Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm

The beer garden at the Chinese Tower is the one most visitors picture when they think of Munich in summer. It spreads out beneath the trees around the Chinesischer Turm, a wooden pagoda about 25 metres high in the southern part of the Englischer Garten that was first built in 1790 and reconstructed after the war. With around 7,000 seats, it is one of the largest beer gardens in the city, and on a warm weekend it seems as if half of Munich is here.

Music is part of the experience. A brass band, Mathias Achatz and his band, plays from the tower, and the schedule published for 2026 lists music on Wednesday afternoons from 16:00, Fridays from 15:00, Saturdays from 14:00 and Sundays from 12:00. Next to the tower stands a historic children's merry-go-round, which makes the garden a favourite with families.

The beer is Hofbräu, served in one-litre mugs, along with wine, spritzers and Aperol Spritz. The food stands cover the beer-garden classics: Ochsensemmel, a roast beef roll, which is also offered in a vegan version, Obatzda cheese spread, Wurstsalat, Steckerlfisch grilled on a stick, Schupfnudeln, daily salad bowls and warm Schmalznudeln. Vegetarian and vegan dishes change daily. Most visitors queue at the stands and carry their tray to a table, sharing with whoever is already there.

Opening depends on the weather, and the beer garden itself opens only in proper beer-garden weather. When it is dry and warm, it opens from 11:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 at weekends; in cold or changeable weather only the kiosk is open, from 12:00. So the best plan is to come on a sunny afternoon and to check the website if the forecast is uncertain. Weekday afternoons are calmer than weekend evenings, when finding a seat can take time.

The garden suits everyone: families, groups of friends, couples and solo travellers. It is a ten to fifteen minute walk from the U3 and U6 station Universität or Giselastraße, or a walk through the park from the Haus der Kunst, where bus 100 and tram 16 stop. Combine it with a stroll to the Monopteros, the Eisbach surfers and the Kleinhesseloher See.