153 Best Bars in Germany

Among Munich's largest beer gardens (5,000 seats)—and in fact its oldest—Augustiner Keller is one of the more authentic beer gardens, with excellent food, beautiful chestnut shade trees, a mixed local crowd, and Munich Augustiner beer.

Young German artists perform most nights at b-flat. The well-known and well-attended Wednesday jam sessions focus on experimental jazz.

In an imposing power station in a barren stretch of land between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain (the name borrows from both neighborhoods), Berghain has achieved international fame as the hedonistic heart of techno music—it was originally a 1990s techno club called Ostgut. It's only open as a club on weekends (for 48-plus hours straight, from midnight on Friday to early Monday), though many international music acts pass through for concert performances during the week. It's become something of a local tradition to arrive on Sunday morning or afternoon and dance until closing. Upstairs, the slightly smaller (but by no means intimate) Panorama Bar opens on Friday at 10 pm and offers different beats; on the ground floor, the easier to get into Säule opens on Thursday at 10 pm. There's also a gay club, Lab.Oratory, and a smaller club with occasional events, Kantine am Berghain.

The only true beer garden in the center of the city, and therefore the easiest to find, is the one at Viktualienmarkt. It was introduced in 1970 and its now grown chestnut trees protect from heat and rain. The beer on tap rotates among the six major Munich breweries to keep everyone happy throughout the year. 

The entrance is so Berlin: an unmarked, nondescript door across from Weinsbergpark has a buzzer that reads \"Bar.\" But once you're let inside this dark and moody speakeasy and perched at the long table in its main room, which only seats 12, you'll be treated to classic, well-executed cocktails and a hip and lively crowd (though warning: it can get quite smoky inside).

Frequented by students and hipsters, this lively two-story bar near the main train station is famous for its cheap drinks and kitschy atmosphere.

Tucked inside a brick-walled former ice house, this atmospheric Altstadt wine bar touts a 250-strong list of biodynamic and natural European wines, with many available by the glass, all hand-selected from small producers.

Belly up to the wood bar of this pint-sized Altstadt institution and ask for an ice-cold shot of Düsseldorf’s famous ruby-red liqueur, Killepitsch. Or do as the locals do and order one through the tiny bar window, then sip it al fresco standing around the high outdoor tables.

The young sommeliers here take a fresh, modern approach to wine, departing from the typical German Rieslings and French Pinot Noirs (though those are on the menu, too) and offering many lesser-known varietals. The well-curated list of wines by the glass includes natural and biodynamic options; ask for the separate card of rare (and pricier) wines, also by the glass. The loungelike space and small garden terrace attract a well-heeled crowd; weekend evenings are particularly lively.

This atmospheric brewery and distillery is the place to come for a one-of-a-kind local tipple. You can see the copper kettles where the brewery's superb Rotbier (red beer) is made, as well as sampling the locally produced single-malt whisky, organic gin, and malt liqueur.

This is one of the city's midsize beer gardens but undoubtedly one of the best. Its location just off pretty cobblestoned Wiener Platz makes it attractive enough, plus the food's good, and it serves the same beer as the Hofbräuhaus. There's a play area for children as well as a lounge area with sand and sun loungers and a candy corner.

Since 1997, Jazzbar Vogler has staged jazz concerts in its intimate, dimly lit space.

Since the last 1970s, Unterfahrt has been the place for the serious jazzologist. Still, you are also welcome if you are a Jazz newbie or want to introduce your kids to this genre: there are special events for them as well. 

Part of the RheinMain CongressCenter, this swanky wine bar has an excellent selection of whites, reds, and rosés, both local and international, along with a choice of beers and cocktails. Light snacks, including flammkuchen (baked thin-crust pizza), carpaccio, and salads, are also available. However, it's only open on weekends if there are events.

Out in the district of Nymphenburg is the huge Königlicher Hirschgarten, Munich's largest beer garden, with 8,000 seats. It's also a family-oriented beer garden; it even has a deer reserve. To get there, rent bikes and make a day of it in the park and beer garden, or take the S-bahn to Hirschgarten, then walk about 15 minutes. No matter how you get there, it'll be worth it.

