The Beer Garden Guide to Munich
Last edited: June 20, 2024
One year after my most recent visit to Munich I finally got around to writing this post! My turnaround time has been getting at least a bit better recently. Munich is one of the best cities to visit in Germany in the summertime because of their picturesque parks, warm weather, proximity to alpine lakes and summits, and of course, fantastic beer gardens!
Although some look at beer gardens in an ‘if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all’ kind of way, it is my belief that most of these Bavarian beer gardens bring something special to the table, despite their core similarities.
Give at least a couple of these a try if you’re visiting Munich this summer! It’s genuinely a fun way to get a better understanding of how locals like to spend their summer and they make for fantastic spots to cool off on sunny days.
Is it your first time visiting a German beer garden? Find a list of FAQs at the end of this post.
Viktualienmarkt Biergarten
The Viktualienmarkt is hard to miss when visiting Munich. From Monday to Saturday, the city’s biggest food market takes place, selling quality fresh food that you can order by item or weight. Order a bit of this and that until you’ve created the ultimate tasting board for yourself. My favorite booth has to be a toss-up between the seafood and olive booths. We got to try a salt olive medley and some freshly prepared octopus that was dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, and seasoning. Delicious!
There are booths selling hot food and more typical beer garden food as well, making this an excellent market for foodies. It’s a pretty decent size too, with room for about 1100 people.
And of course, there’s no shortage of beer! They’ll have just one type of beer offered served either on its own or as a Radler (mixed with lemonade or lemon Sprite). The brand of beer they have for sale rotates every six weeks and they pick between beer from the six biggest local breweries, which are Hofbräu, Spaten Bräu, Augustiner Bräu, Hacker Pschorr, Paulaner, and Löwenbräu. They’re a great first-timer’s beer garden!
Viktualienmarkt 9, 80331 | Website
Cafe Gans am Wasser
Cafe Gans am Wasser is a picturesque beer garden located along Mollsee in Munich’s Westpark. Although it’s not too far from central Munich, it has a more local and youthful feel to it because of its generally younger crowd.
The eclectic beer garden features a mix of seating from an assortment of vintage couches to more traditional wooden seats. You’ll find a handful of stalls selling food including a traditional grill station and vegan Döner. I would only come here for light snacks though because a few of the stalls were closed so the remaining ones had longer lines.
One spot that was worth the wait is their fries counter! These fries are seasoned to perfection with flaky sea salt and fresh rosemary. Arrive in the late afternoon or early evening, if you can, to enjoy the sunset on the water! It’s especially pretty once the strings of fairy lights are turned on. Get a spot along the water if you can!
Hopfengarten
Just on the other side of Westpark is Hopfengarten, a more traditional beer garden where you can find all the classics including grilled sausage, big pretzels, and beer. Similar to Cafe Gans am Wasser, it has a more local feel, but the clientele tends to be a little older. If you’re in the park and both are open it’s worth checking out both!
Occasionally there’s live music as well, you can visit their website to keep up with performances. Under the shade of their large chestnut trees, it’s a good beer garden for a hot day.
Siegenburger Str. 43, 81373 | Website
Interested in extending your trip to Berlin? It’s just four hours away via the ICE train!
Englisch Garten
The biggest park in Munich is home to a whole nine beer gardens. There honestly might even be more I’ve missed! It’s a wonderful place to spend a relaxing and indulgent afternoon in central Munich.
Start your afternoon at the southern point of the park at the Eisbachwelle and watch local surfers try their best to master an endless artificial wave. They give passersby quite a show all year round, even in freezing weather. From there walk north along the rivers and through the park. Be sure to stop at a beer garden (or two. . . or three) along the way to have a drink and relax in the park. Learn more about them in the snippets below:
Milchhäusl - This rustic beer garden has limited seating and good food, and is located in a forest-heavy area of the park, surrounded by trees and shrubbery. In wintertime, they serve mulled wine and have gondola seating to protect from the cold weather.
Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm & Hofbräu München - Home to plenty of hearty German foods with self-service stations throughout the site. If you see the green benches, you’re there.
Seehaus im Englischen Garten - This lakeside beer garden is home to an upscale sit-down restaurant and a self-service beer garden.
Tivoli Pavillon - This mini beer garden operates as a snack shop selling beer, ice cream, and small sandwiches.
Hirschau im Englischen Garten - This is a bigger beer garden serving several hearty dishes including potato salad, freshly grilled fish, and desserts. Although it’s a tad pricier, there’s a large playground directly adjacent to the beer garden making it a convenient spot if you’re visiting with little ones.
Biergarten am Kleinhesseloher See - Just around the corner from Hirschau lies this pleasant beer garden. With lots of seating along the water, it’s perhaps the prettiest beer garden in the park.
Mini-Hofbräuhaus im Englischen Garten - For a hearty Schnitzel plate paired with a beer from the famous Hofbräu, come here.
