Expat Life #2 – Munich’s Cafe Culture

When I first moved to Munich, one of the first items on my to-do list was to suss out some of the cafes in the area. Over the years, I have definitely bought into the cafe culture: the atmosphere, cosy interiors and of course excellent excuses for a tasty treat all appeal to me! For me, there’s no better place for a catch up and long-awaited DMC with your pals.

When I go travelling, I make it my mission to find the quirkiest and most obscure cafes and it’s no different here in Munich! I’m slowly making my way around some of Munich’s best cafes and have many more to discover – here are a few of my favourites so far…

Breakfast at Mary’s coffee club

Hungriges Herz

Where: Fraunhoferstrasse 42, by the Isar

A cafe full of love – I would come here just for the free chocolate heart when you order a hot drink! Hungriges Herz is in a great location, just up from the river Isar – a great break spot after a walk along the river. They have a wonderful range of breakfast dishes on offer (think avocado vibe) and there is always a sociable buzz around the place. If you visit later in the day, you can even try one of their heart-shaped pizzas from the in-house stone pizza oven: perfect!

Mary’s Coffee Club

Where: Turkenstrasse 86 A (near Universitat)

With a pretty interior, this is one for good old Insta story. Mary’s coffee club was a new discovery this year, recommended by a friend. A popular cafe tucked away in a little courtyard, tables fill up quite quickly. Top marks for presentation alone, drinks are served in the cutest ceramic cups and taste just as great as they look! Mary’s coffee club offers a range of healthy breakfast options, as well as a mouth-watering cake display just to tease you!

KaffeeKuche

Where: Weisenburger Strasse 6 (Rosenheimerplatz)

A huge favourite for me! Kaffeekuche is a small coffee shop, packed with a vast selection of delicous food and drink. Positioned in the popular Rosenheimer area, you can enjoy your coffee and cake of choice in the outside area when the sun is shining! Dishes change regularly so definitely a place to revisit. They also offer a range of milk alternatives.
Recommendation: try the Milchmadchen – a vietnamese style coffee made with condensed milk!

Cafe Glockenspiel

Where: Marienplatz 28

It’s worth visiting for the view alone. Perched opposite the famound Rathaus at Marienplatz, Cafe Glockenspiel definitely stands out for ‘drinks with a view’. Due to its location it tends to fill up quickly, so be prepared to wait a while. A great selection of lunch options and a very tasty hot chocolate!

Konigin 43

Where: Koniginstrasse 43 (nice and simple! Universitat)

Another new discovery this year, Konigin 43 (or Queen 43) is perfectly positioned on the edge of the Englischer Garten. Lots of space both indoors and outdoors on the terrace so it’s normally not too long to wait for a seat. A wonderful selection of breakfast options – they certainly know how to jazz up an omlette!

Cafe Weiner Platz

Where: Innere Weiner Strasse

Another cafe where most of the staff recognise me by now… although Cafe Weiner Platz isn’t the number one cafe on my list for coffee, it tends to be my go-to when entertaining visitors for brunch. A wide variety of food options for anytime of the day, it’s normally a difficult choice between the maple syrup pancakes and sweet French toast for me! They also offer additional drinks during the festive season – perfect winter warmers!
Recommendation: if you are more savoury then sweet, try the Mexican breakfast – hats off to anyone who can finish it!

Cafe Noel

Where: Metzstrasse 8

I seem to have become a bit of a regular here in recent months. Noel is a bright and cheerful cafe bursting with life! Every time I visit I notice another item from their quirky interior – my favourite has to be the circular tables made out of large Roman clocks. A great selection of hot chocolate and coffee twists, with mouth-watering cakes and some of the jolliest staff i’ve me so far in Munich!
Recommendation: try the Mexican hot chocolate for a mocca-style drink.

1970-01-01 011403352316227865553..jpg
Erdbeere cake at Cafe Noel

Arzmiller

Where: Salvatostrasse 2 (Odeonsplatz)

An old-fashioned cafe with style. Tucked away through a little archway just off from Odeonsplatz, Cafe Arzmiller has one of the best cake selections in Munich (yes, I do have a sweet tooth). From cheesecakes to strudel, you are definitely spoilt for choice. It is also the top of my ‘acceptable attempt at English tea’ list – they don’t even give you funny looks when you ask for tea with milk!

Just a small selection from a city bursting with wonderful cafes – if you get the chance to visit any of the above cafes, let me know if you agree!

