Oktoberfest
By Chelsea Sime, Assistant Editor
Exchange your wimpy pint glass for a liter-sized, boot-shaped beer stein and raise it to the annual celebration of German heritage (i.e. beer, sausage and polka): Oktoberfest. You won’t need a flight to Munich to join in the festivities, but you may need an Alka-Seltzer and a few hairs of the dog that bit you. Prost!
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Walzwerk
381 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
Dine on jager schnitzel with spatzle, sauerbraten with sauerkraut and all manner of unpronounceable East German delicacies at this pocket-sized, dictator-themed Mission eatery. But show up early, as the restaurant often has lengthy lines come dinnertime. -
Suppenkuche
601 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA
The emphasis at this popular Hayes Valley restaurant is on traditional Bavarian cooking--huge portions of brunch, lunch or dinner options--served up in an almost pub-like atmosphere. The pork, potatoes and pickled herring make an excellent base for the headache-inducing, two-liter beer boot. -
Schnitzelhaus
294 Ninth St, San Francisco, CA
Locals who appreciate big beers and huge helpings of meat head over to this family-run SoMa eatery that specializes in schnitzel, sausage and a handful of traditional German and Austrian dishes. The beer list includes nearly 20 imported draft or bottled options. -
Gestalt Haus
3159 16th St, San Francisco, CA
A hip Mission bicycling crowd (and their hard-drinking friends) packs this Munich-style pub for liters of cold beer for less than $10 and German sausages to soak up the alcohol. The quirky spot on busy 16th Street also sells vegan dogs for those who want a more PETA-friendly snack with their pilsner. -
Schroeder's Cafe
240 Front St, San Francisco, CA
This Financial District staple claims to be the oldest and largest German restaurant around. But there's more on the menu at this popular after-work hangout than spatzle and schnitzel--come by on a Friday for live polka starting at 6pm.
