A traditional pretzel is often vegan. Bavarian potato salad can be vegan too. And in Munich, you can even find vegan schnitzel, vegan cheese noodles, and vegan bread dumplings.
In this episode of The World Vegan Travel Podcast, Brighde chats with Yuxi Xia, founder of Munich Vegan Tours. Yuxi runs the first vegan-by-default food tours in Munich. Her tours help visitors discover the city through plant-based food, local stories, history, and hidden gems.
If you are curious about Vegan Munich, this episode is a great place to start. Yuxi shares her own story, Munich vegan restaurants she loves, the best neighborhoods for vegan travelers, and why traditional Bavarian dishes are becoming easier to enjoy in plant-based form.
How Yuxi Came to Munich
Yuxi was born in China and moved to the United States when she was 14. Later, she spent time in Cambodia and Germany before settling in Munich.
She first came to Munich for a semester in 2019. A few years later, she returned for a master’s degree in environmental humanities. Over time, Munich became home.
Yuxi has been vegan for eight years. She has also traveled to more than 25 countries. These experiences shaped the way she thinks about food, travel, culture, and connection.
For her, vegan food is not just about finding something to eat. It is also about learning how people live, share meals, care for each other, and tell stories through food.
How Travel Inspired Munich Vegan Tours
Before starting Munich Vegan Tours, Yuxi received a travel fellowship. The fellowship allowed her to spend a year exploring vegan food cultures and communities in Europe and Asia.
She visited countries including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Along the way, she met restaurant owners, community builders, chefs, activists, academics, and everyday people.
One of her most meaningful memories was in Kamakura, Japan. There, she joined a vegan Japanese cooking workshop led by a 92-year-old woman. The experience stayed with her because it showed how food can be full of care, attention, and heart.
That year helped Yuxi see how powerful vegan food tourism could be. After going on vegan food tours herself, she noticed that Munich did not yet have a vegan-by-default food tour. So she created one.
You can also watch Yuxi’s talk about her year of travel and vegan food culture here, or read more from her on her blog, My Love and Peas.
Munich Is Becoming More Vegan-Friendly
Munich may not have the same vegan reputation as Berlin, but it is becoming a strong destination for plant-based travelers.
In the episode, Yuxi shares that Munich was ranked 16th in HappyCow’s 2025 list of the top vegan-friendly cities in the world. That is impressive for a city that many travelers still associate with traditional Bavarian food.
Today, the city has fully vegan cafes, vegan bakeries, vegan patisserie, comfort food spots, Asian-fusion restaurants, and places that serve vegan versions of local classics.
That is what makes Vegan Munich so interesting. You are not only finding global vegan food like bowls, falafel, pancakes, and burgers. You are also finding vegan Bavaria.
Bavarian Food, Made Vegan
One of the most exciting parts of vegan travel is tasting local food in a way that matches your values.
In Munich, Yuxi says visitors can find plant-based versions of traditionally heavy Bavarian dishes. These include:
- Vegan schnitzel
- Vegan Käsespätzle
- Vegan Knödel
- Vegan Leberkäse-style dishes
- Vegan versions of classic tavern food
A great place to try vegan Bavarian food is Bodhi, a fully vegan Wirtshaus-style restaurant in Munich. It has a traditional tavern feel, but everything is plant-based.
Another restaurant Yuxi mentions is Max Pett, a vegan restaurant in Munich that offers a mix of dishes, including some German and European-style meals.
For travelers who want to try vegan schnitzel in Munich, these are good places to research before a visit.
Bavarian Foods That Are Often Vegan
Not all Bavarian food needs to be veganized. Some classic foods are already vegan, or often can be.
Yuxi explains that traditional Bavarian potato salad is usually different from American-style potato salad. Instead of mayonnaise, it is often made with vinegar, herbs, and seasoning. This makes it lighter and often vegan.
Sauerkraut and cabbage salad are also usually plant-based, although it is still worth checking ingredients.
And then there are pretzels.
Many travelers worry that pretzels are brushed with egg or milk. But Yuxi explains that a traditional Bavarian pretzel is usually made with flour, yeast, salt, and water, then dipped in a lye wash. The lye wash gives pretzels their shiny outside.
The main thing to avoid is a butter pretzel, where butter is added after baking.
Bread is also a big part of German food culture. Yuxi says simple loaves are often vegan, and many bakeries mark vegan items clearly. For vegan-friendly baked goods, she recommends looking at organic supermarkets and bakeries such as Biobäckerei Schubert, Alnatura, and Denn’s BioMarkt.
Where to Eat Vegan Food in Munich
Munich is a very walkable city, and each neighborhood has a slightly different feel. For vegan travelers, a few areas are especially helpful to know.
Maxvorstadt: Cafes, Museums, and Vegan Food
Maxvorstadt is the university and museum district. Yuxi describes it as young, lively, and full of cafes and vegan-friendly food spots.
