Can you love nature and still drive a car? Designer and photographer Stefan Bogner also asked himself this question. He says: Yes, as long as you are in harmony with people, animals and nature. His passion for mountain passes and bends led him to found the special interest magazine Curves in Munich, which he describes as a car magazine without cars. Food and different cultures also play an important role. It’s about “being on the road” and good memories that you like to share. I like to compare it to a piece of music that becomes a catchy tune and accompanies you all the time. This is the intention of “Soulful driving”. I feel a great sense of peace when I’m driving because nobody interferes with me, I have my peace and quiet and can relax. For Stefan Bogner, it’s not about speed and the adrenaline rush, but about enjoyment. Of course, trips to the mountains are also great. But in summer, the best way to explore the city is by bike. I think Munich has remained a village – but with an underground railway – so it’s manageable. Let yourself drift!
You can also experience a city much better if you don’t stick too closely to a schedule. My first tip: get up early, that’s when Munich is at its best. Just cycle around, there are cafés, bars and restaurants everywhere. When I’m out and about on my bike, I cycle through the Hofgarten to the Eisbach, watch the surfers and then head towards the Seehaus. If you want to do a longer route, you can also cycle or jog along the northern part of the English Garden towards Aumeister. If you have a little more time: get in the Porsche and head out to Wörthsee, Ammersee or Tegernsee.
Personal tips from Stefan Bogner
My following tips for an overnight stay would be: definitely the Cortiina, a boutique hotel, centrally located and with a great breakfast and a great wine bar at the end of the day.
In the morning: Viktualienmarkt, eat a Stritzel or a “Auszogene” at Cafe Frischhut (Schmalznudel) and stroll around the Viktualienmarkt. At lunchtime, eat a potato at Caspar Plautz at the market or a sausage and Leberkassemmel … you can also find something healthy!
A must: Pop into Dallmayr, do some shopping and have a bite to eat at the “Bar & Grill”.
Super magazine and bookshop: Soda in Rumfordstrasse.
Very nice food: Chez Fritz or Petit Fritz, French restaurant in Haidhausen or Schwabing. Bavarian noble: Weinhaus Neuner.
Michelin-starred cuisine: Sigi Schelling (ex Tantris) or to Tantris because of the architecture.
My tip: The Dantler in Giesing – great food, unbeatable value for money.
Bavarian: Eating Weisswurst in the Grossmarkthalle – very early – best Weisswurst far and wide.
Good pizza: Passaparola in Haidhausen or Schwabing.
Italien cuisin: Becco Fino.
Beer garden: Waldwirtschaft or Max Emanuel brewery, you can actually stop off anywhere for a good beer.
Best bar: The golden bar in the Haus der Kunst.
Shopping for the girls: MyTheresa.
For the boys: Motorworld in Freimann.
For architects: Olympic grounds – here you can also swim long laps in the Olympic pool from 7.00 am.
Easy and nice – breakfast/lunch: Mark’s (Herzogpark neighbourhood)
Neighbourhoods to discover: Maxvorstadt, Glockenbach, city centre (except pedestrian zone). Otherwise: surf through blogs and Insta about Munich … there’s something for every taste.
