Oktoberfest is not all roaring crowds and ten-thousand-seat halls. Two of its smaller tents – the celebrity-favourite Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and the wine-focused Weinzelt – offer the festival’s more refined, intimate and upmarket side. Cosier, classier and open later than the big tents, they are where you go for fine food, fizz and a chance of spotting a famous face. Here is your complete 2026 guide to Oktoberfest’s elegant alternatives.
Käfer Wiesn-Schänke
Run by the renowned Munich delicatessen Käfer, the Käfer Wiesn-Schänke is one of the smaller but most exclusive tents at Oktoberfest. It is famous for its excellent food – its roast duck and Schweinshaxe are legendary – its cosy, beautifully decorated chalet-style interior, and its reputation as the celebrity hotspot of the festival, regularly drawing politicians, actors and sports stars. It is also one of the few tents to stay open until 1am, making it a magnet for night owls when the big tents have closed.
The Weinzelt
For those who prefer the grape to the grain, the Weinzelt (wine tent) is a delightful change of pace. It serves more than a dozen wines and sparkling Sekt alongside Champagne and a selection of beers, including a wheat beer, in an elegant, romantic setting. Like Käfer, it stays open late, until 1am, and offers a more sophisticated, grown-up atmosphere than the boisterous beer halls – perfect for a special evening or a couples’ night out.
Who are these tents best for?
The Käfer and the Weinzelt suit anyone looking for a quieter, more refined and more intimate Oktoberfest experience – foodies who want the best cooking on the grounds, couples after a romantic evening, wine lovers, and night owls who want to keep going after the large tents close. They are also a brilliant change of scene if the scale and noise of the big halls become too much.
Getting a table
Because they are small and hugely popular, both tents are among the hardest to get into without a reservation, especially in the evenings. If you have your heart set on a meal at Käfer or an evening in the Weinzelt, book directly with the tent well in advance. Their late closing times mean they can also be a good option to move on to later in the night, though space is limited.
Frequently asked questions
Which Oktoberfest tents stay open latest? The Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and the Weinzelt both serve until 1am, later than the big beer tents.
Where can I drink wine at Oktoberfest? In the Weinzelt, which serves more than a dozen wines, Sekt and Champagne alongside some beer.
Is Käfer really the celebrity tent? Yes – it is famous as the festival’s upmarket hotspot, regularly attracting well-known faces.
Are these tents easy to get into? No – they are small and very popular, so book a reservation in advance, especially for evenings.
Why the upmarket tents are worth seeking out
In a festival defined by its enormous, thunderous beer halls, the Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and the Weinzelt offer something genuinely different, and that contrast is precisely their appeal. Where the big tents are about scale, volume and the communal roar of ten thousand voices, these two are about intimacy, quality and a more grown-up kind of pleasure. The cooking at Käfer is widely considered the finest on the entire Theresienwiese, prepared by one of Munich’s most respected delicatessens, and the chalet-style interior, with its warm wood and careful decoration, feels more like an exclusive alpine restaurant than a festival tent. The Weinzelt, meanwhile, is a haven for anyone who finds a full litre of strong lager a little much, offering instead a glass of crisp Riesling or a flute of sparkling Sekt in elegant surroundings. Together they prove that Oktoberfest has a sophisticated side that rewards those who seek it out.
Making the most of a late night
Their 1am closing time, an hour later than the big tents, gives these two a special role in the rhythm of an Oktoberfest day. When the great halls wind down around 10:30pm and turn out their crowds, the Käfer and the Weinzelt carry the evening on, becoming the natural destination for those who are not ready for the night to end. This is part of why they attract the celebrity and night-owl crowd, and why a table here in the late evening is one of the hardest tickets at the whole festival. If you can secure a reservation, an evening that begins with the spectacle of a big tent and ends with fine food or a glass of wine in one of these intimate tents is one of the most memorable ways to experience the Wiesn.
Do I need to book far in advance? Yes – both are small and exceptionally popular, so reserve directly with the tent as early as you can, especially for evenings.
Are they more expensive than the beer tents? The food and wine are more upmarket, so expect to spend a little more – but the quality and atmosphere are why people come.
Can I just have a beer in these tents? Yes – both serve beer too, though the Weinzelt is best known for wine and Käfer for its food.
The verdict on the upmarket tents
The Käfer Wiesn-Schänke and the Weinzelt occupy a special and slightly underappreciated place at Oktoberfest. In a festival that can feel relentlessly large and loud, they offer a reminder that the Wiesn has always been about quality and conviviality as much as quantity. For the food lover, an evening at Käfer is one of the finest meals to be had at any festival anywhere; for the wine drinker, the Weinzelt is a genuine sanctuary; and for the night owl, both tents extend the magic of the evening by a precious extra hour. They are not the right choice for everyone – if you want the thunderous communal energy of a ten-thousand-seat hall, you will find it elsewhere – but as a contrast, a treat or a sophisticated finale to a long festival day, they are unmatched.
The catch, of course, is exclusivity: their small size and great popularity make tables genuinely hard to come by, so they reward those who plan ahead and book early. If you can secure a reservation, treat it as a highlight of your trip rather than an afterthought. An evening that combines the spectacle of a great beer tent with the refinement of Käfer or the Weinzelt shows off the full range of what Oktoberfest can be, and is the kind of experience that turns a good festival visit into a truly memorable one.
Explore the full range in our complete beer-tent guide, plan your visit with the trip planner, and check the 2026 dates.