The headquarters of the "Wiesnwirte" in Munich
What's a "Wiesnwirt" up to when there is no Oktoberfest? Besides preparing for the next Oktoberfest, the hosts are all active in restaurants, inns, beer gardens and hotels in and around Munich. We will introduce you to the main houses of the innkeepers and what you can experience there - Oktoberfest feeling all year round and a few surprises!
From "Platzl" to the "Werksviertel Mitte": The Inselkammer Family from the Armbrustschützenzelt
The city office of the Armbrustschützenzelt is somewhat hidden in the alleys of the "Platzl" square in Munich's old town, and all around there is a lot of family Inselkammer: The 4-star Hotel Platzl, where every guest gets a Wiesn package as a welcome present, the restaurant Pfistermühle in a historical house beautifully overgrown with wine, and the restaurant Ayinger am Platzl. The Platzl Hotel also has a little sister, Marias Platzl, located directly at the Auer Dult, which takes place three times a year at the Mariahilfplatz, and the Ayinger in der Au, which is suitable for this. Katharina Inselkammer, who runs the Armbrustschützenzelt together with her husband Peter, is involved in the "kunst-Werk-küche" in the eastern part of the city, both culinary and social.
The Vollmer family from the Augustiner Festhalle: a historic sight in the old town
Just around the corner from the Theresienwiese you will find the Augustiner Bräustuben: In the historic brick building in Landsberger Straße you can not only eat and drink well and cheaply, but malt for brewing beer is still produced here in the traditional way. The actual Augustiner Stammhaus is in the middle of the pedestrian zone between Stachus and Marienplatz. Particularly impressive: the magnificent "Wagner Salons" on the 1st floor, which were renovated with great attention to detail at the end of 2019. In the former living rooms of the brewery family Wagner you can celebrate parties or eat à la carte between magnificent wallpapers and old family photos.
Wieser & Winklhofer from the Festzelt Tradition at Oide Wiesn
Munich residents and tourists alike love the Oide Wiesn and the Festzelt Tradition. By the way, this even exists in the years when there are no nostalgic Wiesn because of the Central Agricultural Festival. During the year the families Wieser and Winklhofer run the Ratskeller under the New Town Hall directly on Marienplatz - a Munich institution with a wine bar, many different rooms, a bistro and a pub where you can get something delicious to eat even at 1am. Among other venues the families also run the Schnitzelwirt.
The hosts of Fischer-Vroni, Stadtmüller & Kustatscher: From Neuhausen to Giesing
The delicious "Steckerlfisch", for which the Fischer-Vroni on the Wiesn is famous, can also be found outside the Oktoberfest season on the Auer Dult and in many Munich beer gardens, for example in the Hirschgarten or the Seehaus in the English Garden. You can also get a taste of Fischer-Vroni in the Jagdschlössl on Rotkreuzplatz in Neuhausen, a few hundred metres further on in the Old Munich Inn Sappralott, the Schweizer-Hof in Pasing, the Lindwurmstüberl and the Giesinger Garten.
Oktoberfest host family Roiderer from the Hacker Festzelt: eating out in Straßlach
For four generations the Gasthof zum Wildpark in the Upper Bavarian village of Straßlach south of Munich has been owned by the Roiderer family. What's special about it: Meat and sausages come exclusively from the in-house butchery. That's why there is also a separate slaughter menu with changing dishes for meat lovers. Fancy a pure Oktoberfest? In summer, the Oktoberfest bands from the Hacker Festzelt, the Kirchdorfer and the Cagey Strings, play in the beer garden.
From Hofbräu Festzelt to the Hofbräukeller: The Steinberg familiy
Silja Steinberg can be met every day from dawn to dusk in the Hofbräu Festzelt during the Oktoberfest - and outside this time in the Hofbräukeller on Wiener Platz in Haidhausen. The restaurant is not only popular for its good Hofbräu beer and Kaiserschmarrn (pancakes), but also for its beautiful beer garden under ancient chestnut trees in the summer. And what not everyone knows is that the Hofbräukeller hosts a whole host of events, from cabaret and mystery dinners to a traditional costume flea market!
Also on offer from the Steinberg family: the Harlachinger Jagdschlössl.
At Prinzregentenstraße: The Käfer family from the Käfer Wiesn-Schänke
At the Oktoberfest, the Käfer Wiesn-Schänke is the celebrity meeting place par excellence. This is the place for those who want to see and be seen and for those who enjoy particularly refined cuisine: Feinkost Käfer is famous beyond the borders of Munich for its fine food. When the Oktoberfest is not in full swing, you can experience this pleasure in the upscale district of Bogenhausen, among others: Not far from the Friedensengel, high above the Isar River, is the parent company. At the Käfer Schänke in Prinzregentenstraße you can shop all year round - from delicatessen to wine and champagne to gifts - and enjoy fine dining. In the bistro and in 16 differently furnished rooms, from the library to the newly furnished Suite 73.
