Chinesischer Turm e.V.7,000 seats under the chestnut trees
The Beer Garden at the Chinese Tower
Munich has grander squares and older churches, but if you want to see the city at its most relaxed, come here: the beer garden at the Chinese Tower, about 7,000 seats around a wooden pagoda, in the middle of the English Garden. It is the second-largest beer garden in the city, and beer has been served on this spot since 1 April 1792.
- Seats
- About 7,000; second-largest beer garden in Munich
- Serving since
- 1 April 1792
- Own food
- Expressly allowed, drinks from the taps only
- Operator
- Haberl family (chinaturm.de); reservations and menus there
- Music
- Brass bands from the tower's first floor on summer Sundays and holidays
Rule one: you may bring your own food
The single most surprising thing for visitors: in a genuine Bavarian beer garden you may unpack your own picnic. Families arrive with cheese, radishes, pretzels and cake; only the drinks must come from the taps. This is not a loophole but the very definition of the institution, defended by Munich's famous beer garden revolution of 1995 and enshrined in Bavaria's beer garden decree. If you want the full story of how radishes became a constitutional matter, our German Biergarten page tells it in detail.
What makes this beer garden special
Three things. First, the setting: you sit in a landscape park, not a courtyard, under old chestnuts with a 25-metre pagoda in the middle. Second, the music: on summer Sundays and public holidays a brass band plays from the first floor of the tower, a tradition with roots in the early 19th century. Third, the mix: students and pensioners, tourists and regulars, all at the same long tables. There is no dress code and no reservation for the classic self-service area.
Practical notes for visitors
Seating is first come, first served in the self-service area; tables with table service are marked. Bring cash as a fallback, though cards are increasingly accepted. The beer garden is open in the warm season and in good weather; in Advent the square hosts the Christmas market instead. For opening hours, menus and reservations contact the operator, the Haberl family, at chinaturm.de.
The association at the tower
This website is run by Chinesischer Turm e.V., the Munich association that keeps the tower's traditions alive. We do not run the beer garden; we are its most loyal regulars. Our traditions page explains the culture, and our get-involved page shows how to join us at the Stammtisch.
Frequently asked questions
How many seats are there?
About 7,000, second only to the Hirschgarten in Munich.
Can I really bring my own food?
Yes, expressly. Drinks must be bought at the taps.
Who runs the beer garden?
The Haberl family (chinaturm.de), not the association.
Since when has beer been served here?
Since 1 April 1792, longer than the Kingdom of Bavaria existed and longer than the Oktoberfest has been held.