Oktoberfest Beer Tents

In addition to the Oktoberfest fairground rides, the Oktoberfest food, traditional Oktoberfest outfits and of course the Oktoberfest beers, the Oktoberfest beer tents are one of the ubiquitous pillars of this, the world’s biggest, best and original beer festival. Beer tents, or beer halls as they’re also known, are loosely divided up into the bigger tents, the ones that seat thousands and have long traditions – of which there are 14 – and the smaller tents that serve drinks and food, of which there are more than 20.  Of the larger Oktoberfest beer tents we can further break them up into two categories – the breweries’ own tents (there are only six breweries that make Oktoberfestbier or Oktoberfest beers) and then speciality beer halls, that also serve one of the big six beers, but are focused on another aspect of Oktoberfest food or tradition.

Oktoberfest’s “Big Six” Brewery Beer Tents 

The rule is that only breweries located within Munich’s city limits can produce the Oktoberfestbiers that are served during Oktoberfest. The breweries also have to make beers that adhere to German Purity Laws, guaranteeing the highest quality standards (and less of a hangover they say). This gives us the following six breweries, and their associated beer tents. 

Augustiner-Festhalle

Augustiner is one of the oldest breweries in Munich, dating to 1328, but the Augustiner-Festhalle has been around since 1898. Known for serving beers from wooden barrels, and its laid back, local atmosphere, if you’re travelling to Oktoberfest and want to check this beer hall out we recommend getting a reservation. 

Hofbräu-Festzelt

This is one of the biggest Oktoberfest beer tents with space for around 10,000 beer lovers, and is the beer hall that caters the most for the international crowd. Hofbräu-Festzelt is renowned for its rowdy atmosphere, with revellers dancing on tables throughout the beer hall and generally having a damn good time. The Hofbräu brewery itself was founded in 1589, and the permanent Hofbräuhaus in Munich city is worth a visit for its history (and for cheaper beer and food!). 

Hacker-Pschorr Festzelt

Otherwise known as “Himmel der Bayern”, or Bavarian Heaven due to its intricate and beautiful painted ceiling depicting heaven, Hacker-Pschorr Festzelt has a nice mix of locals and tourists and is generally a more laid back option for tourists. 

Löwenbräu-Festhalle

A favourite of Stoke Travel, the Löwenbräu-Festhalle is rowdy, wild, fun, and welcoming of tourists who want to play hard, but play respectfully. Lowenbrau beers are easily identified by their lion logo and the beer hall is no different, with its giant animatronic lion out the front. The beers here are among the best and strongest, owing to this brewery’s origins in the 1300s. These guys have experience in making us party.

Paulaner-Festzelt 

This beer tent is easily recognised due to the giant rotating mug of beer out the front. Paulaner-Festzelt serves traditional märzen Oktoberfestbiers, as  well as their specialty wheat beers if you have a particular taste for that kind of beer, or want something to change it up. This beer hall also has a rather large biergarten which is worth checking out when the insides of the beer halls are full and it’s nice and sunny out. 

Spatenbrau-Franziskaner-Zelt

Otherwise known as Schottenhamel, Spatenbrau-Franziskaner-Zelt is the oldest beer tent at Oktoberfest, and as such the hall where Oktoberfest is opened every year, with the Munich mayor tapping the first keg in the hall at midday on the first Saturday of the event. The hall can host more than 10,000 people and is preferred by locals and calmer people. 

Oktoberfest Speciality Tents

Armbrustschützenzelt

With its name literally translating to “crossbow marksmen”, the Armbrustschützenzelt beer hall is famous for its crossbow competition. This makes the beer tent one of the more traditional, and with a more subdued atmosphere, but definitely worth one of the Paulaner beers they serve there while watching the spectacle. 

Fischer-Vroni

The Fischer-Vroni beer tent is famous for its Steckerlfisch or fish-on-a-stick offerings – delicious grilled trout, mackerel and other fish, prepared over a long BBQ and served alongside Augustiner beers – the only beer hall apart from Augustiner-Festhalle to do so. Check out their beer garden on a sunny day. 

Käfer Wiesn-Schänke

The Käfer Wiesn-Schänke is a classier beer hall favoured by celebrities, hosted by the Käfer family who have a famous gourmet food store in Munich. Celebrities and gourmet mean that we’re probably not going to get let in, but if you do feel like one of the Hacker-Pschorr beers that they serve it’s probably worth a try. Make sure you wear your finest Oktoberfest outfits!

Kufflers Weinzelt

The name literally translates to Kufflers Wine Tent, so you can bet that Kufflers Weinzelt is focused on delicious wines. Featuring mainly German wines, if you’ve already had your fix of riesling you’ll find Australia, Italian, French, Spanish and international wines there too. This tent is renowned as being a bit more sophisticated than other beer halls. 

Marstall Festzelt

As a homage to Oktoberfest’s horse racing tradition, the Marstall Festzelt has a horse focus, with a huge carousel occupying the middle of the beer hall. Marstall means royal stables in German and has a slightly elevated ambience with a focus on finer food and serves Spaten beer. 

Ochsenbraterei

With its name meaning ox roastery the Ochsenbraterei beer tent specialised in whole oxen roasted on spits over fires. The smell of the roast ox permeates not only the beer hall, but for passers by too, and can be recognised by its huge robotic ox twirling over the front door, and serves Spaten beer.

Schützen-Festzelt

The Marksmen’s Festival Tent, Schützen-Festzelt is a locals focused beer hall with crossbow and air rifle competitions and serves delicious Löwenbräu beer.

Oktoberfest Tent Reservations

Theoretically, you do not need a reservation to get into Oktoberfest’s beer tents. All tents are open to the public, until they are full. Problem is that they quite often fill up and therefore having a reservation can come in handy. Oktoberfest beer hall reservations generally require you to purchase food and will come with a minimum spend. Also, the tables that are available to be reserved are generally towards the edges of the beer hall, where it’s more subdued, so if you’re looking for a lively raucous atmosphere this won’t be the perfect place for you.  Stoke Travel recommends going in without reservations and finding tables to sit at, joining strangers and getting the full Oktoberfest experience. If, however, you want to make an Oktoberfest tent reservation you can check out our Oktoberfest packages and our customer service team can help you out, or you can click on any of the links above and talk to the beer tents directly.  And for more information, check out our Oktoberfest guide. And for the best value Oktoberfest outfits, and the best value/most fun stay in Munich, make sure you reserve your spot with us at Stoketoberfest, where all your new best friends and drinking buddies are waiting for you.  Check our Oktoberfest packages here.

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