The most beautiful beer gardens

The beer garden at the Stadtwaldhaus in Krefeld’s Stadtwald is set in a particularly idyllic location. According to an online survey by Falstaff magazine, it is the most beautiful beer garden in the whole of Germany – even beating Bavarian beer gardens. This comes as no surprise: as well as its idyllic location by a pond with pedal boat hire, it scores highly in terms of leisure facilities with several playgrounds, lovely walking trails, a golf course, a hockey pitch, a racecourse and tennis courts. The Stadtwaldhaus, with its popular beer garden, is the ideal place to round off a day out in Krefeld .

Hard work, fair pay – that’s the motto of the Bergmann Brewery in Dortmund. In summer, the beer hall on the site of the former Phoenix-West blast furnace works expands its space outdoors, and you can enjoy a freshly brewed beer under the open sky – with a view of a piece of Ruhr history. The pipes, halls and blast furnaces of the former blast furnace works are well preserved and are used for various purposes. In a former gas blower hall, you can see immersive digital exhibitions showcasing changing art. As part of guided tours, the Skywalk Phoenix West offers impressive views over the former steelworks, where iron ore was processed into pig iron until 1998.

Tigges, the iconic pub, is located in the heart of Düsseldorf’s Bilk district. With a view of an impressive mural, the beer tastes particularly delicious here in the leafy beer garden. Although ‘the beer’ isn’t quite right – ‘the beers’ is more accurate. After all, this traditional pub, which has been welcoming guests for cosy get-togethers for over 100 years, serves 13 different types of beer on tap. Fancy a taste? Then why not continue with a stroll through Düsseldorf’s trendy district, with its hip cafés and restaurants, breweries and a detour to Little Tokyo.

Its picturesque setting on the River Werse makes the Pleister Mühle a popular destination for day trips. This country inn just outside Münster is a lovely spot for a break, a round of mini-golf or a short canoe trip. The beer garden is right next to a canoe hire shop and several cycle paths, including the Peace Route and the R1 European Cycle Route.

With a view of a truly unique sight, the beer might just taste twice as good: from April to the end of October, fresh beer is served on tap in the beer garden next to Germany’s only operational ship mill. Until the 19th century, mills of this kind stood on the River Weser in Minden, grinding grain into flour. Admission is free, by the way; a small fee is charged only for guided tours booked in advance. There are plenty of other opportunities to delve into the history of the town and the Teutoburg Forest region, for example at the LWL Prussian Museum in Minden.

Situated right on the banks of the Rhine, in Cologne’s Rheinauhafen, is the beer garden of the Brauhaus Johann Schäfer. Here you can enjoy the delicious Südstadt Pils as well as burgers, currywurst and more, including vegan options. As well as the view of the Rhine, a nearby beach volleyball court and a skate park, plus the Südbrücke bridge connecting to the opposite bank, are all plus points and offer opportunities to combine a visit there.

Incidentally, another destination for foodies is just a short walk down the river: if you stroll along the riverbank for about 1.5 kilometres towards the cathedral, you’ll automatically arrive at the Chocolate Museum – where you can stop for a sweet treat.

The Elmores Beer Garden in Windeck-Schladern combines industrial heritage with beautiful views. Situated right on the River Sieg, from April to October it offers homemade food, freshly tapped beer, views of the water and a touch of history. Its name recalls the English metal goods factory Elmores, which once used water power here to manufacture copper pipes. The brick buildings on the site also date back to the 19th century. The beer garden is an ideal stopover for cycling and walking tours through the Windecker Ländchen: the Natursteig Sieg( Sieg Nature Trail), Mäanderweg and Sieg cycle path all pass by.

Enjoy a beer with easy access to the train – that’s exactly what you can do at Café Hutmacher, situated at the listed Mirker Bahnhof in Wuppertal. Situated right next to the Nordbahntrasse, a former Railway line converted into a cycle and walking path, there is plenty of space here for a relaxing break with a delicious drink and a varied programme. Concerts, plays, readings and exhibitions are regularly on the calendar. An outdoor children’s playground and an indoor play area make the venue a worthwhile destination for family outings. Those arriving on foot can easily incorporate the beer garden into an urban walking tour of Wuppertal.

Over a cold drink, coffee and cake or other treats, you can let your imagination run wild here... Rhine romance with panoramic views of the Siebengebirge, the region around Bonn and Königswinter – simply wonderful. Then imagine staying at the neighbouring Grandhotel Petersberg on your next visit, just as Queen Elizabeth II once did. Fantastic, isn’t it? To get your feet firmly back on the ground, we recommend a walk through the surrounding area, for example along the Beethoven Trail, which passes right by here.

“Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing’s gonna be alright,” as Bob Marley sang in his song “Three Little Birds”. And that’s exactly the vibe at the “Three Little Birds” beer garden on Düsseldorf’s Rheinterrasse. Here you can enjoy the most beautiful sunsets in one of the city’s most relaxed spots.