The Hofbräuhaus is the name of a venue in the city of Munich, which combines fine food and drink, with a taste of traditional Bavarian culture. If you’re staying at one of the city’s central hotels such as the Hilton Munich City, then you’ll be no more than a stone’s throw from the Hofbräuhaus… and it is well worth a visit on any trip to the city.
Hofbräu is the name of one of Munich’s main breweries. The city is home to a total of six large breweries; Hofbräu is one of the oldest, and even has royal connections! The company was founded by Duke Wilhelm V in 1589, and in its early years it produced beers exclusively for the royal court. Over the following centuries however, the brewery began producing beers for the open market, and in time became one of the region’s largest exporters.
The Hofbräuhaus is the brewery’s flagship venue. Here you can try a wide range of their tasty beers, as well as a fantastic selection of traditional Bavarian food – try out some of the local specialities, including juicy, roasted pork, sauerkraut, weisewurst or pretzels.
One of the other things that sets the Hofbräuhaus apart from other venues, is the heavily stylised atmosphere that is maintained at the venue. It is not strange to find a brass band set up in the corner playing traditional folk (or ‘oompah’) tunes, while the patrons very often arrive in traditional dress – lederhosen are a common sight here, or for the girls, the flowing Bavarian dresses known as a ‘dirndl’.
In many ways, the Hofbräuhaus could be described as a miniature, year-round Oktoberfest. It’s a great option for anybody whose visit to the city misses the famous beer festival… or maybe you’re staying at a Hilton Munich Park, and wanted to ease yourself into the local festivities gently. Rather than diving head first into the chaos of Oktoberfest, try an evening at the Hofbräuhaus first; get a feel for the Bavarian-themed festivities, in a slightly more civilised environment!
Adrian Fisher is a London-based freelance journalist with a mission to
make you a better and happier human being. Drawing attention to the
peculiarities of life in the modern age is all part of the package.
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