Wirtsgarten

In German language, a “wirtsgarten” is a waitress serviced outdoors restaurant, sometimes below trees. Unlike a real Munich beer garden, a wirtsgarten does not include a self-serviced area and does not have tables or benches allocated to guests who wish to bring their own meals or picnics according to the Munich tradition.

There are countless wirtsgartens in and around the Munich area which arguably advertise themselves incorrectly as biergartens. Wirtsgartens masquerading as beer gardens are often found in commercially sponsored city guides as well as in local and international media featuring the Munich lifestyle. Some local newspapers run regular competitions for the best beer garden but allow wirtgartens to enter, which sometimes even win the contest. This often misleads visitors seeking to experience a typical Munich or Bavarian beer garden to some wirtsgarten instead.