Munich's beer garden tradition dates back to the early 1800s, when breweries planted chestnut trees over their cellars to keep the beer cool. Today the city has dozens of beer gardens, most open from April through October, where you can bring your own food (but must buy the beer) and sit at long communal tables under the trees. A Mass (one-liter mug) typically costs around 10-12 euros.
Augustiner-Keller on Arnulfstrasse is widely considered the most authentic. Locals swear by the Augustiner beer, tapped straight from wooden barrels, and the 5,000-seat garden under old chestnut trees fills up fast on warm evenings. This is where Munichers drink, not tourists.
Chinesischer Turm in the English Garden is the most famous, with 7,000 seats surrounding a wooden pagoda where a brass band plays on summer weekends. Touristy, yes, but the setting in the middle of one of Europe's largest urban parks is hard to beat.
Hirschgarten near Nymphenburg Palace is the biggest, with 8,000 seats and a deer enclosure next door. Families love it for the space and the playground.
Seehaus sits on the shore of Kleinhesseloher See in the English Garden. The lakeside tables are among the most scenic spots for a beer in the city.
Viktualienmarkt in the city center is small and always busy, but its central location under the maypole makes it perfect for a quick Mass between sightseeing.
Waldwirtschaft in Grosshesselohe, south of the city along the Isar, draws crowds for its live jazz on summer evenings. Worth the S-Bahn ride.