artists
who have dominated the art world throughout the
last century.
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Blue
Note fans should check out who’s performing
at Unterfahrt, one of a dying breed of live jazz
clubs that each night features different performers.
In the vaulted cellars of a former brewery, this
low-key venue has been a top location in Munich
for over a quarter century. A dynamic lineup of
national and international musicians—from
newcomers to legends—has graced its stage.
Bookings run to the eclectic, with all styles represented
from mainstream to modern to avant-garde. Sunday’s
jam sessions are legendary. The club is part of
the Einstein Cultural Center that also includes
an art-house movie theater and an edgy gallery for
sound art.
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Ready to book a trip now?
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P120706 |
(Updated: 11/08/08 HC) |
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