| If you've ever been to a beer hall in Germany, you | | | | enjoys international notoriety and is generally packed |
| must know that beer drinking isn't for the faint of heart. | | | | at night, with locals and visitors alike. |
| And in Munich, in particular, beer drinking is a serious | | | | 2. Augustiner Gaststatten |
| past-time. There is etiquette, there is terminology, there | | | | The Augustiner Gaststatten, at Neuhauser Strasse 27, |
| are pairings, and ultimately there is ambiance. But | | | | is the second most famous beer hall in Munich, after |
| briefly, here's what you'll need to know. | | | | the Hofbrauhaus, and is historic to boot. In fact, until |
| Ordering Beer | | | | 1885, Augustiner beer was brewed right here, at this |
| Beer is served by the liter or Mass, or by the half-liter | | | | very location. The building is in part Art Nouveau and |
| or Halb. Ordering quantities smaller than that is | | | | the beer garden is especially delightful. |
| generally frowned upon. For non-drinkers, even though | | | | 3. Paulaner im Tal |
| sodas and colas are available in some of the beer | | | | The Paulaner im Tal, at Tal 12, is a rather nostalgic |
| gardens, a customary drink is Apfelschaftschorle – | | | | restaurant that comprises a terrace and beer garden. |
| soda-water mixed with apple juice. This is of course | | | | It serves primarily local cuisine that incorporates a fairly |
| not only much healthier but also more refreshing than a | | | | good vegetarian selection as well as some Austrian |
| cola. And then there is the Radler, which literally means | | | | favorites. |
| “cyclist”, and is half-beer, half-lemonade. | | | | 4. Lowenbraukeller |
| Food with Beer | | | | The Lowenbraukeller, located adjacent to the brewery |
| The staple food in beer gardens is large, soft pretzels | | | | at Nymphenburger Strasse 2, is quite close to the |
| and sausages of all sorts, usually served with | | | | Hauptbahnhof (main train station) in a rustic locale. It |
| sauerkraut and potatoes. A favorite in Munich is | | | | boasts a delightful beer garden, where the food is |
| Weisswurst or white sausage, which is traditionally | | | | undeniably Bavarian. This is also a good place t go to |
| served in the morning, often with sweet Bavarian | | | | get a whiff of the local flavor, for the beer garden |
| mustard and beer. Etiquette requires that you eat | | | | tends to cater more to a local clientele than foreign |
| Weisswurst by hand and leave out the skin. In most of | | | | tourists who seem to be drawn increasingly to the |
| the beer gardens, you are also permitted to bring your | | | | breweries in the Old Town section of the city. |
| own food, although never your own drinks. | | | | 5. Bratwurstherz |
| Seating in a Beer Garden | | | | The Bratwurstherz, located at the Viktualienmarkt at |
| It is also not uncommon to share tables with strangers | | | | Dreifaltigkeitsplatz 1, is a pleasant establishment and as |
| in some of the bussier restaurants, and beer gardens | | | | traditional a bratwurst restaurant as one is likely to find. |
| that sport long tables and bench seats are no | | | | The food emphasis here is on homemade sausages |
| exception. All you have to do is ask if there is free | | | | grilled over a beechwood fire. |
| space – "Ist das platz frei, bitte?" However, it is | | | | 6. Nurnberger Bratwurst Glockl am Dom |
| advisable to not sit down at a Stammtisch even if you | | | | The Nurnberger Bratwurst Glockl am Dom, at |
| find it to be completely empty, since this is a table | | | | Frauenplatz 9, is pretty similar to the Bratwurstherz. It is |
| reserved for members of a group or society, available | | | | known primarily for its Nurnberger Bratwurst |
| to their membership only or by invitation. | | | | (finger-sized grilled sausages) and traditional Bavarian |
| The 7 Best Beer Gardens of Munich | | | | fare. And this is one establishment where you should |
| 1. Hofbrauhaus | | | | stick to beer and not even think of asking for cola as |
| The Hofbrauhaus, located at Platz 6, is perhaps the | | | | the latter is genuinely frowned upon here. |
| best-known and most popular beer garden in Munich. It | | | | 7. |