Apart from the beer gardens, there are the beer halls, the most well-known of which is the famous Hofbrohaus, founded by Duke Wilhelm V in 1589. This huge beer hall features a cavernous room with wooden tables, vaulted ceilings and decorative murals on the wall. It is also well known for its waitresses who somehow battle through the crowds carrying several huge mugs of beer in each hand. And what would a beer hall be without a traditional German ‘oompah’ brass band? The band has moved with the times – on most days they play rock and folk classics as well as traditional German songs. The Hofbrohaus is noisy and rowdy, but is still a unique experience especially as you will almost certainly end up sharing your table with strangers, encouraging you to sing along. Even the servings are large at the Hofbrohaus – the standard serving is a mug containing almost 2 pints. The Hofbrohaus is strictly for the tourists – most locals would rather drink at one of the quieter taverns.
You can also find many of the rowdier beer halls and taverns in and around the Schwabing district. This rather bohemian neighborhood, near the university is home to students, artistic types and various hangers-on. Many bars in this area have a ‘happy hour’ with cheap drinks between 6 and 8pm, making it a convenient way to finish a day’s sightseeing in the city. One of the best places to drink in Schwabing is at the tiny beer garden, hidden away between apartment buildings, and belonging to the historic Max-Emanuel tavern.