Munich Shopping

Manage your expectations: this is not Paris, London or even Berlin when it comes to shopping. It’s fun to hunt for handcrafted mementoes in the city’s many independent boutiques, and Munich excels especially in homewares (a cool selection can be found at retro-chic Manuufactum). Skip looking for high fashion (Münchners are a conservative bunch) and head to those one-off shops that capture the current traditional-meets-hipster atmosphere. Most everything is closed on Sundays; check with your concierge before you set out.

Fünf Hoefe

Five courtyards were joined together by Swiss design duo Herzog & de Meuron to create Munich’s most famous shopping enclave. The stores are mostly well-known labels (Armani, MaxMara, Massimo Dutti), but there are some local gems (Magazin, Meisterwerk Chocolaterie) scattered throughout. After a shopping spree, fight for a seat at hot spot Schumann’s Tagesbar (Maffaistr. 6).

Schwabing

This scenic neighborhood used to be the pinnacle of boho-life in Munich; then it slowly transformed into boho-chic and today it is fully gentrified, with lots of (moneyed) young families. It still has a lovely setting for strolling and some cute independent boutiques. Stroll along Türkenstrasse, Schellingstrasse and Hohenzollernstrasse .

Gärtnerplatz

The Gärtnerplatz sits in the center of the Glockenbachviertel, Munich’s answer to Paris’ Marais (including a large gay community). The surrounding streets, especially Klenzestrasse and Reichenbachstrasse, hold lots of small, independently owned shops.