Do you have any plans to enjoy your summer vacation with a beer bottle in your hand? Well, for the true beer lover it’s not a secret!
Beer lovers around the world do not sit on the lawn with a bottle of beer in their hands; they prefer to spend time in some cozy spots- beer garden, huge places with thousands of guests, cafes in open air. Tradition of all of this comes from Germany, where thousands of such establishments are present for all those who enjoy spending some part of the day with those just like them. However, the idea got spread among the rest of the lovers of beer and today in other countries there are institutions like Melbourne, and in Beijing. Here are 10 of the most famous of them.
Hofbräuhaus, Munich, Germany
It feels like on several floors of the oldest largest brewery in Munich there’s an eternal “Oktoberfest”. Buxom girl in a frank and wide neckline pleated skirts are walking around the huge hall with giant liter Maas mugs. In the center of the room there’s a small orchestra of several men in leather trousers playing folk music in traditional Bavarian tunes. Not without its beer garden: some visitors even in winter sit outdoors on the spacious yard. In the menu reigns is pork: here they even make a salad from it. And be sure to try weisswurst – traditional white Munich sausages, which are usually submitted with the freshest pretzels, cookies and sweet mustard.
Café Vlissinghe, Bruges, Belgium
This pub which is tucked away in a quiet area of St Anne’s is the oldest in the city. It was discovered in 1515. Over the past centuries and today beer lovers drop in drink lager and play surrounded by ancient stone walls of the courtyard one of the Italian games – bochi. And when the weather conditions do not give you the chance to do so, you can sit in the living fire in a cozy room, sipping some of the local beer specialties, for example, Tripel Karmeliet of caramelized malt or Framboise Belle Vue – wheat beer with raspberry. Food for beer offered is the most varied: from wrapped in bacon cheese, goat cheese with honey to simple pasta with cheese or sausage.
Wudaokou Beer Garden, Beijing, China
I bet some of you will agree that thee least expected to see the real German beer garden is in China. Nevertheless, Beijing has its own large outdoor beer places. It feels to be something from the rural fairs: beer and snacks are sold under a huge central tent, and around the tables is an ideal spot for the noisy young men of the town and foreign students to spend time. While choosing the food, you can travel around the world: Chinese dumplings and Korean barbecue, side by side here with American hot dogs. The brand beer Tsingtao and Yangjing are sold at a very affordable price – about a dollar for a big bottle.
Letna Beer Garden, Prague, Czech Republic
This pub located on the top of pub LETINSKIY park has a magnificent view of the Old Town and the majestic ancient bridges thrown over the Vltava. The situation is very simple: the famous Czech beer Gambrinus is bottled in simple plastic cups. Of food recommend try one of the delicious smelling appetizing pizzas with mushrooms, artichokes, olives and ham.
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, New York, USA
Bar in the fresh air of the Queens is a favorite place for yuppies and immigrants, reminiscing about their favorite European pubs. Here everyone has fun all year round: in the shade of trees on sunny days and under tent on the rain or even snow. This beer garden can be found when following the lovely smell coming from the forthcoming barbeque and authentic Czech dumplings and sausages. Washing them down can be down with the help of classic European beer Staropramen, Hoegaarden or Krusovice, which can be poured by $ 15 per jug.
The Flask Tavern, London, UK
Here the pub is housed in former stables, built in 1633. As any respectable British institution, the beer is settled by a ghost bartender, who committed suicide because of the unrequited love. At this point, there is everything that you expect to see in a British pub: cider Bulmers and Westons, fish, chips, and in summer on an open fire cook hamburgers, steaks and pork sausages. Jumping on the bar is not recommended, do everything quietly.
Luong Son, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Despite the plastic chairs and low prices, it is quite decent pub with excellent quality of food and understanding of English among the waiters. It is worth visiting if only for the delicious BBQ beef and garlic or deep fried scorpions, which you can prepare by your own (isn’t it amazing?). To freshen up during the meal we recommend a cold Saigon beer – the best drink during the Vietnam heat and the best offer of the place.
Café Sound Garden, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sitting at the bar with live alternative music, darts and graffiti, you can admire the boats and barges moving slowly on the surface of the channel nearby. Beer at this place is much cheaper than in other Amsterdam restaurants (eg, 2,5 dollars per Poperings Hommelbier). Choice is simply huge: about 15 varieties of bottled beer and about 5 tapped. Meals are not made to be cook on the spot, they are mostly transported from neighboring establishments. So, you will try from the range of kebab lamb from the Turkish restaurant up to crisps from the French one.
Augustiner Bräu Kloster Mülln, Salzburg, Austria
What is the best thing about this place? It’s that you do not have to look for a free space, because it exists in the XVII century pub, which is designed to fit for fifteen thousand visitors. However, they are seldom less than a thousand, because in this beer garden they offer whole 9 varieties of superb beer Augustiner! To purchase snacks you simply need to stroll past the nearby grocery stores and select anything from traditional dishes such as smoked mackerel salad with horseradish or something more compatible to your taste.
Belgian Beer Café Bluestone, Melbourne, Australia
The largest restaurant in Melbourne has decided to teach the locals how to have a rest “in the Belgian” way- under an umbrella with a glass of beer in your hand. The Australian youth gently loved this new idea: in good weather condition the tables are crammed with young people. Kitchen meets the Belgian spirit. In the menu there are both mussels, and fried potatoes, and grilled sausages- all necessity to have a big bite. Draught beer Artois, Hoegaarden, Leffe Blonde, Leffe Brune and Belle-Vue Kriek are being poured through a special item, which guarantees the best taste and the perfect foam.
