OCHSENBRATEREI
The Ochsenbraterei, also known as the Spatenbräu-Festhalle, is one of Oktoberfest’s largest beer tents. You’ll know it when you see it—there’s a massive ox being roasted high on the outside of the tent by some questionably proportioned wooden people.
The tent began at Oktoberfest as a humble ox rotisserie in 1881 and has been a staple ever since. Apparently, seeing a whole ox being roasted was “sensational public entertainment” at the time. Due to some technical issues, the ox roasters were absent from Oktoberfest for a couple years but came back after popular demand. The people need their oxen, damn!
Today, the tent is one of the largest (with seats for over 7,000 hungry ox-eaters) and rotisserie ox is still the featured item on the menu. Over the course of Oktoberfest, about 90 local oxen get served from the Ochsenbraterei with about seven whole oxen getting roasted each day. Want to know more about what you’re eating? Each day the tent displays the weight and—gulp—the name of each ox that’s been cooked.
Besides ox, the Ochsenbraterei also sells typical Bavarian dishes like traditional ½ chickens, sausages, pork, duck, and more. Their food focus is on local, organic, sustainable, and animal welfare. And yes, they even offer vegetarian and vegan meals as well. We don’t think they display the name of each potato though…
OSCHENBRATEREI
Brewery: Spaten
Capacity: Inside: 5900, outside: 1500, total: 7400
Proprietors: Anneliese Haberl and Antje Schneider
Website: ochsenbraterei.de