Munich beer gardens

An overview of Munich beer gardens - the city's seminal relaxation spots

Beer gardens are to Munich what street cafes are to Paris, pubs are to London and amphetamines were to Johnny Cash – implicit, allied and utterly inseparable.

SUBLIME: Munich beer gardens are the perfect retreat. This is at the Chinesischer Turm P. Scarlandis / FVAmuc

Munich's beer gardens are like little islands in the urban sea where locals escape the hectic and wind down.

It’s not all about the beer. Most beer gardens have playgrounds for kids and a couple have other diversions like a deer enclosure (Hirschgarten) or paddle-boat rental (Seehaus).
Shady chestnut trees and long wooden benches are two of the hallmarks of traditional Munich beer gardens.

These are social places. You will have never seen Germans so laid-back and friendly as at beer gardens in Munich.

The wooden benches encourage you to
sit down with strangers and strike up a conversation.
That’s what they call Gemütlichkeit baby - a sense of cosiness and social acceptance. Just launch in and soon you’ll be Prost-ing like a pro.

In the glass

Munich beer gardens usually only each serve one brand of beer from the city’s major breweries, be it Paulaner, Augustiner, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr or Spaten. The standard measure is the one-litre Maß, but half-litre portions are almost always available.
Try the Radler if you’re taking it easy. It’s a mix of Helles beer (lager) and sweet lemonade, invented especially for cyclists.
If you’re off the booze altogether a cola/Fanta mix called Spezi is a popular choice.

Here are my reviews of the most loved Munich beer gardens. I haven’t bothered to give them individual ratings since they’re all top-notch. Do try to get to at least one of them during your stay. Chinesischer Turm Wanna get worldly? Here you can drink German beer next to a Chinese tower in a so-called English garden. This is Munich's loudest and proudest beer garden. Seehaus You can’t get much better than this. Not only is Seehaus in the midst of the vast Englischer Garten park, it sits on a lake bank for maximum chill-out factor. Flaucher This is great addition to your Isar River bike-and-beer gardens itinerary.The garden is in a secluded woody semi-island about 4.5kms south of the city centre. Hirschgarten The Hirschgarten is the biggest of all the Munich beer gardens. No, make that the biggest in the whole world! Most locals think it's one of the best. A somehow still hidden gem. Kloster Andechs The “Heliger Berg” (meaning Sacred Mountain in German) is a favourite day-trip destination for many Müncheners. There;s a Benedictine monastery, a church and a first-rate beer garden.

On the plate

Beer garden cuisine has become something of a sub-genre in its own right. Hot food is served, but you’re allowed to bring your own food from home. It’s tradition in Munich beer gardens and locals view it as a God-given right (see the How they started section below).

NIBBLES: A tradtional Brotzeitteller with smoked and cooked meats, bread and radishes. Pic:© Kloster Andechs

So do yourself a favour and get down to the nearest supermarket, or the Viktualienmarkt if you want to splash out a bit.
Pick up the following items and stash them in a bag along with plates, cutlery and a tablecloth (blue and white Bavarian chequered pattern preferred).

ON THE WAY: Me after a bit too much already in one of the Munich beer gardens.Pic:© Stuart Anderson - Destination Munich

Biergarten picnic list

1. Obatzda – A cheesy-oniony spread and beer garden staple. You can buy it in little tubs, usually next to the butter at the supermarket.

2. Fruit and veg – Radi (radish) is the usual favourite at garden benches, cut it up into a spiral and stick it on your buns. Cherry tomatoes, pickles and cucumbers are other healthy fillers.



3. Meat - No lack of options here, German supermarkets have a huge variety of sliced Fleisch for your DIY snacks.

4. Bread and Brezel – Any type of bread should do, but the denser the better and preferably not pre-sliced. There’s no need to stick around the supermarket for these, bakeries are everywhere in Munich.
Bread rolls here are called Semmel. Brezel (pretzels) should be fresh and have a sprinkling of rock salt – it’s the best bit.

A few more pointers on food at Munich beer gardens

*If you want to buy your meal, Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Hendl (chicken), you typically get a half, and Hax’n (pork knuckle) are fine options.

*Many Munich restaurants also have a small beer garden attached, but these aren’t traditional in the sense that you can’t bring your own food.

*Sections of beer gardens that are already tableclothed are usually reserved for guests ordering food. Here you can expect typical restaurant service with waiters and such.

*Otherwise, buying food and drinks is self-service. You go up to the hut to order and take the consumable booty with you.

GREEN ENERGY: Shady chestnut trees are a fixture of any good beer garden in Munich.Pic:© Stuart Anderson - Destination Munich

How they started

Munich beer gardens were born, just like the city itself, on the banks of the Isar River.

Since beer only brews when it’s cold, budding beer barons dug cellars along the banks of the icy Alpine stream.

Gravel was strewn and amply-foliaged chestnut trees were planted to keep the sun’s rays at bay and the beer nice and cool.

It wasn’t long until someone hit upon the idea of selling the brew on the spot. Long wooden benches were set up around the trees and the “traditional” beer garden we know and love today came to be.

This, of course, got on the goat of the existing Munich guesthouses, who found themselves facing a stiff new brand of competition. Sit inside a stuffy old pub on a hot summer’s day or head down to river to drink straight of the barrel? I know what I would have chosen.

King Ludwig I himself stepped in with a stroke of genius – the beer gardens would be allowed to sell beer, but not food.
And so the punters were allowed to take their own food along to the gardens.
It’s a custom that continues to this day, even though Ludwig’s degree was long since abolished and beergardens in Munich can serve food as well.

I’m a partner with the tour booking agency Viator – meaning I can offer you the grooviest tour of Munich's venerated drinking estabishments at a totally unbeatable price!!!

But seriously, folks, they’re a reliable bunch and I'm sure you’ll get more than your money’s worth. You can avoid the hassle of public transport, meet fellow travellers and you get an entertaining tour guide who’s there to explain everything and enrich the whole experience.

Also, by booking a tour you're supporting Destination Munich and my endeavours to make this one of the best darn travel sites on the web.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and experience Munich's beer and food!

Bavarian Beer and Food Evening Tour in Munich Cost: from €25 Duration: About three hours Discover the delights of Bavarian food and beer on this evening sortie into some awesome Munich watering holes. You get free beer and food samples – Weisswurst, roast pork, Obazda cheese…mmmmm, and a guided tour through Munich’s Beer and Oktoberfest Museum. Includes a visit to one of the classic Munich beer gardens and the famous Hofbräukeller. A very popular tour and a great introduction to Bavarian sustenance. (Read more about the tour)

See here to check out more organised tours of Munich. If you have questions about these tours, I’ll try to help you out. But Destination Munich is just a booking partner of Viator, so your best bet is to contact them directly. You can do that through their contact page here.

Suggested pages Jump from Muich beer gardens to Kloster Andechs Munich's Beer and Oktoberfest Museum Go from Munich beer gardens to Day Trips from Munich Return to Destination Munich Home