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Airbräu – Bavarian cuisine at the airport – As recently in my first article As announced, "Bianca's Tasty Tour," my series of food tastings at Munich Airport, is now underway. My first stop was the legendary Airbräu, known far beyond the borders of Bavaria. Why? Because, in addition to its fantastic Bavarian cuisine, Airbräu is the only Bavarian restaurant with its own brewery at an airport in Europe. This is one of the reasons why it was the first of my now two-week series of food tastings at Munich Airport.

The beer garden at the MAC Forum by Airbräu

Equipment, rooms and ambience
Airbräu Munich completely surprised me in a positive way. As soon as I entered, I was immediately noticed and asked about any reservations I might have, as well as my seating preferences – inside or outside in the beer garden, and whether I was a smoker or non-smoker. Despite the somewhat gloomy sky, I opted for a spot in the beer garden (which seats 400) overlooking the MAC Forum and took a look around: rustic Bavarian tables and benches, a large fountain with adjacent seating, numerous trees between the tables and the bar, and chirping (and very tame) sparrows here and there. Pure beer garden atmosphere.

Before I sat down and studied the menu, I was given a short tour of the Airbräu. There was the regular, rustically furnished dining room (with space for about 300 guests), the aforementioned Bavarian beer garden, the barn for celebrations, events, and festivities, complete with a dance floor (for 250-300 guests, depending on the seating arrangement), and the pine-paneled rooms in the back (for about 25 people). A unique feature is the additional balloon room (for up to 15 guests), where guests sit at a table inside a giant wicker basket under a large, artificial balloon. Very rustic and ideal for small gatherings, just like the pine-paneled rooms.

Airbräu beer
The highlight is undoubtedly the brewing kettles and on-site brewery located right in the middle of the restaurant. Here, the Airbräu brewmaster brews his own Airbräu beer (three standard varieties and five seasonal beers). And you won't find this anywhere else, no matter where you land in Europe – neither the brewery nor the beer. Every single liter of the 500,000 hectoliters produced annually is served exclusively at the airport and is unavailable anywhere else. For those who really enjoy it, a 5-liter party keg of Airbräu beer is available for purchase on-site. Starting June 18th, for example, you can look forward to a new summer beer, a light wheat beer.

Asparagus soup with shrimp (and sparrow :-))

Selection of dishes and menu at Airbräu

Now, let's talk about the menu and my choices. The menu features the absolute classics of Bavarian cuisine. According to the restaurant team, the pork knuckle with dumplings, as well as the currently popular asparagus, are absolute hits and practically reason enough to visit Munich. 😉 From roast pork and Wiener Schnitzel to onion roast beef and the classic Käsespätzle (cheese spaetzle), everything is available. My companion and I opted for the classics: a Radler (shandy) and a Russn (a 0.5l for €3 each | 1l for €6) – very refreshing and delicious. Anyone who enjoys the aroma of hops and malt during brewing will love this place, because a discerning nose will clearly notice: brewing is underway here. Well... I was quite hungry, so I treated myself to a starter and a main course. The weekly specials included a cream of Abensberg asparagus soup with herb-roasted king prawns (€7.50). I ordered this for myself, followed by a half portion of Bavarian Käsespätzle (regularly €10.20). My companion opted for a hearty main course: the Allgäu-style onion roast beef from Bavarian pasture-raised cattle with rich gravy, homemade roasted onions, and buttered Spätzle (a reasonable €15.90). Instead of the buttered Spätzle, my companion could choose croquettes for an additional €1. (I understand the gastronomic rationale behind this, but extra charges for a change of side dish are often incomprehensible to the guest at the table).

I enjoyed my meal at Airbräu.

Food review

My soup arrived after just a few minutes, and I was absolutely delighted. It was piping hot, the shrimp were cooked to perfection, and there was a generous amount of white and green asparagus. For the price, it was more than fair. My companion, inspired by my enthusiasm, also asked for a spoon and sampled a bit. Our main courses arrived simultaneously, were well-portioned, and attractively presented. My Käsespätzle (cheese spaetzle) was delicious. Nicely cheesy, but not overpowering, so you could still taste the spaetzle itself. It was topped with a generous portion of freshly fried onions. Half a portion was perfectly sufficient for me, and I was glad I'd taken the waiter's advice. So, if you're not too hungry, half the amount of spaetzle will easily suffice. My companion's Zwiebelrostbraten (onion roast beef) was cooked to the requested medium, a substantial piece of meat, and beautifully tender. It came with a truly excellent sauce, rich in onions and intensely flavorful. The (not homemade) croquettes, along with the separately ordered, very generous side salad (€4.90) with homemade croutons, were also delicious. The spaetzle came with a small side salad at no extra charge – also freshly made with a good dressing.

Various specials on the menu
In addition to its regular menu, Airbräu offers different specials depending on the day of the week. For example, Mondays are Schnitzel Day, with delicious schnitzel in various styles starting at just €9.80 in generous portions. Tuesdays are "Specialty Day," Fridays are "Fish Day," and weekends, including holidays, are "Suckling Pig Day." On these days, the respective menu items are always available at reduced prices. For breakfast lovers, classic breakfast options are available daily from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., such as two fried eggs with ham or crispy bacon, served with fried tomato slices, bread, and butter (€8.60), or toasted farmhouse bread topped with fried ham and two fried eggs (€7.20).

Brewery kettle in the restaurant

Key facts about Airbräu

Airbräu is open daily year-round from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. The beer garden opens daily at the beginning of May. Card payments are accepted. Parking is free for up to 3 hours in parking garage P20. Simply present your receipt with a minimum spend of €20 at the parking control center, and parking will be free. The S8 or S1 lines will take you to Munich Airport. As mentioned, Airbräu is located at the MAC Forum (the same area as the Winter Market) and can be rented in sections (Zirbelstuben, Tenne, Balooonroom, etc.) for parties, celebrations, and corporate events. Those interested in booking an exciting brewery tour can also arrange this at Airbräu (by phone or in person). Depending on the time of year, especially during Oktoberfest, advance table reservations are highly recommended.

My personal conclusion

I can highly recommend a visit. At first, even I was a little skeptical about how good Bavarian cuisine could be at an airport. After my experience, I know: it's absolutely fantastic! The value for money is also excellent, and any preconceived notions that airport food is always expensive were dispelled on the very first visit. The service is exceptionally friendly and attentive. The ambiance is classically Bavarian, and if you're ever there, be sure to check out the Zirblstuben – you'll forget within seconds that you're in a busy airport. The beer garden is cozy, and the covered area protects you from the rain. The food is superb, and everything about Airbräu is perfect. If you want to try it out, combine your visit with a performance by one of the various bands on the in-house cabaret stage, one of the two themed evenings (on Saturdays) each month, or even the legendary public viewing (European Championship).

Place visited: Airbräu at the airport
Address: Terminalstraße Mitte 18, 85356 Munich
Website

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