Prinz Myshkin

Prinz Myshkin has been serving vegetarian food in Munich since 1984, long before plant-based eating became mainstream, and it remains one of the city's best-known meat-free restaurants. It occupies a listed building in the Hackenviertel, the quieter south-western quarter of the old town: the former brewhouse of the Hacker brewery, with a cross-vaulted ceiling over the main dining hall. The contrast between the historic setting and the modern menu is part of its appeal, and the name is shared with Prince Myshkin, the gentle hero of Dostoevsky's novel The Idiot.

The entire menu is vegetarian, with vegan dishes throughout, and the kitchen focuses on fresh, seasonal produce. A current speciality is sourdough pinsa, an oval Roman-style flatbread made from dough fermented for 48 hours, with toppings such as goat's cheese and fig, spinach and oyster mushroom, tomato with mozzarella, rocket and burrata, or black truffle. Alongside these are colourful vegetable plates and mains that change with the seasons, so it is worth reading the current menu rather than relying on older recommendations.

The restaurant opens every day from 11:00 to 23:00, with the hot kitchen serving from 11:30 to 21:30. It works well for lunch on a sightseeing day and for a relaxed dinner, and take-away orders can be placed by phone in advance. Booking is advisable for groups and on weekend evenings, when the vaulted hall fills up.

Prinz Myshkin suits vegetarians and vegans, of course, but also mixed groups where some people want a break from the meat-heavy menus of the beer halls. It is a good choice for couples, friends and solo travellers. Prices are moderate for the old town. Because the kitchen closes at 21:30, plan an earlier dinner than you might in some other Munich restaurants. It is easy to combine lunch here with an evening in one of the traditional taverns near Marienplatz if your group wants both.

The restaurant is a short walk south-west of Marienplatz, between Sendlinger Straße and the Rindermarkt. The Asamkirche on Sendlinger Straße, one of Munich's most richly decorated Baroque churches, is around the corner, and Viktualienmarkt is within a few minutes. The nearest stations are Marienplatz and Sendlinger Tor.