The best breweries in Munich. Homeland of the Oktoberfest, in Munich beer is a real cult. Here you can find some of the oldest and most famous breweries in the world, such as Hofbräu, Löwenbräu and Paulaner. Here is our detailed guide to the best beer gardens in Munich where to drink authentic Bavarian beer!
The best breweries in Munich: where to drink beer in Munich
When it comes to beer , the Bavarians are masters. Bavarian beer has been appreciated for centuries for its excellence and uniqueness: it has been produced here since the Middle Ages and certified since the sixteenth century, respecting the rules of the "Reinheitsgebot" , which certifies its genuineness and the ingredients used (barley, hops and water ). Today, in Munich there are still six historic breweries (in German "Brauereien" ) which produce a total of about 6 million hectoliters of beer a year, as well as being the only ones allowed to serve beer at the Oktoberfest : Augustiner Bräu , Hofbräu, Hacker-Pschorr, Lowenbrau, Paulaner and Spaten .
Most of Munich's breweries produce their own beer and it is possible, in addition to drinking, to taste Bavarian specialties , all immersed in a cheerful atmosphere.
Bavarian beer is served in Mass (the 1 liter mug), and tradition has it that the foam fills at least a third of the glass in height. In some cases the beer is served in the pint glass, called a "Weissbier" , usually in the case of wheat beer .
In Munich and in Bavaria there is the summer custom of consuming beer in the so-called "Biergärten" , literally "beer gardens". Usually these are long tables placed under the shade of centenary trees, with an adjoining inn, "Gasthof" , where you can order beer. The Bavarians accompany the beer with various typical dishes (usually brought from home), such as Obatzer (camembert-like cheese, with butter, onion, paprika and chives) or Schweinshaxen , a pork knuckle with grated horseradish.
The Biergarten usually has a self-service area and an area with tables assigned to customers who wish to bring their own picnic and to regular customers. The Bavarians also usually have a personal mug, usually made of terracotta, to be kept in a special cabinet, so that it can be reused whenever needed. In addition to the Munich Beer Gardens , there are many around the city, easily reachable by bike thanks to the excellent network of cycle paths (provided you're not too drunk to pedal!).
The Wirtsgarten , on the other hand, unlike the Biergartens , is an open-air restaurant, which however does not have self-service areas and tables assigned to customers. During the winter, the Biergartens are replaced by the "Bierhaus" , the "beer houses", where you can drink inside.
With regard to Munich's breweries, it is good to know a few things: tipping is not compulsory (usually it is given if you are satisfied with the service and corresponds to about 10% of the bill) and bread is not included in the cover charge (the price varies according to based on the quantity consumed).
The history of Munich's breweries and breweries has ancient origins. Bavarian beer was already produced in the Middle Ages in about 300 monasteries: the monks consumed beer during the Lent period due to the antibacterial properties contained in hops, and this custom spread throughout the territory. name Munich derives from the Benedictine monks, who, around the eighteenth century, founded the first settlement from which the current city developed.
The first cellars ( Bierkeller ), dating back to the 17th century, were rooms where hops were stored and fermented. To cool the barrels, the cellars were placed in the shade of the chestnut trees, which protected them from the heat. The law forbade fermentation in the summer months and the Bavarians were therefore authorized to produce beer only in winter and to keep it cool in cellars along the Isar river or in the shade of chestnut trees.
Munich beer gardens and beer gardens
Hofbräuhaus 
(Am Platzl 9, Munich) Open daily from 9.00 to 23.30.
The Hofbräuhaus is probably the best known and one of the oldest beer In the second half of the 16th century, Duke Wilhelm V , of the Wittelsbach family, ordered the beer production to be reorganized and given a new life: at the time, the beer produced in Munich was too little, of poor quality and the imported one too expensive . Wittelsbach decided to build a brewery inside the courtyard and to entrust its direction and management to Heimeran Pongraz , a master brewer from the Geisenfeld convent. On September 27, 1589, the Hofbräuhaus , whose beer was once brewed exclusively for the court of the Kingdom of Bavaria.
From 1610, beer was no longer produced for the exclusive use of the court, but could be sold in other breweries and purchased by all citizens.
Today Hofbräuhaus beer is sold all over the world, and is recognizable by the HB logo on a blue background and surrounded by a crown. Hofbräuhaus brewery , dating from 1897, is located at 9 Platzl . What strikes the visitor above all is the architecture of its building, with the characteristic corner bay window and its splendid stained glass windows. On the ground floor is the Schwemme , the most frequented hall of the Hofbräuhaus , where it is possible to find the typical atmosphere of Bavarian beer halls : frescoed vaults, long wooden tables, an orchestra playing Bavarian music, and waitresses dressed in traditional clothes ( "Dirndl"), but, above all, lots of beer and an excellent gastronomic offer!
