Emily Rasch (1982)

In a world where people are so accustomed to typing, computers, and immediacy, it’s nice to put that human touch back into things. For me, beautiful stationery and hand written letters are a sure fire way to brighten someone’s day. There’s something therapeutic about writing and drawing.

Kokolores is my first stop for finding small gifts, paper crafts, wrapping paper, cards, and pretty packaging supplies. I love this tiny shop. They constantly have a changing inventory of interesting products from all over the world, including: Japan, Nepal, Paris, and the United States to name a few. It’s very much a shop of curiosities.

The lanterns, pennant flags, magnets, and letterpress stationery seem to reflect simpler times and provide a bit of whimsical happiness. I should mention that the area around this shop is also quite charming and often makes me feel as though I am on a movie set.

If you decide to stop by I recommend taking a stroll down the nearby Preysingstrasse, which provides an incredible glimpse into what yesteryear Munich once looked like complete with cobble streets and tiny little houses. 

While having a well noted love for the arts, Munich isn’t necessarily a city that’s known for a thriving street art scene, which could be viewed here as slightly provincial. Despite this sentiment, there are some rebellious citizens that decorate this conservative city with various tags, stencils, stickers, and freestyle paint.

One of the best areas to see a bit of the urban art or to exercise some creative licensing is on Tumblingerstraße, near the Schlachthofviertel. Large walls surrounding the Großmarkthalle are decorated with some very beautiful images. This area serves as a legal canvas for those that want to perfect their visual and artistic expression on the city streets and bring the art from museums and galleries to the proletariat.

The colors are beautiful and the tapestry of social commentary and working art space is always evolving.

What I love most is the dynamic and colorful juxtaposition on the typically maintained and austere city streets demonstrates that slight uprising that seems to bubble beneath the surface, plus it’s constantly changing. 

You may also be interested in checking out this beautiful and impressive stop motion video of this dynamic city street before experiencing it yourself.

To get there take the U3/U6 to Poccistraße or Bus 131 towards Klenzestraße / St.-Maximilian, exiting at Tumblingerstraße.

For those who prefer to travel above ground, by bus, tram, or by foot, there are options below that they are missing out on, like this intergalactic looking space.

The Stachus Einkaufszentrum at Karlsplatz is more than just a place to catch the subways. This passageway just under went drastic renovations to make the it brighter and more modern, so it’s quickly becoming a destination in its own right.

Not only does this passageway provide an easy way to cross the street while avoiding traffic, but it also contains a variety of shops, grocery stores, a movie theater, and several quick and inexpensive food options.

The variety of food covers nearly all grounds: from design your own frozen yogurt at frogis, gourmet pretzels and potatoes at Brezelina, to salads at dean + david, Belgian French fries at Pommes Freunde, and Asian dishes at both Kaimug and My Indigo.

If you’d prefer a picnic you can always stop by one of the grocery stores – Tengelmann, Kaufhof, or Karstadt – to purchase inexpensive items or bottles of beer for your own ‘Bierprobe‘ (beer sampling). Drinking on the streets or in the parks is legal, provided you do so responsibly, however drinking in the subway is ‘verboten‘ (forbidden).

To see a full listing of shops and foods click here to download a pdf.

In the middle of the city, not far from Marienplatz, is Fünf Höfe (the Five Courtyards). Upon first glance from the main streets, it’s pretty unassuming, however there is something for everyone here. It’s one of my very favorite places to go shopping, stop for lunch, or swing by a museum. 

The modern architecture is an interesting contrast in this conservative city, but inside there are plenty of beautiful stores, an art museum, a grocery, bars (such as Comercial + the ‘see and be seen’ Schumann’s TagesBar) as well as several reasonably priced restaurants (including Dean + David, Kaimug, and Vapiano to name a few).

The live ivy that hangs overhead is also a nice touch of melding nature into the city. Make sure you wander through the various courtyards to see the quiet areas, hidden shops, and vibrant colors before stopping for some food or letting window shopping get the best of you.  

The Kunsthalle also provides interesting exhibits for those that enjoy visiting art museums. 

To get there – S-bahn: exit at Marienplatz and walk up Theatinerstrasse where it will be on your left.

U-bahn: exit at Odeonsplatz and walk down Theatinerstrasse where it will be on your right.

Tram: 19 to Theatinerstaße.

One of life’s simple pleasures is a beautiful pastry that is also sumptuously delicious. Maelu has an incredible array of cakes and pastries that make its small shop seem as if you’re stepping into a Parisian pâtisserie.

These little works of art are also a rare find, because it seems as though virtually every cake here is either doused with rum or rather dry. Rest assured these are not alcohol laden nor dry. They have quite a few inventive flavor combinations as well as the more traditional favorites, too. 

If you have a sweet tooth and cakes aren’t your thing you may enjoy the chocolates, pralines, or macarons.

Another option, which I want to do myself, is their macaron baking course or their torte making course.

This is the perfect place to reward yourself after a long day of walking around town and taking in the sights and best of all it’s right in the heart of the city.