Best Beer Gardens in Munich
Finally it’s beer garden time, hell yeah. Check out the best beer gardens in Munich here in our article Best Beer Gardens in Munich.
Don’t forget to bring your own pick nick with you as the Bavarian beer garden law explicitly allows this. Prost!
Augustiner-Keller
Beer: Augustiner Bräu
Capacity: 5.000
Opening hours: 11 – 24h
How to get there: S1/S2/S3/S4//S6/S7 and S8 stop Hauptbahnhof or Hackerbrücke, Tram 16/17 stop Hopfenstraße or Hackerbrücke
The Augustiner-Keller as we know it today was created in 1896 and is one of the oldest beer gardens in Munich.
There are not a lot such places where you feel so much being in Munich like in the Augustine-Keller – the beer garden belonging directly to the brewery Augustiner Bräu.
Opened at the beginning of the 19th century, you are being served best Augustiner Edelstoff beer from the huge 200 liter barrels called „Hirschen“.
The name originates from the time when Elector Karl Theodor was serving beer after deer hunt in the Hirschgarten – deer is called „Hirsch“ in German. Until 1891 the barrels where lifted up from the cellar for being served to the thirsty people by a ox.
Back in the years and still today people bring their own tables into the garden and only the owner and people who are being permitted from the owner himself are allowed to sit at it.
In a nutshell: Our favorite beer garden amongst the „big ones“ (Augustiner-Keller, Hirschgarten, Chinesischer Turm and Nockherberg).
There is no better place in Bavaria if you want to experience what „visiting a beer garden“ really means.
It’s like in the picture book: People are enjoying their good Bavarian beer and food under the shadow of huge chestnut trees (over 100 in number), the beer is tapped directly from huge wooden barrels and many people bring their own food with them as the Bavarian beer garden law explicitly allows this.
Before we say more just go and have a beer or two in the Augustiner-Keller.
Olympiaalm
Beer: Ayinger
Capacity: 200
Opening hours: 12 – 24h
How to get there: Best by bike, Tram 20/21 stop Leonrodplatz, Tram 12 stop Infanteriestraße, Tram 27 stop Ackermannstraße, Bus 154 stop Ackermannbogen or U3 stop Petuelring – no matter which way of transport you take a walk of 10 to 20min is unavoidable.
The Olympiaalm originally was a kiosk for the workers on the construction site of the Olympic areal which later then was turned into what it is today – one of Munich’s (if not the) nicest and cosiest beer gardens and located at 564m and therefore Munich’s highest beer garden as well.
The cook looks angry all the time and might make a grumpy or even impolite impression to some of you but don’t forget what we already told you about the original Munich inhabitant 😉
You will laugh at the moment when he is shouting out the orders which can be picked up at his counter.
Insider tip: Have an eye on the concerts taking place every summer in the nearby Olympic stadion, you can hear the music very good from the Olympic mountain.
In a nutshell: Our favorite beer garden of the small-sized beer gardens in Munich.
Though you only have self-service and they don’t serve Munich beer but from the brewery Ayinger this garten is just wonderful.
A wide rang of unhealthy typical beer garden food is offered – it’s tasty and has a good price as well and thus one amongst the few beer gardens where eating is not a waste of money.
Due to its location the Olympiaalm is the perfect spot for dying away a nice summer day in the park after playing Frisbee or Basketball and hanging out with good friends.
Mini-Hofbräuhaus
Beer: Hofbräu
Capacity: 100
Opening hours: 9 – 22h
How to get there: Best by bike, for the poor ones among you who don’t have a bike a 20 min walk is inevitable, Bus 54 stop Herzogpark, from there by foot into the Northern part of the Englischer Garten
Insider tip: The beer garden itself is the insider tip here as not many people find their way to the sweet and tiny garden.
It’s very dog friendly so you see dozens of them running under the tables and benches so don’t be afraid of dogs!
The staff is very friendly and the food very good and cheap.
You always find a place here even in summer as it’s very difficult to reach without bike and it’s still not known to many people so we absolutely recommend visiting the Mini-HB when cruising around in Munich by bike or having a walk in the Englischer Garten.
