Going out for breakfast with a small child is usually one of those things. How good is it on it? Can a sticker book or coloring book keep them entertained until the food arrives? Will a cell phone or tablet be used, and how many judgmental looks will parents get?
Relaxing is different. There are a few places in the city that are aimed at families with (small) children, but very few. And so Julia Ziegler created a new one in Giesing at the end of last year: Café Pfefferminza. Pfefferminza is a mixture of chocolate mint and peppermint, the two variants of Pippi Longstocking’s fourth first name – “my childhood heroine,” says the café owner.
Ziegler comes from the catering industry, is a passionate amateur baker and has always enjoyed working with children. She did afternoon care in a primary school and gave tutoring. The 27-year-old heard from friends who had become mothers about how few really child-friendly cafes there were in Munich.
Then she had the opportunity to try her luck in a former pastry shop in Untergiesing. Ziegler saw the opportunity to combine all her hobbies and fill a gap in the city. The huge kitchen made the opportunity perfect, “I can give baking classes for children here,” she says, ideal for a birthday party, for example.
“You have to come up with something to keep the guests coming back,” she says. And so at Pfefferminza there is a family get-together with a certified breastfeeding, sleep and complementary feeding consultant and a toy exchange box.
There used to be a pastry shop here, now Julia Ziegler runs a café here.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
In the dining room, Ziegler did a lot of things himself, painting the wooden chairs mint color. Of course there are pictures of Pippi, Annika and Tommy on the wall, and recently white clouds have been dangling from the ceiling. In the colorful play area there is a children’s kitchen and a small table for painting, a games shelf, books – everything you need to keep the littlest guests busy for a while.
What is there and how much does it cost?
First and foremost, guests don’t come to Pfefferminza to bake themselves, but rather to have them bake for them. In the display case on the counter there is a selection of homemade cakes, always including vegan cinnamon rolls and a cheesecake that has become a favorite of the guests.
The vegan cheesecake at Pfefferminza – now a classic.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
This crepe is named Mr. Nilson. That’s also the name of Pippi Longstocking’s little monkey.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
There is a selection of crêpes, savory and sweet, with cinnamon and sugar, Nutella, salty caramel, spinach and feta, tomato-mozzarella (3.50 to 7.90 euros), because they are known to appeal to young and old. And of course there are it breakfast. From a simple one with croissant, rolls, jam, butter and honey (7.90 euros) to the “Villa Kunterbunt” with a small bread basket, ham, salami, various cheese specialties, boiled egg, homemade jam and butter (14.90 euros) to for the “vital” breakfast with wholemeal rolls, scrambled eggs, cream cheese, butter and small Bircher muesli (13.90 euros). Or you can order “Fruchtig”, which includes croissants and rolls, jam and butter as well as natural yoghurt and fresh seasonal fruit (12.90 euros, vegan 13.50 euros).
A fairly classic selection, but one that offers something for everyone. Plus, of course, all sorts of caffeine, in the form of a cappuccino (small 3.50 euros/large 3.70 euros) or latte macchiato (4.50 euros). But there is also a Chai Latte Vanilla (4.50 euros). And of course fresh peppermint tea (4.20 euros).
“I was totally overwhelmed by the demand,” says Julia Ziegler about the opening time. But places for a relaxed breakfast with small children – they are few and far between in this city.
Café PepperminzaSoyerhofstraße 28, open Wednesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., telephone: 0170/9784771, [email protected]