Schweinshaxe
Photo: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0

Roast pork knuckle with crackling skin and tender meat, served with potato dumplings, red cabbage and dark gravy. The defining Bavarian beer-hall plate.

Schweinshaxe descends from southern German rural pork-butchery traditions; the knuckle, the working part of the leg, is cured then slow-roasted to render fat and crisp the skin. The Munich beer-hall version, plated with semolina or bread Knödel and braised red cabbage, was codified by the Wirtshaus tradition in the late 19th century and became the canonical Hofbräuhaus order.

5 editor picks for Schweinshaxe in Munich, ranked by editorial score. All Munich signature dishes · Schweinshaxe across every city.

Hofbräukeller ★ 4.2

€€BavarianHaidhausen

Hofbräukeller on Wiener Platz in Munich Haidhausen is the calmer Hofbräu room: the city's locals come here instead of the Hofbräuhaus tourist hall.

OrderA Mass of Hofbräu Helles with the Schweinsbraten and dark gravy.

TipThe beer garden on Wiener Platz is one of the city's most family-friendly; bring a picnic for the self-service section.

Augustiner Klosterwirt ★ 4.1

€€BavarianAltstadt Lehel

Augustiner Klosterwirt sits under the towers of Munich's Frauenkirche in the Altstadt; the gasthaus pours Augustiner Helles vom Holzfass to 400 indoor seats.

OrderThe Schweinshaxe with dumplings; pair with Augustiner Helles tapped from the wooden cask.

TipDaily 09:30 to midnight; the open-air terrace is the spot in summer with Frauenkirche views.

Paulaner am Nockherberg ★ 4.1

€€BavarianAu Giesing

Paulaner am Nockherberg above the Isar in Munich's Au is the birthplace of Paulaner beer; this is where the Salvator Doppelbock tapping kicks off Lent.

OrderThe Salvator Doppelbock with Schweinshaxe and a soft pretzel.

TipStarkbierfest runs the last week of February through mid-March; the rest of the year is calmer.

Andechser am Dom ★ 4.0

€€BavarianAltstadt Lehel

Andechser am Dom in Munich Altstadt pours the Andechs Monastery's beers a minute from the Frauenkirche; the kitchen cooks classic Bavarian for the lunchtime.

OrderThe Schweinshaxe with potato dumplings, washed with a half-litre of Andechser Doppelbock.

TipDaily 10:00-01:00; the Weinstrasse terrace is the room's best summer seat.

Hofbräuhaus am Platzl ★ 3.8

€€BavarianAltstadt Lehel

Hofbräuhaus on Platzl has poured Hofbräu beer in Munich's Altstadt since 1589; the ground-floor Schwemme hall seats 1,000, the upstairs Festsaal handles.

OrderMass of Hofbräu Original (one litre) with Schweinshaxe and a pretzel.

TipThe ground-floor Schwemme is walk-in only; reserve the Bräustüberl upstairs for parties of four or more.

Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide

Schweinshaxe makes more sense with someone from Munich explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.

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