Augustiner Schützengarten
Beer: Augustiner
Capacity: 2.500
Opening hours: ?
How to get there: Bus 134 stop Flößergasse, Bus 53 stop Schneemannstraße, S7/S20/S27 stop Mittersendling
Since 1893 the „Haupt“ as the building is called since then houses the headquarters of the „Königlich privilegierte Hauptschützengesellschaft München“ (shooting society privileged by the crown).
The shooting ranges are still in use today and international shooting competitions are held here regularly.
This lovely beer garden is our favorite of the medium-sized beer gardens (Münchner Haupt, Aumeister, Seehaus, Hirschau,…).
The Schützengarten is supposed to serve the cheapest beer which is directly tapped from a wooden barrel in entire Munich (in fact only one type of beer still comes out of a barrel which is Augustiner Edelstoff).
In a nutshell: The Schützengarten is not really good to reach by public transport and therefore you would always find a place to sit under the huge chestnut trees even on a hot summer day.
If you should be hungry you are absolutely right here! You get one of the best food if not the best food in any of the beer gardens in Munich. Try the „Obazda“ or the spare ribs, they are just delicious.
www.augustiner-schuetzengarten.de
Königlicher Hirschgarten
Beer: Augustiner, Tegernseer, König Ludwig
Capacity: 8.000 (largest beer garden in Munich and the world)
Opening hours: 11.30 – 24h (max. 1h)
How to get there: Best by bike, Bus 51/151 stop Romanplatz or Hirschgartenallee, S1/S2/S3/S4/S/S6 and S8 stop Laim or Hirschgarten, Tram 12/16 and 17 stop Romanplatz, no matter which public transport, a 10-15min walk lies before you
The Hirschgarten goes back until 1720 with the foundation of a pheasant house.
In 1780 Elector Karl Theodor let fence an areal of ca. 45 hectares and put 100 fallow and red deer into it. It served as hunting grounds for the aristocracy.
Until today you can find deer in a compound right next to the actual beer garden which is said to be the largest one in the world with a capacity for up to 8.000 thirsty throats.
100 years ago the deer was still walking around the tables! During football World Cup and European championship the Hirschgarten is one of the best locations for public viewing.
In a nutshell: One of THE beer gardens in Munich and a perfect location for public viewing.
You should at least have visited the Hirschgarten once, especially when the German national team is playing! Be aware to get there at least 1,5 hours (better 2 hours) before the game starts as it’s always filled to capacity very soon and first come first serve.
If you wonder how it works with getting your beer: you have to pick your beer glass out of the wooden cupboards or from the pallets and give it to the barkeeper.
Biergarten Chinesischer Turm
Beer: Hofbräu
Capacity: 7000
Opening hours: 10 – 23h
How to get there: Bus 54/154 stop Chinesischer Turm or U3/U6 stop Giselastraße – from there 10min walk
The Chinesischer Turm was built between 1789 and 1790 by Johann Baptist Lechner and is the emblem of the Englischer Garten.
Around the tower you find the 2nd biggest beer garden of Munich with a capacity for up to 7,000 visitors.
Since 1989 on every 3rd weekend of July the “Kocherball” takes place again. It originates from around 1800 when up to 5.000 Munich servants, cooks and errand boys met every Sunday morning from 5 to 8h in the summer months before work for dancing.
Insider tip: Be sure to be there between 2 and 3h (yes, you read correctly, in the morning!) at the latest to ensure a space for your blanket and bring something to drink and eat with you – wearing a Dirndl or Lederhosen is absolutely a plus (and girls please, wear a Dirndl and not a Lederhose!).
In a nutshell: Mainly the beer garden for tourists. The food is not really the best and there are nicer beer gardens in Munich than the Biergarten Chinesischer Turm but due to its perfect location including the impressive tower absolutely worth a visit once a season.
On the first floor of the Chinesischer Turm a Bavarian brass band plays typical Bavarian brass band music (Wed from 15h, Fr & Sa from 12h).
Seehaus
Beer: Paulaner
Capacity: 2.500
Opening hours: 10h – ?