Sportarena Bayern - With soccer, volleyball, and tennis facilities surrounding the beer garden and restaurant, this is a convenient spot for locals who want to get a snack or drink after getting their sweat on.
Aumeister - At the north end of the park you’ll find a lovely beer garden complimented by the surrounding trees and relaxed setting.
Schwabinger Osterwaldgarten
For friendly service, traditional beer, and typical German fare, visit Schwabinger Osterwaldgarten. I haven’t spent too much time here, but most of the garden is shaded by the surrounding buildings and trees, making it a nice place to cool off on a warm day.
Biergarten am Muffatwerk
This is a relatively small beer garden characterized by its organic bites, quality beer, and Mediterranean influences. You’ll be able to find some very tasty vegan bites along with classic beer garden dishes to suit everyone’s dietary preferences. Plus, with a children’s playground adjacent to the beer garden and plenty of shade from their large awning, you’ll find a little something for everyone at this unique and tranquil beer garden.
Augustiner Keller
Home to Munich’s oldest beer garden, Augustiner Keller first opened its doors over 200 years ago. It’s one of the larger beer gardens in the city, with over 5,000 available seats. It has a traditional Bavarian atmosphere and a canteen selling hearty local cuisine. They have a feast of German food options, with a handful of decent vegetarian and vegan options, making it a solid place if your party has some dietary restrictions.
Plus, the food is plentiful and it’s all on display making it easy to know what you’re ordering, even if your German is limited. My favorite plates I tried here are the Schweinshaxe, which is a type of crispy roasted ham, and Obatzda, which is a very rich cheese spread made of creamy cheese, paprika, and butter.
Hirschgarten
Hirschgarten is the biggest (and one of the oldest) beer gardens in Munich, located in Munich’s western neighborhood Neuhausen-Nymphenburg. It has a more local vibe to it than the more centrally located beer gardens, and the menu and drinks are a little more simple, making it feel even more typisch Deutsch.
There’s just a handful of food options (unless you head into the restaurant, where there’s of course more) and the drinks in the beer garden only come in one size: one liter. My eleven year old cousin opted for one liter of coke, which he was quite pleased with, but I’m not convinced he slept that night.
The beer garden is also only about a fifteen minute walk (give or take) from Nymphenburg Palace, making it a great way to spend an afternoon in Munich.
Alles Wurscht
This cool and cozy beer garden is always absolutely buzzing in the evening, so be sure to arrive in the late afternoon if you want to secure a spot on a warm and clear summer’s day. The garden space truly glows on a warm evening, complimented by its colorful seating and twinkly fairy lights.
It’s a sort of quirky beer garden-café-bar hybrid so although it’s not a traditional beer garden, it’s absolutely deserving of a spot on this list. I would say it’s not as kid-friendly as most of the spots on this list since it has more bar vibes and attracts more of an energetic younger crowd.
Alles Wurscht is quite proud of their Weißwurst too, so if you’re feeling peckish give it a try, they have a vegan variation too.
Kaisergarten
This homey spot is located in a very pretty area of the city, surrounded by many beautiful historic buildings filled with art nouveau architecture. My favorite artsy buildings in the area are located at Ainmillerstraße 22 and Römerstraße 11, and Sankt Ursula is a nice church to pass by if you’re walking around the neighborhood. If you pop in for a drink, be sure to also stay for dessert, their Kaiserschmarrn is heavenly! It’s a lovely space for an evening drink in a lively and warm environment.
Zum Flaucher Biergarten
Thanks to their farm-to-table practices all their food is made fresh on the property with mainly regional ingredients. All meat and produce is sourced from local Bavarian farms and dishes rotate depending on what’s been recently harvested and seasonally available. For a refreshing mix of modernity and tradition, Zum Flaucher is a terrific choice! If you’re not already sold, the beer garden is also located in a beautiful environment filled with lush greenery.
Hofbräukeller am Wiener Platz
Hofbräu is one of the best-known breweries in the world and they have several homes in Munich featuring a mix of beer gardens, cellars, and houses. You’re guaranteed a pretty classic beer garden experience if you visit here or their spot in the English Garden.
Although it’s more touristy as far as beer gardens go, Hofbräu has a lot of pretty interesting history in general (their main brewery in the city center had one infamous guest in particular) and some of their locations have live music in the evenings. When visitors from home visit Germany for the first time, I frequently take them to the Hofbräu in Berlin for a healthy dose of kitschy German vibes and live Polka music.
Although their main location on Platzl 9 doesn’t offer a traditional beer garden setting, it’s got a stellar beer hall from the 16th century and is worth a visit for some German grub, live evening music, or when the weather/season is not fit for outdoor drinks and dining.
FAQs
Do beer gardens accept cards as payment?
Although it’s slowly evolving, (COVID helped normalize card usage) cash really is king in Germany, especially in Bavaria. It’s better to bring both cash and card to be safe (funnily enough there are now a couple card only beer gardens in Berlin). You’ll end up using the cash in Bavaria, trust me.
