Category: Food & Beer

Beer isn’t just served at Oktoberfest — it’s the whole point. Only 6 Oktoberfest breweries are permitted to pour at the festival, all operating under strict Munich city rules. Here’s what you’re actually drinking, who brews it, how strong it is, and how to order like you’ve done this before.

Only six breweries — and that’s the law

By strict tradition and Munich city rules, only beer brewed within the Munich city limits by the six historic breweries may be served at Oktoberfest:

• Augustiner — the oldest, a local favourite, and the only brewery still serving from wooden barrels at the festival. Widely considered the most authentic Wiesn experience.
• Hacker-Pschorr — “Heaven of the Bavarians,” smooth and classic. The tent has one of the best atmospheres for first-timers.
• Hofbräu — the state-owned brewery behind the famous Hofbräuhaus in the city centre. Note: the Hofbräuhaus and the Hofbräu tent on the Wiesn are two different places.
• Löwenbräu — the “lion’s brew,” with the mechanical roaring lion mascot above the tent entrance that roars when a new barrel is tapped.
• Paulaner — one of the best-known Munich names worldwide. The Paulaner Festzelt is one of the largest tents on the grounds, seating 8,450.
• Spaten — the brewery whose beer is tapped at the opening ceremony when the mayor shouts “O’zapft is!” (It is tapped!)

All six brew to the Reinheitsgebot — Germany’s centuries-old beer purity law — using only water, malt, hops, and yeast.

The 6 breweries at a glance

Want to pick the right tent for your visit? See the full breakdown in our Oktoberfest Beer Tent Guide — including which tents take walk-ins versus which require advance reservations.

The 6 Oktoberfest breweries in detail

The comparison table covers the essentials. This section goes deeper — brewery history, what the beer actually tastes like, and what makes each one distinctive at the festival.

Augustiner-Bräu

Founded: 1328. Munich’s oldest brewery, and the only one at Oktoberfest still serving beer from wooden barrels (vom Holzfass) rather than stainless steel kegs. This matters because wood is porous: the beer develops a slightly rounder, less sharp carbonation as it conditions in the barrel. Most Munich locals will tell you Augustiner is simply the best beer at the Wiesn — and it’s not a close competition in their view.

What it tastes like: The Augustiner Edelstoff (5.9% ABV) is pale golden but noticeably richer than a standard Festbier. Malt-forward with a clean, slightly sweet finish and minimal hop bitterness. Less carbonated than the steel-keg alternatives. It goes down dangerously smoothly for a full-litre serve.

At the festival: Augustiner-Festhalle seats 6,000 inside and 3,000 in the beer garden. The crowd skews Munich resident and family rather than international tourist. Beer price: €14.90 — the cheapest large tent. Reservations sell out in October/November the year before; walk-ins best attempted before 10:30 a.m. on a weekday.

Hacker-Pschorr

Founded: 1417 (Hacker); merged with Pschorr in 1972. Today owned by Paulaner AG, though brewed independently. The Hacker-Festzelt is nicknamed the “Himmel der Bayern” — Heaven of the Bavarians — for the famous ceiling painted to look like an open Bavarian sky, complete with white clouds and blue-and-white diamond patterns.

What it tastes like: Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest (6.1% ABV) is a classic golden Festbier — crisp, well-balanced, with a touch more hop presence than Augustiner. Slightly drier on the finish, which makes it more refreshing over a long session. Many people who find Hofbräu too sweet prefer Hacker-Pschorr.

At the festival: One of the best first-timer choices — high energy without being chaotic, beautiful interior, strong band. Seats 6,900 inside and 2,400 outside. Better walk-in chances than Augustiner on weekday mornings.

Hofbräu München

Founded: 1589 by Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria as the royal court brewery (Hofbräu = “court brew”). Now state-owned by the Free State of Bavaria. The Hofbräuhaus in the city centre is entirely separate from the Hofbräu tent on the Wiesn — common point of confusion.

What it tastes like: Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier (6.3% ABV) is the highest-ABV beer at the festival among the major tents. Fuller-bodied and slightly sweeter than Hacker-Pschorr, with a honey-malt character. It’s easy to drink but stronger than it seems — pace yourself.

