Oktoberfest in Germany serves over 6 million visitors annually, and plant based eaters no longer need to survive on bread alone, yay! Every major tent now offers vegan Munich Oktoberfest food like cashew based Käsespätzle, vegetable strudel (and more - see below!)
Ochsenbraterei runs the biggest vegan menu on the festival grounds, which surprises everyone given the giant dead ox rotating on a spit outside their entrance. However, it's worth noting that soft pretzels and sauerkraut have been plant based since your great grandmother visited the Wiesn (it's just that no one bothered to notice - until now!)
Oktoberfest has always been about bringing people together, and that spirit of welcome extends to every part of the experience. From the Oktoberfest clothing, where the Bavarian dirndls come in multiple lengths to suit different preferences and styles to the food, where the menu has expanded well beyond bratwurst to include vegan options, there's something for everyone at the festival table!
Oktoberfest: An Inclusive Bavarian Celebration
Oktoberfest has always been about bringing people together, and that spirit of welcome extends to every part of the experience. From the Oktoberfest clothing, where the Bavarian dirndls come in multiple lengths to suit different preferences and styles to the food, where the menu has expanded well beyond bratwurst to include vegan options, there's something for everyone at the festival table!
Whether you're dressing up in lederhosen (vegan leather is a thing, Leute!) or hunting down a plant-based pretzel, Oktoberfest makes room for all. Here's how it's done:
Vegans survived on bread, beer and gherkins going back a few years. Today, the Wiesn menu reads like a proper restaurant with dishes rotating through tents (faster than the festival ferris wheel lol). Three full days of eating without repeating a single plate is genuinely possible now!
Three days at the Wiesn provides enough time to experience tent culture, explore street food stalls, and discover hidden gems across the Theresienwiese grounds. Here is a food diary covering morning, afternoon, and evening meals:
The first morning calls for a giant soft pretzel from a street vendor near the main entrance (most skip the butter brush, but a quick ask confirms the situation) - you might want to pair this with a wheat beer if feeling bold before noon! Then, head to Ochsenbraterei late morning before the lunch crowd claims every seat and order the grilled vegan bratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard.
What Vegan Dishes are Available at Oktoberfest?
Vegans survived on bread, beer and gherkins going back a few years. Today, the Wiesn menu reads like a proper restaurant with dishes rotating through tents (faster than the festival ferris wheel lol). Three full days of eating without repeating a single plate is genuinely possible now!
Some Naturally Vegan Bavarian Classics Are:
- giant soft pretzels from street vendors and beer gardens;
- sauerkraut served as a tangy, fermented side;
- roasted candied almonds from Mandelbrenner stalls;
- roasted chestnuts during cooler festival days;
- sliced radish spirals with salt;
- kartoffelsalat made with vinegar dressing at select locations, yumm!
Vegan Mains Inside the Tents:
- vegan Käsespätzle with cashew cheese sauce;
- vegetable strudel filled with tomato and basil ragout;
- crispy fried potatoes with vegetables;
- potato goulash with rich aromatic broth (do make sure the broth is plant-based);
- grilled vegan bratwurst with curry sauce;
- baked sweet potato with African bean stew;
- spinach pretzel dumplings with herb cream.
Street Food Finds
- vegan Leberkäse from Franzls Leberkäs Speiserei;
- potato pancakes fried (without egg);
- pea schnitzel from various stalls;
- chimney cakes (similar to Hungarian kürtős kalács)
- veggie skewers from open grills.
How to Eat Vegan at Oktoberfest Day by Day?
Three days at the Wiesn provides enough time to experience tent culture, explore street food stalls, and discover hidden gems across the Theresienwiese grounds. Here is a food diary covering morning, afternoon, and evening meals:
Day 1: Pretzels, Plant Sausage and Faux Cheesy Noodles
The first morning calls for a giant soft pretzel from a street vendor near the main entrance (most skip the butter brush, but a quick ask confirms the situation) - you might want to pair this with a wheat beer if feeling bold before noon! Then, head to Ochsenbraterei late morning before the lunch crowd claims every seat and order the grilled vegan bratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard.
The smoky flavour rivals any traditional sausage, and the tangy fermented cabbage will cut through perfectly, too! Next, move to Hacker Festzelt after noon for their plant based cheese noodles. The cashew sauce coats each chewy strand while caramelised onions add sweetness that balances the whole dish, mmmmmm!
You might wanna skip the big tents entirely this morning - instead, wander over to Franzls between the Augustiner and Bräurosl tents, where their vegan meatloaf sells out regularly with locals who swear they cannot taste the difference (it's stuffed in a bread roll with sweet mustard on top). Spend the afternoon in the nostalgic Oide Wiesn section where the Tradition beer tent serves a warming potato goulash.
