Munich Brauhaus: Sunday Family Fun Day

At first appearance a traditional Bavarian bierhaus might seem like the last place you’d want to take the kids for lunch, but on Sundays it’s Sunday Family Fun Day at the Munich Brauhaus – and it’s lots of fun.

When:  Sundays, midday – 4pm

Where:  Munich Brauhaus, 45 South Wharf Promenade, South Wharf MELBOURNE (park in the DFO car park and be sure to get your parking ticket validated when you dine to qualify for 1/2 price parking – otherwise it’s $10/hr.  Also about 15 minute walk away is the Southern Cross Station)

Cost:  Kids meals are $6 and all entertainment is FREE

Review

I have to admit I was hesitant when this invitation came along.. when I first visited the MB website I instantly pushed it to my “not sure” list as it just didn’t seem something my kids would actually want to do and I wasn’t even sure it looked appropriate for kids (for the record I have nothing against buxom frauleins and litre steins – I am sure if I had made it to Oktoberfest in my 20’s I possibly would have been one of those very frauleins).

It was only after a second email from the PR that I thought: if we get time over the holidays we’ll check it out.  And what an unexpectedly fab time we all had.

Turns out we chose the perfect Sunday to come along as today was the first of the Munich Brauhaus Sunday Family Fun Day.

Also turns out my hasty assumptions made from the MB website were completely inaccurate.  (Although staff did point out that if we came on a Friday or Saturday night we’d experience a very different crowd!)

First up, the games room.  This was an instant hit with the kids – they had free reign over arcade games (PG), table tennis, foosball, pool and a colouring-in table.  Also set up in the room was Jessica from Little Wings who painted faces, performed magic tricks and also made balloon art to order – it was like a birthday party for everyone.  Our kids spent 90% of their time in the games room.  I should add that the facilities were all new, the room was lovely and clean, there was natural light and great heating and only one door in or out of the room – so if you chose your table wisely you could have direct sight of the door (table 66 had the best view of the games room exit).  While Jessica didn’t babysit our kids – it was comforting to know that there was someone on staff in there at all times to monitor what was going on (her shift was 12.30-3.30pm).

The set up of the games room ensured that kids of all ages were catered to – I popped my head in a few times and noticed toddlers having their faces painted while teens played table tennis.

The food was great.  The kids meals were kid-sized versions of the adult meals (so yay not a nutritionally devoid nugget in sight).  And at $6 they were incredible value.  There were no complaints from our party of four kids.  The servings were generous – and the dessert was so big I even got a taste.  (I also noticed plenty of highchairs available.)

The adult menu was varied – we decided on a couple of tasting plates (as being Sunday it was just too hard to make a decision) and next time I think I will go straight to the Pork Belly as that was delicious.  There were a handful of vegetarian options and a couple of vegan offerings too, but if this menu is anything to go by it seems the Bavarian diet is one that is largely meat and cabbage.

While the Munich Brauhaus might be modelled on a Bavarian bierhaus – it’s definitely done with Melbourne style.  The space is vast and yet the design is such that there is a sense of intimacy to the tables; the room is cleverly broken up yet still allows for the Oompa Band’s Ein Prosit renditions to unite the patrons (even if patrons appeared rather reticent to join in with the actual drinking bit).

The Oompa Band gives a great atmosphere to the room.  While the kids were busy in the games room us adults enjoyed taking in the atmosphere and catching up – not something that happens much when eating out with kids in a restaurant.

The Munich Brauhaus Sunday Family Fun Day is a great venue for a catch up with friends and family – especially if you have kids of various ages.  We sat at a table for six – but there were much bigger tables to accommodate large groups.

We sat inside on the rainiest day of the holidays and couldn’t have been happier.  Thanks for having us Munich Brauhaus.