Small, down to earth, cheap and hospitable. Cafés that fit this description are no longer so easy to find in Munich. If you look closely, you will still discover small oases in the hustle and bustle of the big city between all the stylish bars with extravagant furnishings and high prices. For example in the Tegernseer Landstrasse in Giesing. There is the Café Piccolo between a bakery and a hearing aid shop.
There are two small tables in front of the restaurant. Those who like to watch passers-by and the traffic have found their place here on the sidewalk on the busy street. Guests who prefer quiet sit inside. Here the noise of the big city is nothing more than a quiet background noise. Together with the quiet pop music from the radio playing in the café, a relaxed atmosphere is created.
There are two small tables in front of the restaurant with a view of the Tegernseer Landstrasse.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The decor is simple but not uncomfortably sterile.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
The guests and the hosts also contribute to this. The Italian couple who run the shop cater to every need with such calm that visitors instantly relax. The regulars tell them about their morning experiences while they order, such as the elderly woman who had just witnessed an accident.
Eleni Palli, who runs the shop together with her husband, took it over from her brother six years ago and has always had an open ear for the neighborhood ever since. But even new customers quickly feel at home with Palli. In the busy area, the quiet café feels a little out of place. But even after a coffee you realize how important the haven of peace and meeting place is for the people there.
What is there and how much does it cost?
Wood-paneled walls, orange stools — which are surprisingly cozy — and mirrors on the walls: the decor is simple but not uncomfortably sterile. Of course, there is also an Italian portafilter machine behind the counter. The types of coffee that are offered are listed on a red board. The café relies on classic preparation, as a guest who asks for oat milk learns. There are no such things as soy milk or rice milk. Only cow’s milk or lactose-free milk are available.
The panini go particularly well with coffee. If you prefer something sweet, you can choose a pastry. A cake, a croissant or an eclair? The prices in the Café Piccolo are still relatively down-to-earth by Munich standards. A ham toast and a cappuccino, for example, are available for 5.80 euros.
Café Piccolo, Tegernseer Landstraße 58, 81541 Munich, opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 9.15 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 9.15 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m