RESTAURANT 181 – Revolving Restaurant in the Olympic Tower – What awaits you?

Restaurant 181 in the Olympic Park is truly something special. Besides its impressive height of 181 meters, the restaurant rotates a full 360 degrees every 49 minutes, offering constantly changing views and breathtaking panoramas of the city. Whether you dine at lunchtime or in the evening, you'll find fresh and creatively prepared dishes made with high-quality ingredients. The culinary expertise of professional chef Karl-Heinz Kellner, a worthy successor to Otto Koch (2009-2014), ensures a sophisticated and diverse menu. Freshness and quality are paramount, and Restaurant 181 entices guests not only with its soaring height but also with the enjoyment of dining at your table. A closer look:

Culinary offerings at RESTAURANT 181

Lunch menu: Set menu & à la carte
Both à la carte dishes and set menus are offered. The lunch menu is available from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM. In addition to the 3-course lunch menu for €34.50, à la carte orders are also available. (Example lunch menu: "Asparagus Crème Brûlée" with wasabi sesame and salmon (starter), "Black Angus Striploin" with Madeira jus, baked potato, and watercress quark (main course), and "Delice with Mascarpone" with kiwi and chocolate (dessert). Sounds delicious, doesn't it? For those who prefer à la carte lunch, there's a concise yet well-curated menu with starters, main courses, and desserts (from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM / hot food served from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM). Starters such as buffalo mozzarella, fried king prawns with asparagus, Caesar salad, or various soups are on the menu (from €14 or €7). Main courses include tempting options like ricotta ravioli (€16) and veal patties (€16). I sampled the following dishes during lunch: Wiener Schnitzel with cranberries (€24.50), Thai beef consommé and rice noodles (€24.50), and surf and turf (€29). For a sweet finish, they offer à la carte desserts starting at €4.20, including freshly baked cakes, apple strudel, iced coffee, ice cream, berry tartlets, and international cheeses with brioche and chutney.

Especially for me: Amuse-bouche with Angus beef carpaccio

Evening menu offer
In the evenings, only set menus are served. Reservations (always required) are divided into two time slots. Tables are available from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and from 8:30 PM until closing (last seating at 9:15 PM). The first slot offers a set three-course "Sunset Dinner" menu (€54, including elevator access, with optional wine pairing for an additional €29). If you arrive at 8:30 PM, you can choose either a "Candlelight Dinner" menu (four courses including sorbet) or a "Gourmet Menu" with four or five courses (€74 for the four-course menu, €89 for the five-course menu, with optional wine pairing for €39 or €49). The menu changes approximately every six weeks. It should also be mentioned that the aforementioned menus are primarily composed of courses from the most extensive menu, the "Gourmet Menu." Therefore, if you choose this five-course menu in the evening (at 8:30 pm), you will have a perfect and comprehensive overview of the culinary offerings of Restaurant 181.

The first of a total of 4 wines

Wines
By choosing the set menu with wine pairings, I enjoyed not only exquisite cuisine but also fantastic wines. Specifically, over five courses, I tasted four of the 409 different wines on offer, primarily from Germany, Italy, and France. A small selection from Spain, the USA, Australia, and South Africa is also available. If you opt for the set menu with wine pairings, the wines are pre-selected and expertly matched to each course. For those dining à la carte at lunchtime or simply fancy a glass of wine, the in-house sommelier is happy to advise you. At Restaurant 181, you can browse and select from the wine list digitally on an iPad, which also provides additional information about the wines, their regions, and their flavor profiles. Open white and red wines are also available starting at €12.80 for a 0.2l glass. (Three open white wines from France, Israel, and Italy; three open red wines from France, Italy, and Germany). I would definitely recommend choosing the menu with wine pairing, also because the wines are well-matched and selected with expert knowledge.

The menu in detail – „Gourmet 5-course menu“

My companion and I opted for the extensive five-course gourmet menu (four courses plus an additional intermediate course). The evening began with a self-selected aperitif: a fruity Bellini (€8.50) and a sweet and fruity "Summer Orange" drink (€5; the aperitif is included in the "Candle Light Dinner" menu). We also ordered a 0.75l bottle of still Vio mineral water (€8.20). Before the meal began, we were served fresh, homemade bread with the restaurant's own certified organic olive oil ("Art of Oil" – available for purchase on-site) and coarse English fleur de sel (a very high-quality, hand-harvested Maldon salt consisting of delicate salt crystals that can be crumbled with your fingers). The warm bread, served in two varieties (with sun-dried tomatoes and plain), combined with the wonderful oil, immediately whetted our appetites for more.

Veal fillet with pan-fried goose liver

Before we get to course one, a heads-up that you can choose between two options for each course. The first course consisted of either "grilled tuna with asparagus, avocado, tomato salad, and hollandaise sauce" or "buffalo mozzarella and asparagus with avocado, tomato salad, and lemon vinaigrette" (cover photo). Both in terms of presentation and taste, it was my clear winner of the evening. The asparagus was fresh, the hollandaise homemade, the tuna cooked to perfection, and everything felt light and fresh with a summery touch. Course two was gazpacho for both of us—a cold soup thickened with bread and topped with a vegetable tartare of tomato, bell pepper, and olive oil. Gazpacho isn't for everyone, but once you recognize its advantages and know what's important, you'll quickly spot the professional chef. The soup, with its slightly bitter note, was intensely flavorful, simple, and, in my opinion, absolutely convincing. In addition to water, we also drank a 2016 Altos „R“ Blanco from the Altos winery in Rioja, Spain (0.75l bottle / 36€) as an amuse-bouche.

