Johannis Café Munich

Johannis Cafe is one of the oldest Cafés in town. A friend of mine recommended it to me ten years ago and since then I've visited it quite frequently when I'm around in Haidhausen.

I love the old atmosphere that reminds me of a pre-second world war Café and I like to talk to people I don't know. This is a very communicative place, similar to a Biergarten (beer garden). You sit next to a businessman eating sausages (Wiener) with his fingers for dinner, and are joined by a nice mature couple, who've lived in Haidhausen for 40 years. The table at the corner is occupied by punks or hipsters - sometimes I cannot see what the difference is - you know, people who wear clothes to show their attitude. Anyway, in Johannis Cafe different cultures, attitudes and society levels do not exist, everyone is the same. Sounds like a perfect microcosm of beer loving inhabitants.

But as soon as you enter the door, you will recognize that this perfect world has a regent. The painting right in front shows the owner, he poses like King Ludwig of Bavaria, and ensures that the people behave in his small monarchy.

My conclusion: Toast as much as you can. People from Bavaria love to toast, because they love to drink beer.