Here the atmosphere is always cheerful and lively: on the first floor, however, there are some more peaceful and elegant halls, and on the second floor there is a large room dedicated to parties, which offers buffet dinners with fixed prices and shows musical. During the hot summer days, it is also possible to eat in the outdoor beer garden
Some tables are reserved for regular customers ( Stammgäste ), who have their own ceramic mug, kept in a safety deposit box on the ground floor. The majority of these regulars are Bavarian but there are also some foreigners.
the Hofbräuhaus was for a long time one of the main stages of German political propaganda: the beer hall is known for having been the site of the first Nazi party rally (February 20, 1920), while in 1921, Adolf Hitler gave a speech in the so-called " Schlacht im Hofbräuhaus” .
Augustiner
(Neuhauser Straße 27, Munich) The historic Augustiner brewery is the oldest brewery in Munich , founded by the Augustinian friars in 1328 near the cathedral of Munich. After its privatisation, Augustiner-Bräu Neuhauser Straße in 1817 , where the parent company is still located today. The brewery was taken over by the Wagner family in 1829 and was then moved to the cellars in Landsberger Straße (“Kellerareal”) . Heavily bombed during the Second World War, the Augustiner brewery has now returned to its former glory and has been declared a historical monument.
The venue is divided into two parts: the brewery itself is located on the left, while the restaurant is on the right. At the back, however, is the classic beer garden .
Augustiner Bräustuben
(Landsberger Str. 19, Munich) Open daily from 10.00 to 0.00.
The excellent Augustiner beer , in addition to the parent company, is also served at the Augustiner Bräustuben , adjacent to the brewery and located in Landsberger Straße 19 , with cheaper prices, or also at the Augustiner Klosterwirt ( Augustinerstraße 1 ). The types of draft beer are: Augustiner Helles, Augustiner Dunkles, Augustiner Edelstoff .
Chinesischer Turm
(Englischer Garten, Munich) Open daily from 11.00 to 23.30.
Chinesischer Turm is a very popular beer garden with around 7,000 seats, located inside the Chinese tower of the same name from 1789. The Chinesischer Turm brewery is located inside the magnificent Englischer Garten , one of the largest city parks in Europe, about 15 minutes walk from Marienplatz . During the summer it is the favorite place for many young university students who meet here to drink the excellent Bavarian beer. At the self-service kiosk you can taste the main dishes of traditional Bavarian cuisine and listen to live music.
Biergarten am Viktualienmarkt
(Viktualienmarkt 9, Munich) Open daily from 9.00 to 22.00.
The Viktualienmarkt is a beer garden located in the center of Munich , just two minutes from Marienplatz . Here the tables with tablecloths are served by waiters, those without tablecloths are self-service: excellent for buying food at the surrounding stalls and taking it with you to one of the tables in the shade of the trees. At Viktualienmarkt , beer is served, on a rotating basis, from all six of Munich's historic breweries . The atmosphere you breathe at the Viktualienmarkt is among the most pleasant among those of Munich's biergartens and is the ideal place to spend a few hours like a genuine Bavarian.
Weisses Bräuhaus
(Tal 7, Munich) Open daily from 8.00 to 00.30.
The Weisses Brauhaus has been an institution in Munich's gastronomic tradition since the 19th century. Since the foundation of the city of Munich , in 1158, the presence of a tavern in this street has been noted, which from 1540 became the current Weisses Bräuhaus . The building is decorated in a typical German style, functional and without frills, and the atmosphere is that of an old tavern, the same one breathed 100 years ago. Inside there are the kitchen and several rooms, each decorated differently.
The specialty of the Weisses Brauhaus is wheat beer ( Weissbier ): each beer has a poetic and complex name, with a description that indicates which dishes it goes best with. The types of draft beer are: Karmeliten Klosterbrauerei Original Dornau Pils, Schneider Weisse, Karmeliten Klosterbrauerei Urtyp Helles, Karmeliten Klosterbrauerei Brau Girgl . The menu offered ranges from traditional Munich dishes (for example sweet and sour veal lung, pork liver with roasted onions, or pork kidneys with fried potatoes) to salads and vegetarian dishes. We suggest you book if you are more than two people.
Bayerischer Donisl
(Weinstraße 1, Munich) Located next to the Munich City Hall, the Bayerischer Donisl (whose name derives from Dionysius Haertl , who ran the place in the eighteenth century) is one of the historic breweries of Munich . The interior furnishings are in dark wood, following the Bavarian tradition. The types of draft beer that are served are: Hacker Bräu Edelhell, Paulaner Salvator, Hacker-Pschorr Braumeister Pils .
Currently, Bayerischer Donisl is closed for renewal until December 2015.
