What's the proper etiquette for visiting the German Biergartens?
I passed through Munich last year and stopped at one of the biergartens. Well I tried. It was absolutely packed, it took forever to find a seat. At least one I could sit at. Seems like there's lots of rules about who can sit at what places, I found out afterwards. Depends on the size of the table, the shape of the table, if there's a tablecloth, if there's a plaque, if you're bringing your own food, if you're buying food there but bussing it yourself, if you want a server...
I'm taking a longer trip there this year and I want to be sure I got the rules in advance this time so I don't waste valuable travel time or make a faux pas and make the stupid American tourist stereotype true. What are the types of seating in a traditional biergarten? What can I do in those seats/how do I know if I can use them? Is there a common etiquette/unwritten rules?
(I found a little info already and can post my own answer later but it's not that good, I bet Travel SE can do better.)
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How do biergartens work?
It is not just for Oktoberfest that Germans gather around long wooden tables to drink endless liters of beer. Biergartens (or simply "beer gardens" in English) open as soon as the chill is gone and continue until the last German gives in to fall. There is just something special about drinking outside.How can I be polite in Germany?
German Etiquette for Everyday LifeWhat do you call a German beer garden?
A beer garden (German: Biergarten) is an outdoor area in which beer and food are served, typically at shared tables shaded by trees.Rnbstylerz \u0026 AREES - WHAT
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