Munich Beer Gardens: The Best Beer Gardens and Rules for Guests

By Daniel Schulz, residir GmbH · Last updated: 13 October 2026

The best Munich beer gardens are in the English Garden, in the west of the city and around the Isar: the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower), Seehaus, Hirschgarten, Augustiner-Keller and Hofbräukeller are among the best known. In a traditional beer garden you fetch your drinks yourself from the bar and are allowed to bring your own Brotzeit (picnic snack), as long as you sit at a table without a tablecloth. They open whenever the weather plays along, usually from spring into October.

We run a boarding house with 54 apartments at Ländstraße 6 in Lehel, opening in autumn 2027. From the building you can reach almost a dozen beer gardens on foot, by bike or in just a few S-Bahn stops. Here we introduce the beer gardens in Munich that we would recommend to our guests, with honest notes on crowds, routes and rules. All information is as of October 2026.

In this article:

• Munich beer gardens at a glance
• Beer gardens in the city centre
• Beer gardens in the English Garden
• Hirschgarten, Augustiner-Keller and Taxisgarten
• Beer gardens by the water and on the Isar
• Insider tips and small beer gardens
• Beer garden rules for guests
• With children and with a dog
• Season, opening times and rain
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions

Munich beer gardens at a glance: the best known from Lehel

The table shows the beer gardens across Munich covered in this guide, with district, size and route from Ländstraße. Seat numbers are based on information from Munich Tourism, muenchen.de and city magazines and have been rounded. Journey times are rough guides excluding waiting time.

Beer garden	District	Seats (approx.)	Route from Lehel	Special feature
Hofbräuhaus, courtyard	Altstadt	400	7 min on foot	Chestnut trees in the heart of the old town
Viktualienmarkt	Altstadt	n/a	9 min on foot	Beer rotates between the breweries
Muffatwerk	Haidhausen	350	10 min on foot	Small, on the Isar, organic food
Hofbräukeller	Haidhausen	1,400	20 min on foot	Playground, lawn next door
Paulaner am Nockherberg	Au	2,000	25 min on foot	Table service and self-service areas
Chinesischer Turm	English Garden	7,000	30 min on foot	Brass band, children’s carousel
Seehaus	English Garden	2,500	45 min on foot	Right on the Kleinhesseloher See lake
Hirschau	English Garden North	1,800	20 min by bike	Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), playground
Aumeister	English Garden North	3,000	40 min by U-Bahn and on foot	At the northern end of the park
Augustiner-Keller	Maxvorstadt	5,000	20 min by S-Bahn and on foot	Oldest beer garden in the city
Königlicher Hirschgarten	Neuhausen-Nymphenburg	8,000	25 min by S-Bahn and on foot	Largest beer garden, deer enclosure
Taxisgarten	Neuhausen-Gern	1,000	30 min by S-Bahn and U-Bahn	Two playgrounds

If you are looking for a lovely beer garden in Munich for just one evening, the first three rows will do. For a whole afternoon, the large gardens in the English Garden and in the west are a better bet.

Munich beer gardens in the city centre: short walks from Lehel

Beer gardens are rare in the old town, as there is hardly any room for chestnut trees and long benches. Even so, there are a few you can reach on foot from Lehel in just a few minutes. If you are looking for central accommodation in Munich, the advantage here is that you do not have to keep an eye on the last train after the beer garden.

The courtyard beer garden at Platzl

Many visitors do not know that the Hofbräuhaus in Munich on Platzl has a beer garden. It is in the inner courtyard behind an archway, under old chestnut trees, and according to Munich Tourism seats around 400 guests. It is a seven-minute walk from us. Inside it is loud and packed; the courtyard is usually a little calmer.

Also right in the centre is the beer garden under the maypole at the Viktualienmarkt in Munich, nine minutes from Ländstraße. There, the big Munich breweries take turns every few weeks, and you pick up your Brotzeit from the market stalls. More about the stalls and opening times can be found in our dedicated article on the market.

