xerenthar

Hi there! My girlfriend and I are going to be in Munich for 3 days on our trip around northern(ish) Europe. We're looking for neighborhood (and hotel, to some extent) recommendations. We'd like to be within walking distance of bars/nightlife - beer gardens, late night bars, etc., but also cool daytime stuff too(including touristy stuff.)

I've heard the Glockenbachviertel or Gaertnerplatzviertel are good ideas, but I've also heard to just stay in the southern area of Marienplatz... all things considered, we'd prefer to public transit or cab during the day and walk back to the hotel at night than vice versa.

We don't want to do the party hostel thing - BNBs or hotels with private rooms and bathrooms are necessary, but nothing extravagant needed. I'd like to keep it under 70E/night.

Thanks Fodorites! <3

Cowboy1968

Try the Motel One near Sendlinger Tor.
It's in walking distance (5-10mins) both to the Gärtnerplatzviertel and the Marienplatz.
http://www.motel-one.com/de/hotels/h...sendl-tor.html

No worries, the name is a bit misleading, it's not a "motel", but a somewhat stylish hotel. The rooms are a bit compact by German standards, but not too small.
The rack rate a bit over your budget, but you can check at hrs.com if you get it for a discounted rate.

xerenthar

thanks! i'll check it out! do you have any advice/opinions as to Gärtnerplatzviertel, Glockenbachviertel, etc? are bars in that whole area generally open late (4AM or later?)

Fuchur

Clubs are open so long there are people inside. So 4 a.m. or later should be no problem. Most people go at first to bars and drink a beer or a cocktail. Around midnight the people visit clubs. When are you and your girlfriend in munich? In summer there are a lot of street festivals at the Glockenbachviertel. If you stay close to the Marienplatz or the Glockenbachviertel it is no big deal. Only a few minutes difference to walk.

madamtrashheap

The areas of Gärtnerplatzviertel and Glockenbachviertel are part of the U-shaped city district of Isarvorstadt-Ludwigsvorstadt, which loops around from Isartor to near the Hauptbahnhof (but doesn't include Marienplatz). The two areas mentioned are great for cafes, pretty parks (the small one in the centre of Gärtnerplatz is a great place to soak up the sun and people watch) and is the main part of the gay scene in Munich. It's a very mixed area, I like to call it the gay area that's straight friendly, so lots of gorgeous shops scattered amongst the feather boas and leather thong windows. Lots of clubs/bars stay open until 6am in this (and other) areas, so you'll find plenty of places to keep you occupied until dawn. Another good clubbing area is at Ostbahnhof in the Kultfabrik (formerly Kunstpark Ost)complex. Different clubs (around 20 on any given night) offer different music (and "acts" depending on the club type!) so you can wander past and listen to what's playing and then go in, or do a little reasearch first and see what clubs might offer what you're looking for in terms of music/atmosphere.

To get to some of the lovelier beer gardens, you'll need to jump on the U-bahn, cycle or walk around. The Englisher Garten beer gardens (one at the Chinese Tower, another at the pond called Aumeister) are huge and fantastic in Spring/Summer and the first part of Autumn before they close. Lots of smaller beer gardens tucked behind the large beer houses (bierhaus) in the city too.

xerenthar

thanks very much. are a majority of the bars in GPV/GBV considered "gay bars?" i'm 100% gay friendly, but don't particularly want to spend all my time in gay bars (i lived with my girlfriend in boystown in chicago, if you are at all familiar.)

Cowboy1968

LOL.. no, only a handful or two are gay bars. Munich's gay scene is not that big. You can easily spot the cafes or bars as most fly the rainbow flag. The "real" gay bars, i.e. men-only nightclubs, usually have a bouncer, so you cannot "accidentely" stumble in.
In general, the area between Sendlinger Tor, Gärtnerplatz, and river Isar is mixed, esp. the bars or clubs at night.

madamtrashheap

As has been noted, Munich's gay scene isn't that big (not like Berlin for example) but it is centred on the GBV area and whilst there are lots of gay bars/clubs, there are lots of mixed/non-sexuality-defined bars to be had as well, so no, not all bars/clubs in the area are gay.

A few places you might look at are Ksar Club (surrounded by gay clubs, but this one is hetro and a good atmosphere with good drinks amd music), Lizard Lounge (v 70s vibe, good cocktails), Cafe am Hochhaus (started life as a bit too trendy for its own good, but open late and is a nicer place to be now, a few years later), Tabula Rasa (actually a cafe which does a good breakfast, but later in the week it has a DJ on until late. V small venue, standing room only, even outside).