Texas is home to some of the coolest German beer gardens this side of the Atlantic. With ice-cold German pints, Bavarian pretzels, sausages for days, live music, and plenty of fun, beer gardens (or biergartens) are designed to help you kick back and unwind with great food and great friends. These outdoor venues are a perfect hangout for your social self any night of the week – whether you’re a German beer buff, a German food connoisseur, or just love a good time outdoors. Grab some friends and raise your steins – here are some great Texas beer gardens to check out right now! Próst!
Krause’s Café & Biergarten / New Braunfels
Krause’s Cafe & Biergarten in New Braunfels has been serving up a true taste of Germany for more than eight decades. You’ll get Texas-meets-German food fusion, more than 70 beers on tap, and a lively beer garden that’s fun for the whole family. If you’re feeling adventurous, opt for Krause’s wild game sausage sampler with wild boar, venison, and jackalope (rabbit and antelope) sausage. We stopped in at this boomin’ beer garden back in 2020. Watch the video right here!
Quarry Hofbrau & Beer Garden / San Antonio
Quarry Hofbrau & Beer Garden in San Antonio officially opened its doors in 2010, but the building has a long, storied history – it’s even registered on the National Registry of Historic Places! Fill up on authentic German fare like Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel sliders, jaeger schnitzel, and German sausages. There are plenty of Texas eats on the menu too. Yum!
Altstadt Brewery / Fredericksburg
This fortress-style brewery in Fredericksburg will make you feel like royalty! Altstadt Brewery exudes the heritage of the German roots in Fredericksburg. Choose one of the more than 20 different award-winning beers they brew themselves, or just stop in for an authentic taste of old Germany. Try the incredibly decadent chicken schnitzel with roasted mushroom cream and silky mashed potatoes. You won’t be disappointed! Watch the story we did back in 2019 with Altstadt Brewery right here!
King’s Bierhaus / Houston
Throw on some lederhosen, grab your beer stein, and make your way to King’s BierHaus in Houston. With a location in The Heights and one in League City, this authentic German restaurant feels like Oktoberfest all year long! This place is considered one of the best German restaurants in the U.S. so if you’re looking for the real deal, this is it! Sink your teeth into one of King’s German classics like schnitzel, spaetzle or strudel. They even have rabbit and rattlesnake bratwurst on the menu! Check out the story we did with King’s BierHaus in 2019 right here!
Otto’s German Bistro / Fredericksburg
Hidden just a block off Main Street in Fredericksburg, Otto’s German Bistro serves up a sophisticated Oktoberfest experience. Feast on upscale German fare like duck schnitzel, pork paprika schnitzel, homemade bratwurst, and sauerkraut balls. Otto’s serves up fresh, locally sourced produce, local beers on tap, and some great wine! We featured Otto’s in our very first season of Goodtaste. Check it out right here!
Ketzler’s Schnitzel Haus & Biergarten / Granbury
Just west of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Ketzler’s Schnitzel Haus & Biergarten in Granbury is well worth the trip! This spot is as German as it gets. The menu is loaded with German favorites such as Bavarian pretzels, bratwurst plates, six different schnitzels, pork shanks, strudel, and so much more. The decor will transport you directly to Germany – and once you taste the food, you might never want to come back! Tip: if you go on a weekend, you’ll get to hear Karen, the restaurant’s resident accordion player.
Alamo Beer Company / San Antonio
The Alamo Beer Company in San Antonio is home to the Alamo City’s legendary craft beer. While you’re throwing back a cold one, dig into snacks and shareables in the Beer Hall like Bavarian pretzels, queso, and brisket nachos. But this spot is more about the top-notch brew than the food – so it’s perfectly acceptable to visit for the brews and the fun. The Alamo Beer Company offers free brewery tours on Wednesdays and Sundays, and themed nights throughout the week include adult game night, karaoke, and all-day happy hours! Count us in!
Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden / Austin
This casual, family-friendly spot in the capital is a great place to spend a Saturday – or any day! With more than 200 beers on tap, more than 20 homemade sausages, and a full smokehouse menu (which includes a fried bologna sandwich), Banger’s has something for everyone! Enjoy live music every weekend on the spacious, open-air patio and there’s a pig roast every Saturday! Plus, it’s pet-friendly so your furry friends can join the fun!
Fredericksburg Brewing Company / Fredericksburg
This Texas Hill Country brewery is yet another beer garden in Fredericksburg that’s worth a visit! The Fredericksburg Brewing Company stakes its claim as the oldest (and most acclaimed) brew pub in Texas. It’s also a Bed & Brew with 12 rooms! Located right on Main Street, this spot is a gem. You can fill up on German fare like schnitzel and sausages, but there are lots of other options too, like Oma’s meatloaf, chicken fried steak, and fish tacos.
Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. / Boerne
Planted on Boerne’s bustling Hill Country Mile, Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. has an intimate beer garden that offers a more laid-back vibe than those rowdy beer halls. They’ve got a handful of outstanding German-inspired dishes on offer like Bavarian pretzels, pork schnitzel, and bratwurst, but there’s plenty of mouthwatering bites to suit all palates at Cibolo. The brewery on site levels up the appeal at this beer-lover’s paradise, serving up small-batch brews on a weekly basis. Don’t miss the legendary goat burger – you’ll get grass fed beef mixed with goat meat, a three-cheese spread, bread-n-butter pickles, and two fried onion rings sandwiched between two pretzel buns. It’s delicious! Check out the story we did with Cibolo in season 9 right here!
Scholz Garten / Austin
While Fredericksburg Brewing Company is the oldest brewpub in Texas – Scholz Garten is the oldest, continuously running biergarten in the entire United States! It’s been operating since 1866! The menu includes authentic German recipes like sauerkraut balls, potato pancakes, wiener schnitzel, jaeger schnitzel, bratwurst, weisswurst, German potato salad, and so much more. There’s even a build-your-own sausage option! There are plenty of non-German bites on the menu too.
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