At the festival: The Hofbräu-Festzelt is the most international tent. English is the dominant language by evening; the standing area near the entrance lets you experience the atmosphere even without a seat. High turnover means walk-in chances are better here than at most other top tents. Seats 6,896 inside and 3,000 outside.

Löwenbräu

Founded: 1383. The name means “lion’s brew” — the mechanical roaring lion above the tent entrance (and the lion on the Löwenbräu logo) is one of the most-photographed moments at the Wiesn. The lion roars and illuminates when a new barrel is tapped. Löwenbräu has been owned by InBev since 2003, though the Munich brewing tradition has continued.

What it tastes like: Löwenbräu Oktoberfestbier (6.1% ABV) sits in the middle of the flavour range — more body than a light lager, less sweetness than Hofbräu, a clean malt character with a slightly bitter, dry finish. Popular with FC Bayern football supporters who make up a portion of the regular tent crowd.

At the festival: The Löwenbräu-Festzelt draws a mix of locals and tourists, with a livelier local skew than Hofbräu. Better walk-in prospects than most tents because the name doesn’t carry the same international pull. Seats 5,700 inside, 2,800 outside.

Paulaner

Founded: 1634 by Paulaner monks (Minim friars) at a monastery on the Nockherberg hill south of Munich, as a way to sustain themselves during Lent. Now one of the largest exported German beer brands in the world. The Paulaner Festzelt is the largest tent on the entire Wiesn.

What it tastes like: Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (6.0% ABV) is a golden Festbier leaning toward crisp and clean — well-attenuated with a smooth, slightly malty palate and gentle carbonation. It’s very drinkable, designed for volume. Arguably the most consistent pour at the festival because of the scale of the tent’s operation.

At the festival: With 8,450 indoor seats and 2,450 in the beer garden, the Paulaner Festzelt is the most likely large tent to still have walk-in space on a Saturday afternoon — scale works in your favour. One of the best bands on the Wiesn. Beer price: €15.30.

Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

Founded: 1397. Spaten (German for “spade”) holds a significant historical claim: it was the brewery that first commercialised the Märzen style in 1872 and helped establish the modern Oktoberfest beer tradition. The mayor uses a Spaten keg for the opening ceremony — the first mallet tap at noon on the first Saturday is on a Spaten barrel in the Schottenhamel tent.

What it tastes like: Spaten Oktoberfestbier (5.9% ABV) is the mildest and most restrained of the six — pale gold, clean, lightly hoppy, very easy to drink. Lower perceived alcohol than Hofbräu. A good choice for people who prefer something less sweet or who are planning a long day.

At the festival: The Spaten-Franziskaner-Festhalle is one of the quieter large tents — less tourist traffic than Hofbräu or Paulaner, genuinely good walk-in prospects throughout the festival. The large beer garden (5,000 seats outside) makes it one of the better tents in good weather. Total indoor capacity: 5,400.

How to pick which brewery to drink at

The honest answer: the tent you can get into shapes the decision as much as the beer. But if you can choose:

• You want the most authentic, Munich-local experience: Augustiner. Full stop. Every Munich person you ask will say the same thing.
• You’re a first-timer and want guaranteed atmosphere: Hacker-Pschorr or Paulaner — energetic, beautiful interior (Hacker) or easiest to actually get in (Paulaner).
• You want to walk in without a reservation, any day: Spaten-Franziskaner or Paulaner on weekday mornings; Hofbräu for the standing area option on evenings.
• You prefer a lighter, more refreshing beer: Spaten (lowest ABV, cleanest profile) or Hacker-Pschorr.
• You prefer a fuller, richer beer: Augustiner (from barrel) or Hofbräu (highest ABV, most body).

What to eat with Oktoberfest beer

All six beers pair naturally with the classic Wiesn food — they were designed together, historically speaking. But some pairings work better than others:

• Hendl (roast chicken): Works with everything. The crispy skin and savory fat balance the malt sweetness of any Festbier. Order it.
• Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle): Best with a richer beer — Augustiner or Hofbräu. The fat needs something substantial.
• Brez’n (pretzel): The salty, chewy pretzel is the default snack between rounds and cuts the sweetness of the beer perfectly. Essential.
• Käsespätzle (cheese noodles): A rich dish best alongside the crisper, lighter Spaten or Hacker-Pschorr.
• Obatzda (camembert spread): Served with bread and radishes. Its pungency works well with the malt character of Augustiner Festbier.

