Our Top Five German Beer Bars in New York
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The Germans have been brewing great beers since the Bronze Age, and their Reinheitsgebot, or Purity Law of 1516, is the oldest food safety law in the world. We’re lucky in New York City to have an amazing selection of German bars, and here are our top five, in no particular order:
LEDERHOSEN, in Greenwich Village at 39 Grove Street, is a great German beer hall with an amazing selection of both beer and German food. We like the cozy front room with a fireplace, but for groups there are biergarten-style tables in the back. Lederhosen is featured in Cocktails & Curiosities Greenwich Village Tour #1.
ZUM SCHNEIDER has been a go-to biergarten for us since it opened in 2000. We love the Alphabet City location at the corner of Avenue C and 7th Street, and the atmosphere is always right out of Bavaria.
At Zum you can’t go wrong with the classic Hofbräuhaus München, the world famous beer from Munich. The authentic Bavarian cuisineis also excellent.
For locals and tourists looking for a convenient midtown location, BIERHAUS NYC is a great option, a large space with live polka music on many days and an outdoor balcony overlooking Third Avenue. Biehaus serves Hofbräu beer from all 24 of its taps.
Across the East River in Astoria, Queens, BOHEMIAN BEER HALL & GARDEN is an “urban oasis” in a crowded city. The massive outdoor garden has dozens of tables and feels like a huge neighborhood picnic. It is festive and fun. The Garden has been open for over 100 years and the beer and food menus are both extensive.
On the Upper East Side in what was once German Yorkville, HEIDELBERG is a great place to check out, particularly if food is an equal priority to beer. With your Wurstsalat and Leberkäse you can enjoy your brew out of a 2 liter glass boot!