3 - 2 - 1 - Green light for new DE work visas

Streamlining this step is crucial to attracting international talent

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Welcome back to the Munich Post! The purpose of this newsletter is to share: 3 bits of news, 2 upcoming events, and 1 amazing restaurant/café for expats living in and around Munich. This way, you have a pulse on what’s going on without scrolling through thousands of pages.

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Here’s our weekly roundup:

The hammers are swinging and the cranes are moving on Theresienwiese. Munich's biggest party prep–190th Oktoberfest–has officially begun, and that means your usual shortcuts across the festival grounds are about to change for the next few months.

Reminder: The 2024 tax deadline is end of July!

3 bits of news

Commuter nightmare has begun 

Seven broken railway switches have shut down one of Munich's busiest train routes and we're not talking about a quick weekend fix. 

The line between Giesing and Holzkirchen is closed indefinitely, potentially until the end of July.

This isn't just bad news for weekend mountain hikers heading to Tegernsee or Bayrischzell. Also thousands of daily commuters who rely on the S3 line and regional trains from the south are scrambling for alternatives. 

The S3 now stops at Giesing instead of continuing south, while regional trains from popular destinations like Rosenheim and the Alpine valleys terminate in Holzkirchen.

Deutsche Bahn discovered the switch damage during a routine inspection Friday evening and immediately shut down the route for safety reasons. 

They've deployed buses and up to 60 large taxis to bridge the gap, but let's be honest that's not going to handle the usual crush of commuters and tourists.

Find info about it here and here (in German).

Nespresso opens flagship downtown 

Nespresso opened its first-ever House concept in Germany right on Marienplatz and this isn't your typical coffee shop experience.

We're talking about 600m² of coffee paradise spread across two floors, complete with a full restaurant, masterclasses, and even a to-go window facing the square. 

This is Nespresso's biggest bet on physical retail while other brands are closing stores. They're combining their usual premium coffee sales with an actual dining experience where you can sit down and enjoy their specialties on-site for the first time ever.

The ground floor features a lounge-style bar and tasting areas, while the second floor offers more space to relax. They've even planned an outdoor terrace and partnered with local Munich personalities like illustrator Kera Till and pastry expert Alexa von Harder for exclusive items you can only get here.

Find more information here (in German). 

Germany speeds up visas process

Germany just made it easier to move here for work and the changes that kicked in on July 1 are already making waves. 

We're talking about faster processing times for work visas and clearer rules that actually tell you what went wrong if your application gets rejected.

The biggest change hits people whose visas get denied. You can no longer file that old remonstration appeal process. Instead, Germany now gives you clear explanations for rejections and two straightforward options: take it to court if you think they made a mistake, or reapply with better documentation.

Work visa processing is getting significantly faster since most employment applications don't need extra approvals from immigration authorities. 

However, if you're planning to study or reunite with family, expect to wait up to three months or more.

Find more information here ​​(in English).

Bonus: 

In Partnership with Feather Insurance

It is our desire to bring our readers the best information about Munich — at zero cost to you. In keeping with this theme, we thank our partners for today’s newsletter. By just clicking the link below, you’ll support The Munich Post.

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2 upcoming events

Munich's dawn dance returns

Mark your calendars for the most magical morning of the year. On Sunday, July 20, Munich's beloved Kocherlball returns to transform the beer garden at Chinesischer Turm into the city's most beautiful dance floor from 6 to 10am.

We're talking about dancing traditional Bavarian steps like Landler, Zwiefacher and the Polka as the sun rises over the English Garden. 

Dance masters Katharina Mayer and Magnus Kaindl will guide everyone through the moves from the main stage, so even complete beginners can join the fun. 

The Haberl family, who hosts this annual tradition, promises fresh Ochsen Semmeln, homemade Obatzda, and of course, freshly tapped beer to fuel your morning dance session. Who can say no to beer at 5 in the morning? 

Want to practice beforehand? 

Free dance workshops are happening at the Hofbräuhaus on July 3, 10, 14, and 15. No experience needed, no registration required – just show up and learn. 

Table reservations for the main event opened in mid-May, but there will be plenty of free spots around the tower for those who prefer to arrive and find their perfect dancing spot.

Find more information here and here (in German).

General information

📍 Chinesischer Turm, English Garden, München 

  Sunday, July 20, 6–10am 

Pre-event workshops: July 3, 10, 14, 15 at the Hofbräuhaus

Mozart under the stars

The golden Mozart statue in Vienna. Beautiful.

Photo by Charilaos Fragkias on Unsplash

Pack your picnic blanket and get ready for one of Munich's most spectacular cultural events. 

This Sunday, July 6, the Bavarian State Opera and BMW are bringing Mozart's legendary Don Giovanni directly to Marstallplatz with a live broadcast from the Nationaltheater. And admission is completely FREE.

We're talking about experiencing world-class opera under the open sky with conductor Vladimir Jurowski leading an incredible cast including Konstantin Krimmel and Christof Fischesser. 

The massive outdoor screen transforms the historic square into Munich's most beautiful opera house, where you can enjoy the same performance that costs hundreds of euros inside the theater. This is part of the Munich Opera Festival, so you're getting premium culture without the premium price tag.

Here's what you need to know before you go. 

Bring drinks in plastic bottles only (glass is banned) and stick to seating surfaces no thicker than 8 centimeters. No folding chairs, no dogs, and definitely no bicycles on the event grounds. 

The entire Alfons-Goppel-Straße will be closed to traffic from 4 to 11pm, so plan to arrive by public transport. S-Bahn and U-Bahn to Marienplatz or Odeonsplatz will get you there in about ten minutes on foot.

Find more information here.

General information:

📍 Marstallplatz München

  Sunday, July 6, 7pm 

Bonus: 

We’d like to thank our second sponsor.

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1 new restaurant/café to try

Social Tagesbar

Social Tagesbar is already making waves with locals who've been craving a sophisticated yet relaxed place to unwind. Located at St.-Anna-Straße 18 in Lehel, this new wine bar combines elegant atmosphere with laid-back vibes, creating the perfect spot for everything from solo wine tastings to catching up with friends.

We're talking about 60 indoor seats plus a generous sun terrace that overlooks the charming cobblestone streets and historic buildings around Sankt-Anna-Platz. 

The menu focuses on creative sandwiches made from bread baked specifically for the restaurant, plus rotating warm dishes and those Instagram-famous “Loaded Gnocchi” from startup GnocchUout. 

Their wine selection spans Germany, Austria, France and Italy, curated to pair perfectly with their small plates and snacks.

General information:

📍  St.-Anna-Straße 18, 80538 München 

🥘  Wine Bar

  Monday-Friday 12 Noon–10pm 

      Saturday 2–11pm 

      Closed Sunday

We’d also like to thank our third sponsor.

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Meme of the week 😂

Thanks for reading and sharing the Munich Post 3-2-1 newsletter.

See ya next week!

Aazar, Arlene, Christina, and Heidi

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