One part Italian restaurant, one part cocktail lounge: Masi combines the best of two worlds. While you are sipping on your favorite wine or long drink, you can order traditional Italian or international dishes such as Angus burgers while you watch Munich's high society perusing the Maximilianstrasse. The place becomes even more Italian in summer, when the courtyard and terrace are open.  

This is one of Munich's hippest hangouts, a combination restaurant, bar, and nightclub inside a 1930s building in the Old Botanical Garden, plus a sprawling seasonal beer garden outside. It often draws a younger crowd, attracted by a thriving music scene, which ranges from DJs to live bands. There's a great atmosphere to go with the good food and drinks, even better when the sun is shining and the beer garden is open.

Set atop \"Holy Hill,\" so named because Paulaner monks produced beer here as far back as 1627, this brewery/beer garden was entirely refurbished in early 2018. The sprawling shady beer garden, which seats 2,000 people, is a nice break from the touristy beer gardens found in much of the city. Sample handcrafted Paulaner beers made right on-site, including the potent wheat beer Faustus; many are specialty unfiltered brews you can't find elsewhere. The Bavarian cuisine here is particularly good.

As befits its name, this minuscule bar has just a handful of tables and stools, but it’s big on atmosphere, with wood-lined walls decorated with vintage posters, an antique cash register, and an old piano wedged in the corner. 

This sprawling, 600-seat Biergarten is where Berliners go when the urge for a hefeweizen and pretzel strikes. Grab a beer and a snack (a bratwurst is the classic choice), squeeze in at one of the long community tables, and get ready for some marathon drinking—at least as a bystander, if not a participant. If the outdoor boisterousness is too much, opt for an indoor table at the slightly more upscale restaurant, which serves an expanded menu of German classics like Wiener schnitzel. The beer garden is open from April to September, while the restaurant normally operates year-round (with some summer closures, so check before you go).

Modeled after a Tokyo jazz bar, this cozy hangout features classic cocktails, natural wines, and a small selection of snacks; rare for Berlin, they don’t allow smoking inside. Rhinoçéros also holds regular “listening parties” where jazz records are played for a silent audience, followed by drinks and chats.

At Munich's most famous bar, the bartenders are busy shaking cocktails after the curtain comes down at the nearby opera house. On the ground floor is Schumann's Bar am Hofgarten; one floor up, Les Fleurs du Mal has one 27-foot-long table for guests to share and converse with the barman, who will whip up bespoke cocktails based on your preferences. It's closed on Saturday.

Part of the Steuer steakhouse, this handsome wine and cocktail bar, with modern wood paneling and oriental rugs, draws an enthusiastic evening crowd for a tantalizing menu of fresh, inventive cocktails and regional wines by the glass.

The elegant Victoria Bar is a stylish homage to the jet-setters of the 1960s and '70s, and the cocktails are mixed with care. It typically attracts a middle-age, affluent, and artsy crowd.

Not only the city's best beer garden (tucked away in a courtyard behind the ACHAT Hotel), Weltenburg am Dom also serves the city's best beer: a selection of brews, varying from pale gold to jet black, from the nearby Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg—the world's oldest monastery brewery. Even if the weather's bad, you can still enjoy them in the cozy, wood-beamed interior. Feeling peckish? Opt for the exceptional Bockbier Schnitzel; tenderized pork with a mustard pretzel breading, slathered in beer sauce and covered in crispy onions.

For a smooth cocktail, cool lounge music, and jaw-droppingly good views over the city and harbor, try this bar, which is one of the most popular nightspots in town. It's best to book ahead, particularly on weekends.

A-Trane in West Berlin has hosted countless greats throughout the years, including Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis. Numerous free events make it a good place to see jazz on a budget.

Beer fans will be hard-pressed to find a better spot in town to sample that amber nectar. With a number of local beers on tap and more than 60 craft beers to order from, plus a decent selection of German pub food, it's unsurprising that this gastropub has maintained a glowing reputation since opening in early 2013. On weekends, breakfast is served from 10 to 2.