Oktoberfest tent guide

BIG BITE: A pretzel seller
inside the Augustiner
beer tent.
Pic:constant progression

OKTOBERFEST TENT: So many beer tents, so little time…
There are 14 big beer tents at the Munich Oktoberfest and each of them has its own little claim to fame.

Of course they’re not tents of the type you take down to the seaside to go camping for a few days with your mates.

They’re immense wooden structures assembled each year just for the Oktoberfest and taken down again when the party’s over.

Sizes range from the Hofbräu-Festzelt with enough room for 10,000 revellers to the relatively dinky Käfer's Wies'n-Schänke with “only” room for 2900 inside and out.

You may not actually get to choose – depending on when you go the fest you might just think yourself lucky to get into any tent at all.

But it ddoesn't matter, there are no bad eggs here.

When you’re partying the evening away swaying back and forth on a bench amidst a sea of thousands it really doesn’t matter too much which tent you’re in. Just let yourself get a little caught up in the moment and you'll have a riot.

Here’s an introduction to each of the 14 tents along with contact info and details on how to reserve tables.

the Hippodrom

The Hippodrom. Pic © Andreas Steinhoff

During the week the beer tents open at 10am and on weekends and public holidays at 9am.

The tents close at 11.30pm, with the last drinks served at 10.30pm. Käfer's Wiesnschänke und das Weinzelt are the exceptions, they stay open until 1am with last drinks called at 12.15am.

The Details for the Hippodrom
Proprietors: Sepp Krätz and family
Phone: +49 (89) 29 16 46 46
Fax: +49 (89) 29 54 42
Seating capacity: (inside) 3200 (outside) 1000
Beer: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Website: www.hippodrom-oktoberfest.de
Reservations?:

the Fischer-Vroni

The Fischer-Vroni. Pic from the
Fischer-Vroni website.

Bavarian food culture revolves around the pig.

Be it Schweinshaxe (pork knuckles), Schweinebraten (roast pork) or Spanferkel (suckling pig), folks down here just can’t get enough of swine.

I respect that because it’s tasty, but there is one Oktoberfest tent that revolves around a totally different culinary tradition.

Fischer-Vroni specialises in Steckerlfisch, piscine pleasures slow-grilled on sticks and served up virtually intact from the pond – minus the guts.
You can gobble it all up until you’re left with a head and tail connected by a fishy spine. I’ve even seen someone poke out the eyes and eat them too, but don’t be doing that, it’s really, really gross.

The Details for the Fischer-Vroni Oktoberfest tent
Proprietors: Johann and Silvia Stadtmüller
Phone: +49 (89) 66 10 42 (Wednesdays and Fridays)
Fax: +49 (89) 65 25 34
Seating capacity: (inside) 2695 (outside) 700
Beer: Augustiner
Website: www.fischer-vroni.de
Reservations?: May be possible by emailing: reservierung@fischer-vroni.de

the Ochsenbraterei

The Ochsenbraterei. Pic: Wikimedia

Each year over 100 oxen are roasted on long spits in the galley of the Ochsenbraterei.

They’re each christened with a name before being spit roasted and you can check them all out on a blackboard to the side of the tent.

It’s a tradition going back to 1881.
Aside from that this tent has a fantastic atmosphere and it’s a top place to party.

The Details for the Ochsenbraterei Oktoberfest tent
Proprietors: Anneliese and Hermann Haberl
Phone: +49 (89) 38 38 73 12 (reservation office) +49 (89) 51 11 58 0
Fax:+49 (89) 38 38 73 40 (reservation office) +49 (89) 51 11 58 10
Seating capacity: (inside) 5900 (outside) 1500
Beer: Spaten
Website: www.ochsenbraterei.de
Reservations?: Available by phone, fax or post, details on the Ochsenbraterei website here.

the Schottenhamel

The Schottenhamel. Pic CC AbhijeetRane

This is where it all starts, kids.

At high noon on the first Saturday Munich’s lord mayor wields a wooden mallet to wack a tap into a wooden barrel of beer.
The first barrel of each Oktoberfest.

With a cry of “O’zapft is!” – It’s tapped!” can beer be served across the Wiesn.