Hirschgarten
(Hirschgarten, Munich) The Hirschgarten is the largest beer garden in Munich : with about 8,000 seats, the brewery is located inside the Hirschgarten , the deer garden, an ancient hunting lodge commissioned by Prince Karl Theodor in 1780. In fact, in addition to eating and drinking excellent beer, it is possible to closely observe the deer that live in this park.
Paulaner
(Kapuzinerplatz 5, Munich) Open daily.
Another top beer hall in Munich is the Paulaner Bräuhaus . Founded in the 17th century by a community of monks, the Paulaner brewery has become famous throughout the world for the authenticity of its beers, which is still intact today. In 1634, some monks of the order of San Francesco da Paola , guests in the monastery of Neudeck , began the production of a dark and strong beer, which was to serve for their sustenance during the Lenten period. The beer created was so excellent that in 1780 the Court of Bavaria allowed the monks to sell the beer: the Paulaner Brauerei , destined to become the largest brewery in Munich .
The Paulaner Brauerei changed its name three times: the Franciscan monks gave the name of Salvator to their beer but, when Napoleon's army invaded Bavaria, the brewery was sold to a private individual, who called it Paulaner-Salvator- Thomasbrau . Later, the name was shortened to Paulaner Brauerei . What has never changed, on the other hand, is the beer production process, produced for centuries according to the rules dictated by the edict on the purity of beer ( Reinheitsgebot ), promulgated in 1516.
The house specialty, the Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier is characterized by its lightness and its thirst-quenching effect. It is an amber and straw yellow weizen This beer is served in a special tall glass called Weizenebeker at a temperature of 8/9 °C. Today, beer is used to flavor some of the dishes on the Bavarian menu, such as goulash in beer sauce or even wheat beer sorbet. But the beer can also be combined with grilled fish and smoked pork chops.
Inside the brewery there is also a restaurant, ideal for sipping a cold beer and enjoying the typical dishes of the Bavarian tradition not far from the Oktoberfest .
Der Pschorr
(Viktualienmarkt 15, Munich) Open daily from 10.00 to 0.00.
Der Pschorr , located near the Viktualienmarkt , offers Hacker-Pschorr-Edelhell beer , which is poured directly from wooden barrels into steins.
The place stands out not only for the excellent beer , but also for the quality of its cuisine . At Der Pschorr , local ingredients are used: fruit from Bavarian orchards, cheeses from local cooperatives, meats and sausages from Munich . Among the traditional dishes to try, we recommend the local beef ( Murnau Werdenfelser ), the “Pressack” , a pork sausage, and the “Obatzda” , a Bavarian cheese served with bread, onions and chives.
Löwenbräu
(Nymphenburger Straße 2, Munich) Löwenbräu (literally "lion's beer") is one of the six historic breweries in Munich that produce true traditional Bavarian beer : even Löwenbräu complies with the regulations imposed by the Reinheitsgebot . Inside there is a huge hall called "Festsaal" which can accommodate more than two thousand people.
Its large beer garden , the Löwenbräukeller , is adjacent to the mother brewery and occupies the site of a brewery destroyed in the Second World War. The beer garden, located on a terrace in the shade of the trees, is an unmissable meeting place for many Bavarians. The Löwenbräukeller has about 1000 outdoor seats and there is also a big screen to watch all major sporting events. The price of a 1 liter mug of beer is around 7.80 euros.
The history of Löwenbräu beer dates back to 1383, the year in which the first beer was served at the Zum Löwen ("At the lion") inn. Löwenbräu beer served every year at the Oktoberfest since 1810, although in reality it is a special beer called Oktoberfestbier or Wiesenbier (from the name of the Munich park where the beer festival is held), amber and fresh, exclusively brewed for the event.
Löwenbräu beer is also sold in the United States: imported under license by the Miller Brewing Company until 2002, Löwenbräu began exporting its beer directly (calling it Löwenbräu Original to distinguish it from Miller), as Miller's Löwenbräu had a different from the original one. This allowed Löwenbräu to greatly improve the quality of its beer on the American market.
Augustiner Keller
(Arnulfstraße 52, Munich) Open daily from 10.00 to 1.00.
The Augustiner Keller is the third largest beer garden in Munich , and is located within walking distance of the train station. Open since 1812, it has 5,000 seats in the shade of large and magnificent trees: during the summer months, it is impossible not to stop here and drink a nice freshly tapped beer. Here too it is possible to eat typical Bavarian specialities, or you can bring your own food and eat it in the special self-service area.
The particularity of the Augustinerkeller derives from the fact that the beer is served directly from the taps of the oak barrels. A mug of beer costs 7.50 euros. The beer served in the Augustinerkeller is produced in the Augustiner Bräu München , founded by the Augustinian monks in 1328. The beer variants differ according to the type of fermentation: Edelstoff (lager and sweet beer), Augustiner Helles, Wies'n Edel ( beer brewed exclusively for Oktoberfest ), Dunkles (dark malt beer), Pils , Weissbier , Maximator (strong beer that is served during Starkbierfest ).