The one rule: eat before you drink. A full litre at 6% ABV hits harder on an empty stomach than the Bavarians let on.

Ordering beer at Oktoberfest: what to actually say

The process is simple but has a few non-obvious steps for first-timers:

1. Find a seat. You won’t be served standing (except at Hofbräu’s entrance area and a few outdoor counters). Sit down first.
2. Catch your server’s eye. Servers carry 10–14 steins at once and cover large sections. Make clear eye contact and raise your hand — don’t call out.
3. Order by number. “Zwei Maß, bitte” (two beers, please) or “Eine Maß, bitte” (one beer). The server will ask if you also want food.
4. Pay per round, cash. Most tents are still cash-only. The server announces the total; round up to the nearest euro or two for the tip. Hand the cash directly — no separate tip line.
5. Don’t take the glass. The steins are rented from the tent. Walking out with one is technically theft; fines can apply. Souvenir steins are sold at booths around the grounds.

If you want a specific beer style and are unsure whether the tent you’re in serves it, ask: “Gibt es hier auch ein Radler?” (Do you also have Radler here?) — the servers appreciate the German even if your pronunciation is imperfect.

Märzen vs Festbier: what are you actually drinking?

This is the question most visitors never think to ask — and it’s worth knowing.

Historically, Oktoberfest beer was Märzen — a darker, amber lager brewed in March and lagered (cold-stored) through the summer, then served at the festival. Rich, malty, and around 5.5–6% ABV. It was the traditional style for over a century.

In the late 1990s, most of the six breweries quietly switched to a lighter, more drinkable style now called Festbier — pale golden, crisper, slightly lower in bitterness, and still around 6% ABV. It goes down easier, which suits a festival where people are drinking by the litre for several hours.

Bottom line: what’s in your stein at most tents today is Festbier. If you want the traditional Märzen experience, head to the Augustiner-Festhalle — they’ve largely stuck with the original style and still serve from wooden barrels, which no other tent does.

What is Oktoberfestbier?

Whether Märzen or Festbier, all festival beer is brewed specifically for the Wiesn by the six licensed breweries. It’s full-bodied, smooth, and a little stronger than everyday lager — running 5.8–6.4% ABV. Combined with the serving size (a full litre), it adds up faster than you’d expect.

The Maß: beer by the litre

There’s only one size that matters: the Maß (pronounced “mahss”) — a full one-litre glass stein. That’s about 2.1 US pints in a single glass, and it’s heavy when full (the empty glass alone weighs about a kilo). There are no half-litres in the big tents.

• You must have a seat to be served. No seat, no Maß.
• Flag down your server (often carrying 10+ steins at once) rather than going to a bar.
• Tip by rounding up — €1–2 per Maß is customary and keeps the beer coming.
• Cash only in most tents.
• Not a beer drinker? Most tents also serve Radler (beer + lemonade), wheat beer, soft drinks, and water. The Weinzelt serves wine.

What a Maß costs in 2026

A Maß costs €14.80 to €15.90 in 2026, averaging €15.61 across the 14 large tents — cheapest at the Augustiner-Festhalle (€14.90), priciest at Armbrustschützen-Festzelt, Bräurosl, and Löwenbräu-Festzelt (€15.90). Add your tip on top.

See our 2026 dates and schedule guide for the full tent-by-tent price breakdown.

Getting a table: reservations matter

The most important thing to know about beer at Oktoberfest is that you need a seat to be served. Walk-ins are possible on weekday afternoons, but weekends — especially Saturdays — fill up within minutes of opening. Most of the large tents are reservation-only by Saturday lunchtime.

See our complete Oktoberfest table reservation guide for how to book, which tents are easiest to walk into, and what to do if you arrive without a reservation.

How to toast like a local

When the band strikes up “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit,” everyone stands, raises their Maß, and toasts together — it happens constantly. The etiquette:

1. Raise your stein and find people to clink with.
2. Make eye contact as you clink — skipping it is considered bad luck and bad manners.
3. Say “Prost!” and take a drink.
4. Set the stein down before the next song.

