8 Best Bars in Schwabing and Maxvorstadt, Munich

Among Munich's largest beer gardens (5,000 seats)—and in fact its oldest—Augustiner Keller is one of the more authentic beer gardens, with excellent food, beautiful chestnut shade trees, a mixed local crowd, and Munich Augustiner beer.

Frequented by students and hipsters, this lively two-story bar near the main train station is famous for its cheap drinks and kitschy atmosphere.

This is one of Munich's hippest hangouts, a combination restaurant, bar, and nightclub inside a 1930s building in the Old Botanical Garden, plus a sprawling seasonal beer garden outside. It often draws a younger crowd, attracted by a thriving music scene, which ranges from DJs to live bands. There's a great atmosphere to go with the good food and drinks, even better when the sun is shining and the beer garden is open.

The famous Biergarten am Chinesischen Turm is at the five-story Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten. Enjoy your beer to the strains of oompah music played by traditionally dressed musicians.

The Hirschau, pleasantly located in the Englischer Garten, has room for around 1,800 guests and serves a rotating selection of seasonal beers plus local and international beer garden specialties. There's also live music from Thursday to Sunday.

Cushy leather seating, brick walls, and flickering candles lend a warm, clubby vibe to this trendy bar near the Pinakotheken (art museums) and the university. There's a long list of classic and signature cocktails.

The Seehaus im Englischen Garten is on the banks of the artificial lake Kleinhesseloher See, where all of Munich converges on hot summer days. Take Bus 59 and exit at Osterwaldstrasse or U-bahn 3/6 to Münchner Freiheit and stroll through the park. The beer garden is open on weekends and holidays when the weather is good.

The Türkenhof is a solid local pub that serves Augustiner and good, affordable food.