We spent our time in Germany in several different towns across Bavaria. After flying in to Munich, we met up with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, picked up a rental car, and headed down to the Garmisch area. We rented an Air-Bnb in the town of Eschenlohe and ate at a variety of restaurants in Bavaria.
If you are American and have never traveled to Europe before, be aware of a few things. Service is very different compared to American restaurants. Overall, servers aren’t as attentive as we may be used to. They will leave you alone, and you may need flag them down at times. I noticed that service was better in the more tourist-heavy areas that Americans frequent. Water is not free, and it’s normally sold bottled. You can order still (mineral) or bubbly water. You also don’t get free refills of anything. Napkins can be hard to come by (you normally get one per person per meal). Just remember that different countries have different ways of doing things.
Friday (day 1)
Lunch – Wanninger Cafe
Our first stop was the town of Oberammergau. It’s a cute little Bavarian town that famously hosts a Passion Play every ten years. Sadly, the weather was absolutely terrible, so we didn’t spend too much time exploring. We grabbed lunch at Wanninger Cafe for a quick bite because we had dinner reservations. Mac and I split a pizza. It was tasty and a good holdover until dinner.
Dinner – Gasthof Fraundorfer
We finished off our first day in Germany at Gasthof Frauendorfer, a traditional German restaurant in Garmisch. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law enjoy this restaurant, and we also loved it. Mac had the classic Wiener Schnitzel with a beer while I tried potato pancakes with an apple puree. I am bummed that I didn’t try their turkey Schnitzel as this was the only restaurant we wound up visiting that offered it.
Saturday (day 2)
Lunch – Josy’s
After exploring Neuschwanstein Castle, we decided to grab lunch in Schwangau. Our rental was about an hour away from the castle, and we knew hanger would strike before we made it back. Because of the castles, Schwangau is a pretty touristy little area and has a bunch of restaurants. We wandered into Josy’s, another traditional German restaurant in the Hotel Muller. They offered a buffet and a menu. Mac ordered (wait for it) Wiener Schnitzel, and I had Kasespatzle (a cheesy noodle dish most similar to macaroni and cheese) off the menu. The food was good, if a bit pricey. But the restaurant offered stunning views of the castle.
Dinner – Chili’s Pizza
The trip to Neuschwanstein took up most of the day, so we stayed in once we got back to the rental. We opted to order pizza for a late dinner from Chili’s, a pizza shop near Garmisch. Good quality, fast service, and staff who spoke English.
Sunday (day 3)
Lunch – Hofbrauhaus
We stopped in Munich to explore the Christmas market on our way back to Grafenwoehr. I stopped in the Hard Rock Cafe to get my t-shirt (I collect them), and we noticed that the Hofbrauhaus was right across from the Hard Rock. One of my sister-in-law’s friends asked her to get a Hofbrauhaus mug for her, so we decided to grab lunch there.
Hofbrauhaus is totally chaotic. It’s incredibly busy, and seating is first-come, first-served. Also know that you may be seated with another party at one table. We ordered Obazda, a Bavarian cheese spread similar to beer cheese, as an appetizer. Mac tried (surprise, surprise) Wiener Schnitzel while I opted for the Hahnchenbrust, fried chicken with vegetables and potatoes au gratin. Considering how touristy Hofbrauhaus is, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was.
Monday (day 4)
Lunch – Doner boxes
Monday was Christmas Eve, so we drove over to Nuremburg to explore that Christmas market on the last day of the German Christmas markets. Mac went to Germany a lot in his last job, and he found and fell in love with doner. Doner is a Turkish dish made of shaved meat (normally lamb) topped with a garlic or yogurt sauce. We ordered doner boxes, where the meat and sauce are served over salad or fries, from a sidewalk stand. Mac has deemed it “okay.” For the cost and convenience, it was a quick and easy meal.
The next few days were spent at my brother-in-law and sister-in-law’s house in Grafenwoehr. Their part of Bavaria is pretty Catholic, so most restaurants were closed on Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day (December 26). We ate at their house for most of our meals and ordered takeout from one of the Chinese takeout places in the area.
