City guide · Munich
Munich Craft Beer Guide: 10 Breweries & Bars in Isarvorstadt, Haidhausen & Altstadt
Munich isn't just Oktoberfest. It's Germany's most quietly serious craft city, driven by Giesinger Bräu (the Obergiesing flagship), Tilmans Biere (the cult modern label, poured at its own bar Frisches Bier) and Tap House München (38 rotating taps, the deepest craft list in the city). Higgins Ale Works pours hazy pale ales and IPAs, with crowlers to go; BrewsLi brews 250 litres at a time by the front door; Giesinger's Gärtnerplatz tap bar anchors Isarvorstadt; ZWICKL covers the Viktualienmarkt lunch stop; Forschungsbrauerei is the 1930 cult pilgrimage in Perlach; Schwabinger Tor Bräu is the brand-new organic house brewery in Schwabing; Walther Mai is the insider bottle shop. We've mapped every stop with neighborhoods, hours and what to order.
Last updated: October 2026 · Curated by MyBeerStops · 10 hand-picked stops
Our selection: the 10 craft beer stops
A hand-picked selection, not a ranking or a popularity list. Independent breweries and craft bars, plus one classic Altstadt Wirtshaus. No Oktoberfest tents.
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1. ZWICKL - Gastlichkeit am Viktualienmarkt
Beer hall (partner) — Altstadt · Viktualienmarkt
Dreifaltigkeitspl. 2, 80331 München-Altstadt-Lehel, Germany
Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM · Wednesday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM · Thursday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM · Friday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM · Saturday: 12:00 – 11:00 PM · Sunday: Closed
The Altstadt stop that's still worth it after Hofbräuhaus fatigue: a cosy Wirtshaus on Dreifaltigkeitsplatz by the Viktualienmarkt, pouring Paulaner and the cloudy 111er Zwickl, with honest Bavarian cooking. Closed Sun–Mon. Perfect lunch stop between spots — our official partner in Munich, a must-visit.
Altstadt Wirtshaus, unfiltered Zwickl, market corner, partner venue
111er Zwickl (unfiltered) · Weissbier
1h30
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2. Giesinger Bräustüberl
Brewpub — Obergiesing · Martin-Luther-Straße
Martin-Luther-Straße 2, 81539 München-Obergiesing-Fasangarten, Germany
Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 4:00 – 11:00 PM · Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Thursday: 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Friday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM · Saturday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 AM · Sunday: Closed
Munich's most important modern craft-focused brewery. Giesinger is the local hero that pushed Bavarian brewers past the Reinheitsgebot cliché — and their Obergiesing Bräustüberl is the classic beer-hall entry point. Own beers on tap, Bavarian food, wooden benches. Non-negotiable first stop.
Bavarian craft beer hall, Giesinger flagship, wooden benches
Giesinger Erhardt Helles · Giesinger IPA
2h
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3. Frisches Bier (Tilmans Biere)
Craft bar — Schlachthofviertel · Thalkirchner Str.
Thalkirchner Str. 53, 80337 München, Germany
Monday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Thursday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Friday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Saturday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Sunday: Closed
The 'living room' of Tilmans Biere, Tilman Ludwig's cult Munich label known for hoppy lagers and mixed-fermentation sours. It's a cosy bar with 14 taps: Tilmans plus guests from friendly brewers, listed on a chalkboard that changes every few weeks, and a small kitchen (currywurst, burgers, waffle fries). The connoisseur pick.
Tilmans' own bar, 14 rotating taps, living-room feel
Tilmans IPA · Tilmans Sauerbier
1h
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4. Tap House München
Craft bar — Haidhausen · Rosenheimer Str.
Rosenheimer Str. 108, 81669 München-Au-Haidhausen, Germany
Monday: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Thursday: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Friday: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Saturday: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Sunday: Closed
38 rotating taps of German and European craft — the deepest tap list in Munich. Big industrial-warm room, serious food menu, and the go-to spot to try Tilmans, Camba, Giesinger and other Bavarian small brewers in one sitting. Closed Sundays.
38 rotating taps, industrial-warm, deepest list in Munich
Rotating German craft IPA · Barrel-aged imperial stout
2h
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5. BrewsLi – Der Biermacher
Brewpub — Au · Taubenstraße
Taubenstraße 2, 81541 München, Germany
Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Thursday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Friday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Saturday: 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM · Sunday: 4:00 – 11:00 PM
A true one-man brewpub: the 250-litre brewhouse sits just inside the front door and the brewer pours what he brewed. New styles every few weeks, plus guest beers from small local brewers like Higgins Ale Works. Sit at the bar, at a table or on the couch, with house-baked spent-grain bread and obazda (stone-oven pizza on Tuesdays). Closed Mondays.
Tiny brewpub, brewhouse at the door, living-room feel
House beer of the week · Seasonal special
1h30
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6. Higgins Ale Works
Brewpub — Maxvorstadt · Karlstraße
Karlstraße 122, 80335 München, Germany
Monday: Closed · Tuesday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM · Wednesday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM · Thursday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM · Friday: 4:00 – 11:30 PM · Saturday: 4:00 – 11:30 PM · Sunday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM
American-style craft brewpub run by an actual American — 6 rotating house taps of hazy IPAs, stouts and lagers you won't find anywhere else in Munich. Bright neighborhood room, killer smashburgers. 4.9 stars for a reason.
