Emerging from the U-Bahn (metro) at Odeonsplatz, I spotted Tambosi and mentally marked it as a potential place for lunch. It is beautifully located at the far northeastern corner of the huge Odeonsplatz (square) right next to the Hofgarten, which formerly was the court garden of the adjacent Residenz. The trials and tribulations of the day saw us having lunch elsewhere, but when we passed Tambosi again in the evening, I enquired about opening hours and decided to eat breakfast here the next morning.

On arrival the next morning, the outside tables were not yet set up and we were fortunate to still find a table for four inside. Tambosi has rather elegant furniture for a café, and most of the clientele was equally elegantly dressed. Several men wore suits, and I was rather relieved that the elderly gentleman at the table next to ours took delight in observing the 7-month-old’s attempts to devour his own toes. (He finally got a mouthful about halfway through our meal.) Less pleasant was a man smoking stinking cigarillos, but most of the smoke dispersed through the open windows and he fortunately left before we actually started eating.

Tambosi is a café-bar, but during the early morning hours, coffee obviously takes priority – not that anyone would bat an eyelid if you order beer with your breakfast in Munich. The coffee selection is large and many are named after local luminaries. One glance at the names, and two cups of Lola Montez became the obvious choice. (Lola Montez was an infamous actress and parvenu who, in the mid-19th century, enchanted King Ludwig of Bavaria, the grandfather of the more famous Mad King Ludwig, to such an extent that he gave up his throne and went into exile in Switzerland. She sold her story while in California, but ended her life walking the streets of New York as a deranged pauper mumbling to herself.) The toddler had to make do with the standard chocolate milk.

The coffee was excellent, and we added to that an assortment of breads and a platter of cheese and cold cuts. In addition, we had two bowls of muesli, which somehow were labeled as Kuchen (cakes!) on the bill. The total bill came to €26.60, which is quite reasonable for the quality and amount of food in such lovely setting.

By the time we were leaving, the outdoor seating was filling up fast and seemed very popular with young families. In the lovely sunshine, this clearly is the place to be, with grand views of the Residenz, Feldhernnhalle, and Theatinerkirche. However, the ambiance of the lovely, elegant old-style café interior will be missed.