Harvey’s Munich tips

I thought I’d give those of you spending time in and around Munichthere during the World Cup some tips of things to see and do. One caveat, I haven’t been back since December ‘03, so I haven’t taken in a game at the new Allianz Arena.

Let’s start off with one of the important things - at least for me - and that’s food. My recommendation is that since you’re in Bavaria, you should eat at least one meal in a typical Bavarian place. Two of my favorite places are Zum Spöckmeier, near the Glockenspiel at Marienplatz, where you can get authentic Weisswurst , and the Weissesbrauhaus, located a hop, skip and a jump from the Glockenspiel and around the corner from the Hofbrauhaus. Schneider makes the official beer of this blog, Aventinus, and the menu is traditional Bavarian. I usually get Leberkase mit Ochsenauge (Spiegelei).

If you’re looking for a bit of Kultur, take in my favorite museum, the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus. This museum has one of the best collections of the Blue Rider school of paintings. If you have a car, you should take in the Franz Marc Museum in Kochel am See. Kochel is also home to one of the world’s most beautiful swimmingpool complexes, Trimini. Sitting in a heated outdoor pool in the scenic Bavarian Alps is definitely an experience.

One of the odder things in Munich, at least to Americans, is the existence of a nudist zone right next to the American Consulate at the edge of the Englischer Garten near the Haus der Kunst.. The Englischer Garten also has two pretty good beer gardens, one at the Chinesischer Turm and one at Kleinhesseloher See, at the Seehaus.