Happy coffee drinking! K x

 

1970-01-01 012168161650333717371..jpg

 

 

Copenhagen Calling

Copenhagen – home to probably the most photographed setting in Europe…I was lucky enough to visit this beautiful city last Easter. Competing with Amsterdam for the city of cyclists, Copenhagen has a bustling culture and is great destination for a long weekend. Here are a few favourites from my travels…

The famous Nyhavn

Places to go

Nyhavn
If you didn’t take a picture of Nyhavn, did you even go to Copenhagen? The old port has a row of beautifully coloured buildings (the best food and drink spot), waiting to pose for the perfect picture. There’s a great ice cream and waffle parlour (Vaffelbageren) on the corner next to the road bridge – enjoy a scoop (or two) as a reward from all your picture posing!
Top tip: Walk down towards the harbour front and turn right – it might seem like you are walking away from all the action, but hidden away along the front are some mini trampolines: great fun after a day of sightseeing!

Tovehallerne

Whenever I book a holiday, one of the first things I do is look up the best food spots – especially if it involves anything sweet! Tovehallerne is a great indoor food market, with stalls selling a variety of food and drink – whether you’re the sweet or savoury type, you won’t be disappointed! It this tickles your taste bud, you can find out more at http://torvehallernekbh.dk.

Now, I know some of you may think I am crazy recommending porridge, but I can honestly say Grød (translating as ‘mush’) takes the porridge game to a whole new level! The trendy porridge bar has a few venues around Copenhagen – I visited their bar inside Tovehallerne and was happier than Goldilocks with my apple-caramel combo; definitely worth a visit.

1970-01-01 011375504356557269102..jpg
The famous grød!

King’s Garden

On my final day in Copenhagen, I had time to relax in this beautiful garden in the heart of the city. A perfect place to spend a chilled afternoon, King’s garden is the oldest park in the city. Puppet theatres and other events are often held here during the summer months; the park is also home to a range of statues, including the popular Hans Christian Andersen (who lived on the Nyhavn street!).

The extended to-do list:

  1. Tivoli Gardens – unfortuntely, I didn’t have the chance to visit the famous theme park, but i’ve heard it’s well worth a visit for any thrill seekers!
  2. Hire a bike – Live like a local and make use of the plethora of cycle paths around the city – it’s probably safer to ride than walk and get in the way!
  3. Amalienborg – The Queen’s Winter redidence; time it right and you can see the marching of the guards!
  4. The Little Mermaid statue – based on a character from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, you can find the mermaid perched on a rock along the water front. For me, I wouldn’t be disappointed if I had missed it, but it’s a popular sight!
  5. Freetown Christiania – a community that live by their own rules…
  6. Malmo, Sweden – Less than 30 minutes from Copenhagen airport, the Swedish coastal city offers the perfect day trip from busy city life! Plus, you get to tick off another country all in a day!

Copenhagen is the perfect city break and somewhere I would love to visit again one day. We managed to get very cheap flights from London through Ryanair so it’s worthwhile checking for any deals in the new year.

1970-01-01 011318900452096628350..jpg
Trampolines: fun for all ages!

Happy travels! K x

Innsbruck Insights

After making the move to Bavaria, I have had the luxury of being able to visit Austria with ease. One of my favourite discoveries is the city of Innsbruck: surrounded by snow-capped mountains and insta-perfect views, it should definitely be on your Europe bucket list!

These shoes were made for travelling

Natural wonders

Innsbruck – the capital of the Tirol region – is beautifully protected by the Austrian Alps. Nordkette, the mountain at Innsbruck’s core, is easily accessible from the city centre. Take the Nordkette gondola and enjoy panoramic views over Innsbruck – there’s even a café at the top so you can take in the views in style! On ground level, be sure to walk or cycle (take your pick) along the river Inn…the colourful houses that line the river make for a wonderful backdrop! The crystal clear waters are quite spectacular.

Taking in the view along the river Inn

Sights to see

If the mountains are not enough reason alone to visit Innsbruck, there are some bucket list sights to tick off. Below, I have included 3 sights that I managed to see:

1 – The ‘Goldenes Dachl’ (Golden Roof): probably the most famous picture spot in Innsbruck. A beautiful golden roof designed for Emperor Maximilian 1, it’s worth a trip to see it glimmering under the sunlight!

2 – Bergisel Ski Jump: fans of the Winter Olympics should definitely make a beeline for the ski jump! Towering in the distance as you travel into Innsbruck, the climb to the terrace is worth it for the incredible views. Sport enthusiasts should aim to visit in January, when Innsbruck hosts the annual Four Hills Tournament.

3 – The Hofburg: beautiful both inside and out, the ‘Imperial Palace’ was once owned by the famous royal Habsburg house.

Cafe Culture

No trip is complete without a visit to a blog-recommended cafe! Unfortunately, I have not made it into every cafe in Innsbruck, however here are a few recommendations from the places I have sampled!

