Oktoberfest 2015: best places to celebrate in Sydney and Melbourne

Munich-born Josef Neumeier​ has attended Oktoberfest in Munich, every year of his life, except one. "I was born in Munich and attended my first Oktoberfest before I could walk," he says.

"Australia holds by far and away the most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations I've seen outside of Germany," says Neumeier, who now works in Australia for Lowenbrau Keller, but returns every year to Munich to work at Oktoberfest.

Like Neumeier, 6 million visitors make the pilgrimage to Munich each year. The world's most famous festival of beer began as a celebration for the annual release of Marzen, a beer slightly darker, and stronger in taste and alcohol, than most run-of-the-mill German ales.

Marzen has long been the official Oktoberfest beer, and breweries must meet strict reinheitsgebot​ (local Bavarian purity laws) to be granted official status as an Oktoberfest brewer. There are only six - Spaten, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau, and Lowenbrau​; and five of these ship kegs to Australia for celebrations here.

Oktoberfest begins on September 19, and it's the biggest week by far for German clubs and restaurants. Across Sydney and Melbourne, every German club and restaurant has steins lined up and oompah bands booked, set to host frauleins​ in dirndls and blokes in lederhosen.

Here are 10 of the best in Sydney and Melbourne:

For a long time we were the biggest Oktoberfest in the southern hemisphere, right here at the club.

Walter Schmied

Melbourne

Munich Brauhaus

Munich Brauhaus boasts that its celebrations are, "the biggest, loudest and most boisterous Oktoberfest party in Melbourne". Hosted over six weeks, the restaurant, on South Wharf, has plans for Bavarian entertainment ranging from roving accordion players to gingerbread-decorating classes for kids to yodelling competitions. Beers on tap will include limited edition Oktoberfest biers from, Lowenbrau, Spaten, Hofbrau, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr, served every day of the week. "Big food" is also on the menu, which translates as, "able to soak up beer," including roasted pork knuckle and house-made sausages and strudels.

Munich Brauhaus, 45 Southwharf Promenade, South Wharf; 1300 686 424, Friday, September 18 to Saturday, October 31, oktoberfest.com.au.

Hophaus

Hophaus, at Southgate, has branded its celebrations as "Hoptoberfest". The party starts with the tapping of the first keg on Saturday, September 19. Festivities include "the running of the wieners", the inaugural dachshund race which will see sausage dogs setting off at 10.30am for the title of "Best Wiener". At lunchtime, the annual sausage-eating competition sees competitive eaters lining up to eat as many bratwurst, as quickly as they can. From 6pm, a DJ playing German haus will add to the party spirit. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are scheduled as family time with live German bands and face-painting for the kids from 1pm.

Hophaus Bier Bar Grill, Mid Level, Southgate Restaurant and Shopping Precinct Southbank; 03 9682 5900; Friday September 18 to Sunday September 27.

European Bier Cafe

At the European Bier Cafe on Exhibition Street, guests are encouraged to attend Oktoberfest kitted out in lederhosen or a dirndl. The cafe has been hosting celebrations for more than 10 years, and offers a one-litre stein and a bretzel (pretzel) included in the ticket price. Bretzels are made using barley malt syrup; their malted flavour coupled with plenty of thirst-inducing salt. It's one of the most popular snacks sold in the Munich Oktoberfest beer halls, where they are served with slabs of butter. Adding to the frivolity, a live oompah band will belt out thigh-slapping Bavarian classics each night.

European Bier Cafe, 120 Exhibition Street, Melbourne; 9663 1222, Friday October 9 and Friday October 16; 5-10pm, europeanbiercafe.com.au

The Hofbrauhaus

The Hofbrauhaus, in Market Lane, has hosted Oktoberfest for nearly 50 years. Since 1968, Bavarian "froth and fröhlich" has been the order of the day. Hofbrauhaus' biermeister is particularly fond of the official Arcobrau and Hofbrau brews which have been produced exclusively for Oktoberfest, since 1567 and 1589, respectively. They are beers made using water, barley and hops only - and without preservatives or additives which allegedly reduces the likelihood of a hangover. Food offerings include all the meat and potato beer-soaking traditional German dishes, as well as a Gemuse vegetable strudel, and Kasespatzle, house-made egg noodles with herbs, spinach and mountain cheese for vegetarians.