And the golden rule: drink at your own pace. A litre at a time, at 6%, adds up fast — alternate with water and food, and you’ll last the whole day.

What’s next after Oktoberfest? Bavaria’s Christmas markets start in late November. See our guides to Nuremberg, Rothenburg and Regensburg.

Prost! Next, pick your spot with our Beer Tent Guide, line your stomach with our Food Guide, and get the full plan in our First-Timer’s Guide.

Oktoberfest runs on beer — but the food is half the joy, and pacing yourself with a proper Bavarian meal is the secret to surviving a full day in the tents. Here’s what to order, what it costs in 2026, and how to eat well whether you’re splurging inside a tent or grabbing something great from a stall.

The classics you have to try

Hendl (roast chicken) — The undisputed king of Oktoberfest. Golden, crispy-skinned half-chickens turn slowly on the spit and arrive juicy and perfectly salted. If you order one thing, order this.

Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) — A Bavarian heavyweight: slow-roasted pork knuckle with shatteringly crisp crackling and rich meat inside, usually served with potato dumplings (Knödel), sauerkraut, and gravy. Hearty enough to share.

Brezn (giant pretzel) — The iconic soft pretzel: chewy, golden, dusted with coarse salt, and big enough to be a meal-starter on its own. Perfect with beer and a smear of Obatzda (a spiced Bavarian cheese spread).

Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick) — Whole mackerel or trout grilled over open flames until smoky and salty. A lighter, beloved alternative to all the pork — the Fischer-Vroni tent is famous for it.

Weißwurst (white sausage) — The traditional Bavarian breakfast: mild veal sausages gently simmered, served with sweet mustard and a pretzel. By custom they’re eaten before noon — and you don’t eat the skin.

Würstl (sausages) — Bratwurst and other grilled sausages, usually served with sauerkraut and mustard. A reliable, quicker option.

Käsespätzle — Bavaria’s answer to mac and cheese: soft egg noodles layered with melted cheese and crispy onions. The go-to comforting vegetarian dish.

Don’t skip dessert: apple strudel (warm, with vanilla sauce), Kaiserschmarrn (shredded, caramelized pancake with fruit compote), and Gebrannte Mandeln (candied roasted almonds) from the stalls.

What it costs in 2026

Prices climb every year, but as a guide for 2026:

Inside the tents, expect €16–€28 for a main. The smart budget move: eat from the food stalls outside the tents, where a great meal runs about €8–€16.

Cash is king. Most tents and stalls run on cash for food and drink. Bring enough, and have small notes ready for tips.

Eating on a budget

• Stalls over tents for mains — same Bavarian flavors, lower prices.
• Share the big plates — a Schweinshaxe easily feeds two.
• Pretzel + Obatzda makes a cheap, filling snack with your beer.
• Eat a real breakfast (Weißwurst and a pretzel) so you’re not buying full meals all day.

Dietary notes

It’s a meat-and-potatoes festival, but you won’t go hungry if you don’t eat meat: Käsespätzle, pretzels, Obatzda, potato dishes, and Kaiserschmarrn are all vegetarian. Vegan and gluten-free options are limited inside the tents — plan to graze the stalls, where choices have grown in recent years.

What’s next after Oktoberfest? Bavaria’s Christmas markets start in late November. See our guides to Nuremberg, Rothenburg and Regensburg.

Hungry for more? See our Beer Tent Guide for which tent serves the best food, our First-Timer’s Guide for tent etiquette, and the Oktoberfest 2026 Dates & Schedule to plan your visit.

The Oktoberfest beer tents are the festival. There are 14 large tents on the Theresienwiese, each run by one of the 6 licensed Munich breweries, each with its own atmosphere, reservation system, and walk-in strategy. Choosing the right tent — and knowing how to get in — makes or breaks your day. Here’s the complete guide.

How the tents work

• There are 14 large tents, each run by a different host and pouring one of Munich’s six official beers. Each seats 5,000–10,000 people indoors and out.
• Entry is free, but you can only be served if you have a seat at a table. No seat, no Maß.
• On weekends the popular tents fill up and close their doors — sometimes by late morning. Arrive early or reserve in advance.
• Beyond the big 14, there are smaller tents and the historical Oide Wiesn worth exploring.

