Munich Shopping

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Most naturally, Munich is full with food shops. But there is one which is special and which I highly recommend be it to pick up some snack, to buy food or to find special foodie gifts for special friends. It is Dallmayr, one of the biggest delicatessens in Europe.

Its long tradition dates back 300 years and it is still a family business. End of 19th century it even received Royal Warrant appointment. Early 20th century the company added coffee to their product palette. This is how I came to know them, or better through an advertisement on TV. When I walked inside the shop, I was amazed to see that they still have these charming ceramic containers on top of the coffee grinders which are shown in that ad. But it also shows the delicious goodies Dallmayr sells in the shop. From snacks to daily food to delicious sweets and coffee, they have everything. Which was also my problem when I was in the shop: the goodies were too tempting so at the end instead of trying and buying everything I left with only a lovely tea in a lovely wrapping for my sister and nothing for me.

The reason why I like Dallmayr is also because of their social engagement. Nowadays every big giant claims social responsibility and engagement but these are in most of the cases blatant lies. But in the case of Dallmayr I believe their words. They are member of several coffee trading circles, including the Fair Trade organisation, they sponsor Karlheinz Böhm’s ”Menschen für Menschen” (help for people in Ethiopia), Jane Goodall Institute for chimpanzees in Tansania and Rainforest Alliance. And they say that for each pound of sold coffee they contribute five tree seedlings for Ethiopia against the desertification. In May 2012 they terminated contract with coffee supplier Neumann Coffee Group when news surfaced that this one was responsible for brutal eviction of Ugandan farmers.
Thumbs up for Dallmayr.

It is easy to find: from Marienplatz, pass the city hall to the right. It is located to the right, the huge yellow building.
Opening hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9:30 (a.m.) – 19:00 (7 p.m.)

Location of Dallmayr’s main shop on Google Maps.

© Ingrid D., September 2012

Munich being a big city certainly has the advantage to provide more bookstores than the “cultural backwater” town where I live does. The biggest bookstore is Hugendubel with several locations throughout the city. Their biggest store is directly at Marienplatz.

Whenever I come to Munich I make sure I have room enough in my luggage to bring back a good collection of books I can’t get elsewhere, especially books about Bavaria and more specific Bavarian travel books and maps. In addition, I liked their language section boos. I could buy more Italian language books here than anywhere else I have looked.

When I was visiting Richie and Doreen in September 2010, Richie and I decided to look at the books Hugendubel’s English store has in the shelves. We were both quite amazed to see how big the store was. And Richie could order the beer book he was looking for.
This bookstore is certainly the one of choice for any foreigner who wants to stock up with books about Bavaria and the region.

The English bookstore is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and located at Salvatorplatz. That’s north of Marienplatz, approx. 5-10 minute walk. The website below has a little map with the exact location.

Directions:
From Marienplatz, pass the city hall to the left and walk straight ahead (Weinstrasse, then Theresienstrasse) until Salvatorstrasse crosses. Turn left and it is at the next corner (the building with arcades).
Metro station Odeonsplatz.

Location of Hugendubel’s English Bookstore on Google Maps.

© Ingrid D., September 2010 (just in case, RickS, Facebook or other website users come along and think they can steal texts or photos).

The main Christmas Market in Munich called "Christkindl Markt" is held on the Marienplatz square in front and around the Altes Rathaus (Old City Hall) where the most traditional stalls can be found with Father Christmas wandering around the stalls between 4pm and 6pm chatting and having his picture taken as a souvenir of an unforgettable visit to the Christmas market.. In all there are over 20 Christmas Markets located throughout the city.

Annually, usually from around third week in November up to and including Christmas Eve.
Monday to Friday: 10:00 am to 8:30 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 8:30 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am to 7:30 pm

Admission: Free

November 2011

What to buy: The market features more than 160 traditionally decorated booths, and is a great place to buy Bavarian wood carvings, traditional toys, glass crystals, crib figurines, bee wax candles, chimney sweeps made of plums and almonds and lots more traditional Christmas gift ideas.

What to pay: Various

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The Riem Arcaden is an excellent shopping mall at Munich Messestadt, which is the business/exhibition centre district of Munich. By subway train, it takes about 20 minutes to get there from the city centre.

There's a huge array of shops, arranged over three floors, and plenty of of places to enjoy a meal, snack, drink or ice cream. There are department stores, a supermarket in the basement and many small shops selling just about everything you could possible need.

The mall is bright, cheerful and spotlessly clean and is a good place to spend a few hours if the weather's bad.

What to buy: Everything from clothes to camera accessories to food.

I found in my hotel a very nice shopping map of Munich. It is called Shopping Less Ordinary and it gives some recommendations about nice Fashion stores in Munich. Many of them are in the upcoming Glockenbachviertel and I found some nice things in these shops. My favourites were the fashion designers from Munich who sell there clothes in their own stores.
The guide has a website with detailed informations about the shops...

What to buy: I was looking for clothes, but the guide recommends as well Stores for accessories, shoes, design....

What to pay: I guess the prices are normal. It depends what you are looking for. The international designer brands are expensive everywhere

We saw everything from toys to clothing to flowers to cheeses to bags with logos to honey gummy bears to wines to wursts to plants to plastic thingy things. It's got it all.

I do suggest you have a lunch here. Loads of great choices (we took the soup kitchen - see my restaurant tips). And if you're planning a picnic or cocktail party, there will be plenty of stocking up to do here. However, it's also very interesting just to walk around and check out the people and stalls. Very colorful, very friendly, very lovely surroundings.

What to buy: I bought honey bears. There were samples, and I'd never seen them in NYC, so there you go. I was very tempted by some honey wine, but I couldn't decide if I wanted to carry it around all day. There were also great shopping bags. You know, the woven bags with leather handles that a lot of people bring to buy Lebensmittel. I regret not buying one I saw there.

What to pay: The prices vary. Compare before you buy.

Ikea is the largest furniture store chain in Europe. Originally coming from Sweden, IKEA has made it to the USA, Japan, China etc. A visit at Ikea can be a family event or nice day if it is rainy outside and you really need something new for your appartment. Munich has two Ikeas – one close to the airport in Eching, the other (brand new) in the south of Munich in Brunnthal. Both Ikeas have a huge collection of affordable furniture, carpets, clothes, towels, dish- and kitchenware, decoration, prints, frames, plants, garden equipment.. etc. A kids area inluding slides, painting area, toy and skilled personnel will give you some time away from the kids to go shopping. The Ikea restaurant is of course only a little better than fast-foot: however, Koetbullar (meat balls) with brown sauce, berry jam and french fries belong to my favourites.

What to buy: Affordable furniture of all kind (bedroom, kitchens, kids rooms, office furnitue, living rooms, garden furniture etc etc.)
Plants
Kitchen equippemnt, dishware
Bathroom equipment, towels
Decoration, prints, frames, vases, candles etc.
Swedish food like salmon paste, bread, chocolate, jam, berry jellies etc.

What to pay: average and below average prices compared to other furniture stores

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Strolling in the center we ended up in this open air market. It was awesome! the vegetables and fruit are nicely piled up to display and there was a huge variety of local and exotic food. In particular we saw a lot of different kind of chili pepper from variuos part of the world. There are also some souvenir stands and some cheese and salami stand.
In the middle of the market there is a nice caffee where you can enjoy a cup of warm coffee and a delicious piece of cake and just sit and look at all the action around you.
We really enjoyed stay here.

What to buy: Try the pretzel, there is a bakery there where you can also look at the woman making those.