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Oktoberfest tent guide

 

The Oktoberfest tent guide takes you inside the beer tents

at the famous festival

Jump to page two of the Oktoberfest Tent Guide.




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.

 


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

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

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The Hippodrom. Pic © Andreas Steinhoff

One of the smaller tents but a beloved one nonetheless.

The Hippodrom is the first beer tent many visitors see as it’s just near the main entrance.

It’s the most eye-catching of the lot. The bright red and yellow façade explodes with more energy than Tom Cruise on Spaz Juice.

Inside the story’s no different – the Hippodrom is a favourite among yuppies, celebs and teen drinkers.

Another trump card is the champagne bar.
Go early, stay late and have an off-centre Oktoberfest experience.

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? Website says reservations accepted from April 2010.

Oktoberfest tent guide

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

Bavarian food culture revolves around the pig.

B e 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
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 email or fax. See details here (in German).

Oktoberfest tent guide

the Ochsenbraterei
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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
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.

Oktoberfest tent guide

the Schottenhamel
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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
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.

Oktoberfest tent guide

the Hacker-Festzelt
oktoberfest-tent-hacker

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
Proprietors Toni and Christl Roiderer
Phone +49 (8170) 7303
Seating capacity (inside) 6950
(outside) 2400
Beer Hacker-Pschorr
Website www.hacker-festzelt.de
Reservations? Fully booked for 2010, details on the tent’s website here.

Oktoberfest tent guide

the Schützen-Festzelt
schutzen-festzelt-munich-oktoberfest-tent

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
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.

Oktoberfest tent guide

the Hofbräu-Festzelt
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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.

Oktoberfest tent guide

the Armbrustschützen-Festhalle

armbrustschutzenzelt-oktoberfest-tent

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.


Don't stop there, there are more beer tents to get to know on page two of the Oktoberfest Tent Guide.


Oktoberfest Index


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