American-style brewpub, hazy IPAs, smashburgers
Hazy IPA · Barrel-aged stout
2h
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7. Giesinger Bräu – Stehausschank Gärtnerplatz
Craft bar — Isarvorstadt · Klenzestraße
Klenzestraße 47, 80469 München, Germany
Monday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Thursday: 5:00 PM – 1:00 AM · Friday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM · Saturday: 3:00 PM – 2:00 AM · Sunday: 3:00 – 10:00 PM
Giesinger's standing-room tap bar by Gärtnerplatz: the Giesinger range on draught in a small, lively room that spills onto the pavement in the evening. It's open every day, from 5 PM on weekdays and from 3 PM at weekends, so it's the easy pick on Sundays and Mondays when other bars are shut.
Standing bar, Gärtnerplatz crowd, open 7 days
Giesinger Helles · Giesinger seasonal special
45 min
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8. Bräustüberl der Forschungsbrauerei
Brewery — Perlach · Unterhachinger Str.
Unterhachinger Str. 78, 81737 München, Germany
Monday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM · Sunday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
The cult 1930-founded 'research brewery' in Perlach — Pilsissimus and St. Jakobus Bock are legendary among Munich beer nerds. Old-school Bräustüberl with a huge beer garden, about 25 minutes by S-Bahn from the centre but the pilgrimage everyone recommends. Reopened in March 2026 after a renovation, with eight beers on tap.
Cult 1930 research brewery, huge beer garden, pilgrimage
Pilsissimus · St. Jakobus Blonder Bock
2h30
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9. Schwabinger Tor Bräu
Brewpub — Schwabing · Leopoldstraße
Leopoldstraße 170, 80804 München, Germany
Tuesday–Saturday: from 4:00 PM · Sunday–Monday: Closed
Schwabing's first brewery in 107 years: an organic house brewery at the Schwabinger Tor that has brewed since April 2025 and opened its Wirtshaus in October 2026. Unpasteurised 'fresh beer' (Helles Export, Zwickel, Hefeweizen and rotating seasonals) pours from copper tanks above the bar, alongside a short menu of Bavarian classics. Groups can order 10- or 20-litre kegs to tap at the table. Open Tue–Sat from 4 PM.
Brand-new organic house brewery, copper tanks over the bar
Helles Export · Zwickel
1h30
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10. Walther Mai - Bier- & Durstwaren
Bottle shop — Ludwigsvorstadt · Waltherstr.
Waltherstraße 11, 80337 München, Germany
Monday: Closed · Tuesday: Closed · Wednesday: 4:00 – 8:00 PM · Thursday: 4:00 – 8:00 PM · Friday: 4:00 – 8:00 PM · Saturday: 4:00 – 8:00 PM · Sunday: Closed
The Tilmans Biere team's own drinks shop, a 10-minute walk from Frisches Bier: a 'different kind of Getränkemarkt' stocked with regional creative beers and renowned international craft breweries next to everyday drinks and wine. It's the insider pick of Munich beer nerds for take-away bottles and cans. Open Wed–Sat afternoons only.
Insider bottle shop run by Tilmans
Tilmans to go · International craft cans
45 min
Munich craft beer — Frequently asked questions
What are the best craft breweries in Munich?
Giesinger Bräu (Obergiesing — the local flagship that broke the Reinheitsgebot ceiling), Tilmans Biere (Isarvorstadt — mixed-fermentation and hoppy lagers, the connoisseur cult), Higgins Ale Works (Maxvorstadt — American-style hazy IPAs, 4.9 stars) and the 1930-founded Forschungsbrauerei in Perlach. For bars, Tap House München (38 rotating taps) and Frisches Bier (14 taps, Tilmans' own bar) cover the deepest lists, plus BrewsLi for beer brewed on site.
Where is the best craft beer neighborhood in Munich?
Isarvorstadt and the Schlachthof area for the highest concentration: Frisches Bier, the Walther Mai bottle shop and Giesinger's Gärtnerplatz tap bar. Haidhausen for Tap House München, the Au for the BrewsLi brewpub, Obergiesing for Giesinger Bräustüberl, Perlach for the Forschungsbrauerei pilgrimage and Schwabing for Schwabinger Tor Bräu. Skip the Altstadt Hofbräuhaus and hit ZWICKL on the Viktualienmarkt instead.
Is Munich craft beer only about Oktoberfest?
Not at all — Oktoberfest is the six traditional Munich breweries (Paulaner, Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Spaten, Löwenbräu, Hofbräu) and closed to independent brewers. The real Munich craft scene lives year-round in Isarvorstadt, Haidhausen and Giesing, with modern hoppy lagers, hazy IPAs, mixed-fermentation sours and barrel-aged stouts — the exact opposite of tent-pour Märzen. Come in June or November and you'll have all 10 spots to yourself.
Which Munich craft bars are open Sundays and Mondays?
Forschungsbrauerei Bräustüberl and Giesinger's Gärtnerplatz tap bar open 7 days a week. Higgins Ale Works and BrewsLi open Tue–Sun. Frisches Bier and Tap House are closed Sundays; Giesinger Bräustüberl, ZWICKL and Schwabinger Tor Bräu are closed Sun–Mon; Walther Mai opens Wed–Sat only. On a Monday, plan around Forschungsbrauerei, Frisches Bier, Tap House and the Gärtnerplatz tap bar.
What Bavarian craft beers should I try in Munich?
Giesinger Erhardt Helles and Giesinger IPA (the local flagships), Tilmans Sauerbier (mixed-fermentation), Forschungsbrauerei Pilsissimus and St. Jakobus Blonder Bock (1930 cult beers), any Higgins Ale Works hazy IPA, and unfiltered ZWICKL at Viktualienmarkt.
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