This is a great area for travelers who want to combine museums, coffee, and food. It is also one of the best places to explore Maxvorstadt vegan cafes and casual restaurants.
Some places to look up include Soy Vegan, Pretty Pizza, and Prinz Myshkin, a long-running vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Munich’s old town area.
Altstadt: Old Town and Food Markets
Altstadt, or Old Town, is a must for first-time visitors. This is where Yuxi’s Old Town food tour takes place.
Her tour includes iconic landmarks, local history, and several food stops. It also goes through Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s famous open-air market.
For vegan travelers, Viktualienmarkt vegan options are worth exploring, especially with a local guide who knows where to go.
Old Town is also where you can see landmarks like Frauenkirche, one of Munich’s most famous churches, and climb the tower at St. Peter’s Church for a view over the city.
Glockenbachviertel: Cafes, Bars, and Vegan Food
Glockenbachviertel is one of Munich’s trendier neighborhoods. Yuxi describes it as vibrant, stylish, diverse, and a little bohemian.
It is a good area for cafes, restaurants, and a more modern side of the city.
Vegan-friendly places to research include Emmi’s Kitchen, etisch, and Padme Hum.
More Vegan Munich Restaurants to Save
Yuxi mentions many places for vegan travelers to add to their Munich list.
For vegan döner and Turkish-inspired vegan food, look at Erbils Vegan and etisch.
For vegan Bavarian dishes, look at Bodhi and Max Pett.
For pizza, check Pretty Pizza and Doctor Drooly.
For Asian and Vietnamese vegan food, look at Soy Vegan, Ahimsa, Padme Hum, and Secret Garden.
For cakes and sweet treats, Yuxi mentions Patisserie Siessl and Kuchentratsch.
These are helpful starting points, but always check opening times before you go.
How to Spend One Vegan Day in Munich
Yuxi says 24 hours in Munich is not enough, but it can still be a wonderful introduction to the city.
Start your morning with breakfast from a bakery or an organic supermarket. Look for vegan bread, pastries, or other baked goods.
Then join Yuxi’s Munich Vegan Tours Old Town tour. It starts at 11 am and includes sightseeing, food tastings, and local stories.
After the tour, climb St. Peter’s Church Tower for city views. On a clear day, you may even see the Alps.
If you want a slower afternoon, take a walk through the English Garden or along the Isar River. These green spaces are part of what makes Munich feel calm and livable.
For dinner, try vegan Bavarian food at Bodhi. It is a great way to end the day with something local, hearty, and plant-based.
How to Get Around Munich
Munich has a strong public transport system. Yuxi lives in the city without a car and relies on public transport.
For longer stays, she mentions the Deutschlandticket. This ticket covers local and regional public transport across Germany. It does not cover high-speed ICE, IC, or EC trains.
This can be helpful if you want to take day trips from Munich to lakes, hiking areas, or nearby towns. Just remember that it is a subscription, so read the cancellation rules carefully before buying.
For many travelers interested in Germany vegan travel, this can make exploring easier and more affordable.
Why Munich Feels Special
Munich is Germany’s third-largest city, but Yuxi says it often feels slower and more approachable than other big cities.
One reason is that Munich values tradition. In 2004, citizens voted to limit tall buildings in the inner city so they would not rise above the towers of Frauenkirche.
Because of this, central Munich has fewer skyscrapers and a more open feel. There are also many trees, parks, and green spaces.
This mix of tradition, beauty, and modern vegan food is what makes Vegan Munich so special. It is a city where you can explore old churches, local markets, plant-based Bavarian dishes, and peaceful parks all in one day.
Final Thoughts on Vegan Munich
Munich may surprise you.
It is traditional, but also creative. It is known for Bavarian food, but now offers vegan Bavarian food too. It has old churches, open-air markets, green parks, vegan bakeries, and plant-based restaurants.
Most of all, it is a city where vegan travelers can experience local culture without missing out.
As Yuxi shows in this episode, Vegan Munich is not just about finding food. It is about tasting the city’s stories, history, and traditions in a new way.
Learn More About What is Discussed on the Podcast
- Book a vegan food tour with Munich Vegan Tours
- Follow Yuxi on Instagram at @munichvegantours
- Watch Yuxi’s talk on vegan food cultures and communities here
- Read Yuxi’s blog, My Love and Peas
- Explore vegan-friendly restaurants in Munich on HappyCow
- Learn more about the Deutschlandticket
Other World Vegan Travel Content Connected With This Episode
- Exploring Ahead Hotel: A Vegan Oasis in Germany’s Landscape | Kim Stellbrinck | Ep 128
- Vegan Berlin | Culture, Food & Community | Podcast
- Exploring Berlin’s Vegan Hotspots | Roma Bhatt | Podcast
- Tobias Leenaert on Feathery Forest: Blending Activism, Ecotourism, and Animal Welfare