Muffatwerk: a small beer garden right on the Isar

Across the Ludwigsbrücke it is around ten minutes to the Muffatwerk on Zellstraße. The beer garden behind the old power station has only about 350 self-service seats and is considered one of the city’s first certified organic beer gardens. It is the food that is organic here; the beer comes from Hofbräu. According to a city magazine, it only opens in fine weather, and on weekdays not until late afternoon.

Hofbräukeller on Wiener Platz in Haidhausen

If you are looking for a beer garden in east Munich, you will soon end up at the Hofbräukeller. It is on Wiener Platz in Haidhausen, behind the Maximilianeum, around 20 minutes on foot across the Maximiliansbrücke. More than 1,400 guests sit under the chestnut trees, and the benches are fairly close together. For children there is a small playground with a lawn next to it.

Paulaner am Nockherberg in the Au

Many people know the Paulaner beer garden in Munich from the Starkbierfest (strong beer festival) in spring. In summer, the garden on the Nockherberg is divided into a table-service section and a self-service area, with room for more than 2,000 guests in total according to Munich Tourism. From Lehel it is about a 25-minute walk, and the last stretch is uphill.

English Garden Munich: the Chinese Tower beer garden, Seehaus, Hirschau and Aumeister

The English Garden is home to no fewer than four large beer gardens, from the south to the northern end of the park. From Lehel, you enter the park via Prinzregentenstraße and then head north along the Eisbach. By bike, this is the most beautiful route to the city’s beer gardens. The Monopteros, the Eisbach and the rules in the park are covered in our guide to the English Garden in Munich.

Chinesischer Turm: the best-known beer garden

With around 7,000 seats, the beer garden at the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) is one of the largest in Bavaria, according to muenchen.de. The wooden pagoda tower is 25 metres high and was built in 1789/90; after several fires it was last rebuilt in 1952. On many days a brass band plays on the tower, and a historic children’s carousel turns next door.

From Lehel it is around 30 minutes on foot, past the Eisbach and the Monopteros. By bus, go to the Chinesischer Turm stop. On sunny weekends the garden is very busy from midday; on weekdays in the early evening it is easier to find a seat. In July, the Kocherlball (a traditional early-morning dance) takes place here, and in Advent there is a Christmas market at the tower.

Seehaus on the Kleinhesseloher See

About ten to 15 minutes further north is the Seehaus on the Kleinhesseloher See, right next to the boat hire. The Seehaus beer garden in Munich holds around 2,500 guests, and the most sought-after tables are right by the water. For families there is a fenced playground. According to Merian, the Seehaus also opens in winter when the weather is suitable.

Hirschau and Aumeister in the north

North of the Isarring ring road the park becomes quieter. The Hirschau on Gyßlingstraße has around 1,800 seats, a fish hut serving Steckerlfisch and a pirate ship for children to climb on. Getting to this beer garden in Schwabing takes just under an hour on foot from Lehel, or about 20 minutes by bike.

At the very northern end of the English Garden lies the Aumeister, with around 3,000 seats. The easiest way is to take the U6 to Studentenstadt and walk about 15 to 20 minutes through the park from there. If you are cycling, the Aumeister makes a great destination at the end of a long ride through the whole park.

Munich’s largest beer garden: Hirschgarten, Augustiner-Keller and Taxisgarten

The large Augustiner beer gardens are in the west of the city. From Lehel, take the S-Bahn from Isartor without changing.

Königlicher Hirschgarten

The Königlicher Hirschgarten (Royal Deer Garden) is considered the largest beer garden in Munich and is often even described as the largest in the world. Munich Tourism gives a figure of around 8,000 seats. The park was laid out in 1780 and once served as a hunting ground; deer still live in the enclosure today. It serves Augustiner, and you fetch your steins yourself.

Take the S-Bahn from Isartor to Hirschgarten station; including the walk, it takes around 25 minutes in total. Because it is so spacious, the Hirschgarten beer garden is rarely completely full, even on busy days. Several playgrounds and plenty of lawn make it a great outing for families.