The Augustinerkeller also deserves for its gastronomic offer. The place is not just a brewery : here you can dine at the cozy and lively restaurant/brewery with its vaulted ceilings, brick walls and furnished with wooden benches and old chandeliers. The restaurant offers various traditional Bavarian dishes as well as international and vegetarian dishes.
Hofbräukeller
(Innere Wiener Straße 19, Munich) Open daily from 10.00 to 0.00.
Not to be confused with the Hofbräuhaus, the Hofbräukeller is located on the Innere Wiener Strasse , along the bank of the River Isar , just minutes from Maximilianeum (the Bavarian parliament). The brewery, present since 1892, is very large and has a large beer garden. Hofbräukeller is much loved and frequented by young Bavarians for the excellent beer produced, the intriguing atmosphere, but above all for the good prices.
Hacker-Pschorr Bräuhaus
(Theresienhöhe 7, Munich) Open daily from 10.00 to 1.00.
Hacker-Pschorr Bräuhaus is situated on Theresienhöhe and has a nice beer garden overlooking the Theresienwiese , the site of the Oktoberfest . In addition to the beer, try ordering the cold cuts and cheese platter ( "Brotzeit-teller" ).
Park Café
(Sophienstraße 7, Munich) Open daily from 11.00 to 1.00.
The Park Café is a quiet brewery dating back to 1935 and located in the botanical garden of Munich , a few steps from the train station. The place has an enchanting view of the botanical gardens and becomes more fascinating when there is a performance of some live jazz band.
Paulaner Keller (Paulaner am Nockherberg)
(Hochstraße 77, Munich) Open daily from 11.00 to 1.00.
Paulaner Keller ( Paulaner am Nockherberg ) was voted the best beer hall in Munich . Paulaner Keller beer garden is located next to the brewery on the other side of the street. The specialty is Nockherberger beer , which is dark in color and unfiltered.
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
(Marsstraße 46-48, Munich) Spaten-Bräu is another of six Munich breweries that produce beer for the Oktoberfest Reinheitsgebot purity law . Founded in 1397, Spaten (whose name means "spade" ) is today part of the Spaten-Löwenbräu-Gruppe group , which belongs to the Belgian multinational InBev . Spaten is considered by many Germans as a beer to cleanse the palate between meals.
The Spaten brewery produces the following types of beers: Ludwig Thomas Dunkel (classic dark Bavarian beer), Spaten Premium Lager , Spaten Pilsener , Spaten Optimator (strong beer with 7.2% alcohol) and Spaten Oktoberfest Beer (the beer of Oktoberfest, amber in colour). Franziskaner wheat beers .
Hackerhaus
(Sendlinger Strasse 14, Innenstadt, Munich) Open daily from 11.00 to 0.00.
Hacker-Pschorr also Oktoberfest brewers (along with Spaten, Paulaner, Augustiner, Hofbräu and Löwenbräu).
Hacker beer was founded in Munich in 1417. At the end of the 18th century, Joseph Pschorr bought the Hacker brewery and founded a brewery bearing his name. Later, his two sons each inherited one of the two breweries. In 1972, Hacker and Pschorr merged to form Hacker-Pschorr , but the beers continued to be sold separately until 1975. However, the brewing method remained unchanged for over 580 years. The most popular beer is Hacker-Pschorr Weisse , a 100% natural beer treated with pure spring water.
Weihenstephan
(Alte Akademie 2, Freising, Munich) Open daily from 9.00 to 23.00
Weihenstephan is known to be the oldest still existing brewery in the world . In the year 725, a Benedictine monastery was founded on the Weihenstephan . Brewing was started here and, in 1040, the Klosterbrauerei Weihenstephan . In 1803, after having been destroyed over the centuries by the Swedes, French and Austrians, and after being set on fire four times, the monastery was closed and passed into the hands of the State of Bavaria. However, the brewery was under the control of the Royal Staatsgut Schleißheim and was able to continue producing its beer. In 1852 the Bavarian brewing school moved from Schleißheim to Weihenstephan , where the art is still taught today.
Wirtshaus Ayingers am Platzl
(Am Platzl 1A, Munich) Open daily from 11.00 to 1.00.
Draft beers produced: Ayinger Helles, Ayinger Dunkles, Ayinger Pils, Ayinger Kellerbier, Ayinger Dunkles Hefeweizen, Ayinger Helles Hefeweizen, Ayinger Winterbock .
Nurnberger Bratwurst glokl
(Frauenplatz 9, Munich) Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 1.00, Sunday from 10.00 to 23.00.
This pretty beer garden offers some good draft beers, including Augustiner Helles , König Ludwig Dunkel and Tucher Hefeweißbier .
