16 best spots to celebrate Oktoberfest 2024 in NYC
Get ready to raise the steins and put on lederhosen: Oktoberfest is almost here. When the city of Munich bursts into Oktoberfest celebrations, the festivities spill far beyond Germany. New York City offers lots of ways to participate in the fun—whether by enjoying traditional German fare like beer and bratwurst or competing in stein-holding contests. Ahead, here are 16 of the best spots to celebrate Oktoberfest in NYC, from German beer gardens to lively block parties across the city.
The Standard Biergarten
848 Washington at 13th Street, Meatpacking District
September 21 through October 5
The Standard is kicking off its Oktoberfest celebrations with an exciting block party on Saturday, September 21. Hosted in partnership with the Meatpacking District, the street takeover will run from Washington Street between 13th and Little West 12th Street and feature a wide variety of activities and food offerings, including carnival games, a Ferris wheel, competitions, cookie decorating, DJs, an oompah band pretzels, bratwursts, and plenty of beer. Admission is free but tickets are available for purchase to buy rides, games, food, and drink.
Oktoberfest festivities at the Standard will continue through October 5, with a two-week line-up of programming. Guests can partake in activities like flower crown making, cookie decorating, German beer tastings, indoor carnivals, and more.
Riverpark
450 East 29th Street, Kips Bay
September 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Riverpark, one of NYC’s prime waterfront destinations, is kicking off Oktoberfest this year with a bang. The seaside restaurant is hosting Lobsterfest on Thursday, September 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., inviting guests to a night of fun and delicious seafood.
The German-inspired evening will be hosted on the restaurant’s expansive outdoor terrace overlooking the East River. Guests will be able to enjoy traditional German music, a wide variety of lobster dishes and Oktoberfest fare, draught beer, lawn games, and much more. Tickets are available for $75 per person here.
Black Forest Brooklyn
Both of its Brooklyn locations
Weekends through October 26
Back for its 11th year, Black Forest Brooklyn’s Oktoberfest celebrations are returning to bring an authentic German atmosphere to NYC’s festivities. Taking place at the restaurant’s Fort Greene and Cobble Hill locations, the beloved annual event features traditional decorations, a live German oompah band, food and drink specials, and mug-holding and costume contents.
The kickoff parties, hosted at both locations on September 21, will feature a traditional keg tapping ceremony, offering patrons a tall glass of German beer straight from the source.
Tickets start at $15 to reserve a spot, with an optional 3-hour unlimited beer package available for an additional $45.
Chelsea Market
75 9th Avenue, Meatpacking District
September 27 at 8 p.m.
Chelsea Market is joining in the Oktoberfest festivities with a German beer-tasting event. Organized by Dickson’s Farmstand Meats and Chelsea Market, this special celebration will feature live music and tastings from a diverse lineup of brewers, including Threes Brewing, Industrial Arts, KCBC, Wild East, Kills Boro, SingleCut Beersmiths, German Wines, and more.
The event will be held at Dickson’s Farmstand Meats on the lower level of Chelsea Market, located at 75 9th Avenue, starting at 8 p.m. An afterparty will follow at the Tippler at midnight.
Tickets cost $65 and can be reserved in advance here.
Stone Street Oktoberfest
Stone Street Historic Street, Financial District
September 21 and 28, October 5, 12, 19, and 26
One of NYC’s largest Oktoberfest celebrations returns for another year, bringing with it traditional German fare, beer served in tall steins, and much more. From noon to 11 p.m. on six Saturdays—September 21 and 28, and October 5, 12, 19, and 26—enjoy German beer and food served on traditional German glassware, live music, fun games, and stein-holding contests. The event is free to attend, and food and drink will be sold separately by participating vendors.
The Watermark at Pier 15
78 South Street, The Seaport
September 14 through October 27
Experience Oktoberfest with stunning waterfront views at the South Street Seaport’s Watermark Bar. This highly anticipated event offers an abundance of German beer, sausages, jumbo pretzels, and family-friendly festivities. Enjoy activities like a stein-holding contest, live DJ and traditional German band performances, a 360-degree photo booth, a game lounge tent, and more. General admission is free, but make the event more special with a fast pass, which provides express entry and two drinks for $30, or a VIP ticket, which allows special access and bottomless beer and margaritas for two hours. Reservations can be made here.
