Brenner (Munich, GERMANY) ★★★★☆

After a few subpar meals in Munich, we were hoping for a better dining experience tonight and according to Jelloman’s long-lost friends who have spent the last seven years in the city, our dinner venue is one with a good reputation.

Located in a historic, columned hall on Maximilianstraße, Munich’s luxury shopping street, Brenner is an upscale Italian restaurant and bar, offering both al fresco and indoor seating.

What really stood out to me while researching for this trip was the restaurant’s setting. It’s housed in a protected, historic 19th-century building that originally served as the royal stables (Marstall) for the Munich Residenz palace.

Inside, guests dine underneath majestic vaulted ceilings supported by rows of dramatic Doric and historic stone columns which created an incredibly grand, airy, and cathedral-like atmosphere.

Tomato gazpacho (€10.5) — We elected to start with a bowl of chilled tomato soup enhanced with watermelon, burrata, and basil leaves. It was perfect for summer. Just loved the fresh, minty notes from the basil.

Red prawn carpaccio (€17.5) — I expected the prawns to be served raw, but they arrived almost fully cooked.

The carpaccio was matched with umami-rich sea urchin, salmon roes, fresh seaweed, and pickled grapefruit. This wasn’t bad but a bit more acidity would have brought out the sweetness of the prawns even more.

Scampi risotto (€21.5) — The risotto was cooked with saffron, cheese, fennel, and dill, and finished off with a touch of white wine. There was a subtle lemony brightness that made it more appetizing.

Grilled octopus with marinated tomatoes (€29) — Another dish we were all excited about. The octopus came with really nice, soft texture. It was pretty delicious, but I thought just a little heavy-handed with the salt. That was our only complaint.

We didn’t have room for dessert, and since we needed to wake up early tomorrow to pick up our rental car, we decided to head back to the hotel and crash early.

We definitely wished we had more time in Munich but for now, it’s time to drive down to Austria tomorrow. Little nugget couldn’t wait for his new adventure ahead…

Food Rating: 6.6/10

Price: €€€

Address: Maximilianstraße 15, 80539 Munich, Germany

Closest Metro Station: Marienplatz

Tel: +49 89 452-2880

Website: https://www.brennergrill.de/

Opening Hours: 8:30am - 12:00am (Mon - Thu), 8:30am - 1:00am (Fri - Sat), 12:00pm - 9:00pm (Sun)