Grab a bag of roasted candied almonds from any copper kettle stall along the way because that caramelised sugar coating is amazing. Then, return to the Paulaner tent for their baked sweet potato with African bean stew at dinner time!
Morning means taking advantage of the 'bring your own food' rule in beer gardens: you can simply pack plant based sausages, fresh bread, and fruit from the famous Viktualienmarkt and claim a table in any outdoor garden area. Please note that outside food is welcome but outside drinks are not! Spend the afternoon exploring smaller stalls for crispy potato pancakes.
Day 2: Meatloaf Rolls, Potato Goulash and Candied Almonds
You might wanna skip the big tents entirely this morning - instead, wander over to Franzls between the Augustiner and Bräurosl tents, where their vegan meatloaf sells out regularly with locals who swear they cannot taste the difference (it's stuffed in a bread roll with sweet mustard on top). Spend the afternoon in the nostalgic Oide Wiesn section where the Tradition beer tent serves a warming potato goulash.
Grab a bag of roasted candied almonds from any copper kettle stall along the way because that caramelised sugar coating is amazing. Then, return to the Paulaner tent for their baked sweet potato with African bean stew at dinner time!
Day 3: Packed Picnics, Potato Pancakes and Mushroom Strudel
Morning means taking advantage of the 'bring your own food' rule in beer gardens: you can simply pack plant based sausages, fresh bread, and fruit from the famous Viktualienmarkt and claim a table in any outdoor garden area. Please note that outside food is welcome but outside drinks are not! Spend the afternoon exploring smaller stalls for crispy potato pancakes.
Make sure to ask vendors whether they use egg in the batter because some prepare them traditionally with just potatoes, onions and flour. End the final evening at the Löwenbräu tent with their vegetable strudel topped with chanterelle mushrooms, and then toast the last night with a full litre of beer (and join the entire table singing!)
Hidden dairy and animal fats lurk in unexpected places across the Wiesn:
What Food Should Vegans Avoid at Oktoberfest?
Hidden dairy and animal fats lurk in unexpected places across the Wiesn:
Skip these:
- Obatzda as it contains soft cheese and butter;
- mushrooms in cream sauce;
- shredded pancakes with egg and butter;
- Käsespätzle (unless specifically labelled vegan);
- cheese dumplings often include bacon in sauerkraut;
- cream liqueurs and egg-based cocktails;
- any dumpling dish without ingredient confirmation.
Watch for:
- butter-brushed pretzels at some stalls;
- lard in traditional potato preparations;
- cream added to soups and sauces;
- honey in Lebkuchen (gingerbread hearts).
Tip: Always ask "Ist das vegan?" or look for explicit vegan labels on tent menus. Staff understand dietary requests better than ever, and most large tents will display allergen information, too!
Here are our tips to enjoy Oktoberfest as a vegan!
Beer gardens permit outside food but not outside drinks. Stash nuts, fruit, or energy bars for moments when nearby options disappoint (which will happen, believe me).
The official Oktoberfest website publishes complete tent menus weeks before the festival opens so you can identify vegan dishes in advance rather than struggling to read German menus under time pressure.
Google Translate's camera function reads German ingredient lists instantly. Point, scan, confirm, done.
Surviving Oktoberfest as a vegan meant pretzels, sauerkraut, and not much else a few years ago. Today, dedicated vegan chefs work inside the most traditional tents on the Theresienwiese - the festival definitely reflects broader shifts in German food habits!
Some Practical Tips Make Vegan Oktoberfest Easier
Here are our tips to enjoy Oktoberfest as a vegan!
Pack Backup Snacks
Beer gardens permit outside food but not outside drinks. Stash nuts, fruit, or energy bars for moments when nearby options disappoint (which will happen, believe me).
Research Tent Menus Online
The official Oktoberfest website publishes complete tent menus weeks before the festival opens so you can identify vegan dishes in advance rather than struggling to read German menus under time pressure.
Download Translation Apps
Google Translate's camera function reads German ingredient lists instantly. Point, scan, confirm, done.
Summary
Surviving Oktoberfest as a vegan meant pretzels, sauerkraut, and not much else a few years ago. Today, dedicated vegan chefs work inside the most traditional tents on the Theresienwiese - the festival definitely reflects broader shifts in German food habits!
Three days of eating well, drinking freely, and singing badly in enormous tents proves one thing clearly: plant based eaters belong at the Wiesn as much as anyone else! This post was written by our friend Amber - thanks, Amber! (Photo credit: Marlene Haiberger)