How to get there: Best by bike, U3 stop Münchner Freiheit, from there a 10min walk
Seehaus means house by the lake and the name says it – the Seehaus is a house by the Kleinhesseloher See.
The first Seehaus was built at the end of the 18th century. Originally there were only small wooden houses but beer or something to eat was not sold at that time.
The first mention in official documents are rental payments made by a park guard for serving beer which date from 1811.
In 1882 famous architect Gabriel Seidl built a boat house with a connected restauration enterprise which has replaced by a new building in 1935.
This building though had to be pulled down because of disrepair in 1970.
The Seehaus as we know it today was built in 1985 – the years in between only provisional wooden houses served as a replacement.
In a nutshell: I would call it the most snobbish of all beer gardens in Munich which means you meet a decent number of people there only defining themselves by their money.
To be honest the only reason why we sometimes visit the Seehaus is the fact that there isn’t any other beer garden in Munich where you can enjoy the sun longer than here – in fact it’s often the first one and the last one of the season which we go to.
End of February when the sun again stands high enough is a good time for starting the beloved beer garden season.
Biergarten am Viktualienmarkt
Beer of all Munich’s six traditional breweries (Augustiner, Hacker Pschorr, Paulaner, Hofbräu, Spaten and Löwenbräu) is served alternately
Capacity: 800
Opening hours: 9 – 22h, when the weather is nice also open on Sunday
How to get there: U3/U6 or all SBahns, stop Marienplatz, bus 52 stop Viktualienmarkt
The beer garden was founded in 1970. It’s located on the Viktualienmarkt and due to its central location always very well visited.
The specialty is that beer of all Munich’s six traditional breweries (Augustiner, Hacker Pschorr, Paulaner, Hofbräu, Spaten and Löwenbräu) is served here alternately in a six-weeks rhythm (in fact until 10.000 hecto liters are used up, then it’s the next brewery’s turn).
In a nutshell: Not our first choice but due to its central location we visit this beer garden more than once per year.
In neighborhood to a lot of tourist attractions like the Alter Peter or the Viktualienmarkt you always find a lot of tourists here.
www.biergarten-viktualienmarkt.com
Hofbräukeller
Beer: Hofbräu
Capacity: 2.100
Opening hours: 10 – 24h
How to get there: Tram 16 stop Wiener Platz
As you might remember from our article about the Hofbräuhaus, the brewery was re-located from the place Platzl to this location after the premises at the Platzl just were too small.
The brewery remained in the Wiener Straße until the big fire 1986. The Hofbräukeller has a very „brown“ history: In 1919, Adolf Hitler delivered his first political speech here presenting the book „Mein Kampf“ and in the following years the Hofbräukeller was the scene of many Nazi meetings.
Nevertheless the dark history of this venue, nowadays you have a very nice beer garden in between the building and the Maximiliansanlagen – the park on the shores of the Isar.
In a nutshell: Very nice, medium-sized beer garden which is attended by a lot of younger people as in summertime the cocktail bar Sausalitos which is located inside the garden which deck chairs to chill in.
Public viewing during football championships is very popular here.
Hirschau
Beer: Löwenbräu, Franziskaner
Capacity: 1.700
Opening hours: 11.30 – 23h
How to get there: Bus 59 stop Osterwaldstraße or Herzogpark, from there a 15min walk
The Hirschau is one of the three beer gardens in Munich which are located in the wild, Northern part of the Englischer Garten.
Its history goes back to 1839 when a first building was constructed. Since 1840 under the name „Zum Hasenstall“ which means rabbit hutch the workers of the nearby Maffei factory used to have their lunch here.
It did not take long until the tavern developed in to a popular excursion destination. The ensemble of the Hirschau as we know it today had two more construction phases – one in 1874 when two stories were added giving the roof its present shape and one in 1902 when the ground-level part was added.
In a nutshell: What we love regarding this this beer garden is the fact that you don’t see a lot of tourists here as it’s badly reachable by public transport – if you don’t have a bike I wouldn’t even go there.
If all other beer gardens are just crowded, in the Hirschau you might find a free place (very important for public viewing). It’s the perfect spot to drop by for a beer after a day in the Englischer Garten.