Coffeekult

Cafe O’clock

 

I’m not normally one to recommend chain cafes, but Coffeekult hits the spot – great coffee, presented simply on an adorable little tray: you can’t go wrong! I especially liked the unique decor with coffee machine tables and bags of beans hidden in corners. There are 5 venues in Innsbruck to choose from and they also sell their own coffee packs!

 

 

Hitt und Sohne

A favourite discovery of mine, I was fortunate enough to visit Hitt and Sohne during the winter – a warm oasis above the bustling city of Innsbruck. Take the Nordkette bahn to reach the cafe and enjoy coffee up above – there’s a great range of sweet treats on offer too for any sugar addicts (like me!).

The Breakfast Club

Exactly what it says on the tin – a great stop for breakfast (or any other meal for that matter) just off the main shopping street of Maria-Theresien-Strasse. The menu offers a wonderful range of omelettes (I can highly recommend), as well as a variety of vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

1970-01-01 018481750741341868062..jpg
As far as omelettes go, this place is a must!

Innsbruck isn’t a city that takes long to explore, but it’s certainly a city well worth visiting, even just for the incredible views.

Happy Travels, K x

Ventures in Venice

Over the years, I have developed an unhealthy obsession with Italy (I even had an Italian-themed birthday one year!). Out of all the countries I have visited so far, Italy holds a firm place in my heart – I truly believe you could close your eyes, pick a point on the map and be amazed by the outcome. A country with so much to offer, Venice is by far my favourite and a must-see destination!

Gondolas waiting on the Grand Canal

 

Highlights

Bridge to somewhere

To me, the most magical aspect of Venice is spending time in a place without roads – no cars, no buses, no Sunday drivers! Ventures around the island can be taken by foot or boat. With over 400 bridges on the island, you may take a few wrong turns before you get your bearings! However, everyone needs to get a little lost in order to find their way!

Rialto edited
The famous Rialto Bridge

Be sure to experience the boat taxi, hopping on and off to find a new wrong turn. It’s especially cool to see this during school time, when the children use this as their form of transport to school!

 

 

Giddy for Gondolas

When you think of Venice, many immediately dream of the picturesque ride through the canals on a gondola. Whilst this is an experience I can truly recommend, it is a steep price and therefore not always achievable. For a gondola experience that won’t break the bank, head to the grand canal and pay 3 euros to cross from one side to the other – cheap and convenient!

Gondola ride
Gondola ride through the canals

Day trips

If you fancy a day away from the hustle and bustle, Venice has great connections to three beautiful islands: Murano, Burano and Lido. Whether it’s the shopping and glassware of Murano, handmade lace of Burano or the beach life of Lido, be sure to take a trip to one of these islands during your stay in Venice! My personal favourite is Burano, with a line of brightly coloured houses along the waterfront: a photographer’s dream!

Coffee kicks and travel tipples

Cafe del doge
A hot chocolate experience you will not regret!

When in Italy, one must embrace the café culture! A country famed for their coffee, you won’t go thirsty in Venice! Coffee and croissants are a staple morning delicacy – something which I was extremely happy about! If you’re feeling brave, visit one of the smaller café bars and take a standing shot of espresso before starting your day.

If you’re like me you may wish to enjoy a leisurely drink and soak up the Venetian way of life. Piazza San Marco has an array of beautiful cafes (varying in price) where you can enjoy a morning break whilst listening to the pianist playing in the square. If you are a fan of hot chocolate, then Café del Doge should be top of your list! Thick, creamy hot chocolates with a variety of flavours – you can’t go wrong!

If wine is more your tipple of choice, be sure to visit Cantina do Mori – known to be the oldest wine bar in Venice! With wooden stools and copper kettles lining the ceiling, Cantina do Mori sums up the Italian culture. You can even enjoy some bar nibbles whilst sampling the plethora of wines on offer.

If you’re planning a trip to Italy in the near future, be sure to include Venice in your plans – you won’t be disappointed!

Happy Travels, K x

Top 5 travel tips: Venice

  1. Plan wisely which month to visit – Venice can flood a lot during the winter months; late Spring or early Autumn provide the perfect conditions for sight-seeing.
  2. Scout out Gelateria Alaska for ice cream – a wide range of interesting flavours, all made by hand.
  3. Take an evening stroll along the grand canal and enjoy a beautiful sunset!
  4. Climb the Campanile (St. Mark’s Basilica Bell tower) in the evening to avoid heavy crowds and a wonderful view of Piazza San Marco under the evening lights.
  5. Don’t be afraid to take a wrong turn – you might just discover something truly amazing!