Munich is celebrating: Milla Café in the Gasteig with live music and Italian enjoyment!

Munich is celebrating: Milla Café in the Gasteig with live music and Italian enjoyment!

The Gasteig in Munich has reopened its doors and is attracting visitors with a new gastronomic offering that not only features a food court, but also live music. New to the offering is the Milla Café, which closed its doors in July as the successor to the Community Kitchen. The Milla Café is run by the team from the popular Milla Club from the Glockenbachviertel, where managing director Gerd Baumann made the decision for the café with a similarly spontaneous approach to the club. His cooperation partner, Hofmann from the Fat Cat management, provided the catering area on the ground floor. Together with Peter Brugger, singer of Sportfreunde Stiller, they are working on a concept that not only offers fresh food every day, but also serves as a cultural meeting place. Baumann has declared the café a political attempt to create creative spaces for artists.

However, the challenges facing Milla Café should not be underestimated. The previous occupation, the Community Kitchen, had to fold after just four months, and concerns about walk-in customers remain. Baumann relies all the more on an inviting atmosphere and the involvement of tenants and creative people in the Gasteig who can actively participate in what is happening.

Gastronomic concept and opening times

Milla Café plans to start with croissants and sandwiches and eventually start offering simple dishes. The focus in particular on classic Italian coffee at attractive prices - an espresso should cost a maximum of two euros - could satisfy the hunger for a cozy coffee party. During the week the café is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while on weekend evenings the doors are open until 10 p.m. The café's official opening is scheduled for September 14th, followed by a grand opening party in October with live music.

While the gastronomic scene in Munich is facing challenges, the entire Gasteig is still in the process of undergoing extensive renovation. This measure, started in 2015, is intended to make the cultural center fit for the future. The need for renovation arises from the technical obsolescence of the numerous installations in the building. Over 150,000 visitors per month make the infrastructure so demanding that a complete renewal of the technology was seen as the only sensible solution. The total construction costs are estimated at around 710 million euros, with the city council having already passed the corresponding resolution in December 2023.

Challenges for the catering industry

A café in a cultural hotspot like the Gasteig could potentially support the revitalization of the city center, as shown by a study by IFH KÖLN, which identifies gastronomy as a central factor in the revitalization of German city centers. Gastronomic experiences and inviting ambiences are highlighted as important motives that attract people to the city. However, current challenges such as a shortage of skilled workers and high rents contribute to uncertainty in the industry, which Baumann and his team must not lose sight of.

By combining gastronomy and culture, the Milla Café in the Gasteig could create a new attraction that attracts both Munich residents and visitors from all over the world. The enthusiasm for good food in a creative environment could help the Gasteig to remain a popular meeting place even during the renovation period. It remains to be seen whether it will be possible to utilize the advantages of gastronomy for the city center.