All 14 Oktoberfest beer tents compared

Beer prices at Oktoberfest tents 2026

Beer prices vary slightly by tent. All prices are for a 1-litre Maß.

Prices confirmed for Oktoberfest 2026. Tips of €1–2 per Maß are standard and expected.

Oktoberfest tent opening hours 2026

• Monday–Friday: Tents open at 10:00 a.m.; beer service starts at 10:00 a.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: Tents open at 9:00 a.m.; beer service starts at 9:00 a.m.
• Last orders / last entry: Around 10:00–10:30 p.m. at most tents.
• Tents close: 11:30 p.m. (Käfer and Kufflers Weinzelt close at 1:00 a.m.)
• Opening day (Sept 19, 2026): Tents open from 9:00 a.m. but beer service starts across the grounds at noon, after the Schottenhamel keg tap.

Walk-in seats are easiest to find in the first two hours after opening and again after 8 p.m., when large reserved groups begin to leave. The beer gardens fill more slowly than indoor seating — a useful backup on busy afternoons.

How Oktoberfest tent reservations work

Each of the 14 tents runs its own booking system independently — there is no central Oktoberfest reservation platform. You book directly with each tent’s website.

When do bookings open?

Most tents open online reservations in October or November the year before the festival. Reservations for Oktoberfest 2026 opened in October–November 2025. Popular tents — Augustiner, Käfer, Schottenhamel opening weekend — sell out within days. If you missed the window, check the tent’s website for a waiting list, or look at hotel packages that bundle tent reservations with accommodation.

What a reservation includes

Reservations guarantee your table seats plus a food and drink minimum spend — typically €30–50 per person, which is applied as vouchers for your first drinks and food. There is no separate ticket fee; the minimum spend is the cost. You pay it regardless of whether you use all the vouchers.

Reservation difficulty by tent

The 6 tents most worth knowing in detail

Augustiner-Festhalle

Munich’s oldest brewery (1328) and the only one still serving from wooden barrels — vom Holzfass — which keeps the beer cooler and, many regulars insist, smoother. The interior is warmer and more low-lit than the high-energy tents; the crowd skews Munich resident and family rather than international tourist. Beer is €14.90 — the cheapest among the large tents. Reservations sell out within days of opening in October. Walk-in strategy: arrive before 10:30 a.m. on a weekday; the beer garden fills slower than the indoor hall and is worth checking first.

Hofbräu-Festzelt

The tent most international visitors end up in, whether they planned it or not. English is the dominant language by evening; the standing area at the entrance lets you absorb the atmosphere without needing a reserved table. That standing area is also why Hofbräu stays accessible when other tents have closed their doors to walk-ins — you can be inside and part of it even without a seat. The band is reliable but the tent earns its reputation on energy rather than refinement. An excellent first tent; probably not where you want to spend your second visit to Oktoberfest.

Paulaner Festzelt

The largest tent on the Wiesn at 8,450 indoor seats, with a 2,450-seat beer garden attached. Because of the sheer size, it’s consistently the tent most likely to have walk-in seats even on busy evenings. The Paulaner band is among the best on the grounds, and the tent runs at reliably high energy that peaks around 8–9 p.m. First-timers often underestimate how much easier Paulaner is to walk into on a Saturday compared to Augustiner or Hacker. If you have no reservation on a weekend, this is the tent to try first.

Hacker-Festzelt

The “Himmel der Bayern” — Heaven of the Bavarians — takes its name from the famous painted sky ceiling: a blue expanse of clouds and Bavarian diamonds overhead. It’s the tent that most visually distinguishes itself from the rest, and the one most photographers are aiming at. The atmosphere strikes a balance between genuine energy and manageable chaos — louder and more celebratory than Augustiner, but less chaotic than Hofbräu. A strong first-timer choice for anyone who wants real Oktoberfest atmosphere without total tourist saturation. Hacker-Pschorr beer is excellent.

Schottenhamel-Festhalle

The most historically significant tent: the opening keg is tapped here by the Mayor of Munich at noon on the first Saturday, signalling the start of Oktoberfest for the entire grounds. Outside of opening weekend, Schottenhamel draws a younger crowd — students and early-twenties visitors dominate the evening atmosphere. It has a reputation as the loudest and most energetic of the large tents by 9 p.m. Reservations for opening Saturday go largely to city officials and major sponsors; they are virtually impossible to obtain publicly.

