Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [526]
Hotel Mauritzhof ( 417 20; www.mauritzhof.de, in German; Eisenbahnstrasse 17; s €100-158, d €116-173, ste €188-203; ) Bold hues, a harmonious interplay of glass and wood and extravagant designer furniture (Vitra, Driade, Kartell) give this 39-room property a mod edge. Rooms facing the promenade have a balcony, and XXL-sized beds are available upon request. Wind down the day in the reading room or over a drink in the lobby lounge.
Other places to unpack your bags:
DJH hostel ( 530 280; www.djh-wl.de/jh/muenster; Bismarckallee 31; dm/s/d €26/41/66; ) Modern hostel on the Aasee. Take bus 4 or 10 from the Hauptbahnhof to Jugendgästehaus Aasee.
Ibis ( 481 30; www.ibishotel.com; Engelstrasse 53; r €69; ) Attractive, good-value property near the Hauptbahnhof.
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Eating
Cafe Prütt ( 665 588; Bremer Strasse 32; mains €4-9; noon-midnight Mon-Fri, 10am-midnight Sat & Sun) This alt-flavoured outpost feeds herbivores with wholewheat pizza, crunchy salads and globally inspired mains.
Marktcafe ( 575 85; Domplatz 7; mains €5-13; 9am-1am) In good weather, there’s no better place to soak up the street action than the terrace of this been-here-forever cafe with free views of the Dom. The food is fresh and tasty, and Sunday’s brunch buffet is an institution.
Altes Gasthaus Leve ( 455 95; Alter Steinweg 37; mains €7-16; 11.30am-11pm) Münster’s oldest inn (since 1607) is a trippy time-warp where painted tiles, oil paintings and copper etchings form a suitably rustic backdrop to the hearty Westphalian fare. Dishes such as lima-bean stew and sweet-and-sour beef sound more challenging than they are.
A2am See ( 284 6840; Annette-Allee 3; mains €7.50-20; 11am-midnight Sun-Thu, open end Fri & Sat) Location, location, location. A2, right on the Aasee, certainly has got it. The glass walls and designer furniture scream trendy, but this bar-bistro-restaurant actually appeals as much to lifestyle-savvy types as to hip families and salt-and-pepper couples. Stick to classics like steak or spaghetti or try something different, such as the yummy fiocchi (cheese-and-pear-stuffed pasta in gorgonzola sauce).
Enchilada ( 455 66; Arztkarrengasse 12; mains €8-15; dinner) The Tex-Mex fare is only so-so, but the setting in a resurrected medieval ballroom is truly stunning. Two happy hours (6pm to 8pm and after 11pm) ensure that this place is never without a crowd. Nice terrace in summer.
Villa Medici ( 342 18; Ostmarkstrasse 15; mains €25-40, five-course menu around €50; dinner Tue-Sat) If you’re craving a first-class culinary journey, report to this posh Italian ristorante whose reputation extends well beyond city borders. Ambience-wise it’s pretty old-school formal, but even first-timers will relax after a warm welcome from the charming owners.
Not only students will enjoy a meal at one of Münster’s superb Mensen (university cafeterias) where you can fill up for €5 or less. Our favourites:
Mensa am Aasee (Bismarckallee 11; lunch & dinner Mon-Sat) Huge, modern with lake views, salad and vegetable bars and grill and wok stations.
Mensa Hüfferstift (Hüfferstrasse 27; 7.30am-2.30pm Mon-Fri) Paella, pasta, fish, schnitzel, salad and more with views over Münster’s rooftops.
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Drinking
Münster’s party-happy students fuel an eclectic pub and club scene.
Cafe Gasolin ( 510 5897; Aegidiistrasse 45; 11am-3am) This cleverly converted ’50s gas station has yummy cakes and latte macchiatos for a potent sugar fix and is also a good place for that final drink when everything else is closed. Prices are low, quality is not.
Schwarzes Schaf ( 484 3577; Alter Fischmarkt 26; Mon-Sat) This is mostly a regular pub, but on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday the attached historic