Brenner

Brenner occupies one of the more striking dining rooms in central Munich: the listed colonnade hall of the old Marstall, the former court stables, right next to the opera on Maximilianstraße. The high, columned space is divided into three zones, each with its own character: a grill built around an open fire in the middle of the room, a pasta area where fresh pasta is made by hand every day, and a bar with a lounge feel. The result is a big, buzzy restaurant that works for breakfast, a business lunch or a late dinner.

The menu is broad rather than specialised. From the grill come meat and fish dishes, served with salads and house-made bread, while the pasta kitchen covers the classic shapes and sauces. Desserts, a good wine list and cocktails round things off. The kitchen follows a health-conscious approach and works with suppliers and farms from the Munich region. Breakfast is served until late morning on weekdays and Saturdays, which makes Brenner a useful stop before shopping on Maximilianstraße.

Brenner is open long hours: from 8:30 until midnight from Monday to Thursday, until 1:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 12:00 to 22:00 on Sundays. Note that the grill area closes between 14:30 and 17:30 on weekdays, and that the kitchen generally closes an hour before the restaurant. On Sundays the kitchen stops at 21:00, with last orders at 20:30.

The restaurant suits groups of friends, couples and business diners, and the open layout means it is lively rather than intimate. Tables for up to ten can be reserved through the website or OpenTable, and the reservation line can also be reached by WhatsApp; larger groups use a separate enquiry form. Booking is wise on Friday and Saturday evenings and before performances at the opera next door, when the room fills quickly. Prices are in line with its address on Munich's smartest shopping street.

Getting there is easy: tram 19 stops at Nationaltheater, and Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz stations are a short walk away. Brenner makes a natural pre- or post-opera dinner, and the Residenz, the Hofbräuhaus and the designer shops of Maximilianstraße are all within a few minutes on foot.