The 7 Most Beautiful Beer Gardens in Munich to Enjoy Bavarian Lebensfreude

Given its capacity, it should really be called imperial rather than royal. However, with its 8,000 seats—there are places in Bavaria with fewer residents—and nearly 240 years of history, the Hirschgarten can only be described as an absolute classic, serving Augustiner beer, King Ludwig wheat beer, and fresh grilled fish. In the world’s largest beer garden, you’re guaranteed to always find a spot under the chestnut trees, and the kids can run around and play here, too. Before or after your visit, be sure to stop by and see the deer that give the park its name.

The beer garden around the Chinese Tower in the English Garden is also a classic. Here, people gather around the large pagoda, where brass musicians regularly play. In July, it transforms into a dance floor early in the morning for the Kocherlball, and in winter, you can enjoy a Christmas market. Children spin around on the nostalgic carousel. In addition to all these highlights, you can of course simply enjoy a cold beer here after your stroll through the English Garden.

For many, the Hofbräukeller on Wiener Platz is the number one choice when it comes to Munich’s most beautiful beer gardens. Here, you can relax under the tall, shady trees and wind down your day. Right next to the beer garden is the Amalfi Bar, where you can order an Aperol Tower while lounging in deck chairs with your feet in the sand. It doesn’t get any more vacation-like than this!

The tavern in Bavariapark also features a spacious beer garden where you can settle in after a short stroll through the park. Thanks to its proximity to Theresienwiese, it’s also the perfect spot to recharge your batteries before or after Oktoberfest and the Spring Festival. Or you can visit the neighboring Transportation Center of the Deutsches Museum and combine your dining experience with a bit of education. At the tavern itself, your children can also get creative every Sunday during craft time.

The outdoor area of the Max-Emmanuel-Brauerei is one of the city’s smaller beer gardens, but it stands out for its location on the edge of the university district in Maxvorstadt. Here you can chat over beer, vegan currywurst, and Topenschmarrn and lose track of time. On May 1, the brewery hosts its big May Festival, where you can not only enjoy live music but also test your skills at beer mug lifting, beer-puck snapping, and the high-pressure water cannon.

The Taxisgarten is also one of the smaller Munich beer gardens, but certainly one of the most relaxed. Proof enough is that most of its visitors are neighbors from Nymphenburg itself. In addition to the Hofbräu Maß , the spare ribs and the delicacies from the Ochsenbraterei are highlights here—not to mention the many vegan dishes. Come for the peaceful atmosphere, stay for the delicious food. Meanwhile, the kids have fun on the playground.

The Waldwirtschaft represents a fusion that does full justice to the cultural melting pot that Munich has become. In a beer garden in the best Bavarian tradition , you can comfortably listen to live concerts in the atmosphere of a jazz club while enjoying delicious Japanese Wagyu ribs or burgers. And all of this in a beautiful setting surrounded by nature and right on the Isar.