The party really gets going in the Hofbräu-Festzelt
In the second largest Oktoberfest tent, the whole world celebrates under the merciful eyes of the angel Aloisius - who watches over the goings-on as a larger-than-life figure
What’s special: the standing area under lots of hop vines
The Hofbräu Festzelt is the second-largest festival tent at Oktoberfest and the only one with a standing area directly in front of the music stage. It can accommodate around 10,000 people. Every year, many wreaths made from 12 centners of hop vines from the Holledau region are hung from the ceiling for them and all the other guests. Amid the magnificent hops, the angel Aloisius enjoys himself—a character known from Ludwig Thoma’s satire *A Munich Man in Heaven*. In the story, Aloisius wastes his time at the Hofbräuhaus instead of fulfilling his mission to deliver divine counsel to the Bavarian state government.
The history: From the Wienerwald to the Hofbräu festival tent
Hofbräu München has only had its own marquee at the Wiesn since 1952. The Steinberg family of landlords first gained their Oktoberfest experience in the Wienerwald tent before taking over the Hofbräu Festzelt in 1980. And as visitors from the English-speaking world in particular liked to party on the tables and benches, they quickly set up a standing area in front of the music stage with space for almost 1,000 guests. Now visitors could and can drink their beer standing up and even have a little dance. The Hofbräu festival tent is still the only tent at the Wiesn with such a standing area. Thanks to the world-famous Hofbräuhaus in Munich city centre, the Hofbräu festival tent is particularly popular with international Wiesn visitors.
The audience: the world meets in the Hofbräu tent
The Hofbräu Festzelt is a Bavarian tent with an international flair. People from all over the world gather here, and the beer mug becomes a symbol of international understanding. And because many locals also enjoy the great atmosphere, you’ll find a very special mix of people here.
Gallery: Hofbräu-Festzelt
The music: the party tent
The Hofbräu-Festzelt is the epicenter of the beer tent party. No other tent has such a lively atmosphere every night as this one! In the standing area right in front of the music stage, guests from all over the world celebrate exuberantly and sing along loudly to English-language pop hits and songs performed by the band Alois Altmann and his Isarspatzen.
The menu: traditional with an affordable lunch menu
The Hofbräu-Festzelt offers everything you’d expect to find at a folk festival: fried chicken and pork knuckles, as well as the original steamed dumplings from Café “Münchner Freiheit.” The menu also features salad plates and vegetarian dishes. There are also children’s specials and rotating lunch specials, which are among the most affordable on the festival grounds. For our younger guests, there are numerous children’s specials and rotating lunch dishes.
For backseat drivers: Aloisius and the Bavarian Government
The angel Aloisius — also known as Alois Hingerl, the waiter — went to heaven after his sudden death. There, he not only got into arguments with the angels but was also too rebellious and loud for the Lord, which is why the Lord sent him back to the Bavarian state government with his divine advice. However, he never actually made it there, since, as a regular at the Hofbräuhaus, he first sought out his old table.
And so, to this day, the Bavarian state government waits for divine inspiration—often over a Maß in the Hofbräu-Festzelt.
Hofbräu-Festzelt: Reservation, Seats, Music, Beer and Contact
- Host(s): Silja Steinberg and Margot and Günter Steinberg
- Address: Wirtsbudenstr. 83
- Phone: +49 (0)89 4489670
- Reservation: https://www.hb-festzelt.de/en/reservations.html
- Website: https://www.hb-festzelt.de/en.html
- Seating capacity: 6,018 and in the standing area approx. 1,000
- Seating outside: 3,022
- Brewery: Hofbräu Munich
- Beer: 6.3% alcohol, 13.7% original gravity
- Music: Band Alois Altmann and his Isarspatzen
- Special features: The Aloisius figure and the hop decoration, most international Wiesn tent, only tent with standing area