Do beer gardens only serve beer?
No, but depending on the beer garden there might be limited drink options. At minimum a beer garden will serve one type of beer, Radler (half beer, half lemonade/lemon sprite), and one alcohol free drink like coke. Most beer gardens have anywhere from one to four types of beer, one or two alcohol free beers, a couple kid-friendly sodas or Schorles,* and maybe one or two types of wine with the option of being made into a Schorle. The more hip ones might also have a cocktail or two like Aperol Spritz.
*Schorles (spritzers in English) are quite popular in Germany. They’re made by diluting wine or juice with carbonated water. This gives the drink a more refreshing taste, while increasing hydration, and limiting sugar and alcohol intake. Rhubarb and apple spritzers are most commonly seen at beer gardens and are served without alcohol, making them a great drink for kids or those who prefer not to drink alcohol.
What kind of beer can be found at Munich’s beer gardens?
Starkbier (strong), Festbier (festival), Weissbier (wheat), Hell (lager), Dunkel (dark), and Pils can be found at Munich’s beer gardens, although most beer gardens only serve one to three types. I typically go for a Weissbier as I enjoy a more hoppy fermented taste. If a beer garden is run by a specific brewery then they’ll likely only serve their brand of beer. Simply Munich does a great job at describing these types of beers, as well as listing the local breweries that create these beers, so you might want to hop on over to their page if you’re interested in learning from the experts.
Are children allowed at beer gardens?
Yes! Most beer gardens are kid-friendly so long as they’re with an adult and don’t cause too much of a ruckus. Some even have playgrounds nearby! To my knowledge, the only beer garden on this list that isn’t kid-friendly is Alles Wurscht, which is more of a bar than a beer garden. On my most recent trip to Munich I visited a few beer gardens with family, including my eleven year old cousin, and he was never the only child present.
Do beer gardens have food?
Yes! Most beer gardens will at minimum sell some grilled sausage and fries, but some have canteens, food stalls, or a restaurant. Some beer gardens will have a self-service area with just beer, coke, and a couple food options, alongside a full-service restaurant with a menu serving many types of German food, additional drink options, and the choice of sitting inside or outside. If you arrive shortly after opening they might not be selling food quite yet, but it’ll happen.
What types of food can I find at beer gardens?
Depends on the beer garden, but most beer gardens in Munich serve grilled meat, fries, and potato salad. Some of my favorite German food that can oftentimes be found at Munich beer gardens include Brezel (pretzel), Schweinshaxe (roasted pork knuckle), and Käsespatzle (cheesy creamy egg noodles).
What is beer garden culture like?
Beer gardens are popular summertime spots to get together with people and enjoy one another’s company, fresh air, and of course, beer. Most beer is served in half liter or liter sizes only so come prepared to drink or share a beer with a friend. With classic wooden benches and just a handful of options, they’re typically not too fancy, which is part of their charm.
How do I order a beer?
‘Ein Bier bitte’ (one beer please), ‘Zwei Bier bitte’ (two beers please), ‘Drei Bier bitte’ (three beers please), and so on and so forth. If there are multiple types of beer you can order by the brand or type and drop the word ‘bier.’ For example ‘Ein Münchner Hell’ (one Munich lager) or ‘Ein Augustiner Helles’ (one Augustiner Helles). You can be sure to follow it up with a ‘Danke’ (thanks) after they hand you your drinks. If you slip up it won’t be too hard to fix, they might switch to English or the interaction will likely be simple enough that you can get by with very limited German or pointing.
When telling you the price they might say something like ‘Zehn Euro mit Pfand’ (€10 with deposit). That means that they’re charging you that amount because they’re taking a deposit for the glass, but you can come back when you’ve finished your drink and get your deposit back, which is typically €1-3. They might also hand you a small item (like a colorful coin) to hand back when you’re ready to receive your deposit. The place you return your glasses to isn’t always the same place as where you purchased your beer so keep an eye out.
Are beer gardens only open during the summer?
Most beer gardens open their doors sometime in May and close up shop by late September. However, some beer gardens have indoor restaurants that you can dine at throughout the year. A handful of outdoor beer gardens are open in the wintertime, but typically with more limited hours. For example, Milchhäusl in the Englischer Garten serves Glühwein (mulled wine) in the wintertime.
Etc.
Find a map highlighting the above spots here.
Where to next?
Interested in extending your trip? Find more posts below:
See more of Germany! Berlin is just a 4.5 hour direct train ride from Munich and has some pretty awesome beer gardens too! Learn about them here.
Take an easy weekend trip to Leipzig, a city that helped end the Cold War, and was the home of world famous composer Bach for more than thirty years. Find a 48 hour guide to the city here.
Rome isn’t as far from Munich as you may think! You can get to the Eternal City by train with a single transfer. Learn how to enjoy Rome’s delicious food scene on a budget here.