Europe’s 6 best beer gardens

From lakeside, lantern-lit terraces and Prague hotspots with panoramic city views, to ivy-clad English gardens and Dutch windmills. While away the summer evenings in one of Europe’s six best beer gardens.

Café am Neuen See (Tiergarten) in Berlin, Germany

Within Berlin’s 520-acre, landscaped Tiergarten, you’ll find this laid-back and atmospheric beer garden. Its lakeside location – bordered by woodland and with fairy lights hanging from tree to tree – is dreamy on a summer evening. Dangle your legs over the water while perched on the edge of the decking, enjoying a fresh draft beer or two and, if you’re feeling peckish, a homemade pretzel or Leberkäse (German meatloaf). Guests can also rent a rowing boat and take it out on the water. Splash out and stay at the 5-star hotel and spa SO/ Berlin Das Stue, just opposite the Tiergarten.

Brouwerij het IJ in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

This small brewery stands at the base of De Gooyer, Holland’s tallest free-standing wooden windmill, and is a super popular spot for an al fresco craft beer. Founded in 1985 by Dutch musician, Kasper Peterson, Brouwerij het IJ has been stocking a wide selection of organic Amsterdam beers on tap ever since, including its first ever creation, the full-bodied, blonde Zatte – now the brewery’s most classic beer. Arrive early to get a good spot on the garden terrace, where you’ll find picnic tables set up beneath the trees and beside the canal. And if you want to learn a bit more about the history of the brewery itself, book yourself into one of the regular beer tastings. Stay in a boutique, canal-facing apartment just around the corner from Brouwerij het IJ at Yays Oostenburgergracht.

Færgekroen Bryghus in Copenhagen, Denmark

Set beside a lake in Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, this magical brewery and pub is a replica of an old Danish fisherman’s cottage. Try a house-brewed beer on the decking that juts out into the water and is bordered by greenery, and tuck into a homemade Danish open sandwich – they also make a mean wienerschnitzel. There’s a resident pianist who performs several evenings a week, with a singalong section later for those who are feeling enthusiastic. Stay in a listed 19th-century, central Copenhagen building close to the brewery at Hotel Danmark.

Hirschgarten in Munich, Germany

With seating for over 8000 people, Hirschgarten is the largest beer garden in Munich, Bavaria and possibly the world. Located in a 100-acre park populated with friendly deer, you may find them leaning over the fence begging for traditional beer garden fare like the restaurant’s moreish pretzels or grilled ‘fish on a stick’. Enjoy a huge choice of brews, served in huge, cold glasses, and soak up the atmosphere as you sit beneath the garden’s gigantic chestnut trees. Check into the nearby Hotel Kriemhild am Hirschgarten.

Letna Beer Garden in Prague, Czech Republic

Letná Beer Garden is hands down the most scenic beer garden in Prague. It stands atop Letná Park, looking down towards the Old Town and the Vltava River, with its grand, medieval stone bridges. Unpretentious and friendly, there are several beer stands from which you can grab a takeaway brew (Gambrinus, a Czech beer, is the usual but there’s also Pilsner, ciders, and amber or dark lagers) and plant yourself on a communal picnic table. There are also Pétanque tournaments in summer, and snacks of klobása (a type of sausage) or gourmet pizza. Check into Hotel Clement, just across the Vltava River.

The Windsor Castle in London, UK

Enter this ivy-clad Kensington pub and walk through its wood-panelled bar to discover what is arguably the best beer garden in London. It’s a fabulous spot to enjoy a nut or sirloin roast with a Bloody Mary for Sunday lunch, or spend a summer’s evening sipping on Pimm’s. Kitted out with outdoor heaters, teak furniture, fairy lights and lots of potted plants, it’s an intimate, peaceful space that belies its central London location. Stay just the other side of Holland Park at the contemporary 88 Studios.