Loreley Beer Garden
7 Rivington Street, Lower East Side
September 12 through October 31
Sip German beer from pumpkin-shaped kegs at the Lower East Side’s Loreley Beer Garden this Oktoberfest. The festival is hosted inside the restaurant’s seasonally decorated indoor and heated outdoor beer garden. Enjoy a rotating selection of Oktoberfest beers, seasonal ciders, and daily food and drink specials. Book a table here.
Zum Schneider’s Oktoberfest
3 Dollar Bill, 260 Messerole Street, East Williamsburg
September 26 through October 6
Zum Schneider’s Oktoberfest celebration is once again “bringing Munich to Brooklyn.” This authentic event takes place at 3 Dollar Bill in East Williamsburg within a fully decked-out Oktoberfest tent, which can host up to 600 guests. Sip imported German beer and eat giant pretzels, bratwurst, cheese spreads, and more. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Radegast Hall & Biergarten
113 North 3rd Street, Williamsburg
September 21, 28, and October 5
Williamsburg’s Radegast Hall is hosting its annual Oktoberfest celebration. The event features plenty of German food and drink, a live brass band, a men’s and women’s mug-holding competition, ceremonial keg tapping, and a DJ dance party.
Strong Rope Brewery
185 Van Dyke Street, Red Hook
September 13 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Join Strong Rope Brewery in celebrating their annual “Strongtober Fest,” where the beer keeps flowing and the festive energy runs high. At the festival, Strong Rope will be pouring their signature Oktoberfest beer, along with beer from more than 10 other NYC craft breweries. To get patrons into the Oktoberfest spirit, Runner & Stone is offering soft pretzels all day long, and Chaat Dog will offer sausages and veggie options from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Additional festivities include performances by the Polka Brothers, playing polka classics from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., German steins and accessories for sale by Long Island German Steins, and a stein-holding contest at 7 p.m. with a chance to win Strong Rope swag.
Torch & Crown Beer Garden
Union Square Park, 20 Union Square West
October 6 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Manhattan’s Torch & Crown is bringing back TorchFest, its yearly Oktoberfest celebration in Union Square. The event features live music, German-style beers, giant Bavarian pretzels, bratwurst, festive games, activities with prizes, and limited edition TorchFest 2024 swag. General admission tickets start at $15 per person and include entry and one ticket for a food item or drink.
Bierhaus NYC
712 3rd Avenue, Midtown East
Weekends through October
Midtown East’s Bierhaus NYC is a Bavarian-style beer hall with a love of Oktoberfest and Hofbräu beer. The beer hall is hosting Oktoberfest celebrations every weekend through October, including a ceremonial keg tapping and pig roast, stein-holding competitions, kid-friendly events, and more. Bierhaus also offers 24 beers on tap, weekly trivia, and live music.
Blocktoberfest 2024
Brooklyn Brewery, 79 N 11th Street, Greenpoint
September 29 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
This year’s Blocktoberfest, one of the fall’s most anticipated events for beer lovers, is taking place at Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg, shining a spotlight on New York City breweries and giving them the chance to showcase their products. Many of the city’s best-known breweries will participate, including 18th Ward, Gun Hill, TALEA, Strong Rope, and more. General admission tickets start at $50 plus fees and can be purchased here.
Reichenbach Hall
5 West 37th Street, Midtown
September 21
Midtown’s Reichenbach Hall is kicking off their Oktoberfest celebrations on September 21, the day of the annual German American parade along 5th Avenue. The biergarten invites patrons to join them all night in the festivities, with live music and Munich and Berlin cuisine, including the biggest selection of German beer in New York.
Circle Line’s Oktoberfest Cruises
September 28 through November 10
New York City sightseeing cruise service Circle Line offers a scenic 50-mile cruise along the Hudson River in celebration of Oktoberfest. Guests will enjoy an exclusive menu of German delicacies like pork schnitzel, bratwurst, and oversized Bavarian pretzels while gazing out at the stunning autumn foliage. Starting at $69, tickets range in price depending on the day; purchase them here.
Edge
30 Hudson Yards, Hudson Yards
September 21 and 22
Elevate your Oktoberfest experience at the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere. Hudson Yards’ Edge is inviting guests to raise their steins and say “prost” while taking in expansive skyline views of the five boroughs. The two 21+ celebrations feature a live Polka band and German bratwurst and beer. General admission starts $40 and tickets can be purchased here.
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