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Munich Beer Gardens

The idea of beer gardens originates from a 19th century Munich, where they became popular during the rule of King Ludwig I. At this time, a dark lager was the most common beer type.

By order of King Ludwig, the beer had to be brewed during the winter months because fermentation had to occur between four and eight degrees celsius. So that the large Munich breweries could offer their beer during the summer they dug beer cellars along the banks of the Isar river. To further reduce the cellar temperature, they covered the banks in gravel and planted chestnut trees on top to provide shade during the hot summer months. Soon thereafter, the beer cellars were used not only to store beer but also to serve beer as well as food to the public. Simple "beer benches" were placed amongst the trees of the so-called new Munich beer gardens, which quickly became highly popular amongst the people of Munich.

However, the new trend had such negative effect on the businesses of the many small breweries and restaurants to a point where they collectively petitioned King Ludwig to forbid all beer cellars in Munich to serve food. A royal decree was consequently passed, preventing any beer cellars from selling food. As a result, the patrons of the beer gardens were instead permitted to bring their own food. While this law is no longer in effect and as all beer gardens now serve food as well as beer, the Bayerische Biergartenverordnung states that beer gardens must still allow guests and patrons to bring their own food. The general rule is that as long as you order a beer you may unfold your own picnic on the beer tables provided in the beer garden. Those beer gardens that adheres to this rule are considered traditional and genuine Munich beer gardens.

This site contains details and information including map directions of most if not all traditional beer gardens in and around Munich. If there is any one beer garden missing here, as this is a wiki system, please add it onto this site.