Restaurant in Rottach-Egern, Germany
Lakeside Michelin Plate. Book the terrace.
A Michelin Plate restaurant on the Tegernsee promenade in Rottach-Egern, au lac 51 serves a broad international menu at the €€ price point, with a lakeside terrace that fills fast in summer. It is the strongest value-for-money case among Michelin-recognised restaurants in the area. Book a week ahead for terrace seating in peak season; indoor window seats offer the same view with more flexibility.
Yes, and for most visitors to the Tegernsee, it should be near the leading of the list. Au lac 51 is a Michelin Plate-recognised restaurant on the Seestraße promenade, serving an international menu that spans classic European dishes through to Mediterranean and Asian-influenced plates, at a price point (€€) that undercuts almost every comparable option in town. At this tier, the Michelin recognition alone makes it worth a reservation. The question is not whether to go, but when and for what occasion.
The visual case for au lac 51 is direct: a lakeside terrace on one of Bavaria's most photographed stretches of water. In summer, the outdoor tables overlooking the Tegernsee are the main draw, and they fill quickly. If you cannot secure terrace seating, the window seats inside the cosy, modern dining room give a similar view. The interior reads as contemporary without feeling clinical: light, relaxed, and suited to a long lunch as much as an evening meal. For a food and travel enthusiast arriving in the region for the first time, the setting delivers the kind of Alpine-lake backdrop that justifies the journey before a dish has arrived.
Rottach-Egern sits at the southern end of the Tegernsee, and the promenade location means au lac 51 is within easy reach whether you are staying in the village or arriving by car from Munich, roughly 50 kilometres to the north. The area is a weekend and holiday destination for Munich residents, which means summer weekends and peak holiday periods see the highest demand. Plan accordingly.
The menu at au lac 51 is deliberately broad. The Michelin listing describes it as ranging from classic favourites to Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes, a range that can either read as crowd-pleasing or genuinely diverse depending on the execution. At the €€ price point, the kitchen is not aiming for the creative intensity of Gourmetrestaurant Dichter or the precision of Restaurant Überfahrt. What it delivers instead is a kitchen confident enough to earn Michelin recognition at an accessible price, with service described as friendly and adept. For the explorer diner who wants to eat well without committing to a full fine-dining spend, that is a genuinely useful position to occupy.
The Google rating of 4.8 across 110 reviews reinforces the consistency of the experience. At a venue where the setting could easily carry mediocre food, a rating at this level suggests the kitchen is doing its job. It is also worth noting that 110 reviews is a relatively modest sample for a promenade restaurant in a tourist-heavy town, which means the number reflects a loyal, satisfied base rather than a broad crowd of one-time visitors.
If you are spending time in the Tegernsee region, au lac 51 works well as a lunch venue or an early dinner, particularly in summer when the terrace is at its leading. It is not the meal you book when you want a multi-course tasting menu or a special-occasion splurge. For those occasions, Restaurant Überfahrt or Gourmetrestaurant Dichter are the stronger choices at the €€€€ tier. But for a meal that delivers quality above what the price implies, in a setting that justifies its reputation, au lac 51 is the most accessible entry point into Michelin-recognised dining in Rottach-Egern.
It also holds up well against the region's mid-tier options. Haubentaucher and the Alois-Anton Kaminrestaurant operate at the €€€ level. Au lac 51, at €€ with Michelin recognition, is the value case in the Rottach-Egern restaurant set. If you are comparing it to international destinations, the gap between this kind of lakeside Michelin Plate restaurant and, say, ES:SENZ in Grassau nearby, or further afield destinations like JAN in Munich or Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, illustrates exactly where au lac 51 positions itself: a relaxed, well-executed meal in a spectacular setting, without the formality or price of a destination restaurant.
Booking at au lac 51 is rated easy, which reflects the restaurant's accessible format and mid-range price point. That said, terrace tables in summer are in high demand, and if a lakeside seat is the point of the visit, booking a week or two ahead for summer weekends is advisable. Walk-ins may find space at quieter midweek slots or in the indoor dining room. Current hours are not listed in our data, so confirm directly before arrival, particularly outside peak summer season when hours may be reduced. Dress code is casual to smart-casual; the relaxed, modern room does not demand formality.
For more options in the area, see our full Rottach-Egern restaurants guide, and if you are planning a longer stay, our Rottach-Egern hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide cover the rest of what the Tegernsee has to offer.
Au lac 51 is the strongest value-for-money choice among Michelin-recognised restaurants in Rottach-Egern. The combination of a Michelin Plate, a 4.8 Google rating, a lakeside promenade setting, and a €€ price point is difficult to match in this part of Bavaria. It is the right booking for a relaxed lunch or dinner where the setting matters as much as the plate, and where you want quality without the spend of a full fine-dining evening. For explorers who want to eat well and experience the Tegernsee at its most appealing, this is where to start.
