In celebration of this continuing trend (and even warmer days to come) we've spotlighted the country’s most beloved beer gardens. Check out the top outdoor spots that somehow make a cold beer taste even better.
Looking for more cool spots to get your brew on? Get 25 more ideas for where to drink this summer with our Best Bars in America gallery.
Standard - Washington, DC
On trendy 14th Street NW, Standard (not to be confused with the Standard Biergarten in New York) is serving up Munich’s Hofbrau original lager to a crowd of twenty and thirty-somethings looking for action. A bonus to the six beers on tap? Smoked meat BBQ sandwiches (try the pulled pork), hush puppies, and a fresh donut cart serving piping hot plain and cinnamon varieties. Downside? The joint closes when they run out of BBQ. (standarddc.com)
Photo Credit: Standard DC
The Village Tap - Chicago, IL
You wouldn’t expect a Chicago beer garden to be a year-round affair, but opened in 1990, and featuring over 25 beers on tap, The Village Tap keeps cold beer flowing in all seasons thanks to the help of heat lamps, an outdoor fireplace, and a retractable roof. When you need a break from the brew, hit the photo booth for some fun, or the Pac-Man game for fierce competition. (877-410-7148; thevillagetap.com)
Photo Credit: The Village Tap
Birreria at Eataly - New York City
Okay, so there’s nothing German about Eataly’s rooftop beer garden, but the incredible view of New York City on high and the 10 draught beers and 30-plus bottles that result from the collaboration of brewmasters at Dogfish Head, Baladin and Del Borgo puts Birreria at the top of our list. All draughts are served through traditional hand pumps while the menus run heavy on cheeses, meats, and housemade sausages. (212-229-2560; eatalyny.com)
Photo Credit: Virginia Rollison
Zeitgeist - San Francisco
With a tagline that reads “Warm Beer, Cold Women,” Zeitgeist doesn’t overpromise, however, as San Fran’s top beer garden, it is certainly doing something right. Try 48 different beers on tap including Cali brewers like Anchor Brewing Company out of San Fran, Moonlight Brewing Company out of Santa Rosa, and of course, Sierra Nevada out of Chico, which appears on our surprisingly healthy beer list. (415-255-7505; zeitgeistsf.com)
Photo Credit: Zeitgeist SF
Novare Res Bier Café - Portland, ME
Head straight to the outdoor patio at this all-encompassing beer parlor that is part British pub, part German beer garden, and part Belgian biere café. With over 25 draughts, 300 bottles, and a full menu of wine and spirits, snacks from sausages and kraut to shrimp tacos will help keep you sated. (207-761-2437; novareresbiercafe.com)
Photo Credit: Novare Res Beir Café
Standard Biergarten - New York City
Not to be discounted when it comes to trends, New York City’s Standard Biergarten located beneath the High Line in the Meatpacking District’s swank Standard Hotel is the place to be during the summer months. With a classic German menu complete with the sausages, beers, and oversized pretzels, a well-heeled crowd lines the block to grab a coveted spot at one of the communal tables. (212-645-4646; standardhotels.com)
Photo Credit: Standard Biergarten
Bohemian Hall - Astoria, NY
Established in 1910 and celebrating over a century of service, Bohemian Hall is one of the country’s oldest beer gardens. A friendly Czech spot that holds over 1,000 beer lovers on any given day, 15 draught beers from Czech Krusovice to Colorado’s Blue Moon, help wash down a traditional menu of Czech specialties ranging from dumplings to goulash to head cheese. (718-274-4925; bohemianhall.com)
Photo Credit: Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden
Frankford Hall - Philadelphia
From the man behind such powerhouse restaurants like Buddakan and Morimoto, Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr also offers up Frankford Hall, a massive indoor/outdoor space housed in an old brick warehouse. Twelve beers can be found on a tap list that pits German brews against Maryland’s Dogfish Head. If you’re hungry, sausages and burgers offset German comfort food like spätzel and schnitzel. (215-634-3338; frankfordhall.com)
Photo Credit: Frankford Hall
Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens - San Diego
Set amidst an acre of land, Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens embraced its natural surroundings—streams, grassy fields, and trees—and set up shop within. Pairing both Stone and local beers with farm-to-table ingredients, this beer garden offers a more elevated experience, though Wednesday night movies keep things light. (760-294-7866; stoneworldbistro.com)
Photo Credit: Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens
Mecklenburg Garden - Cincinnati
As the oldest functioning restaurant in Cincinnati, one of the oldest beer gardens the country, and a symbol of the city’s rich German heritage, Mecklenburg Gardens serves over 15 beers on tap (six of which rotate seasonally) and up to 80 bottles in a setting of century-old grape vines. (513-221-5353;mecklenburgs.net)
Photo Credit: Mecklenburg Garden
As the thermometer heats up, the beer garden as gathering place takes center stage.