Löwenbräu-Festzelt

Famous for the 4.5-metre mechanical lion that roars “Löwenbräu!” at intervals above the entrance. Inside, the tent draws a strong following from football supporters — FC Bayern fans especially — and has a noticeably more local feel than Hofbräu or Paulaner. The Löwenbräu beer is clean and well-kept. Walk-in chances are better than average because the tent doesn’t attract the same tourist volume that Hofbräu’s global brand recognition brings. A solid, underrated choice for a first or second visit.

Which tent should you go to?

Best Oktoberfest tent for first-timers

Start at the Hacker-Festzelt or Hofbräu-Festzelt. Hofbräu is the most international — you’ll hear English everywhere, the standing area lets you soak up the atmosphere without a table, and the energy is immediately what you imagined Oktoberfest to be. Hacker is slightly calmer with the same fun, plus the famous painted ceiling. Both are easy to walk into on weekday afternoons.

Best tent for a traditional experience

The Augustiner-Festhalle. It’s the only tent still serving from wooden barrels, the beer is €14.90 (cheapest on the grounds), and the crowd skews local rather than tourist. The atmosphere is warm and gemütlich rather than loud party. Book in advance — it’s the most popular tent with Munich residents.

Best tents to walk into without a reservation

On a weekday before 2 p.m., almost any tent has walk-in seats. The easiest are Hofbräu (largest international crowd, high turnover), Paulaner (biggest tent, most seats), and Spaten-Franziskaner (quieter, large beer garden). On weekends, aim for a weekday morning arrival — tents open at 9–10 a.m. and walk-in seats go fast after noon.

Best tent for the opening ceremony

Schottenhamel-Festhalle — the mayor taps the first keg here at noon on opening Saturday. You need a reservation booked many months in advance; there are no walk-in seats on opening day at Schottenhamel.

Best tent for food

Ochsenbraterei for the spit-roasted ox (there’s a tally board of how many have been eaten). Fischer-Vroni for Steckerlfisch — grilled fish on a stick, a genuine Oktoberfest tradition. Schützen-Festzelt for roast suckling pig. All three are worth visiting even if you only stay for one round.

Best tent for a late night

Käfer Wies’n-Schänke and Kufflers Weinzelt both stay open until 1 a.m. — all other tents close by 11:30 p.m. Käfer is the celebrity tent with excellent food; the Weinzelt is wine-focused and slightly lower-key.

The Oide Wiesn: the quieter, older Oktoberfest

Set apart at the southern end of the grounds, the Oide Wiesn (“Old Oktoberfest”) is a separate section with vintage carousel rides, traditional folk music rather than pop hits, and three smaller tents: Museumszelt, Volkssängerzelt Zum Schönheitskönigin, and Festzelt Tradition. Beer here is cheaper (from €14.80), the crowd is older and more local, and the noise level is human rather than arena. A small entrance fee (a few euros) keeps the casual foot traffic out. Worth visiting even briefly for the contrast.

Tips for getting a seat

• Reserve in advance for evenings and weekends — directly with each tent’s own website. See our full reservations guide for the booking process, costs, and which tents are hardest to get into.
• No reservation? Go on a weekday, arrive before noon, and be flexible about which tent you end up in.
• Tables are shared — a cheerful “Ist hier noch frei?” (“Is this seat free?”) is all you need to join strangers.
• Cash only in most tents. Bring small notes for tips (€1–2 per Maß).
• Check the 2026 dates guide for which days are quietest — weekday afternoons in the second week are the walk-in sweet spot.

What’s next after Oktoberfest? Bavaria’s Christmas markets start in late November. See our guides to Nuremberg, Rothenburg and Regensburg.

New to the Wiesn? Pair this with our First-Timer’s Guide, our What to Wear Guide, our Beer Guide, and the 2026 Dates & Schedule to plan which days to go.

Ready to book? Once you know which tent you want, the Table Reservations Guide covers how to book directly with each tent, when booking opens, and how to get a seat without a reservation.

Taking a stein home? Authentic Oktoberfest beer steins on Amazon — official licensed Munich brewery steins ship worldwide.