There is nothing better than drinking a large beer in one of Germany’s beautiful beer gardens; sitting at long wooden tables in the shade of century-old chestnut trees, and enjoying a fresh beer from the brewery with your plate of hearty food.
Tradition and History
The beer gardens date back to the early 19th century. They came to be in Bavaria as a practical extension of German breweries.
Back then, brewers stored their kegs of beer in cellars, where it slowly fermented. To keep the cellars cool and shady during the summer, the brewers covered the ground with loose gravel and planted chestnut trees. When the Bavarian King Ludwig granted brewers the right to sell their beer on the spot, the beer garden, as we know and love it, was born.
Food and drink
At the beginning of the beer gardens, there was a lot to drink but nothing to eat. Since the brewers were not allowed to sell food, many Germans brought their own pretzel and went out to the beer garden.
This BYO food custom is still reflected in many traditional beer gardens in Bavaria today; Although they all serve Bavarian specialties, many still have a self-service area where you are allowed to bring your own picnic.
Dining 411
Although many German breweries are large enough to hold thousands of people, empty tables are often hard to find. It’s common to share your table with people you don’t know, so find free seats and make new friends.
Along with local beer, served in 1-liter jugs, the brewery’s German specialties include:
Brotzeit – a plate with cold cuts, artisan cheese, sausage, pretzel, horseradish and cucumbers
Obatzter – a mild white cheese, mixed with onion and chives
Weisswurst – white sausage, topped with sweet mustard and a pretzel
Kartoffelsalat – potato salad
Hendl – half chicken
Munich’s best beer gardens
You can find breweries all over Germany, but the most traditional and charming are still found in Bavaria. Munich is home to nearly 200 beer gardens; check out the best beer gardens in Munich.
Beer fans, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to beer lovers in Germany.
