Beer Halls

Address	Residenzstrasse 12
Phone	089/290/7060

The city’s famous beer gardens date back to the time when monks brewed their own strong beer and stored it in cellars under courtyards kept cool by busy chestnut trees. In the middle ages, beer was a food, particularly during Lent when the monks could drink but had limited food available. So it’s no accident that most beer is strong, though you can also order a blond version or a pils, which is slightly bitter but lighter. Today’s current beer halls evolved and many today still feature the monk’s old chestnut trees. The Hofbrauhaus is easily the most popular beer hall in Munich. It was established as a court brewery in 1589. The Schwemme, on the ground floor, is a large hall with painted ceiling. It can host 1,000 people. The beer garden itself is surrounded, of course, by chestnut trees. For those who are hungry, there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. Lighter snacks are also available. 089/290/1360.www.hofbraeuhaus.de. A good place to get an inexpensive meal and a Lowenbrau is the Unions-Brau Haidhausen at the Max-Weber-Platz U-Bahn station, Einsteinstrasse 42. 089/477/6770. The Viktualien Markt beer garden in the Viktualien Market in the very center of Munich also offers some of the best budget food. Dozens of stalls sell Wurst. Biergarden-viktualienmarkt. Opera-lovers will appreciate the Spatenhaus, which offers a woodsy setting directly across the street from the opera.