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Restaurant Alter Hof fraenkische Kueche vorderer Sitzbereich

The front restaurant area accommodates 80 guests.

Restaurant Alter Hof in the heart of Munich The Alter Hof restaurant is located in the heart of Munich, beautifully hidden and a true insider tip, right next to the Dallmayr coffee house. This makes perfect sense, as the Alter Hof is a subsidiary of the famous coffee house and has been housed in one of Munich's oldest and most historic buildings since the end of 2013. The Alter Hof serves Franconian cuisine, accompanied by an extensive selection of Franconian wines. Now, after a recent revisit, I'd like to tell you all about it.

I first became aware of the restaurant a few months after it opened, when I spontaneously decided to have dinner there with a companion. The restaurant is somewhat hidden away in the courtyard, yet it's incredibly centrally located between Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz. Over the past few years, numerous events and personal occasions have brought me back to the Alter Hof restaurant time and again. Each time, I've been impressed by the friendly service, the inviting atmosphere, and, of course, the excellent and well-trained staff.

Restaurant Alter Hof fraenkische Kueche Weinstube und Eingang

The entrance area or exit to the wine bar

Restaurant Alter Hof – premises and layout

The restaurant is divided into a front dining area, accessible via the entrance stairs, which boasts an impressive view of soaring dormer ceilings and features comfortable seating areas and tables. Passing through this (almost) "hall," you arrive in a second, spacious and attractively designed dining room, which, in addition to the 80 seats in the front area, offers seating for another 80 guests. Once you've found a seat—I personally prefer the aforementioned, somewhat visually separated seating niches in the front area—you're immediately attended to by the friendly staff and presented with the menus and wine lists.

Restaurant Alter Hof fraenkische Kueche Wiener Schnitzel

A dream, isn't it? The Wiener Schnitzel.

Menu and ingredients

The menu is divided into a standard menu and a daily changing lunch menu, each offering one vegetarian and one meat dish (for €8.90 and €9.90 respectively, including a small soft drink). The main menu features a variety of appetizers, soups, vegetarian dishes, main courses, and desserts. It is clearly laid out and well-organized. As is always the case when dining out, the primary goal is delicious food. However, at Restaurant Alter Hof, the use of regionally sourced ingredients, the high quality of the produce, and the overall ambiance that contributes to a successful dining experience are equally important. Specials such as asparagus dishes, game dishes, and other seasonal specials are also regularly featured.

Restaurant Alter Hof fraenkische Kueche Vorspeise

Matjes herring fillet with potato rösti – one of the appetizers

Selection and evaluation of the dishes

On my last visit, I spent several hours at one of the cozy tables, indulging in a starter, main course, and dessert, and thoroughly enjoying myself with my companion. We began modestly with a herring fillet on homemade potato rösti with frisée salad and dill sour cream, followed by beetroot carpaccio with lime vinaigrette and wild herb salad (each for €10.50) as a starter. Excellent, I tell you! Herring fillet isn't for everyone, and opinions vary widely on preparation and quality. My starter was the carpaccio, but I also tried the herring and was delighted. Super fresh and delicate, with a subtle fish flavor yet just the right amount of seasoning, thanks in part to the accompanying potato rösti. Thankfully, I didn't have to share my carpaccio, and I was equally impressed. Even with the starters, the creativity of the individual dishes on the menu is striking. Our choice for the main courses wasn't quite as creative – although it certainly warranted it. We both opted for the classic Wiener Schnitzel (veal schnitzel) with cranberries and fried potatoes. To put it somewhat colloquially: it's a meal that makes it worthwhile to weigh a kilo more the next day. 😉 Sure, not the healthiest option, but a legendary dish nonetheless. I love schnitzel, and the one at the Alten Hof is truly fantastic. You get two – as they should be – small pieces of meat, perfectly breaded and cooked to a beautiful golden brown. The fried potatoes also taste homemade, making the price of €21.50 – considering the city center location – perfectly reasonable.

Restaurant Alter Hof fraenkische Kueche 6

Wine cream with wild berry sorbet

Other options include dishes such as sour sausages with farmhouse bread (€11), Franconian sausage platter (€14.50), Franconian pork shoulder (€17.50), or pan-fried caper fillet with cucumber ragout and boiled potatoes (€19). At €23.50, the most expensive dish on the menu is the Bavarian duet of pasture-raised beef and salmon trout with mashed potatoes, broccoli, and Silvaner herb sauce.

We didn't hold back and indulged in the desserts as well. Homemade apple fritters (eat them!) with cinnamon sugar and vanilla ice cream (€8.50) and Franconian wine cream with wild berry sorbet (€7.50) landed on our table. Mmm! What can I say? Delicious! Firstly, because almost no restaurants offer apple fritters anymore (that's what we Bavarians call them ;-)), and secondly, because they're homemade and demonstrate creativity. The wine cream with the tart wild berry sorbet – superb! So, even after schnitzel and the like, leave room for a dose of sweetness at the end.

Wine tavern, wine bar and wine selection

The venue is also ideal for events, celebrations, parties, and corporate functions, offering space for 160 people or two separate rooms of 80 each. It also boasts a wine bar (for 55 people) and a wine tavern (for 70 people) located in the basement. Franconian wines are plentiful here, with a total of 100-120 selections, including 60-65 permanent wines. The selection varies, and the charming host, Johannes Müller, is always happy to offer his guests special and particularly excellent wines. Franconian wines from wineries such as Weingut am Stein, Hans Wirsching, Max Müller, Artur Steinmann, DIVINO Nordheim, and Winzer Sommerach are available. So, if you enjoy Franconian wines, you'll be very well catered for here.

Restaurant Alter Hof fraenkische Kueche Weinbar

The restaurant's wine bar

Personal conclusion

Well…what's there to complain about? Nothing, really. You simply have to love the Franconians, their hospitality at least as much as the warmth and competence of the service. My only complaint would be that the schnitzel was perhaps eaten far too quickly. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Alter Hof restaurant. It's one of those restaurants you might not immediately think of, or that you might spot from the main shopping street during a day of shopping, but it's definitely worth a little detour. Enjoy a glass of Franconian wine there and think of me while you're eating your Wiener Schnitzel. 🙂 Have fun! It's worth a visit, especially for the upcoming Valentine's Day. They're offering a fantastic menu, and numerous other culinary highlights from the Franconian region await you there.

Tested: Restaurant Alter Hof
Address: Alter Hof 3, 80331 Munich
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 11:00 pm and hot food served until 10:00 pm
Details: Franconian cuisine and Franconian wine culture
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