For coffee before a look around the Viktualienmarkt, try the market roastery. For a flat white, our pick is Man Versus Machine. Patolli suits a stop near Sendlinger Tor, Tante Emma works when you want something to eat as well, and Kaffee Espresso Kolonial is the place on this list to make a separate trip to Neuhausen.
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Where you go for coffee depends on how you like to drink it. I grew up in Australia and have strong opinions about a flat white. But there are days when I’d rather have a Turkish coffee in a room full of old brewing equipment, or an espresso standing at the bar before the shops close. Those are different outings, and that’s why all five of these cafés are on my list.
Which café should you try near Marienplatz?
Kaffeerösterei Viktualienmarkt is inside the market, in section III at stand 3/26. It drum-roasts coffee and sells beans as well as cups to drink on the spot. Plan a visit from 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday. The roastery closes on Sundays and public holidays. Roastery and stand details
If you want to turn the coffee into a morning out, see the Viktualienmarkt stall and beer garden guide.
The first thing I remember is the smell. The beans go through a traditional drum roaster, and the aroma travels further than the little café does. When I first wrote about the roastery, the giveaway was a tent with chandeliers and a few people waiting outside. Inside there was room to perch or stand, but this is a small market stall, not the place I’d choose for an hour with a laptop. I like stopping before I buy the rest of the food at the market. If you’re taking your drink with you, the phrase is zum Mitnehmen. Bring a reusable cup and ask if they’ll fill it.
Where is our favourite flat white?
As a coffee snob growing up in Australia, I have to say, by far, their flat whites are the best in Munich for me. The hand-drawn crocodile was the first thing I noticed. Inside, there was funky wallpaper and a choice of ways to make the coffee, from a classic espresso to filter. Order the flat white if the coffee is your reason for going.
I wasn’t sold on the idea of marzipan in a Franzbrötchen. The North German pastry is normally a cinnamon and sugar affair, and neither of us is much of a marzipan fan. But when we ordered the Man Versus Machine version, the pastry was light and the almond was a scent as much as a taste. I wouldn’t have chosen it on the description alone.
Start at Müllerstraße 23 in Glockenbach or Schellingstraße 18 near the museums. We liked both neighbourhoods for a browse through the independent shops after coffee. The roaster also lists branches in Schwabing and the Old Town. The Müllerstraße listing includes Franzbrötchen. Check the counter for what’s available when you go. Man Versus Machine’s Munich locations
Where can you go for a coffee that turns into a drink?
Patolli, at Sendlinger Straße 62 near Sendlinger Tor, is a café disguised as a bar. Or the other way round. From the street you’d never guess what was inside: red brick, high black lamps and those low, warm bulbs over the counter. When we went during the day, I could hear milk frothing and spoons rattling against the cups. Regulars came in for an espresso at the bar. For a cappuccino and a longer chat, I’d take a booth. If it’s warm, sit outside and watch people walk by.
As the shops close for Feierabend, the room works just as well for a cocktail. That’s the part I liked most, especially if you can’t quite decide when a coffee stop has turned into an evening out. For coffee, Patolli lists beans from Erste Tegernseer Kaffeerösterei and a decaf option. Patolli’s coffee and address
Which café also works for a bite to eat?
Our Tante Emma visit was at Destouchesstraße 63 in Schwabing. It felt like going round to an aunt’s place: colourful rooms, no fuss and generous plates. The specials were handwritten and there were vegetarian choices. A table by the big windows was a good place to settle with a coffee. By the bar I could see the kitchen at work, and even if I’d arrived without an appetite, the smell didn’t let me stay that way for long.
My favourite seats were the benches out front. In warmer weather I’d look for a Weinschorle (wine with sparkling water); in winter, a glass of Glühwein. Tante Emma also lists Augustenstraße 52 in Maxvorstadt. Check the menu for your branch if you’re going for lunch rather than a coffee. Tante Emma’s two menus
What makes Kaffee Espresso Kolonial worth the trip?
I went to Kaffee Espresso Kolonial, Donnersberger Straße 39, as much to look around as for the coffee. The owner describes the setting as an Austrian coffee house from around 1904. I remember traditional brewing equipment, Moroccan decorations and old suitcases. There were oil paintings and old advertising posters among the furniture. Give yourself time to look up from your cup.
My standouts were the Turkish coffee and Greek mokka. If you don’t drink coffee, the menu on my visit included a nougat hot chocolate. There were cakes and lighter savoury dishes too. The published hours are 08:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 17:00 on weekends and public holidays. Kolonial’s menu and hours
For a proper breakfast, I’d go south instead. See my Poppi Farmer review in Giesing.
What’s new this winter?
On 27 October 2026, Man Versus Machine announced a limited winter drinks menu across its shops. The choices include a roasted hojicha drink with banana and a rosemary-orange matcha. Check the branch menu before going for a seasonal drink. Roaster’s winter drinks announcement