In Bavaria, specifically in Munich, there is a tradition called Biergarten, which you may already know. A typical Biergarten has orange benches and tables, with the ground covered in small pebbles. Large chestnut trees provide shade.
But that’s not all: a true Biergarten in Bavaria is divided into two sections. In one section, you are served by a waiter or waitress, usually indicated by tablecloths on the tables. The other section is the more important one: here, you can bring your own food! So you’ll see locals spreading out their own tablecloths and bringing delicious food from their baskets. However, you have to buy the beer and other drinks from small stands in the Biergarten.
Traditional Biergartens only serve beer in huge mugs, which hold a whole liter of beer. These mugs are called “Mass” and are quite big for non-Bavarians. You can also buy food if you haven’t brought any. There are usually grilled sausages, half chickens, and often roasted fish, called “Steckerlfisch”. I especially enjoy the cold snacks, like cheese with a giant pretzel, radishes with salt, or the famous “Obazda”.
Obazda is an orange spread that you can put on bread or a pretzel. It is made from Camembert cheese, onions, paprika powder, butter, and a little bit of wheat beer.
By the way, it’s completely normal to sit at a table with other strangers, as a Biergarten is a symbol of sociability. And just to clarify, going to a Biergarten doesn’t mean that men go there to get drunk. A Biergarten is about culture. Friends meet here, families come with their children, and businessmen gather here for lunch. It’s about coziness, not alcohol.
By the way, large Biergartens can accommodate 7,000 to 8,000 people, and they are packed on beautiful summer days! So if you’re coming to Munich soon, I recommend the traditional Augustiner Biergarten near the main train station! And don’t worry, they also have non-alcoholic drinks available.
