Munich’s Cafe Scene Sees New Openings and a Closure
Munich’s vibrant cafe scene is undergoing significant changes, with two popular establishments, Morso and Lost Weekend, expanding their footprints, and another, Bean Batter, ceasing operations. These developments reflect the dynamic nature of the city’s gastronomy, as businesses adapt to new locations and evolving customer preferences.
Morso Expands to Kölner Platz, Becoming a Local Hub
Morso, known for its warm ambiance, homemade cornetti, and quality coffee, is set to open its fifth branch at Kölner Platz. This move is particularly noteworthy as Kölner Platz, located between Scheidplatz and Schwabinger Tor, has been a less-developed area for cafes. Genc Belegu, Morso’s founder, sees this as an opportunity to become a ‘local hero’ in the area, which he finds attractive due to its untapped potential.
The new Morso cafe, designed by the trained interior architect Belegu himself, will feature high ceilings and large windows, offering ample space. The interior will maintain Morso’s signature style with earthy colors, good acoustics, and 1960s and 1970s-inspired decor. The menu will include the usual Morso offerings, with the exception of alcoholic beverages. The opening is anticipated within the next month. Additionally, the Morso branch on Elisabethstraße, now managed by Belegu’s daughter, is expected to reopen in two weeks after renovations.
Morso’s existing branches include the original on Nordendstraße, and locations on Elisabethstraße, Theresienstraße, and Tattenbachstraße. Belegu noted that the Theresienstraße branch, despite its prime location, faces intense competition from numerous cafes, including budget-friendly options like Lap Coffee.
Lost Weekend’s ‘A Little West’ Brings Vegan Focus to Westend
The Lost Weekend cafe family, popular among students as a cafe, concert venue, and co-working space, is also expanding. Its third offshoot, ‘A Little West,’ recently opened this week on Westendstraße, taking over the former Fika cafe. While the original Lost Weekend on Schellingstraße and ‘A Little Lost’ at the main train station cater to different crowds, ‘A Little West’ will focus primarily on coffee and cakes.
A key highlight of ‘A Little West’ is its commitment to vegan offerings. Tanya Naughton, a trained chef and former patissière for Michelin-starred chef Tohru Nakamura, will be baking fresh vegan cakes on-site. The menu will also feature vegan sandwiches, chickpea salad, and soon, daily soups. Following in the footsteps of Fika, ‘A Little West’ will also operate as a shop cafe, selling second-hand books and furniture. Naughton plans to expand the book selection and prepare the small inner courtyard for spring, offering an outdoor space for guests to enjoy coffee and cake.
Bean Batter Closes After Seven Years in Westend
While new cafes emerge, the Westend bids farewell to Bean Batter on Schwanthalerstraße, which will close its doors after this upcoming weekend. For seven years, Bean Batter was a beloved spot known for its outstanding coffee and fresh waffles. Owner Paul von Tettenborn made the decision to close to dedicate his full attention to his other venture, Standl 20, located at Elisabethmarkt.
Von Tettenborn will continue to serve coffee from his business partner, roaster Johannes Bayer, at Standl 20, and most of Bean Batter’s employees will transition to the new location. Customers still have a few days to visit Bean Batter at Schwanthalerstraße 123 before its closure.
The continuous evolution of Munich’s cafe scene underscores its dynamic nature, with new concepts emerging and established ones adapting to meet the changing demands of the city’s residents and visitors.
Source: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/muenchen-gastronomie-morso-lost-weekend-neueroeffnung-cafes-li.3383347
