The most famous beer gardens in the world may be in Munich, home of Oktoberfest, but that doesn’t mean you need to head overseas to enjoy this al fresco drinking pastime. While some beer gardens in the U.S. have been around for over 100 years, others have been cropping up in recent years, meaning beer lovers can now sample a wider selection of brews close to home. One thing our picks all share in common is a passion for fine pours and convivial outdoor settings. From a contemporary hangout in Philadelphia to a Viennese-inspired locale in the Midwest, these 15 beer gardens will make you want to raise a glass.
1. Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Where: Queens
Dating back to 1910, Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden pays homage to its Czech roots. A favorite amongst Astoria's Czech and Slovak residents, the bar features authentic brews like Krusovice and Staropramen and a menu of Czech favorites such as tlacenka (pork terrine), fried Muenster cheese, and potato pancakes served with sour cream and apple sauce. Pick up a draft pitcher and mingle on an expansive outdoor patio, or explore the labyrinth of side rooms beside the main bar.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's New York City Guide
2. Garden District
Where: Washington, D.C.
Kick back at outdoor tables under Hofbrau umbrellas at Garden District. The D.C. beer garden—formerly known as the Standard—makes the most of its popular 14th Street location, and offers more than just your standard pint of beer. Chow down on smoky pulled pork sandwiches topped with fresh coleslaw, or snack on fresh-made doughnuts on the weekend. Make sure to show up early, as the garden closes when they run out of barbecue.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Washington, D.C. Guide
3. Mecklenburg Gardens
Where: Cincinnati
Cincinnati's Mecklenburg Gardens has survived the test of time, offering residents tastes of authentic German brews for almost 150 years. The beer garden kept its doors open during Prohibition and was recently restored to its full Bavarian glory. Visitors can choose from an unmatched selection of German beers at a central pub area, or enjoy a meal outdoors under shaded awnings with grapevine-covered trellises. With over 15 beers on top and 80 bottled selections, you'll have no shortage of options.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Cincinnati Guide
4. The Standard Biergarten
Where: New York City
Located beneath The High Line in New York's Standard Hotel, The Standard Biergarten is a beer lover's paradise. The 4,000-square-foot space includes two bars and three ping pong tables, and features a classic German menu with sausages, beers, and oversized pretzels. Enjoy a pint at a high-top table while lounging on pastel-green high chairs, or gather a group at one of the venue's long picnic tables. During the summer months, the garden transforms into an outdoor oasis, but visitors can still kick back with drinks during the winter in a glass-enclosed space.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's New York City Guide
5. Der Biergarten
Where: Atlanta
Der Biergarten offers a taste of German culture and an authentic beer garden experience. Visitors will find traditional family-style seating and Bavarian décor, with walls decked out in hand-painted murals, and a German-manufactured model railroad circles the restaurant. White-tablecloth-lined tables offer a more formal dining experience, but visitors can also head to the indoor/outdoor patio to enjoy house lagers. The beer garden features more than a dozen German draft beers, including drafts from Weihenstephan, the world's oldest commercial brewery.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Atlanta Guide
6. Easy Tiger
Where: Austin
For a laid-back drinking experience in the Texas capital, look no further than Easy Tiger. The bake shop and beer garden is best known for its hand-selected assortment of craft beers and cheeses, and also features traditional German fare such as corned beef, sausages, and pretzels. Relax at the bar's outdoor patio alongside the canal, or cozy up inside with a drink. Taps rotate regularly, but visitors can request a special brand or brew. Make sure to try the bar's signature beer cheese, which pairs well with one of the homemade Bavarian pretzels.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Austin Guide
7. Bayou Beer Garden
Where: New Orleans
Down by the bayou is one of New Orleans' most beloved beer institutions,Bayou Beer Garden. The Mid-City bar features an impressive collection of local brews, national craft beers, and imports, including South Hampton Imperial Porter and a 16-ounce pint of NOLA Blonde. Small tables on an outdoor wood-floored patio provide an intimate drinking experience, and umbrellas offer a reprieve from the heat and humidity. Don't miss the bar's signature "gravy fries," crispy steak-cut French fries topped with savory roast beef gravy.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's New Orleans Guide
8. Sheffield's
Where: Chicago
Barbecue and beer are the name of the game at Sheffield's. This Second City beer garden serves up fresh smoked slabs of ribs and a huge selection of craft beers, with nearly 40 brews on tap and bottles from European breweries. Head to the comfortable outdoor patio to enjoy a drink at a shaded picnic table, or pull up a seat at the dark-wood bar. Be sure to order one of the bar's signature sandwiches. Meat for the pulled-pork sandwich is smoked for 14 hours and shredded to order, and extra toppings include pimento cheese spread, pickled jalapenos, and crispy onion strings.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor's Chicago Guide
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