Munich's beer gardens were built for families long before anyone called them family-friendly: shaded benches under chestnut trees, self-service counters, and in many of them, the old Bavarian custom of bringing your own picnic. We picked the ones with a playground right by the tables, so you can eat while the kids climb in sight. Here's what we checked, from Augustiner-Keller near the station to Waldwirtschaft on the Isar.
Königlicher Hirschgarten has been an inn since 1791 and calls itself the largest beer garden in the world, with more than 8,000 outdoor seats split between a served section and a self-service area. A deer enclosure borders the garden, and kids can buy feed from a machine for the herd.
In winter, nine natural ice lanes open for Bavarian curling (Eisstockschießen).
Michaeligarten is a self-service beer garden under old chestnut trees that runs down to the shore of the Ostpark lake. The counters serve Löwenbräu on tap, Bavarian snacks and hot dishes, from an ox-meat roll to Obazda and a vegan Schupfnudel pan.
A large fenced playground sits right next to the tables, so kids can run while parents eat. Seating is first come, with no reservations.
A traditional beer garden on Wiener Platz, shaded by old chestnut trees. The self-service section is walk-in, with Hofbräu beer, Brotzeit plates and Bavarian dishes, and a separate area has table service. Kids get a small playground with a slide, and a sweets stall sells gingerbread hearts, sugar-bead necklaces, candied almonds and popcorn.
Munich's oldest beer garden, first marked on a city map in 1812, seats 5,000 under more than 100 chestnut trees. Kids head for the raised playground with a sandpit, swing, climbing tower and slide, and tables sit right around it so parents can watch.
In the self-service area, families can bring their own picnic, as Bavarian tradition allows, or buy pretzels, roast chicken and fish grilled on a stick.
Aumeister is a traditional beer garden at the north end of the Englischer Garten, with close to 3,000 seats under old chestnut trees. Kids get a large playground with swings and climbing frames, a vintage carousel and a kids' menu, and free face painting runs from May. The inn has stood here since 1810, and the indoor restaurant serves Bavarian dishes year-round.
Die Hirschau is a historic beer garden in the English Garden, with seats for around 1,800 under old chestnut trees. Next to the tables is a large adventure playground with climbing frames, a zip line and a pirate ship, so parents can sit within sight of it.
The food runs from roast chicken and Obazda to salads, coffee and cake, plus an organic ice cream hut.
A self-service Bavarian beer garden under old chestnut trees on the high bank of the Isar, with a mix of sunny and half-shaded tables. Kids get open space to run around and a playground, while adults pick up Obazda, pretzels and grilled dishes from the counters.
In the summer season, live jazz bands play every day. A sit-down restaurant serving traditional Bavarian food is on the same grounds.
A traditional Bavarian beer garden with 2,500 self-service seats under old chestnut trees. A large, shaded playground with climbing frames, slides and swings sits right beside its own block of benches, so parents can sit and still keep the kids in sight.
Families can bring their own picnic food, while drinks come from the bar. Local bands play the garden stage in summer.
Munich's beer gardens were built for families long before anyone called them family-friendly: shaded benches under chestnut trees, self-service counters, and in many of them, the old Bavarian custom of bringing your own picnic. We picked the ones with a playground right by the tables, so you can eat while the kids climb in sight. Here's what we checked, from Augustiner-Keller near the station to Waldwirtschaft on the Isar.
Königlicher Hirschgarten has been an inn since 1791 and calls itself the largest beer garden in the world, with more than 8,000 outdoor seats split between a served section and a self-service area. A deer enclosure borders the garden, and kids can buy feed from a machine for the herd.
In winter, nine natural ice lanes open for Bavarian curling (Eisstockschießen).
Michaeligarten is a self-service beer garden under old chestnut trees that runs down to the shore of the Ostpark lake. The counters serve Löwenbräu on tap, Bavarian snacks and hot dishes, from an ox-meat roll to Obazda and a vegan Schupfnudel pan.
A large fenced playground sits right next to the tables, so kids can run while parents eat. Seating is first come, with no reservations.
A traditional beer garden on Wiener Platz, shaded by old chestnut trees. The self-service section is walk-in, with Hofbräu beer, Brotzeit plates and Bavarian dishes, and a separate area has table service. Kids get a small playground with a slide, and a sweets stall sells gingerbread hearts, sugar-bead necklaces, candied almonds and popcorn.
Munich's oldest beer garden, first marked on a city map in 1812, seats 5,000 under more than 100 chestnut trees. Kids head for the raised playground with a sandpit, swing, climbing tower and slide, and tables sit right around it so parents can watch.
In the self-service area, families can bring their own picnic, as Bavarian tradition allows, or buy pretzels, roast chicken and fish grilled on a stick.
Aumeister is a traditional beer garden at the north end of the Englischer Garten, with close to 3,000 seats under old chestnut trees. Kids get a large playground with swings and climbing frames, a vintage carousel and a kids' menu, and free face painting runs from May. The inn has stood here since 1810, and the indoor restaurant serves Bavarian dishes year-round.
Die Hirschau is a historic beer garden in the English Garden, with seats for around 1,800 under old chestnut trees. Next to the tables is a large adventure playground with climbing frames, a zip line and a pirate ship, so parents can sit within sight of it.
The food runs from roast chicken and Obazda to salads, coffee and cake, plus an organic ice cream hut.
A self-service Bavarian beer garden under old chestnut trees on the high bank of the Isar, with a mix of sunny and half-shaded tables. Kids get open space to run around and a playground, while adults pick up Obazda, pretzels and grilled dishes from the counters.
In the summer season, live jazz bands play every day. A sit-down restaurant serving traditional Bavarian food is on the same grounds.
A traditional Bavarian beer garden with 2,500 self-service seats under old chestnut trees. A large, shaded playground with climbing frames, slides and swings sits right beside its own block of benches, so parents can sit and still keep the kids in sight.
Families can bring their own picnic food, while drinks come from the bar. Local bands play the garden stage in summer.
