Hofbräuhaus

The Hofbräuhaus is Munich's most famous beer hall, a cavernous three-story temple to Bavarian drinking culture that's been pouring beer since 1589. You'll find it on Platzl square, where tourists and locals pack into wooden benches at long shared tables, downing liter steins of Hofbräu Original while a brass band plays traditional folk music. The ground floor Schwemme holds 1,300 people and serves 10,000 liters daily during Oktoberfest, making it one of the world's most productive beer dispensaries.

Walking into the main hall feels like entering a beer-soaked cathedral: vaulted ceilings, wooden tables scarred by decades of steins, and the constant din of conversation in twenty languages. Servers in dirndls weave through the crowds carrying impossible numbers of full Maß glasses, while the brass band launches into yet another rendition of traditional Bavarian songs around 7 PM. The atmosphere gets progressively louder and more festive as the evening progresses, with spontaneous singing and table-tapping becoming the norm.

Yes, it's touristy, but it's also genuinely authentic in a way that surprises many visitors. A Maß costs EUR 11-13, which is reasonable for the experience and location. Skip the upper floors unless you want quiet dining, the ground floor Schwemme is where the real action happens. The schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) for EUR 18-25 is massive and perfect for sharing, though the weisswurst before noon is more traditional.