If day drinking has a season, it’s definitely not winter. The light at the lake, the champagne breakfast on the balcony and the late afternoon aperitif in the outdoor area of a street café are probably the holy trinity of alcohol consumption in daylight. December gets a well-intentioned point for mulled wine at Christmas markets. But what about cocktails, during the day, in winter? The Aperitivo Bar on the station forecourt relies on this. It closes every day at 6 p.m.
The first question that naturally arises is: When is the best time to visit a day bar? The Aperitivo Bar itself advertises with the lunch break and after-work scenarios. Possible, but the location of the bar suggests otherwise: Bahnhofplatz 1, ground floor of the 25hours Hotel. If you take a leisurely stroll, it takes just a few minutes to get from the platform to the counter.
A realistic scenario is: Missed a connecting train, spend at least an hour at Munich Central Station, drown your own bitterness about delays, weather-related train cancellations and delays in operations in the daily bar.
There is, for example, the Sicilian Sbagliato (10.50 euros), which doesn’t fizz as much as you would like, but is otherwise tasty for those who like it bittersweet. Or, on the monthly menu, the Old-Fashioned Passion (10.50 euros) with plum bitter liqueur, as strong as it is delicious. Helles, Radler and Weizen are available for five to six euros, a bottle of Cremant for 49 to 96. Non-alcoholic cocktails are also on the small but solid drinks menu, including the Designated Driver, the non-alcoholic version of the Sicilian Spritz (9.50 euros). Neither the prices nor the density of Macbooks are far removed from a stay in the on-board catering, but of course, in the Aperitivo Bar it is tastier and more comfortable.
If you drink alcohol, especially during the day, you shouldn’t forget to eat as a basis. The Aperitivo Bar is not only one floor below the Boilerman Bar, but also shares space with the Israeli restaurant Neni. Bar snacks include Levantine mezze, including baba ganoush (8.50 euros) and falafel (7 euros). These are ideal for sharing. The bar opens at half past ten on weekdays and at half past eleven on weekends. In the morning there is, among other things, espresso and the breakfast dish Shakshuka.
Green plants hanging from the ceiling of the room are reminiscent of botanical gardens. The guests sit in comfortable wicker chairs, indie pop plays quietly. On the wall of the bar is perhaps the most famous Tolkien quote written in neon: “Not all those who wander are lost.”
Admittedly, there are probably an above-average number of lost train travelers sitting among the hotel guests in the Aperitivo Bar. In the best case scenario, at least they are not lost here.
Aperitivo BarBahnhofplatz 1, 80335 Munich, opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.