Stephan Kuffler from Kufflers Weinzelt: Seehaus, Hotel München Palace & Co.
"The exotic fellow who sells wine at the largest beer festival in the world" is how Stephan Kuffler describes himself and his Weinzelt. And even beyond the Wiesn, the Kuffler restaurants are anything but ordinary. There is the Seehaus in a unique location on Kleinhesseloher See in the middle of the English Garden: beer garden, breakfast location, café, restaurant or the place for birthday, company and wedding celebrations. In the middle of the old town, on the other hand: the Spatenhaus an der Oper and the (temporarily closed) Haxnbauer. If you feel like sushi and Asian specialties, go to the Mangostin in Thalkirchen, and at the Hotel München Palace in Bogenhausen you can admire Stephan Kuffler's black and white photographs on the walls and in the rooms.
The Spendler family of the Löwenbräufestzelt: Hirschau in the English Garden Munich
In the northern part of the English Garden, the Hirschau is located, run by the Hagn and Spendler family of Löwenbräufestzelt - with great love for tradition and detail. In summer, the large beer garden is a popular place for families to stop for a bite to eat. The best way to get there is by bike. There is an adventure playground for the children, and those who want to meet up in larger groups or for a party in the Hirschau can even make reservations in the beer garden - which is quite unusual in Munich. And in winter? There are curling rinks and a cosy alpine hut where you can celebrate.
The Able family of Marstall: Leger am Dom
The Able family runs the youngest big marquee on the Wiesn: the Marstall, where the Hippodrom used to stand. Daughter Verena Able mainly runs the business in the likewise relatively new restaurant directly opposite Munich's Frauenkirche, the Leger am Dom. The restaurant is furnished in a modern, light and airy style, with specially drawn-in wall arches made of red bricks creating a visual link to Munich's landmark, which is only a few steps away. The cooking? Regional with an international touch.
Antje Schneider and Anneliese Haberl from Ochsenbraterei: the beer garden queens
At the end of 2019, there was a premiere at the Chinaturm in the English Garden: The Christmas Ochsenbraterei! All fans of the Oktoberfest tent, which is famous for its specialities from the ox, could enjoy the famous ox sandwich at the Christmas market at the Chinese Tower or take ox stew and broth for home or as a present. Other beer gardens of the Oktoberfest hosts Schneider and Haber are the Taxisgarten in Gern, Zum Flaucher, the Michaeligarten in the Ostpark, the Hopfengarten in the Westpark and the Kugler Alm in Oberhaching near Munich - according to legend, the "Radler" (beer with lemonade) was invented there on a hot summer day!
Paulaner Festzelt, Schörghuber and Pongratz: Dining in Grünwald
In order to visit the main building of the Paulaner Festzelt, one simply has to follow the Isar river a bit upstream. In spring and summer it is best to cycle along the banks of the Isar to Grünwald. Grünwalder Einkehr is located where there is a particularly good chance of meeting an active or former FC Bayern player. Tuesday is a day of rest, on all other days there is nothing that does not exist: From the secluded garden to the sun terrace and various rooms that can be reserved for parties. Of course there is also à la carte, a lunch offer and always with pleasure live music - a bit like at the Oktoberfest!
Christian and Michael F. Schottenhamel: Nockherberg & Co
The Schottenhamel-Festhalle is not only the oldest tent of the Wiesn, it was also the first time the Oktoberfest was officially opened. And here it is still said on the first Saturday of the Oktoberfest at 12: "O'zapft is!"
The Paulaner am Nockherberg restaurant, known as Nockherberg for short by the people of Munich, enjoys a similar cult status in Munich. Not only does it have its own brewery and a large beer garden, it also hosts the city's most famous strong beer festival, right after carnival and for three weeks! The traditional mocking of politicians "am Berg" is broadcast live on television. Other houses of the Schottenhamel family: The Schlosswirtschaft Schwaige directly at the Nymphenburg Palace, the Weichandhof and the Uhland and Admiral Hotels.
From Schützen-Festhalle to the Löwenbräukeller: The Reinbold family
The Schützenzelt at the foot of the Bavaria is known for its particularly exuberant party atmosphere, the Löwenbräukeller at Munich's Stiglmaierplatz with its striking tower and green roof is the landmark of the quarter Maxvorstadt. Great festivals take place here, for example the "Nacht der Tracht" or the "Starkbierfest" (strong beer festival). In winter there are curling lanes, in summer a beautiful beer garden in the middle of the city. And: The Löwenbräukeller is a modern event location for parties and conferences of all kinds. Whether decoration or buffet: everything is possible, from traditional Bavarian to exotic, the Reinbold family sets great store by this. The Wiesnwirte family also runs the restaurant "Zum Franziskaner" in the Residenzstraße.
