Multi Mates with Gizem from Gigi Room Ceramics | Tips 18.-21.6.
Her favorite Munich spots, Istanbul cravings and where Meze cures homesickness
Hello Friends! This week, I’m excited to introduce the very first edition of my guest format Multi Mates.
Throughout my quest to find great events and interesting spots around the city, I keep meeting amazing people along the way - artists, entrepreneurs, creatives, chefs, designers, DJs - all setting out to shift Munich’s ‘coolness needle’ ever so slightly. Multi Muc was born out of my wish to show you different sides of the city, so with Multi Mates, I’d love to introduce you to people who help me widen my horizon and share their hottest recommendations for Munich.
We’re kicking things off with Gizem, whose pottery events I first discovered online before we finally met in person at my Aperitivo. In just one year, she has built Gigi Room Ceramics, her own event series around intimate pottery gatherings that get people to open up and share their personal stories. Now it’s time to hear Gizem’s.
Hiii Gizem! Could you quickly introduce yourself and Gigi Room Ceramics?
I’m Gizem, a creative entrepreneur, design thinking coach, ceramicist, and clay experience designer from Istanbul, based in Munich. I work on freelance projects around creativity and startups, from social media to communications, and occasionally coach teams on creative thinking and innovation.
With Gigi Room Ceramics, I design pop-up clay events that bring people together in meaningful ways, from “Clay & Coffee” mindfulness mornings to “Clay, Meze & Wine” evenings and private sessions for companies and brands. It’s not just about ceramics; it’s about connection, presence, and play.
What brought you all the way from Istanbul to Munich in the first place?
I originally came to Munich from Istanbul for my Erasmus semester, then ended up switching universities and finishing my bachelor’s here. I stayed for a master’s degree at TUM in Management and Technology, specializing in entrepreneurship and innovation. During that time, I was deeply immersed in the startup and innovation world. But over time, I realized I was missing a more creative, soulful outlet, that’s when I started shifting toward ceramics and slowly began building my own brand.
How did you get into ceramics?
It started as a personal escape, a meditative space during my studies with my friends when I was overwhelmed with everything. Clay gave me a way to slow down and reconnect. After giving wheel-throwing lessons, I realized that what I loved most wasn’t just the making, it was the magic of shared creative space. That led me to create pop-up experiences, even without a studio of my own.
What’s your relationship with Munich? What do you love about the city, and what could be better?
I hated and complained about Munich for a long time to be honest after living in big cities like Istanbul and New York, it was hard to adapt. And it never really clicked with my soul. But last year, I decided to create my own kind of Munich by starting Gigi Room Ceramics, and bringing together everything I love. Since then, I’ve connected with so many inspiring people (like you Pauli, hehe), and I’m having a lot of fun.
Munich has a calm rhythm I’ve grown to appreciate. I love how clean, green, and organized everything is. Summer here is just good vibes; cycling around in a bikini to the Englischer Garten and seeing everyone smiling at me is my favorite thing.
What could be better? The city could be more open to experimentation. Sometimes it feels like you have to fit into a box to be taken seriously. I’d love to see more bold, interdisciplinary creativity encouraged.
What do you miss most about Istanbul and where do you go in Munich to get some Turkish vibes?
I really miss the chaos hahah, the beautiful, soulful kind. The spontaneity of Istanbul, its incredible food, the smells, and the layers of history and energy that fill the city. When I want a little taste of that here in Munich, I either go to Gürmet at Viktualienmarkt or just meet my Turkish friends for a “meyhane” night with raki and meze.
What would be your Munich insider tip?
Don’t wait for Munich to inspire you, create your own version of it. This city has so much hidden potential if you’re willing to look for it (or build it yourself, I’ll be there to support!).
Thank you for sharing Gizem! For anyone who got curious, when are your next events coming up?
5.7. – Clay & Natural Wine with Forever Thirsty
22.7. – Clay & Cocktails with Amari Bar
23.7. – Clay & Crafted Wine with Garibaldi
24.7. – Clay, Meze & Wine with Gürmet
Also my first ever retreat:
25-27 July – Clay, Yoga & Flowers in Bolzano
A dreamy summer escape to slow down, reconnect, and create. Feel free to message me if you want to join!
🍝 FOOD
Favorite places for…
Girls Night
Petit FritzDate night
Bingo Bistro & Gasthaus WaltzBreakfast
Café Faber & Amari BarBeer garden
Max Emanuel BrauereiPasta & vibes
Birreria SeeroseFeel-good summer dinner
KalypsoPizza
Doctor DroolyTurkish soul food & wine
Gürmet – for delicious Turkish wines and when I’m feeling homesickAuthentic chinese
Max’s Beef Noodles
🍸 BEVERAGES
Drinks
Forever Thirsty for natural wine and good vibes
Bar Montez for jazz and a cozy vibe
Bravo Grande & Loretta Bar for cool outside sittingSalon Irkutsk for a hidden gem (I’m a vermut girl and they have all the options)
Coffee
Sweet Spot
Suuapinga
Southbank (where I currently make their ceramic cups!)
🌳 PLACES
Summer stroll
Fresh juice at Viktualienmarkt and wander aroundPeaceful journaling spot
Alter Nordfriedhof – calm, quiet, no pressureFlorist
Eden Flower – always beautiful, always inspiringTennis
I live close to Hirschau and love practicing thereIce cream + sunset
Bartu in Schwabing, then St. Ursula Church (ideally after outside dinner at Passaparola)
What’s on this week(end)?
18.-21.06
WEDNESDAY | 18.06
Szia Szia & Together Together Langos Release
Viktualienmarkt
Szia Szia Stand
12pm-8pm
Installation Opening Stasis Echoes
ZIRKA
Dachauer Str. 110c
The Streets Concert
Backstage
Reitknechtstr. 6
From 8pm
THURSDAY | 19.06
Retro Fashion Fleamarket
Backstage
Reitknechtstr. 6
4-9pm
Contemporary American Diner Brunch
AMARi
Dachauer Str. 90
Tollwood Opening
(Check music schedule - some great acts playing)
Spiridon-Louis-Ring
11am-1am
Fleamarket and Drinks
Herzog
Maxburgstr. 4
10am-2pm
BR Symphony Orchestra: Ferruccio Busoni & Igor Levit (piano)
Isarphilarmonie
Hans-Preißinger-Str. 8
8pm
Queer Film Screening
Köşk
Schillerstr. 38
7-10pm
FRIDAY | 20.06
Playground Tanzlokal
Import Export
Schwere-Reiter-Str. 2h
7pm-10.30pm
Hemp Fashion Show
Bahnwärter Thiel
Tumblingerstr. 45
From 4pm
Felix Kubin Performance
Münchner Kammerspiele
Maximilianstr. 26
9pm
SATURDAY | 21.06
Bubbles & Streetfood by Garibaldi & Fizzy Bubele
Fizzy Bubele Stand
Elisabethmarkt
2-7pm
Holdings Reading
Kunstverein München
Galeriestr. 4
3pm
Mittsommernacht Reading
Seidlvilla
Nikolaipl. 1b
7pm
Shu Lea Cheang Screening
Theatiner Filmtheater
Theatinerstr. 32
Kids Opera in Collaboration with Bayerischer Staatsoper
Bergson
Am Bergson Kunstkraftwerk 2
Fête de la Musique
Institut français de Munich
Kaulbachstraße 13
5pm-11.30pm
Alrighty, that’s a wrap for today. I really enjoyed having Gizem as my guest on this week and I hope you did too! If you’d like to suggest someone who should become a Multi Mate (can be yourself!), please ↓
See you next week!
Love
Pauli