...in the immediate vicinity of the Isar, Lech, Amper, Starnberger See and Ammersee lakes. The Upper Bavarian beer gardens began in the Isar metropolis of Munich.

Due to the ban on brewing in the summer months, they quickly encountered a problem:
How to store the beer even in warm temperatures? The solution was found in the nearby Isar River, from which the breweries cut thick blocks of ice during the winter months and transported them to the nearby beer cellars. Shady chestnut trees and gravel did the rest in the summer months, and the triumph of the traditional beer garden began, a triumph that continues to this day. Numerous pubs and breweries followed the Munich example, and today some of the most beautiful beer gardens in Upper Bavaria can be found on the banks of rivers and lakes.

The Munich Original
If you want to visit the "birthplace" of the beer garden tradition, you'll find a veritable cornucopia of beer gardens in the Bavarian capital. Among the classics are the Hofbräukeller in the Haidhausen district, which has retained its cozy beer garden charm despite its central location, and the famous beer garden at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden. In the west of Munich in the Untermenzing district is the Inselmühle Hotel and Restaurant: where in 1923 grain was still ground using water power, there is now a wonderful beer garden right on the water. A popular meeting place in the south is the beer garden "Zum Flaucher" in the southern Isarauen, just a few minutes' walk from the bathing, barbecue and leisure paradise of the same name and the Hellabrunn zoo.

Beer gardens by the lake
But it is not only the metropolis on the Isar that can boast numerous beer gardens. For example, the Tutzing beer garden, just a few kilometers from Munich, rewards visitors with a fantastic lakeside view of picturesque Lake Starnberg. No less beautiful is the Seehof Herrsching on Lake Ammersee with its "Capri-Fischer-Bar", which is in no way inferior to its Italian model in terms of atmosphere and taste. Also on the Ammersee is the Seehaus Schreyegg, where gourmets can choose to feast on the excellent, locally-oriented cuisine of the house or bring their own food. The Tegernsee is steeped in history: here you will find Gut Kaltbrunn, where King Max I Joseph of Bavaria used to have fun celebrating, and which today, as in the past, captivates with its unique Alpine panorama. Perhaps the most beautiful beer garden on the Staffelsee can be found in the Alpenblick restaurant in Uffing, where in addition to the typical Upper Bavarian snack, fish sandwiches and all kinds of delicacies from the grill are available. An incomparably beautiful excursion for the family is a visit to the historic restaurant St. Bartholomä: Located on the western shore of the impressive Königsee, the beer garden and pilgrimage church can only be reached by a trip across the lake.

Beer gardens on rivers and streams
On the other hand, the Aumühle Inn leads to the Isar beach in the sportsmen's and open-air paradise of Pupplinger Au near Wolfratshausen: Located directly on the Mühltal Canal and the fish ponds of the adjacent fish farm, a colorful mix of families, inflatable boat sailors, cyclists, Munich residents and loyal regulars meet here. Another popular Isar beer garden is the Gasthof zur Mühle near Schäftlarn, which was first mentioned in a document in 1007 and is still a true gem of Upper Bavarian culture. A cool refreshment and hearty snack to fortify all inflatable boat captains can also be found at the "Unter'n Wirt" directly on the Amper River, and on balmy summer evenings a visit to Landsberg's Lechgarten is recommended, when the last rays of sunlight warm the former city fortifications and the Lech sparkles in the evening light. Bavarian lifestyle with a southern touch can be found in the Pe. Es. Kottmeier in Planegg, where the river Würm leisurely ripples by and beer, wine and "Spritz" are accompanied by South Tyrolean specialties. Finally, the "outpost" of Upper Bavarian beer garden culture is the picturesque Zollhäusl, built in Art Nouveau style: Separated from Austria only by the Saalach River, the inn and beer garden are known for their drinkable beer and good snacks.