#DesignMazeTravel ~ SEE + EAT + SHOP in Munich
Hello Friday! Time flies and the weekend is almost here. I will be busy running around town to get ready for a couple of exciting projects but if you are in Munich (and staying at Motel One), boy don't I have your days all mapped out!
After I thoroughly enjoyed my days in Munich living like the locals, here are my top favorite places for your next visit.
If you are looking for adorable postcards, prints, and calendars, Bookstore at the Gasteig has got your covered. Located minutes away from the busy downtown core, this friendly neighborhood store is full of treasures.
A few steps away from Trachtenvogl is HAY, a store full of furniture and accessories for modern living with a sophisticated industrial twist. And because we don't have a HAY store in Toronto (some items are available at KLAUS by NIENKAMPER and Average), Hay is my must-see every time I travel to Europe.
I will take you on a store tour next week but for now, don't you just love the HAY Mini Market?
Sandwiched between the old and new town halls is the luxurious department store: Ludwig Beck. You will find the top brands here but shopping aside, isn't the store incredibly stylish and fun?
The Englischer Garten is one of the largest urban parks in the world. Starting in 1789, more buildings and green spaces were added to this beautiful garden along the Isar River. The Chinese Tower is certainly one of the most recognized buildings in the English Garden, but I also remember how much I enjoyed the Christmas market right here over the holiday.
Walking back from the Englischer Garten to Munich-Deutsches Museum Motel One, you could also pass by the Angel of Peace and the Maximilianeum for a truly magnificent sunset + a view of Munich's landmarks.
As if I haven't shared enough of what to do in a weekend, here is an alternative to those who hate shopping and crowds (yes ... Chris is one of them).
The Mullersches Volksbad is one of the most elaborately decorated swimming pools I have ever seen. From swimming pool, Roman steam bath to Finnish sauna, there is something for everyone to relax and rejuvenate.
If you rather be outdoor on a gorgeous summer day, take a walk along the Mullersches Volksbad and the Isar River and you will find a beach where the locals hangout.
After all the bread, cakes, and beer, it's time to work off the extra calories. MISS Sportstudio is a great place for the task. Igor took me with him for a class on Saturday and it was exactly what I need: a jumpstart of my workout routine. Thanks Igor!
Hopefully you have saved room for dessert because True & 12 is THE place you want to be for an authentic, high quality, mouth-watering handmade ice cream. Did know that pistachio ice cream is not naturally green and lavender ice cream shouldn't be purple? Let me tell you, True & 12 is by far the best ice cream I have ever had!
The decoration is also eye-catchy and whimsical, perfectly suited for a cheerful ice cream shop. Be sure to check for open hours in fall / winter, as the store maybe closed in the winter months.
After I thoroughly enjoyed my days in Munich living like the locals, here are my top favorite places for your next visit.
If you are looking for adorable postcards, prints, and calendars, Bookstore at the Gasteig has got your covered. Located minutes away from the busy downtown core, this friendly neighborhood store is full of treasures.
From bookstore to quick bite in the morning, Trachtenvogl is one super cool cafe bar with a retro vibe. Staff were friendly, the food was delicious, and an English menu was available!
A few steps away from Trachtenvogl is HAY, a store full of furniture and accessories for modern living with a sophisticated industrial twist. And because we don't have a HAY store in Toronto (some items are available at KLAUS by NIENKAMPER and Average), Hay is my must-see every time I travel to Europe.
I will take you on a store tour next week but for now, don't you just love the HAY Mini Market?
After a quick shopping therapy, maybe it's time to enjoy a specialty beverage of Germany: Beer. On our way to the famous beer house in town, why not have a quick stop at the old and new town hall at Marienplatz?
The impressive new town hall was built in the late 1800s and it remains the offices of city officials and part of the administration. At 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. (also 12 p.m. in the summer), the square is packed with folks waiting for the Rathaus-Glockenspiel to chime and the 32 life-sized figures to re-enact two stories from the 16th century. Fun to watch but beware: it is very crowded.
The old town hall is surely an iconic building in Munich and in my opinion perhaps the most charming of all. The orange and turquoise accent, the golden ball on top of every spire: it was love at first sight.
A quick turn into a quiet corner and I have landed a jackpot of serenity and geometric marvel. I will have to ask Chris where exactly this courtyard was but don't you just love the diamond pattern?
Finally we are at the Hofbrauhaus, the royal beer house of Munich (owned by the Bavarian state government). Even if you are not a beer fan, it's surely a fun place to hangout, to experience first-hand the beer culture of Germany, or just to admire the colorful interiors.
Around the corner from the beer house is the famous shopping central in town, the Salvator Passage, which also has a beautiful courtyard cafe right next to Muji, and the home of the Kunsthalle Munich.
The cafe at Kunsthalle is definitely a place you want to check out. From furnishings, lighting, to that stunning wall, what's not to love?
The Englischer Garten is one of the largest urban parks in the world. Starting in 1789, more buildings and green spaces were added to this beautiful garden along the Isar River. The Chinese Tower is certainly one of the most recognized buildings in the English Garden, but I also remember how much I enjoyed the Christmas market right here over the holiday.
As if I haven't shared enough of what to do in a weekend, here is an alternative to those who hate shopping and crowds (yes ... Chris is one of them).
The Mullersches Volksbad is one of the most elaborately decorated swimming pools I have ever seen. From swimming pool, Roman steam bath to Finnish sauna, there is something for everyone to relax and rejuvenate.
If you rather be outdoor on a gorgeous summer day, take a walk along the Mullersches Volksbad and the Isar River and you will find a beach where the locals hangout.
After all the bread, cakes, and beer, it's time to work off the extra calories. MISS Sportstudio is a great place for the task. Igor took me with him for a class on Saturday and it was exactly what I need: a jumpstart of my workout routine. Thanks Igor!
After a sweaty workout, I am off to my guilty pleasure: cafe and bar. Rosi is around the corner from Motel One and across the street from the Mullersches Volksbad, making it the ideal choice for supper while in town. In fact, I actually had dinner there twice during this visit.
Be sure to check out the menu at the back of the cafe and ask the hostess what's the special of the day. You won't be disappointed.
Of course Igor takes the most amazing pictures and here are two he captured at dinner:
Hopefully you have saved room for dessert because True & 12 is THE place you want to be for an authentic, high quality, mouth-watering handmade ice cream. Did know that pistachio ice cream is not naturally green and lavender ice cream shouldn't be purple? Let me tell you, True & 12 is by far the best ice cream I have ever had!
The decoration is also eye-catchy and whimsical, perfectly suited for a cheerful ice cream shop. Be sure to check for open hours in fall / winter, as the store maybe closed in the winter months.
That's it for me! Please let me know what are some of your favorite places in Munich and I will for sure check it out on my next visit!