RESTAURANT 181 - Drehrestaurant im Olympiaturm 343-25

One of my favorites: The filled ravioli

After a short break (which is always checked beforehand), the third course, or rather the intermediate course, was served. It consisted of "grilled sea bass fillet with cucumber, beluga lentils, wasabi lime foam, and fried rice noodles," as well as "ricotta ravioli with artichokes, Parmesan, arugula, and olives." The fish was tender, slightly translucent, and even without the light, summery lime foam, intensely flavorful and extremely enjoyable. I only enjoyed the beluga lentils in combination with it. In retrospect, I can also say that the ravioli, along with the tuna (appetizer) and the veal fillet (following main course), were my favorites. A 2014 Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchaume" from Domaine Louis Jadot in Burgundy, France (0.75l bottle / €48.50) was served with the intermediate course – the liquid favorite of the evening. The following main course featured both "pink-roasted veal fillet with celery cream, sautéed wild mushrooms, glazed baby carrots, and herb jus" and the alternative "chanterelles in herb cream with pretzel soufflé." A 2015 Cuvée Josef - Barrique from the Palatinate region of Germany (0.75l bottle / €60) accompanied the meal. For an additional €15, you can also have the veal fillet topped with pan-fried foie gras. Keep in mind that you're now on your fourth course. Depending on your previous choices, you should arrive quite hungry if you opt for the five-course meal. The pretzel soufflé—and I agree with the waiter—briefly transported me to a Bavarian inn, and I pictured myself sitting there with a plate of bread dumplings and creamed mushrooms. Bold, but successful, albeit rich and ultimately satisfying. This is how you recognize talent in the kitchen, even in a seemingly "simple" dish. The veal fillet, by the way, was incredibly tender, very well portioned, and cooked to perfection medium. A dream, and my recommendation for this course.

The menu concludes with either a "Baked Alaska with Strawberries" (dulce de leche, vanilla ice cream, chocolate biscuit) or an "international raw milk cheese selection" with brioche & chutney (cheese varieties: Blue cheese, goat cheese, red smear cheese and cow's milk cheese – For an additional €16 as a course or €8 as a "swapped dessert"). Cheese is supposed to fill you up, and it works for me, so I opted for it. The accompanying dessert wine – a very sweet 2016 Kerner (a cross between Trollinger and Riesling) from the Montigny winery in the Nahe region of Germany (0.75l / €34) – was a perfect match. I rarely find anything "too sweet." I only tasted the creamy strawberry dessert with a spoon and stuck with the cheese. To accompany or finish, there were Nespresso coffee specialties.

You'll soon be eating way up high.

Further information

A visit to Restaurant 181 is worthwhile for a variety of occasions. Whether it's a romantic dinner for two, a business lunch with colleagues, a visit to your parents, or celebrating an anniversary with your partner – it's always a special occasion. Even as a guest, simply for a drink or a glass of wine with a fantastic view, you're welcome at Restaurant 181. Of course, it's not an everyday experience, but remember Restaurant 181 and my words for your next special event. They regularly offer great specials for various occasions. Sometimes it's a menu package with, for example, a bottle of wine for the "Sunset Dinner" or the "Winter Special" (January – March), as well as other specials for the annual "Summer Night's Dream" in the Olympic Park. The team has also come up with something special for the first day of school. To stay up-to-date, give Restaurant 181 a thumbs-up on their Facebook fan page so you don't miss a thing. A perennial favorite is the brunch, which is almost fully booked until Christmas 2017 and takes place once a month.More information here (Also suitable for vegetarians and vegans). I'll take a look at that one soon...

Hard facts and personal opinion

Restaurant 181 has 32 tables by the window and 32 tables in the aisle. Naturally, the window seats with a view are the most popular and can be reserved accordingly – but don't wait too long to make your reservation. Incidentally, the Olympic Tower, or rather, the current Restaurant 181, first rotated in 1970. It was modernized in 2020 and everything is now sparkling and new. The elevator fee to reach the restaurant is €7 per person – this is included depending on the menu. Above Restaurant 181 is the observation deck of the Olympic Tower – your ticket grants you access. If you'd like to get to know the place step by step, do as I did and stop by for lunch first. I highly recommend the veal patties made with the highest quality meat – delicious! If you come in the evening and aren't ravenous, the four courses will certainly suffice. I'm curious to hear what you think.

[This post was created in cooperation with Restaurant 181. Thank you!]

Contact for inquiries

Restaurant 181 – Revolving restaurant in the Olympic Tower | Spiridon-Louis-Ring 7 | 80809 Munich
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (12:00 PM – 2:30 PM Lunch menu / à la carte available all day)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Evening Menu / Sunset Dinner Menu
8:30 p.m. – End / 4/5-course menu / Gourmet menu
(Last seating in the evening at 9:15 pm, reservations always required for set menus!)
Website
contact via email
Contact via telephone: 089 350 948 181

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