A Visit to the Hofbrauhaus in Munich
Traditional German Beer Hall Serves Food, Drinks and History
May 27, 2009
The Hofbrauhaus is a historic beer hall located near the Marienplatz city centre area in Munich. The beer hall is actually on the first floor of the building, which was once an actual brewery. The wooden tables — some dating back to 1897 — can accommodate up to 1,300 customers, some of whom have left their marks on them via names, initials and words.
The History of Hofbrauhaus
The second floor of the Hofbrauhaus houses the Festival Hall, which two bombs destroyed in 1944. Fire destroyed the hall after it was restored in 1958, but today parties and large events take place in the space. An exhibition that recounts parts of the Hofbrauhaus’ 400-year history is also on the second floor, and open to visitors for free, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Back downstairs in the public beer hall, on a podium, musicians play daily or visiting bands strike up a tune for customers having a stein or two with a meal, brought to them by servers in traditional dress. It can become loud in the hall, as a result, what with the music, tourists talking and locals carrying conversations. It makes for a lively and buzzy atmosphere.
The Beers at Hofbrauhaus
The Hofbrauhaus serves beers, with thick, fluffy heads, in steins, which are basically large glass mugs, as large as a person’s face. Hofbrau Original and Hofbrau Dark Beer are on the menu, as is white, light and dark beer with lemonade. Non-beer drinkers can enjoy spirits, hot drinks, red or white wines, and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Food at Hofbrauhaus
Pretzels can go down well with beer at the Hofbrauhaus, and hungrier visitors can chow down on specialty sausages, most of which are served with sauerkraut, pork dishes (including the Bavarian specialty pork knuckle), a variety of platters which include ham, sausage and cheese, soup, salads and desserts. Most dishes cost less than 10 euro.
The Beer Garden at Hofbrauhaus
The Hofbrauhaus’ beer garden is spread out under the shelter of chestnut trees, where up to 400 people can enjoy the outdoors while sitting on chairs at tablecloth-covered tables with their food and drink. The walls of the Hofbrauhaus surround the garden, which visitors can access by walking through an archway.
The Hofbrauhaus has a history that stretches back four centures. It has served as a brewery, and today is a beer hall where customers can enjoy food, drink and music. They can even wander upstairs during business hours to take in exhibits about the building, or wander outside on a nice day to enjoy their beers or a traditional German dishes in the beer garden, shaded by chestnut trees.
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