+ + + Advertisement + + +
Bean and malt in Munich's city center | Bohne und Malz is a German restaurant with two (formerly three) locations in Munich, offering a very well-rounded menu. The second location of the same name is on Sonnenstraße at Stachus, while the one I recently visited with my companion is on Weinstraße, right by the town hall at Marienplatz. I've been there quite often in recent years, either for a meal or just for coffee or cake in the afternoon. The third location, which was on Rotkreuzplatz, closed due to a change of ownership and is now called "Alex" (Here's my article about Alex).
I can say upfront that I've always enjoyed the food there and have consistently been satisfied with the service, the ambiance, and, of course, the food itself. So this week, after a day in the city, my companion and I spontaneously decided to have dinner there without a reservation. We were greeted immediately upon entering by a friendly waiter who offered us a choice of two small tables. The restaurant was completely full except for these two options. Bohne und Malz is set back a bit, and you have to walk through a small underpass (currently next to a construction site) to reach the entrance area, which in summer boasts a few sunny and, above all, relatively quiet outdoor tables – undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of the city crowds.
Immediately upon entering, we felt comfortable – and I actually feel this way every time (including at the restaurant on Sonnenstraße) – and were eager to sit down and spend the evening there. The atmosphere was cozy and very warm: about 25 dark wooden tables with small flowerpots and dark chairs or dark upholstered benches, a long, dark bar with sophisticated lighting and numerous glass shelves on the wall behind it, and small light sources everywhere that indirectly diffused a very pleasant light, creating a warm and shimmering golden glow in combination with the yellow-gold painted walls. The enormous golden ceiling lamps, the massive column at the bar, and the huge windows – almost wrapping around three entire walls of the restaurant – perfectly completed the cozy ambiance.
It is a bit noisy, of course, when all the tables are occupied – but normal conversation is definitely possible. After we were seated, the friendly server promptly brought us the well-rounded menu to our small table, which was located right next to the rather generously stocked cake display case – integrated into the bar.
We opted for a panini with feta cheese and salad (€10.90) and a meat and cheese spaetzle skillet (called the "Bohne&Malz-Pfandl" for €15.90). The food arrived about 20 minutes after we ordered our drinks (Radler €4.20, Diet Coke €3.50). The panini with the warm feta cheese was very attractively and deliciously presented, rich in flavor, and a good combination with the large salad with plenty of dressing. While the price was on the higher end, it was still reasonable. The panini bread itself could have been toasted a bit crispier; it might even have been under-browned – all in all, though, a delicious meal. The skillet was very substantial and too much for my companion to finish. According to him, the meat, covered with sauce, cheese spaetzle, and fried onions, was a bit "rubbery" but still acceptable overall. No salad was served, and almost €16 is a bit steep. Overall, the menu offers a pretty good mix; here you'll find the Standard card. On another visit, we opted for two different salads: the "Le Parisien" salad for €10.80 and the "Louisiana" salad for €11.90. The salads were well-portioned, but unfortunately arrived about 10-15 minutes late, and my companion had already finished eating by the time I started. The salads themselves were good, though.
Some time later, I went back to Bohne und Malz with an acquaintance and we ordered duck with dumplings and red cabbage, as well as fish risotto – both were mediocre, and we agreed afterwards that we wouldn't necessarily come back, as the food was sometimes quite good and sometimes not so good. The risotto, for example, was very salty with the fish, and I had to drink a lot to finish it. My companion's duck was quite small and, overall, unfortunately not very impressive either.
As mentioned, we felt very comfortable at B&M. Including tip, we paid €37 for two main courses and drinks via card. Due to its central location on Marienplatz, I would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance, especially on weekday evenings and weekends. Parking isn't readily available directly at the restaurant, but you can easily reach it using the U3/U6 subway lines or any S-Bahn (suburban train). Odeonsplatz is also just a five-minute walk away (and the U4/U5 subway lines are another option).
If you'd prefer to visit Bohne und Malz on Sonnenstraße, you'll need to park at Stachus or take the S-Bahn or U4/U5. The one near the town hall has a nicer atmosphere, though, as it's smaller. Overall, the Sonnenstraße location is also worth a visit. I'll definitely eat there soon and let you know how it goes. B&M is open from 9 am to 1 am. Enjoy!
Place visited: Bean and malt
Address: Sonnenstraße 11, 80331 Munich
or Weinstraße 3, 80331 Munich
Website
Pictures:
Desiree
On Friday, July 22, 2016, I ate there. The atmosphere was great, the food was delicious, we had no complaints. Then, as we were about to leave, there was the shooting at the OEZ shopping center. When we learned we couldn't go anywhere and heard there was also a shooting at Stachus, they gave us shelter in their courtyard. After a while, when we went back inside the restaurant to find out more, we were simply thrown out. The situation was still unclear and the perpetrator was still at large. But they didn't care; we had to leave the restaurant.