If you are planning to travel to Munich and have never been there before, you will certainly have a visit to the beer garden at the top of your to-do list. Beer gardens are part of the Bavarian heritage and there are many really beautiful beer gardens in Munich. From beer gardens that are neatly hidden and not easy to reach, to beer gardens that are primarily visited by tourists, beer gardens that are trendy and cool, or simple beer gardens used by local residents. You can quickly lose the overview here. That’s why I have put together the biggest Munich beer gardens.
1. Augustiner Keller Beer Garden
The Augustiner Keller Biergarten, which is usually only called “Augustiner Biergarten” by locals, is probably one of the most famous and oldest beer gardens in Munich. It was first mentioned in 1812 and since then has existed in almost unchanged form in the same place. It is popular with young and old but also visited by a large number of tourists due to its central location close to the main train station and the city centre.
It is also only a 15-minute walk from the Oktoberfest festival grounds.
This strategically perfect location makes it always very crowded on nice days and especially during Oktoberfest.
How big is the beer garden?
The Augustiner Keller beer garden is one of the largest beer gardens in Munich. Here you can get lost if you want to get back from the bar to your table, where family or friends are already waiting for their beer, which you usually get yourself.
The beer garden has a total of over 5.000 seats. But these seats can get really full and you have to search for free seats or sit down with other people.
Is there a part with service?
Yes, this area with a la carte food and service is located near the main building.
What is the composition of the audience?
The visitors of the Augustiner Biergarten are a diverse mix of people. Among the numerous tourists from China, Italy, Spain, the USA, and Australia are local business people who come to drink a beer with colleagues after work. There are also local elderly residents who have always enjoyed coming here to meet and chat. Because of the large playground in the beer garden, it is also a magnet for families with children.
Is food available to buy?
Of course. All Bavarian beer garden classics are available. From cold cuts and cheese to roasted pork, pretzels and spareribs you will find everything for a great beer garden meal.
Is it allowed to bring your own food?
Yes. Augustiner Keller Beer Garden is a traditional Bavarian beer garden. So you are allowed to bring your own food you bought beforehand. Please make sure, you do this outside of the served area (which can be recognized by tables with tablecloth and cutlery).
2. Löwenbräukeller Beer Garden
The Löwenbräukeller beer garden is, similar to the Augustinerkeller beer garden or the Hofbräukeller beer garden, a typical brewery beer garden. You will find both a Bavarian restaurant and a typical Munich beer garden.
The Löwenbräukeller is also a historical beer garden, even if you do not notice it at first sight. Already since 1900 lovers of Bavarian cuisine and Bavarian beer have been coming here.
The beer garden and the brewery restaurant belong to the internationally renowned Löwenbräu brewery, which is located across the street.
The Löwenbräukeller-Biergarten is very popular with locals and especially business people, who come here on beautiful summer days for lunch or after work for a beer. Some tourists also come here, although they are more likely to flock to the historic building and settle there.
This beer garden is also perfectly located strategically, as it is only a short distance from the main train station and the city centre. In addition, there is an underground station of the U1 line and a tram station directly in front of the main entrance.
Throughout the year there are some special events at the Löwenbräukeller. Examples are NYE-Party, Carnival, Strong-Beer-Festival or an After-Oktoberfest-Club where the Löwenbräukeller changes to a Club after the Oktoberfest closes.
How big is the beer garden?
The beer garden is probably one of the smaller beer gardens, as it is only about 50 meters (165 ft.) long and about 20 meters (65 ft.) wide. If you subtract the served area, the traditional beer garden has a length of about 30 meters (100 ft.). Correspondingly few seats are available. I myself estimate the beer garden (without the served area) at about 500 seats.
Is there a part with service?
Yes, the serviced area is relatively large and you can enjoy Bavarian delicacies a la carte
What is the composition of the audience?
The Löwnebräukeller-Biergarten is usually visited by younger people, especially after work, to ring in the end of the day with friends and colleagues and have a beer and a bite to eat together. At lunchtime, it is mainly business people who have their lunch here. Every now and then you also see tourists, as long as they are not distracted by the impressive building of the Löwenbräukeller and its Bräustüberl (traditional restaurant) 😉
You will find less families as the beer garden is located right next to a main street and there is no playground at the beer garden.
Is food available to buy?
Of course. All Bavarian beer garden classics are available. From cold cuts and cheese to roasted pork, pretzels and spareribs you will find everything for a great beer garden meal
Is it allowed to bring your own food?
Yes. Löwenbräukeller Beer Garden is a traditional Bavarian beer garden. So you are allowed to bring your own food you bought beforehand. Please make sure, you do this outside of the served area (which can be recognized by tables with tablecloth and cutlery).
3. Königlicher Hirschagrten
Nestled in Munich’s Neuhausen-Nymphenburg district, the Königlicher Hirschgarten—often simply called “Hirschgarten” is a treasure steeped in Bavarian tradition and local charm. The Hirschgarten proudly holds the title of the world’s largest beer garden—offering seating for up to 7.000 guests under a canopy of majestic chestnut trees.
The Hirschgarten, which translates to “Deer Garden” isn’t just a tourist spot, it’s a living tradition. If you like to have a beer, you still have to grab and wash your steins at wash stations. As this beer garden is owned by the Augustiner Brewery, you can enjoy beers served directly from wooden barrels. Surrounding the beer garden is a spacious park—nearly 40 hectares with old trees, playgrounds, meadows, and a two-hectare deer enclosure where visitors can watch deer roam quietly. This is especially fun for children. And this feature gives the beer garden its name. Until the 1960s deer wandered around freely through the beer garden and of course were fed by the guests. As this is not ideal neither for the deer nor the guests, they were enclosed. Today, you can buy specific food for the animals at vending machines and feed them by hand. Big fun for the small ones.
How big is the beer garden?
The beer garden is the biggest beer garden in the world, offering over 8.000 seats.
Is there a part with service?
Yes, the serviced area can be found near around the main building.
What is the composition of the audience?
The Hirschgarten is usually visited by families and locals. As it is not directly in the inner city, only a few tourists find their way here.Â
Because of the deer and playgrounds, it is frequented by families with smaller children.
Is food available to buy?
Of course. All Bavarian beer garden classics are available. From cold cuts and cheese to roasted pork, pretzels and spareribs you will find everything for a great beer garden meal
Is it allowed to bring your own food?
Yes. Hirschgarten Beer Garden is a traditional Bavarian beer garden. So you are allowed to bring your own food you bought beforehand. Please make sure, you do this outside of the served area (which can be recognized by tables with tablecloth and cutlery).
