GRAPES Weinbar

Munich's Most Awarded Wine Bar; And Worth the Effort

Getting into GRAPES Weinbar on a Friday or Saturday is easier than you might expect for a bar with this many credentials, but walk in after 8 PM and you will almost certainly wait. The bar is consistently packed, which is the price you pay for a wine program that has landed on the Munich bar scene at a different level from anything else in the city. Book ahead or arrive early; the door stays open until 1 AM on weekends, so there is no rush once you are in.

The Wine Program

GRAPES holds a 3-Star Accreditation from the World of Fine Wine and has ranked on Star Wine List every year since 2021, reaching the leading ten in both 2024 and 2025. That consistency is the clearest signal you have that this list is maintained with real intention. Wine Director Bernd Großschädl leads a sommelier team of six, which means you will likely get engaged table service rather than a handed-over list.

The list runs to 1,100 selections with 6,000 bottles in inventory. Germany and Burgundy are the anchor strengths, with Austria, Bordeaux, Italy, broader France also well represented. Pricing sits at the $$ tier, a range across price points, with options well below $100, which is notable given the depth of the list. Corkage is $25 if you bring your own. For context, a list this size and quality in London or Amsterdam would almost certainly carry a heavier markup. If wine is your primary reason for the evening, this is one of the strongest value propositions in the city.

For comparison, 40 Maltby Street in London and 4850 in Amsterdam are the closest European peers in terms of the seriousness of the wine focus combined with accessible pricing. GRAPES holds its own in that company.

The Room and the Experience

GRAPES is in the heart of Old Town Munich at Ledererstraße 8a, a separate entrance from the street, which makes it feel more purposeful than stumbled-upon. If your priority is intimate conversation, go early in the week or arrive at opening (6:30 PM). By 9 PM on a Thursday through Saturday, ambient noise will be part of the experience.

For a special occasion, this works well as a pre-dinner stop or a late-evening destination after a meal elsewhere in the Altstadt. If you want dinner alongside wine, the kitchen runs a seasonal European menu at the $$ price tier (roughly €40–65 for two courses), with Chef Gerlando Bordino leading the food side. The food is not the headline reason to come, but it is a solid accompaniment to a serious list.

Owner Rudi Kull has built something that punches well above Munich's usual wine bar register, the awards record confirms it is not a recent spike, the venue has been recognised consistently since at least 2021. If you are building a Munich itinerary around dining, see our full Munich restaurants guide, hotels guide, and experiences guide for broader context. For the wider dining picture, notable options elsewhere in Germany include Aqua in Wolfsburg, Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, Vendôme in Bergisch Gladbach, ES:SENZ in Grassau, Restaurant Haerlin in Hamburg, and CODA Dessert Dining in Berlin.

Verdict

GRAPES is the right call if wine is the point of your evening. A 3-Star World of Fine Wine accreditation, a top-ten Star Wine List ranking, fair pricing, a central Old Town address make this the strongest wine bar argument in Munich by a clear margin. If you want a quiet room, go early in the week. If you want the full atmosphere, Friday after 8 PM delivers, just expect noise with your Burgundy.

Quick reference: Dinner only, Mon–Thu 6:30 PM–12 AM, Fri–Sat 6:30 PM–1 AM, closed Sunday. Walk-ins possible, booking recommended on weekends. Wine pricing $$, food pricing $$. Corkage $25. Address: Ledererstraße 8a, 80331 Munich (separate entrance).