The name Altschwabing conjures up images of ornate old building facades, bumpy cobblestones and the wonderfully green Englischer Garten. Because if you sit down on Feilitzschstrasse today and watch Schwabing locals at their favourite pastimes, you get the sense that nightlife is not a thing round here any more: early in the morning residents are happily ordering iced cappuccino, making important phone calls, or jogging around the Kleinhesseloher See lake.
The street proves that old and new can function fantastically well side-by-side β the cool sneaker store and the historic farm, a small neoclassical castle and a trendy New York-style deli. You can get breakfast, lunch and dinner here, as well as reliably excellent coffee and a wide selection of cakes for bridging a gap. A glance at the terrace confirms this, as we can see a posh Schwabing mum sitting next to an ageing hippie.
Which is typical for Altschwabing? Wedekindplatz used to be the Altschwabing village square, and it has retained something of its village character. One thing that definitely shouldn't be overlooked is the crooked lantern erected in memory of the cult pub Bei Gisela.
It drew particular attention a year later when a World War II aerial bomb, which could have exploded at any time, was found under the pub.
Schwabinger 7, which also opened in the s, is no less steeped in history. In , the cult pub at number 7 had to relocate to 15 Feilitzschstrasse following much protest against its closure. Afterwards people joked that it meant the parties just weren't wild enough. The Drugstore, a hippie bar from the 60s, also gained international renown, with previous guests including none other than Mick Jagger and Romy Schneider.
