Hofbräuhaus
Hofbräuhaus features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Munich. Give it roughly ~30 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Munich Munich guide
About Hofbräuhaus
The world's most famous beer hall, founded in 1589 as a duke's private brewery and opened to the public in 1828, a thousand people, one vaulted room, and beer by the litre.
The Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is Munich's most famous beer hall. It was founded in 1589 by Duke Wilhelm V as the Bavarian court's own brewery, created to spare the court the cost of importing beer; the name Hofbräu, and its "HB" monogram, mean "court brew." For its first two centuries it served the ducal court alone, opening to the public only in 1828 under King Ludwig I. Brewing left the Platzl site in the 1890s, and the building was rebuilt as the tavern seen today in 1897; its ground-floor hall, the Schwemme, seats around a thousand. The hall also has a place in the early history of the Nazi party, which held mass meetings here in the early 1920s, including Hitler's reading of the party programme in February 1920. Today it remains a working beer hall, serving beer by the Maß, or litre, beneath its painted vaults.
Did you know? The HB monogram on every glass was registered as a trademark in 1879, to stop rival brewers cashing in on the fame of the court brewery.
How long is a visit to Hofbräuhaus?
Set aside roughly ~30 min for Hofbräuhaus. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Hofbräuhaus worth your time?
Hofbräuhaus is among the 26 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Munich, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Munich
Hear the story of Hofbräuhaus
Preview the Munich tour free in the Gingerguide app.