Alte Utting is a former Ammersee passenger boat on a railway bridge in Sendling. Go for a drink on deck, pick dinner from the food stalls or look up a gig before you go. The boat is at Lagerhausstraße 15. You reach the venue by stairs and the operator says there is no step-free entrance. Alte Utting visitor information
Updated
I love taking people to Alte Utting because you can see from the street how strange the whole idea is. There’s a real passenger boat above you, and you’re about to climb up to it for dinner. Once you’re there you can pick a quiet corner, head towards a gig or find something to eat below deck. There’s room to be together even if nobody agrees on what to order.
What is there to eat on Alte Utting?
The food stalls are separate from the bar. Da Vito does pizza, Afrikanische Zauberküche serves Senegambian food, there are crêpes under the stern, and Der Donnerwirt is down in the Piratenbucht. Find a seat and order from the stall you want. The venue is self-service and asks visitors to leave outside food and drink at home. Food stalls and menus
Food starts later than the bar on some days. If you want dinner on a weekday, look at the opening time of the stall you have in mind.
The first thing I noticed at the entrance was the smell of pizza crust and melted cheese from Da Vito. We made our way around the boat rather than ordering at the first stall. Lower down I found the pots of curry. Our favourite on the visit was mango curry with couscous. At the stern I’d look for the crêpe stall if I wanted something smaller. I liked the classic Nutella option, although there were savoury ones too.
The bar is in the middle of the boat, which made it easy to find after a round of the stalls. Order your own drinks. On my visit there was a deposit, so I took the bottle or glass back rather than leaving it at the table. Ask at the bar how they handle the Pfand today. I remember the bottled beer and a basic choice of wines, but look at the current menu before going for a particular drink.
Who should go and when is it open?
It’s a wonderful Treffpunkt (meeting place) for a group of friends to enjoy a gig, family with kids or a date where you snuggle into a little corner to enjoy a cosy moment. Check the programme if a show is the main reason you’re going. Look at the stairs and the seating before deciding whether this stop suits your group.
The venue’s current opening schedule lists Monday closed. Tuesday and Wednesday are 16:00 to midnight, Thursday 16:00 to 01:00 and Friday 16:00 to 02:00. Saturday opens at 14:00 and closes at 02:00. Sunday opens at 11:00 and closes at 22:00. The stalls keep their own hours. Venue and food stall hours
The operator takes reservations for groups of eight to 30. Groups of 20 or more have a €25 drinks minimum per person, billed in advance. Check the terms when choosing a date. Group reservations
If you’re meeting people, I’d agree on deck or the lower outdoor area before you arrive. It’s easy for one person to go straight to the bar and another to stop at the pizza oven. The space around the boat, with its painted walls and separate places to sit, was part of the appeal for me. I wouldn’t pick it if I needed everybody to arrive together and be served one set menu.
What’s changed for Sternenflotte in 2026?
In 2026 the venue is using its beer garden for rotating art displays during Sternenflotte. The organiser says the works are there to look at, with no on-site sales. Entry is free. The announced dates are Wednesday to Sunday, 18 November to 13 December, then daily from 16 to 23 December 2026. The operator lists music and children’s events alongside the art. Sternenflotte programme
If gift stalls are the main reason for your visit, see our Munich Christmas markets guide for other choices.
I wrote about Sternenflotte while it was still autumn because I was already looking forward to seeing the deck with fairy lights, warm drinks and the fire outside. What I like about the idea is that it feels different from going stall to stall in the Old Town. This year’s programme is for looking at the art and staying for a performance. Check the venue’s programme if you want to see a particular act.
How did a boat get onto a bridge?
The MS Utting was built in 1950 and carried passengers on the Ammersee. It retired at the end of 2016. The people who saved it cut it into two for the move, lifted it onto the former railway bridge in February 2017 and opened the venue in July 2018. The operator’s history of Alte Utting
The address is Lagerhausstraße 15, 81371 Munich. Check the MVV journey planner for your trip. For a café with a stage on the other side of the Isar, try Gans Woanders in Giesing.