How to support Munich businesses right now

It’s never been a better time to support local businesses – be it restaurants, stores or cafes that have had to suddenly shut up shop because of the coronavirus.

Thankfully, in today’s digital world, it’s also never been easier to continue to support businesses – to keep them going through a precarious, uncertain financial period. Here are just a few of my favourite businesses and some ideas as to how you can offer them support right now:

Neues Maxim
My favourite Munich cinema is this independent one on Landshuter Allee. You can support them by buying vouchers online to be redeemed when they reopen – it’s also a great gift for any upcoming birthdays!

True & 12
Support ice cream makers and chocolatiers Davina and Rony by buying their exquisite bean-to-bar chocolate online. Follow True & 12 on Instagram to find out when you can pop by and buy tubs of the ice cream in their Rosenheimer Str. shop – while practicing social distancing, of course! And my, do we need tubs of good quality ice cream right now.

Büchergalerie Westend
Among dozens of other book stores, Büchergalerie Westend offers online orders, email or telephone orders, and then brings the books to you. Avoid Amazon and support your local book shop – now, more than ever.

Sushi & Meat
This Japanese fusion restaurant in Westend is a fantastic little restaurant with super friendly staff, and they’re doing lunch and evening meal collections and deliveries at the moment. I particularly love their ramen.

Optimal Records
Support your local record store by buying from them directly, via email! Ask for inspiration, or look for it on their social media channels. They’ll deliver to your home.

Kunsthalle
The Kunsthalle is currently showing a Faustian exhibition as a digital exhibition, and you can walk through it here. It’s proven to be a hugely popular digital exhibition and the server has at times been overloaded, so do be patient (and click back!). Support them financially by buying a voucher here – the next planned exhibition is on French fashion designer Thierry Mugler and looks spectacular.

Salon Irkutsk
Pelmeni and cocktails to go! This cult restaurant/bar in Maxvorstadt is selling Russian pelmeni dumplings and cocktails to go from 7pm onwards.

JB Kaffee
Alas, my beloved Bean Batter is closed for the time being. You can still order their superb JB Kaffee coffee online though – and support roaster Johannes Bayer while he’s not able to sell to cafes.

Bube & Dame
This tiny Neuhausen store is full of gorgeous gifts for kids and lovely clothes and homewares for adults. Support them by buying a voucher for your pregnant friends or head to the online shop for beautiful, aesthetic gifts. I have my eye on these delightful mugs.

Julius Brantner
Bakeries are still able to remain open, but without people being able to travel far to pick up bread, they need local support. Julius Brantner makes some of the best bread in the city. For those who don’t eat gluten, Echt Jetzt is also open, serving up the best GF cinnamon buns in Bavaria.

Schnelle Liebe
This organic Glockenbach burger bar is now doing lunch and evening take out. Order via WhatsApp/telephone and pick up to take home.

Saluki
Fantastic pizza and Tilman’s beer – order lunch or dinner at Saluki in Sendling!

Beirut Beirut
They’d just managed to find new premises when coronavirus struck the city – but you can still get takeaway from Munich’s best falafel joint. You can also order via Lieferando, and if there aren’t enough Lieferando drivers/cyclists about, they will deliver themselves (but cash payment only, within a certain radius).

Showroom
Munich’s smallest Michelin-starred restaurant is well worth supporting – head chef Dominik Käppeler creates the most visually appealing dishes. Buy vouchers for a very special treat here.