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.

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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

 

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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.

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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

Expat Edition #1: making the move

Having the opportunity to live and work abroad has been an aspiration of mine for a while now. With my travel bucket list increasing at a rapid pace, I thought it might be wise to move abroad and have new countries to explore! This section of my blog will give you the ins and outs, ups and downs and round-abouts to expat life!

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A home away from home: Munich’s Rathaus

Location Location

If you are thinking about moving abroad for a while, location is key. Within my job role, I had a broad range of places to choose from and the world literally was my oyster. Taking such a big step solo, I was unsure of how expat life would work out for me – I felt that staying in Europe provided me with a safety net, being relatively close to home. As mentioned in my Venice blog, I have an unhealthy obsession with Italy and always imagined myself moving there. However, a chance arose for a job role in Munich and the capital of Bavaria soon came to be the place I’m fortunate to call my ‘second home’.

As with any major move, there have been ups and downs to expat life so far. However, I can honestly say that the decision to move to Munich was possibly the best decision I have ever made – in my opinion, where you choose to live massively impacts your experiences and feelings towards expat life; if it’s something you choose to do, take the time to find the best location for you.

Chosen nation – now preparation

Once I knew I was moving to Munich, my to-do list suddenly doubled. There is a lot to sort prior to a move abroad and it can feel extremely daunting. A typical teacher response to anything, my advice to you would be to make lists: lots of them! I found that breaking each job down helped me to prepare both physically and mentally for the biggest adventure of my life. Start early with document preparations (changing address, bank account and the stresses of student loan), then you will not be left feeling so overwhelmed when the moving day arrives.

The final countdown

One thing which I felt very nervous about was meeting new people – growing up in the same area all my life, I had my home comforts. My top tip would be to arrange meet ups with others before you arrive. If your work offers an induction programme or a ‘buddy’, snap up their offer! Before I moved, I asked my work to share contact details with other new starters – I ended up filling my first week with cafe trips galore (I might have mentioned my love for cafes) with new faces. For me, having the opportunity to meet people going through the same experiences as me helped me to settle in to expat life.

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Meeting new people is the best thing about expat life

For anyone considering a move abroad, I can honestly say it will be an experience of a lifetime. Do you research, decide on the right place and take a leap into the unknown!

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K x