Restaurant Review: Spaten Haus an der Oper
Spaten Haus an der Oper -tradition amongst the throngs
The traditional Bavarian restaurant Spaten Haus an der Oper is located in the Residenzstraße, which connects Marienplatz to Odeonsplatz. The inside of the restaurant is both quaint yet modern, including deer antlers which remind you that you are in the heart of Bavaria. The little beer garden outside faces the impressive Bavarian State Opera House and the famous Munich Residenz (the Wittelsbacher family's winter residence), and this is a perfect place to watch Munich's vivid city life. Many Bavarian attractions surround the restaurant, from the famous Theatiner Church to the Residenz treasury.
This makes Spaten Haus the perfect restaurant to finish up a typical day in Munich. As I was finding my place in the beer garden, I noticed how busy the restaurant was. Whilst waiting to order, I soaked up the cosmopolitan atmosphere and indulged in a bit of people watching. My heart was already set on ordering the Schweinebraten since receiving my assingnment. This is, perhaps the most famous Bavarian dish: roast pork served with dumplings and gravy. The pork had a crusty crackling, which Bavarians contend is the best part of Schweinebraten, and as is normal, this was complimented by a light beer sauce.
The meal was accompanied by home-brewed Spaten beer (the first keg at Oktoberfest is Spaten) and I allowed myself to be awash in the Bavarian spirit. The servers, who were dressed in Dirndl and Lederhosen (authentic Bavarian national costume), combined with a brass band, which delivered traditional Bavarian music. Spaten beer is one of the local beers available at the Oktoberfest (only beers brewed in the city limits are allowed to be sold at the Oktoberfest), so as I sipped my freshly drawn beer, I felt the upcoming Wies'n approaching.
In Spaten Bräu, a mix of typical Munich meets international flair. This mirrors the contemporary lifestyle most Münchners enjoy. Therefore, in my opinion, Spaten Bräu is an ideal restaurant to see and taste the real, and sometimes forgotten, traditional Munich.