Augustiner-Keller on Arnulfstraße

The Augustiner-Keller is at Arnulfstraße 52, a few minutes from Hackerbrücke. According to Merian, a beer store on this site already appears on a city map from 1812, which is why it is regarded as Munich’s oldest beer garden. Around 5,000 guests sit under more than 100 chestnut trees, and the Edelstoff lager comes from the wooden barrel. Because the garden is so large, many companies hold their summer parties here. If you are in town with accommodation near Messe Munich, this is a great place to unwind after a day on the stand.

From Lehel it takes around 20 minutes by S-Bahn to Hackerbrücke plus a short walk. If it suddenly starts to rain, you can move into the inn inside.

Taxisgarten in Gern

With around 1,000 seats, the Taxisgarten in Neuhausen-Gern is considerably smaller and particularly popular with local families. There are two playgrounds and an adjoining park, and it is known for its Ochsensemmel (roast ox roll) and Schmalznudeln (fried doughnuts). From Lehel it takes around half an hour by S-Bahn and U-Bahn.

Beer gardens on the Isar in Munich and by the water

In Munich, a beer garden by the water mainly means the Kleinhesseloher See, in other words the Seehaus. On the Isar in Munich itself, the beer gardens are usually set a little above the riverbank. The closest to Lehel is the Muffatwerk on the other side of the river.

To the south, the Zum Flaucher beer garden lies in the Isar meadows. On fine days there is live music on a small stage. From Lehel it is about 15 minutes by bike along the river, or around 50 minutes on foot. By U-Bahn, go to Thalkirchen or Brudermühlstraße.

Further upstream, already on the edge of the city, the Waldwirtschaft Großhesselohe sits high above the Isar valley. Jazz musicians often play there in summer. For a beer garden in the countryside around Munich, by one of the lakes for example, it is best to allow half a day.

Munich beer garden insider tips and small beer gardens

In a city with so many beer garden fans, hardly anywhere is truly secret. But there are small beer gardens in Munich where you can find a seat without a long search, even on a Saturday. For us, the Muffatwerk with its 350 seats is one of them, because it is so close to Lehel and yet many tourists walk straight past it.

The Hofbräuhaus courtyard is a second tip for anyone with only an hour to spare. If you need to eat gluten-free, according to Merian the Wirtshaus am Bavariapark near the Theresienwiese has a gluten-free menu, even with gluten-free beer. That is still the exception in Munich’s beer gardens.

There is no objective ranking of the best beer garden in Munich. Our rule of thumb: for atmosphere and brass bands, the Chinesischer Turm; for space and families, the Hirschgarten; for a view of the water, the Seehaus; and for a short walk, the Muffatwerk or the Hofbräuhaus courtyard.

Beer garden rules: Brotzeit, self-service and deposit

A few unwritten rules apply in a traditional beer garden, and locals take them for granted. If you know them, you will find a seat faster and save money.

Bringing your own Brotzeit

The most important rule: in traditional Munich beer gardens you may bring your own Brotzeit (food). Drinks, however, must always be bought on site. This only applies at tables without a tablecloth. Tables with a cloth belong to the table-service area, where you order from the waiting staff and eat from the menu.

Classic choices are bread, butter, cheese, cold meats, Radi (radish) and Obazda (a spiced cheese spread), all typical Bavarian food. Hot dishes, pizza deliveries or large cool boxes, on the other hand, are frowned upon. A few beer gardens ban outside food altogether, so look out for signs at the entrance.

Self-service and deposit

In the self-service area you collect food from the stalls and beer from the bar. In many beer gardens you pay a deposit on the stein or crockery, which you get back when you return it. So take your stein back yourself rather than leaving it on the table. A Maß (one-litre stein) is cheaper in a beer garden than at the Oktoberfest, but there is no fixed price list for all gardens.

What the Bavarian Beer Garden Ordinance regulates

Bavaria’s Biergartenverordnung (Beer Garden Ordinance) has been in force since 1999. It mainly regulates noise protection for neighbours: in beer gardens close to residential buildings, music must end by 10pm at the latest and serving by 10.30pm at the latest. A typical feature of a beer garden, under the ordinance, is that guests may eat the food they have brought with them. Individual beer gardens may have different conditions.

