New York's Best Beer Gardens for Oktoberfest
Just in case you haven't already noticed, October is upon us, and with it comes -- you guessed it -- Oktoberfest. Now, New York City may not be Munich, but that doesn't meen we don't know how to throw down when Oktoberfest comes around. Naturally, finding the best biergarten around is the first and most essential agenda item if you're planning to do Oktoberfest in proper fashion. And while we realize you may have already thought it through on your own (see the last item on our list), we thought we'd offer up the most enticing options we've uncovered in NYC thus far.
Bohemian Hall
29-19 24th Ave. Astoria, NY
Talk about old school -- this gem in the crown of Queens has been in operation since 1910, which, according to their own reckoning, makes them the lone survivors of the city's original beer gardens. Overseen by the Czech/Slovak-based Bohemian Citizen's Benevolent Society of Astoria, they continue to uphold their traditions, which include serving up everything from Krušovice světlé to the original Czechvar from České Budějovice. Better bring a pronunciation guide along with you though.
The Standard
848 Washington St. New York, NY
What do you get when you mix the kind of German beers, sausages, and other fare you expect from a serious biergarten with ping pong tables, celeb sightings, and a sweet spot underneath the High Line? The Standard Hotel's roughly two-year-old beer garden, of course. And with the kind of reputation The Standard maintains on both coasts for its cutting-edge design and customer-first comfort, you should be able to intuit what it offers those with an itch for imbibing.
Bier International
2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd. New York, NY
Are you up for a Teutonic tankard of the wheaty Weihenstephan Hefe-Weiss or the fruitier Reissdorf Kölsch? Maybe you want to expand your scope outwards into other areas of the world, with a Belgian Delirium Tremens or a tall, malty mug of Fuller's London Pride. Whichever way your pleasure might lean, head on up to what's reckoned to be the first beer garden in Harlem and have yourself an uptown Oktoberfest.
Bier Haus
712 Third Ave. New York, NY
If you want to make the midtown move, you'd best believe that Bier Haus is taking their Oktoberfest quite seriously, with live music on hand for the occasion and more. But be advised that first and foremost, they take their beer seriously, and instead of offering an array of options, they've handily honed in on the brand they deem the best, namely Hofbräu, be it their original lager or their hefe weizen. Keep it simple!
Studio Square
35-33 36th St. Long Island City, NY
What better way could there be to spend Oktoberfest than soaking up suds specifically designed for the occasion? This L.I.C. spot carries both Hofbrau and Spaten Oktoberfest beers, along with everything else from Franziskaner to Grolsch, and they're set up in some artfully appointed digs, too. So stop bitching about the trip, it's only 10 minutes from midtown, and you can probably see the city skyline better there than you can on the "mainland."
Radegast Hall
113 N. 3rd St. Brooklyn, NY
You didn't think we'd get through our whole list before Williamsburg threw its hat into the ring, did you? Provided you've still got room after wolfing down your pretzels, spaetzle, and veal schnitzel, Radegast Hall offers up a draft menu that's not to be messed with. You can keep it in the Oktoberfest tradition with a bevy of beers, like Kostritzer Schwartzbier or Weihenstephaner Dunkel.
La Birreria
200 Fifth Ave. New York, NY
Let's get one thing out of the way right off the bat — yes, La Birreria is a part of Mario Batali's Eataly empire. Get over it and focus on the more salient aspects of the venue's existence — namely, their menu. Now, given the aforementioned information, you can pretty much assume that top-tier food is a given, but you'd also better be ready for some special house-brewed cask beers as well as a carefully curated collection of drafts. And did we mention that you get to party on the roof?
Loreley
7 Rivington St. New York, NY
Like La Birreria — and a number of others on this list — it's entirely possible to spend an evening at Loreley filling up on first-rate German food without even getting around to their undeniably intense selection of beers. But once you do, you're entering a whole other level. Loreley was created in the image of the classic Köln-style biergarten, and in that spirit, you can soak up some Gaffel Kölsch, or move on over to Munich with a little Spaten Lager, and that's just the beginning of the options awaiting you.
Spuyten Duyvil
359 Metropolitan Ave. Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn represents once again, with an unpretentious but on-the-money beer garden that's Belgian-based in its approach but offers plenty of other choices as well. You can chow down on cheeses, pickles, and the like while you're absorbing an impressive arrangement of cask and tap options, from Sixpoint Belgian Dark Rye to Hopfenstark Blonde. And we're betting they've got a cooler jukebox than your favorite LES dive bar to boot.
Reader's Choice
Anywhere, New York, NY
We know how picky real beer aficionados can be, so we're we'll aware that even if you've agreed with every single one of our choices so far, you're bound to have some ideas of your own. And we'd be foolhardy if we didn't allow you to edify us in that regard. So tell us, what are we leaving out? What's the beer garden of your dreams that most folks haven't caught on to yet? Don't be stingy with the sudsy info, now...
