The best beer gardens in Germany

The season for lazing in the sunshine and sipping a beer is finally here. From the foamy, crème de la crème Steinbiers of Munich to the last drops in Berlin, here's your guide to the country's best Biergärten.

What is a beer garden (Biergarten)?

Beer gardens (Biergärten), form an integral part of German beer culture. To many people in Germany, it isn't really summertime unless it is warm enough to enjoy a refreshing beer (or three) under the shade of a chestnut tree, surrounded by friends and strangers in traditional Biergarten.

The history behind Biergärten stems all the way back to the early 19th century when breweries in Bavaria began offering local beer onsite to locals to promote their unique brew during the summer months. In order to ensure the cellars (where the beer was stored under ice) were as cool as possible during the hotter months, they planted trees around them - thus the tradition of drinking beer under shady trees was born. Although the tradition is rooted in Bavaria, it has spread across the country and remains very popular to this day. 

Biergarten traditions: Can you bring your own food to Bavarian beer gardens?

But what about the tradition of bringing your own food to beer gardens in Bavaria, you may ask? Well, local inns and taverns accused the breweries of poaching their customers, so a decree was signed in 1812 which stated brewers could only serve bread with their beer - no food. As the decree did not stop Bavarians from bringing their own food to the beer gardens, they rapidly transformed into popular places in which to picnic.

Bavarian Biergärten were allowed to sell food to their patrons once more in 1897, but by then bringing your own food to eat had become a tradition, which continues to this day.

Where is the best German Biergarten?

Looking for some of the best beer gardens in Germany to hit up this summer? Here are seven of our favourite Biergärten:

Best beer gardens in Berlin

As you would expect for Germany's capital city, there's no shortage of great beer gardens in Berlin - so we've done all the hard work to find you three ideal spots for sampling local beers and relaxing. 

Prater Biergarten

We had to kick off this list with the oldest, most active Biergarten in Berlin. Located in the trendy neighbourhood of Prenzlauer Berg, Prater Biergarten has managed to escape the claws of time by remaining current, upbeat and, most of all, vibrant and fun. As the largest beer garden in the city, with seats for 8.000 people, it comes as no surprise that the vast yard offers plenty of room for all with its picnic-style seating. Here, visitors can enjoy traditional summer beers such as light Pilsner or Berliner, alongside delicious homemade German dishes. 

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Café am Neuen See in Berlin Tiergarten

This little slice of paradise can be found in the famous Tiergarten Park, right next to the Spanish embassy. Surrounded by the forest and a lake, many consider Café am Neuen See to be one of the city's most picture-perfect beer gardens. Expect this gem to be very busy in the summer months when visitors sip on beer while munching on their acclaimed Leberkäse or Brezeln.

Casseopeia Biergarten Berlin Friedrichshain

The Casseopeia Biergarten is located in Friedrichain's RAW Gelände, an industrial area populated by nightclubs, concert venues, weekend fleamarkets and a bouldering hall. The Casseopeia Biergarten experience isn't accompanied with the verdant, lakeside view of many German beer gardens, but it is certainly hip, pretty cheap and a great place to get a Biergarten beverage in the centre of Berlin.

Biergärten in Düsseldorf

Beer gardens tend to be more popular in the north and west of Düsseldorf, although there are enough to choose from in the south and beside the River Rhine, an ideal place to try the local dark beer, Altbier.  

Galerie Burghof

Some visitors argue that the view alone from the Galerie Burghof is worth the visit, but we will let you be the judge of that. This traditional establishment, located right on the Rhine next to an old imperial palace, is famous for its charming beer garden. With plenty of large chestnut trees offering sufficient shade in the hot summer months and rustic seating, you can easily spend an afternoon sampling their vast beer selection, while trying the various local treats on offer and enjoying the gorgeous sights. 

Frankfurt beer gardens

Looking for a beer garden in Frankfurt? Look no further!

Solzer

This one is for the not-so-keen-on-beer travellers who would still like to experience the lively atmosphere of Germany's Biergärten. Solzer is famous for brewing Frankfurt's tasty Apfelwein (apple wine), which is close to cider. This garden is a modest and quaint affair, out back in the courtyard of the tavern, which provides some shelter if you want to make a trip on a chillier evening.

Zur Sonne

A very classic beer garden layout, the beer garden courtyard of Zur Sonne lies behind a timber-planked house and was established all the way back in 1768. Apfelwein is also on sale at this local, alongside all the classics vom Fass.

Find a beer garden in Munich

As Biergärten were invented in Bavaria, it comes as no surprise that there are hundreds of them in Munich. With plenty of local brews to sample, we share two of the most authentic beer gardens. 

Hirschgarten Munich - The world's most famous beer garden

Conveniently located in the city's park that shares the same name, the Hirschgarten beer garden and restaurant is a favourite stomping ground for locals and internationals alike during the warm summer months. As the largest Biergarten in Bavaria, with an impressive number of seats (8.000), there is room for everyone to enjoy a big, cold beer. Surrounded by green, luscious lawns, visitors can sit back and watch the scenery pass on by as they sip their Steine. If you get hungry, the drinks offering is accompanied by a vast menu of international and Bavarian cuisine.

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Augustiner Keller

The traditional beer garden of Augustiner Keller features an expansive indoor beer hall complete with a conventional wooden interior and a stage area for live performances. As the second-largest beer garden in Munich, with space for up to 7.000 guests, this popular drinking hub is always buzzing with life on any summer evening. Be sure to try one of their delicious baked, salty Brezeln while you enjoy the selection of local Augustiner brews on offer.   

Beer gardens in Cologne

In Cologne, they say that there is no better way to enjoy a cold pint of Kölsch than outside in the shade of a chestnut tree. 

Hellers am Volksgarten

One of the oldest beer gardens in Cologne, Hellers am Volksgarten is conveniently located right next to the garden's idyllic lake. An ideal place to sit, relax and unwind after a busy summer day, its special house-brewed beer selections and organic varieties are popular among visitors and locals alike. If you get hungry while enjoying your beer, then fear not - the adjacent restaurant has an extensive menu of local dishes for you to sample. Once you get bored of lounging in the shade by their terrace, simply rent out a paddle boat and venture across the lake. 

Stuttgart's best beer gardens

Stuttgart may not be well-known for its beer gardens, but as soon as the summer season begins you will be sure to find them across the city!

Schwabengarten

Schwabengarten, one of the largest beer gardens in the area, is seen as one of the most kid-friendly locations as well. Linked to the Schonbuch Brauhaus, it features a colourful playground for children to explore, while the adults sit back and enjoy a well-earned beer or two. The simple cafeteria set-up makes it easy to order food and drinks, all the while soaking up the beautiful surrounding landscape.

Find your local German beer garden

Now you're good to set off to your nearest local Biergarten! And if you've not yet made the move to the federal republic, worry not, so internationally influential is the German beer garden that - from Montreal to Melbourne - you'll probably be able to find a wannabe somewhere nearby.

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