Café Frischhut, München

- Home of the "Schmalznudel" -

- Prälat-Zistl-Straße 8 -

Tucked away in a corner of the Viktualienmarkt, Café Frischhut, or "the Schmalznudel" is a café  where time stands still. Sitting inside the calm and friendly coffee shop, one would never guess that just out the door is the bustling, busy metropolitan life of Munich, and the rowdy beer gardens of the Viktualienmarkt.

 Since Café Frischhut is rather inconspicuous from the outside, it is one of the few places in Munich where one can be sure they will not encounter many other foreigners, but the café has gained a faithful clientele of local Bavarians, and if you stay for a cup of coffee, you are almost guaranteed to hear some strong Bavarian accents from conversations at the surrounding tables.

After being seated, I realized that I had never heard of any of the pastries on their menu, so when the server came for my order, I picked two items at random, a dampfnudel and a schmalznudel. They both turned out to be delicious, unique, pastries. The dampfnudel is a rich, sweet bun-type pastry, similar to a French Brioche, and the Schmalznudel, Frischhut's signature pastry, is a doughnut-type pastry which has been stretched thin in the middle to create a crispy sheet of pastry inside the soft, chewy outer circle. It turns out that Café Frischhut only sells pastries, tea and coffee, but the pastries are so good, they don't need to offer anything else. The locals who frequent the café are surely drawn back every time by the memory of Frischhut's sweet, homemade pastries, and the café's laid back, welcoming atmosphere. The staff were all friendly and attentive, the coffee was fragrant and hot, the baking was amazing, and the decor was classic Bavarian. I am so glad I happened on this gem; it is not advertised in the guidebook, and boasts no flashy exterior, so having passed it several times during my stay in Munich, I had never previously noticed it. I would recommend Café Frischhut to anyone visiting Munich, if you are looking for a relaxed morning or afternoon coffee and snack served with warm Bavarian hospitality.