Hofbräuhaus, Munich

No visit to Munich, Germany would be complete without a visit to Hofbräuhaus, the most famous beer hall in the world.

Dissatisfied with the quality of beer being brewed in Munich, Duke Wilhelm V established the Hofbräuhaus in 1589. To this day, the Hofbräuhaus is still state-owned.

The Hofbräuhaus has grown from a simple brewery to a brewery and restaurant capable of serving up to 3,000 visitors at a time. Not content with being contained in Munich, the Hofbräuhaus has expanded and been franchised worldwide in places such as Genova, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; Seoul, Korea; Newport, Kentucky; Las Vegas, Nevada; Miami Beach, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and even the Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok.

Unique to the Hofbräuhaus in Munich are two racks of beer stein safes, installed in 1970 at the bequest of guests who desired a safe, separate storage area for their personal beer steins. With space for only 424 steins total, a locker is (and will remain) a highly coveted status symbol.

Regulars and visiting guests are kept entertained while awaiting their brew by the oom-pah band, outfitted in lederhosen, playing everything from traditional Bavarian music to current hits.

The Hofbräuhaus is open daily at 9 a.m., including Christmas Day.