Series Munich's beer gardens: #1 Chinesischer Turm

I decided to start a little series about one of the most important institutions in Bavaria and the Münchners' favourite hangout during spring, summer, and autumn: the famous beer gardens of Munich.

A Biergarten (beer garden) is defined - by Bavarian law (!!!) - as a garden-like open-air area (typically shaded by chestnut trees), where beer is served and it is allowed to bring your own food (but not beverages, of course). Beers (and usually all other drinks, too) are normally served in 1L steins (and no smaller sizes!). Opening hours are typically from noon to midnight. There are over 20 beer gardens with more than 1,000 seats in Munich. Virtually all beer gardens serve Munich beers only.

The beer gardens in Munich are the most popular place for socializing in the city. Locals and tourists, students and professors, white and blue collar workers alike, gather here to have a cold beer or Radler in the shade of the chestnut trees, have a Brotzeit, and enjoy the proverbial Bavarian Gemütlichkeit. It is most common to simply ask a perfect stranger, if you can join at a table when there are no free ones.

So the first Biergarten in my series is Chinesischer Turm, probably the most famous beer garden and therefore also the most overrun by tourists. With 7,500 seats it is the second biggest in the city and is located right in the middle of Englischer Garten. The Chinese pagoda in the center of the beer garden was built in 1790, destroyed during WWII by heavy bombing and rebuilt in 1952. On weekends a oompah band is playing on the first storey of the tower to entertain the masses. The beer brand served at Chinesischer Turm is Hofbräu.