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Where to celebrate Oktoberfest 2014 in Sydney

It's Oktoberfest, the time of year when beer-loving tourists descend on Munich for pretzels, pork knuckles and steins of lager. For some Oktoberfest action a little closer to home, here's what's on.

Rob Moran

Prost! There are plenty of places to celebrate Oktoberfest in Sydney.
Prost! There are plenty of places to celebrate Oktoberfest in Sydney.Supplied

Essen

Essen has amped up its menu with Oktoberfest specialties, including weisswurst and brezel with sweet mustard; a massive $65 platter for two featuring pork knuckle and belly, bratwurst, beef goulash, sauerkraut and more; and traditional kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancakes). They're also offering free schnapps to everyone who's dressed in traditional costume, and souvenir take-home steins for those who want to make Oktoberfest a nightly occurrence.

Until October 5, 135 Broadway, Ultimo, 9211 3805, essenrestaurant.com.au

Concordia Club

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Tempe's local German hangout is famous for its annual Oktoberfest festivities, involving traditional oom-pah-pah bands, slap-happy schuhplattler dancers, German beers on tap, and, perhaps most importantly, pork knuckles the size of a mammoth's paw (you'll look like Bavarian royalty gnawing on that bone). Admission's $15 for visitors, $10 for members, and $5 for kids under 17.

Mackey Park, Tempe, 9554 7388, concordiaclub.org.au

The Local Taphouse

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Bavarian Bier Café

Sydney's various Bavarian Bier Cafes (there are branches in Bondi, Manly, Parramatta and York Street in the city, and elsewhere) have planned a hectic calendar for the month of October, including Jagermeister pop-up bars and midweek eating games. Head to the Bondi branch on Tuesday for a schnitzel challenge and Wednesday for the $35 1 kilogram pork knuckle and sauerkraut challenge (you'll be treated to a bonus Schnapps if you manage to scoff the lot down – viel gluck!).

108 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, 8988 5935, bavarianbiercafe.com

Lowenbrau Keller

Alongside their usual Bavarian offerings, the Lowenbrau's serving up a $75 set menu featuring pretzels, cured meats, cheesy obatzda, roast pork belly, a selection of sausages (including the traditional paprika-filled depreziner), schnitzel, meat loaf, spatzle, dumplings and home-style apple strudel. Oh, and a full litre of beer. Yeah, you might wanna factor in a long afternoon nap for this one.

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Cnr Playfair and Argyle Street, The Rocks, 9247 7785, lowenbrau.com.au

Redoak Boutique Beer Café

Fancy a signature beer for this year's festivities? Red Oak – which just scored big at the Sydney Royal Beer and Cider Show, and is celebrating its 10th anniversary next week – has a special Oktoberfest lager on tap till October 5.

201 Clarence Street, 9262 3303, redoak.com.au

The Australian Hotel & Brewery

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Also hosting a signature Oktoberfest beer is The Australian Hotel. They tapped (pun intended) 26-year-old German brewer Maximilian Hammerle (from the University of Weihenstephan) to create 'Highway To Helles', a German-style smoked brew using Bamberger smoked malt. Get it on tap at the hotel, or at selected pubs closer to the city.

350 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill, 9679 4555, australianbrewery.com.au

German-Austrian Club

The club's Oktoberfest festivities will be held on October 4. Although it kicks-off at 11am, the party officially begins when club president Walter Schmied taps the first beer at 4.30pm and screams "O'zapft is!" ("It's tapped!").

73-75 Curtin Street, Cabramatta, 9728 7724, germanaustriansoc.com.au

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