Sausalitos Munich: New hope after bankruptcy and concept change!

Sausalitos Munich: New hope after bankruptcy and concept change!

Munich's gastronomy landscape has experienced a huge upheaval in the last few months. The well-known restaurant chain Sausalitos, which is particularly valued for its large cocktails and American-Mexican cuisine, has filed for bankruptcy. On July 28, 2025, the valley branch announced its closure via social media, which probably shocked many hundreds of the restaurant's fans. Uncertainty shapes the future of the three Munich branches, which have suffered significantly in recent years from changing guest behavior and high costs. The Sausalitos crisis originated in the coronavirus pandemic, when, toward the end of 2020, many businesses encountered numerous challenges that continue to reverberate to this day.

The situation is getting worse because the group has filed for insolvency for several companies, including Sausalitos Holding GmbH. Nevertheless, there is hope: the Munich branches will remain open in one way or another. The Gustoso Group continues to operate the former branch in the valley as “Ciao Bella”. According to Merkur, the two locations on Sonnenstrasse and in Pasing have resumed normal operations since August 1, 2025, even if the future is completely uncertain.

A new approach to flavors

What can guests expect now? On Sonnenstrasse, the name “Sausalitos” will still be present above the entrance door, but the concept will be redesigned by Munich gastronomy experts. A breath of fresh air is blowing in with a new culinary concept that promises creative cocktails and Californian-Mexican dishes. Those in charge have a good knack for bringing the gastronomic offerings back into shape.

The problems that plagued Sausalitos are by no means isolated. As the Süddeutsche emphasizes, around 62,000 catering establishments were closed in Germany between 2019 and 2023, with around 8,000 of these closures being bankruptcies. Given the overall tense economic situation in Germany, the catering industry has not remained unaffected. Companies that were only founded in the last five years are hit particularly hard.

Industry outlook

The catering industry is very much in the firing line, as current figures show. According to a study from Statista, the industry has not yet really recovered from the consequences of Corona. The VAT on food, which has been raised again from January 2024, has not improved the situation and bankruptcies are still expected. In recent years, many restaurants have not reached the sales levels they enjoyed before the pandemic.

The Munich catering industry remains a constant observation point for developments that are characterized by both internal and external challenges. In the midst of these uncertain times, it remains exciting to see what new concepts emerge from these crises and whether the pub in the Bavarian capital can reinvent itself. The example of Sausalitos in particular shows that change is possible, even when circumstances are difficult.