The Hofbrauhaus, 18-28 Market Lane, Melbourne, 9663 3361, hofbrauhaus.com.au

Oktoberfest in the Garden

Now in its fifth year, Oktoberfest in the Garden, held in massive tents pitched in Birrarung Marr, features German food stalls and beer halls, in addition to cider stalls, a sideshow alley, multiple music stages and a silent disco where revellers don headphones and dance the night away. The ticket price includes a commemorative 560ml stein and the first drink is free.

Oktoberfest in the Garden, Birrarung Marr, Melbourne CBD. Tickets available through Moshtix. Friday, October 23, 4pm-11pm and Saturday, October 24 2pm – 10pm.

Sydney

Lowenbrau Keller

Lowenbrau has been making beer for Oktoberfest since the 15th century, and Lowenbrau Keller in The Rocks has long been the epicentre of Sydney's Oktoberfest celebrations. The fun runs for six weeks, starting with a keg-tapping party on September 17 and 18, followed by a long list of special Oktoberfest-themed events and activities through until October 31. Five of the official six Oktoberfest beers are on tap, and beer flights are on offer where you can sample a combination of three of the official beers in 200ml tasting glasses. For those who prefer something stronger, a Jagermeister party is scheduled for Thursday, September 24.

Lowenbrau Keller, Playfair Street and Argyle Street, The Rocks, 9247 7785, Thursday, September 17 - Saturday, October 31, oktoberfest.com.au.

Bavarian Bier Cafe

With multiple venues across Sydney, the Bavarian Bier Cafes will host celebrations from Miranda in the south, to Bondi and Moore Park in the east, Chatswood, Crows Nest and Manly in the north, Parramatta in the west, and at their York Street outpost in the CBD. A "bier passport" gives guests the opportunity to try all the official Oktoberfest beer on tap, and be rewarded with a commemorative stein for doing so. Classic Bavarian fare including plate covering "Uber schnitzels" and schweinshaxe​ (roasted pork knuckle) served with sauerkraut and Oktoberfest dark bier jus. Oompah bands imported from Germany for the parties will entertain.

Bavarian Bier Cafes, various locations across Sydney, 9259 5680, Thursday, September 17 and Saturday, October 31, oktoberfest.com.au.

The German Austrian Society

The German Austrian Society at Cabramatta likewise promises a souvenir stein and German fare including pork knuckles and schnitzels, says Walter Schmied, club president for the past 27 years. Schmied has overseen Oktoberfest celebrations at the club since 1970. "For a long time we were the biggest Oktoberfest in the southern hemisphere, right here at the club," he says. Folk dancing groups, an oompah band and a dedicated yodelling green all feature as part of the celebrations. "We also have 16 beers on offer, from Germany, Austria and Australia."

The German Austrian Society, 73-75 Curtin Street, Cabramatta, Saturday, October 3, Bookings: 9728 7724, germanaustriansoc.com.au.

Essen

Again this year, Essen will offer a special Oktoberfest menu featuring weisswurst​ (the Bavarian sausage made from minced veal and bacon), knotted brezel served with sweet mustard and their famous platter for two ($65) which includes pork knuckle and belly, bratwurst, beef goulash and a side of sauerkraut. Guests are encouraged to arrive in traditional Bavarian dress and for their trouble they will be rewarded with a free nip of schnapps or a souvenir stein.

Essen, 133-135 Broadway, Ultimo, 9211 3805, essenrestaurant.com.au.

Oktoberfest in the Gardens

At the Domain, Oktoberfest in the Gardens is set to be Sydney's biggest outdoor Oktoberfest celebration. A big top beer hall will be skirted by food stalls serving traditional German fare and drinks stalls pouring German beer, cider and wine. Stages dotted across the park will host Bavarian-themed competitions, and musical acts, while roving musicians wander between the revellers. Like its Melbourne sister event, Sydney's Oktoberfest in the Gardens features a sideshow alley and a silent disco.

Oktoberfest in the Gardens, The Domain, Philip Precinct, Sydney, Saturday, October 31, 2pm-10pm, oktoberfestinthegardens.com.au