Acquarello has held on to its Michelin star since 2000, cooking up gourmet Italian cuisine in its colourful, somewhat kitsch space in Munich’s Bogenhausen. Some say that the restaurant, run by Bergamo chef Mario Gamba, is the finest Italian in Germany. Munich has hundreds of Italian restaurants, so the best of the best – in the whole country, no less – is no mean feat.

Heinz Winkler also played an important role in the career of Mario Gamba, an Italian from Bergamo who trained alongside the legendary chef for 12 years. For over 20 years, he has been serving the very finest Italian cuisine in Acquarello, his restaurant in Munich- Bogenhausen, and his establishment is widely acknowledged as perhaps the best Italian eatery outside Italy. Gamba cites his pure joy at cooking and preparing food as the motivating factor that drove him to leave his job as a translator of French and Spanish and to try his hand at cooking – which, incidentally, he taught himself.

The Acquarello in posh Munich-Bogenhausen is one of the best Italian restaurants in Germany, and chef and owner Mario Gamba has many Munich celebrities and FC Bayern Munich football players as regulars at his place. Some of them live nearby. At the website of the Acquarello you can see who’s already dined there, Sting, Elton John, James Belushi, Tim Allen, Celine Dion, Mark Knopfler, etc.; but what’s really interesting about the photos is how much Chef Mario resembled Borat.

One suggestion comes from Frommer's: Best Spot for a Romantic Dinner in Munich: At this great Italian restaurant, Acquarello (tel. 089/470-4848), he or she will definitely say yes to your proposition. Classical music sets the stage for a romantic evening, and the host promises that the perfumelike fragrance of the restaurant will linger for a lifetime. From figs to almonds, the food is from the gods -- at least that.

Best Spot for a Romantic Dinner: At this great Italian restaurant, Acquarello (tel. 089/470-4848), he or she will definitely say yes to your proposition. Classical music sets the stage for a romantic evening, and the host promises that the perfumelike fragrance of the restaurant will linger for a lifetime. From figs to almonds, the food is from the gods.

The Acquarello, right by the underground station Böhmerwaldplatz, is a gastronomic institution in Munich. The Michelin-starred restaurant is perfect for special gourmet evenings or important business lunches. Light, sophisticated cuisine along Mediterranean-French lines meets Italian oenology and old-school professional service.

All the dishes at Acquarello are almost painterly in their presentation, which explains the restaurant's name (Aquarello). Fittingly, the brightly decorated restaurant with turquoise colour accents is adorned with murals depicting fictitious Italian-Antique landscapes.

Star restaurants in Munich are München Acquarello Gollan, Waldemar München Königshof Rothacker, Götz München Schuhbeck's in den Südtiroler Stuben (neu) Schuhbeck, Alfons and München Tantris Haas, Hans (has two) And have you ever been to Katzlmacher?

Zu den alten Hasen in der Münchner Sternegastronomie zählt der Italiener Mario Gamba mit seinem Acquarello. Der Autodidakt kochte einst unter Heinz Winkler im Tantris. 1994 eröffnete er das Acquarello, das seit dem Jahr 2000 seinen Michelin-Stern hält.

Die Qualität der mutigen Küche - zum Beispiel Chicoréebarren mit Flusskrebsen oder Carpaccio vom Fassone Rind mit Mini-Morcheln - ist über jeden Zweifel erhaben.

Our author eats a panino with Mario Gamba before heading to his Michelin-starred restaurant Acquarello in the neighbourhood of Bogenhausen.