I had an awesome time partying
in the Schottenhamel in 2009 and with any luck I’ll be back this year – it’s got to be one of the best tents at the festival.
It's renown for attracting a young, flirty set.

The Details for the Schottenhamel Oktoberfest tent
Proprietors: Peter and Christian Schottenhamel
Phone: +49 (89) 54 46 93 10
Fax: +49 (89) 54 46 93 19
Seating capacity: (inside) 6000 (outside) 4000
Beer: Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Website: festzelt.schottenhamel.de
Reservations?: By phone, details at the tent’s website here.

the Hacker-Festzelt

The Hacker-Festzelt. Pic ©Andreas Steinhoff

Probably the best-looking tent on the Wiesn, the Hacker’s been dubbed the “Himmel der Bayern” – “Heaven of the Bavarians”.

Banners painted with sky and clouds teeter from the rafters.

A seldom hushed band stand rises up in the middle of the tent.

The atmosphere is electric. For party people this place really does feel like heaven. It’s also one of the most popular tents so make sure you’re there extra early to get a seat inside.

The Details for the Hacker-Festzelt Oktoberfest tent
Proprietors:Toni and Christl Roiderer
Phone: +49 (8170) 7303
Fax:
Seating capacity: (inside) 6950 (outside) 2400
Beer: Hacker-Pschorr
Website: www.hacker-festzelt.de
Reservations?: Details on the tent’s website here.

the Schützen-Festzelt

The Schützen-Festzelt. Pic © Andreas Steinhoff

One of the oldest Oktoberfest tents, the Schützen sits under the Bavaria Statue near the southern end of the Wiesn.

Many punters here hail from Bavaria’s deeply traditional southeast corner – Oberbayern or Upper Bavaria.

This is where leather shorts and ankle-slapping dances aren’t just hokey traditions but for many, a way of life.

This old-school clientele bears testament to the type of atmosphere you'll find inside. The Schützen chef’s signature dish is suckling pig (Spanferkel) served with malt beer sauce and potato salad.

The Details for the Schützen-Festzelt Oktoberfest tent
Proprietors: Claudia and Eduard Reinbold
Phone: (089) 23 18 12 24
Fax: (089) 23 18 12 44
Seating capacity: (inside and outside) 5440
Beer: Löwenbräu
Website: (German) www.schuetzen-festzelt.de
Reservations?: Website doesn’t mention them, you could try calling the number above.

the Hofbräu-Festzelt

The Hofbräu-Festzelt. Pic CC HGruber

Among the biggest and most famous beer tents at Oktoberfest is the Hofbräu, companion to the world-renown Hofbräuhaus beer hall in Munich’s old town.

It’s known for being the most international tent.

Aussies, Yanks, Japanese and Brits are all to be found here in their throngs.
That’s not to say you won’t encounter a truck load of Bavarians here too, there’s room enough for everyone. The Hofbräu is the only tent with a standing area decked out with high tables for your beers, so you usually stand a good chance of finding somewhere to drink in here.

The Details for the Hofbräu-Festzelt
Proprietors: Margot and Günter Steinberg
Phone: +49 89 4489670
Fax: +49 89 4483587
Seating capacity: (inside) 6898 (outside) 3022
Beer: Hofbräu München
Website: www.hb-festzelt.de
Reservations?: Must be made in person at the Hofbräukeller in Munich, details and availability on the tent’s website here.

the Armbrustschützen-Festhalle

The Armbrustschützen-Festhalle.
Pic © Andreas Steinhoff

The name translates to “Crossbow shooters’ tent”. It's where Bavaria’s shooting and archery clubs come to play.

As such, the walls are decorated with dead deer antlers and the like.

Though it’s not one of the most popular tents I’ve never had much luck getting in here.

The Details for the Armbrustschützen-Festhalle
Proprietors: Peter Inselkammer and family
Phone: +49 (89) 23 70 37 03
Fax: +49 (89) 23 70 37 05
Seating capacity: (inside) 5830 (outside) 1600
Beer: Paulaner
Website: www.armbrustschuetzenzelt.de
Reservations?: Lunchtime bookings available by fax, the Armbrustschützen website has details here.

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