Let's be pragmatic here: What exactly is a beergarden ("Biergarten")? I've lived in plenty of German towns which thought they had some. But I've never seen a really proper species outside Bavaria.  Basically, a beergarden is an outdoor area, with - and this is important - plenty of shade from huge trees, horse chestnuts for the real McCoy experience. Underneath the trees are communal benches and long tables where everybody is welcome to sit down. The food (and beer of course!) is self-service, you get it from a pre-designed area. There are other drinks, but it just wouldn't do to have, say a glass of wine.

"Radler" - a mixture of beer and lemonade which is just about THE most refreshing drink ever invented in my view ... is a good alternative when beer is too strong. A typical Bavarian meal to enjoy in a beergarden is "Obatzda" - creamy camembert with plenty of paprika and salt ready to be smeared onto a Breze, great with gherkins or fresh radishes. If this is a bit too local for you, there's always chicken and chips, or even currywurst on offer.

 

This photo gives a good impression of the liveliness of a proper Munich beergarden on a mild spring day, even quite early in the year. You can see the trees haven't got any leaves yet. That of course is essential later in the summer. Munich summers can easily go up to over 40°C in which case you need to be properly sheltered by shady trees.

 

There's also a "posher" area to most beergardens with waiter service, tablecloths and napkins and more comfortable seating. Nice.

And so....this is the sign everybody is looking out for on a nice summer day:

If you're planning to visit, here's a "Beergarden Special" on Munich's official website http://www.muenchen.de/verticals/GastroGuide/Biergarten-Special/125757/index.html