Beer gardens with a playground in Munich and beer gardens with a dog

Almost all the large beer gardens cater for families. In Munich you will find a beer garden with a playground at the Hirschgarten, the Augustiner-Keller, the Taxisgarten, the Seehaus and the Hofbräukeller. At the Chinesischer Turm the old wooden carousel turns, and a popular playground is not far away. According to in-muenchen.de, the Augustiner-Keller sometimes offers childcare at the playground on Sundays; check on site.

Dogs are welcome in many beer gardens, as long as they stay on the lead and lie under the table. There is no uniform rule, though, and on busy days it gets cramped between the benches. If you are coming to Munich with your dog, you will find information on apartments and walks along the Isar on our page about dog-friendly apartments in Munich.

When do Munich’s beer gardens open? Season, opening times and rain

There is no fixed opening date. Most beer gardens open with the first warm days of spring and stay open into October, as long as the weather is right. So whether a beer garden in Munich is open today depends on the weather. Some landlords offer a weather hotline or post it on their website.

Beer garden opening times in Munich depend on the individual venue. The Hofbräukeller, for example, gives daily hours of 10am to midnight for the restaurant, while the Muffatwerk does not open until 5pm on weekdays. Outdoors, serving in gardens close to residential buildings ends at 10.30pm at the latest.

The Wiesn also starts in Munich at the end of September. Many visitors then head to the Oktoberfest rather than the beer garden (see our guide to Oktoberfest 2027), and the city’s beer gardens become noticeably emptier. In October, as now, the season gradually draws to a close.

Beer gardens in the rain

When it rains, the benches stay empty and many gardens close their bars. If you still fancy a beer garden atmosphere, head to a beer cellar or an inn with indoor rooms. The Augustiner-Keller, the Hofbräukeller and the Hofbräuhaus all have large halls you can retreat to.

If you are in the city for longer, you can simply wait for the next sunny day. We expect many guests in our boarding house in Munich to plan exactly like that: beer garden after work when the sun shines, the apartment kitchen when it rains.

Conclusion: the right beer garden in Munich for you

For a first visit, we recommend the Chinesischer Turm or the Seehaus in the English Garden; for families, the Hirschgarten; and for a short evening, the Muffatwerk or the Hofbräuhaus courtyard. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Munich within easy reach of them all, you will find our apartments in Lehel from autumn 2027.

Frequently asked questions about Munich beer gardens

Which is the largest beer garden in Munich?

The largest beer garden in Munich is the Königlicher Hirschgarten, with around 8,000 seats. It is followed by the Chinesischer Turm beer garden with around 7,000 and the Augustiner-Keller with around 5,000 seats.

Can you bring your own food to a beer garden?

Yes, in traditional Munich beer gardens you may bring your own Brotzeit, but only at tables without a tablecloth. Drinks must always be bought on site, and some beer gardens do not allow outside food.

When do the beer gardens in Munich open?

Most beer gardens in Munich open with the first warm days of spring and stay open into October. There is no fixed date; they open when the weather is suitable.

Which beer gardens are in Munich city centre?

In the city centre you will find the beer garden in the Hofbräuhaus courtyard and the beer garden at the Viktualienmarkt. Just a few minutes away are the Muffatwerk on the Isar and the Hofbräukeller on Wiener Platz.

Which beer gardens are in the English Garden?

There are four large beer gardens in the English Garden: the Chinesischer Turm, the Seehaus on the Kleinhesseloher See, the Hirschau and the Aumeister. With around 7,000 seats, the Chinesischer Turm is the largest of them.

Which beer gardens in Munich have a playground?

Beer gardens with a playground include the Hirschgarten, the Augustiner-Keller, the Taxisgarten, the Seehaus and the Hofbräukeller. At the Chinesischer Turm there is a historic children’s carousel.

How late are beer gardens open?

Each landlord sets their own opening hours. Under the Bavarian Beer Garden Ordinance, serving in beer gardens close to residential buildings ends at 10.30pm at the latest, and music at 10pm.

Can you take a dog to a beer garden?

Dogs on a lead are welcome in many Munich beer gardens. There is no uniform rule, and it can get cramped on busy days, so if in doubt, ask the beer garden in question.