Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest 2014
Fall is high season for all manner of harvest-centric celebrations, but none are quite as — shall we say, boisterous — as Oktoberfest. Originating in Munich and Bavaria, the annual, 16-day festival lasts from September 20th to October 5th this year (although some people have been known to party all the way through Halloween)! And although it was initially intended to commemorate the royal marriage of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausenthe, Oktoberfest has since evolved into an all-out carnival of German culture, including oompah bands, traditional foods, and massive liters of beer. So here’s where to spend the joyfully rowdy holiday this year, from Zum Schneider‘s Gallic gala on the East River, to the New York City Wine and Food Festival‘s all-star chef feast…
Munich on the East River
While it’s essentially always Oktoberfest at the congenial Alphabet City beirgarten, Zum Schneider, they’re taking their act to the East River this year, for a special celebration on October 3rd-5th, as well as the 10th-12th. $25 tickets buy access to the all-day events, with Oktoberfest beers on tap, live music from Mösl Franzi & the JaJaJa’s, strongman competitions, stands selling roasted almonds, gingerbread hearts, giant Brezn (pretzels) and cotton candy, and Wiesn-Hendl and Haxn (Oktoberfest roast chicken and pork shank) served under big, colorful tents.
Read MorePaulaner
The big, Bowery outpost of this seminal German brewery wasn’t able to open quite in time for Oktoberfest last year, which is why they really plan to make up for it this year, starting with a music-filled, Oktoberfest Kick-Off Party on Saturday, September 20th. And for six straight weeks, Bavarian-born chef Daniel Kill plans to offer a special Oktoberfest menu, featuring housemade Bratwust and Weisswurst, Potato Pancakes, Kraut Cakes with a Hefeweizen beer reduction, Spaetzle with cheese and crispy onions, and large format feasts, like Whole Duck with red cabbage and bread dumplings, Whole Suckling Pig, and Veal Shanks.
Read MoreNYCWFF Oktoberfest
Held at Studio Square, Astoria’s lively indoor/outdoor beer garden, and hosted by “Bizarre Foods” Andrew Zimmern, check out the New York City Wine and Food Festival’s tribute to the time-honored German holiday. $99 tickets will buy an afternoon of live music and drinking games, as well as Brats, Kraut, Schnitzel and Strudel, prepared by a number of top, NYC chefs (including Daniel Boulud, Wolfgang Ban, Eduard Frauneder and Alex Stupak), paired with a wide selection of tasty, craft beers.
Read MoreThe Standard Biergarten
Located underneath the High Line, this 4,000 square-foot, open-air beer garden has a fancy retractable roof, allowing it to remain open year round. And it’s a particularly appealing spot to spend Oktoberfest, when they’ll pour plenty of hoppy, toasty Köstritzer beer, and serve classic Gingerbread cookies (both for eating, and for mounting as traditional, decorative souvenirs on the walls)! Bonus — the delicious Bavarian menu comes courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Kurt Gutenbrenner, featuring snappy Sausages, oversized Pretzels and more.
Read MoreClinton Hall
This FiDi craft beer garden will debut their Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier on September 20th, to mark the official start date of Oktoberfest, and will go all out beginning September 30th by unveiling nearly 20 classic German beers on tap. Clinton Hall will also offer a special Oktoberfest menu, and a number of fun bar games. For instance, guests who purchase beer will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win Oktoberfest-themed prizes, like flags and “das boot” glasses. They’ll also conduct traditional mug-holding contests, with winners receiving Hofbrau T-shirts and free (yes, free!) filled steins of Oktoberfesbier!
Read MoreLederhosen
This authentic German restaurant and bar in the West Village is kicking off an entire month of Oktoberfest-themed activities, so be sure to don your dirndl or lederhosen to receive a free half-liter of Oktoberfest beer! Other fun additions are $10 dinners, including a Wurst and a beer of your choosing, plus $25 all-you-can-drink promotions each weekend, live oompah bands, mug holding competitions, and a hardcore Das Boot Challenge — if you can finish Das Boot (2 liters of beer) in under 6 minutes and 45 seconds, the beer is free and your picture goes up on Facebook!
Read MoreThe Third Man
For a more sedate celebration, visit this sexy, early 20th century Vienna-themed cocktail bar, for thoughtful small bites, like House-cured Pork Belly and pickled beer mustard on pumpernickel, served alongside a selection of brews and house-made shandies. Try the Pomelo-weizen; Hefeweizen wheat beer, jalapeño-infused tequila, grapefruit juice, mint and basil with a chili salt rim and a bacon garnish, or the Radeberger Rhubarb, made with Radeberger Pilsner, Maker’s Mark, house-made rhubarb puree, simple syrup and tarragon. Drink up!
Read MoreBavaria Bierhaus
This year-old, bi-level establishment brings a whole lot of Bavarian flavor to sleepy Stone Street in the Financial District. Check out the two massive, wooden bars that were built in Germany and shipped over in sections, wait staff clad in dirndl’s and lederhosen, a menu full of pretzels, schnitzel, sauerbraten and spaetzle, and 24 German beers on draft.
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