Yes. The relaxed modern room and broad menu make solo dining comfortable here. At €€, there is no pressure to commit to a multi-course format, and the lakeside setting gives you something to look at. If solo dining at the counter is a priority, note that specific bar or counter seating details are not confirmed in our data; call ahead to check.
We do not have confirmed details of a tasting menu at au lac 51 in our current data. The Michelin listing describes a diverse à la carte format rather than a dedicated tasting menu. If a structured multi-course experience is your priority, Restaurant Überfahrt or Gourmetrestaurant Dichter at €€€€ are the more appropriate choices in Rottach-Egern.
Nothing in our current data confirms a private dining room or specific group-booking policy. The restaurant is described as a cosy modern room, which suggests intimate rather than large-format seating. For groups of six or more, call ahead to confirm capacity and availability, particularly for summer terrace bookings where demand is high.
Bar or counter seating is not confirmed in our current data for au lac 51. The venue is described primarily as a restaurant with terrace and window seating. If bar dining is important to you, Fährhütte 14, also at the €€ tier, may offer a more informal format worth checking.
At €€ with a Michelin Plate and a 4.8 Google rating, au lac 51 delivers above its price tier. It is the most accessible Michelin-recognised option in Rottach-Egern, and for a lakeside meal without a fine-dining spend, it is hard to argue against. If you want to spend more and get more, Haubentaucher at €€€ or Restaurant Überfahrt at €€€€ are the logical next steps.
The closest like-for-like at the same price tier is Fährhütte 14 (International, €€). Step up in spend and ambition and Haubentaucher (€€€) and Alois-Anton Kaminrestaurant (€€€) are both worth considering. For a full fine-dining evening, Gourmetrestaurant Dichter and Restaurant Überfahrt are the top tier at €€€€. See our full Rottach-Egern restaurants guide for the complete picture.
It works for a relaxed birthday lunch or anniversary dinner where the setting is part of the occasion. The lakeside terrace in summer is a genuinely attractive backdrop, and the Michelin Plate gives confidence in the kitchen. For a more formal special-occasion dinner with a tasting menu and full fine-dining service, Restaurant Überfahrt is the stronger choice at €€€€.
Booking is rated easy overall, but summer terrace tables are a different matter. For a lakeside seat on a summer weekend, aim to book one to two weeks ahead. Midweek slots and indoor tables are more flexible. Outside summer season, booking a few days in advance should be sufficient, but confirm hours before you go as seasonal hours are not listed in our current data.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| au lac 51 | Michelin Plate (2025); The location on the promenade is fabulous – in summer, tables on the terrace overlooking the lake are in great demand! But you can also take in the vista from indoors – the window seats in this cosy modern restaurant are popular, too. Featuring a diverse range of options, from classic favourites to Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes, the menu has something for everyone. Friendly and adept service. | €€ | — |
| Gourmetrestaurant Dichter | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Restaurant Überfahrt | Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Haubentaucher | Michelin 1 Star | €€€ | — |
| Alois-Anton Kaminrestaurant | €€€ | — | |
| Fährhütte 14 | €€ | — |
How au lac 51 stacks up against the competition.
Yes. The window seats inside the restaurant work well for solo diners, and the service is described by Michelin as friendly and adept, which matters when you're eating alone. The €€ price point keeps the financial risk low, and the broad menu means you're not locked into a format that favours groups.
The venue data does not confirm whether a tasting menu is available at au lac 51. The Michelin listing describes a diverse à la carte-style menu spanning classic, Mediterranean, and Asian-inspired dishes, which suggests the format leans more casual than a structured tasting progression. If a tasting menu experience is your priority, Restaurant Überfahrt is the stronger choice in the Tegernsee area.
The venue data does not specify private dining or group capacity. The restaurant is described as a cosy modern space, which typically limits larger party suitability. For groups of six or more, check the venue's official channels via Seestraße 51, Rottach-Egern to confirm availability. In summer, securing a block of terrace tables in advance is the practical priority.
Bar seating is not confirmed in the available venue data. Au lac 51 is described as a cosy modern restaurant with table seating, and the emphasis in the Michelin listing is on window seats and the terrace. Assume a traditional seated dining format until confirmed otherwise.
At €€, it is. The combination of a Michelin Plate recognition and a promenade location on the Tegernsee at a mid-range price point is the core value argument. You are not paying fine-dining prices for the lake view, which makes it a more defensible booking than several pricier options nearby.
Restaurant Überfahrt holds Michelin star recognition and is the right choice if you want a more formal, higher-budget experience on the same lake. Fährhütte 14 and Haubentaucher are worth considering for a more casual register. Au lac 51 sits in the middle: Michelin-recognised, accessible pricing, and a terrace that the pricier options cannot always match for sheer immediacy to the water.
For a low-key celebration or a milestone dinner that does not require white-tablecloth formality, yes. A terrace table overlooking the Tegernsee in summer is a genuinely strong setting, and the Michelin Plate adds credibility without the pressure of a full tasting menu. For a major anniversary or proposal dinner, Restaurant Überfahrt offers a more elevated format.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
