Ammergauer Maxbräu — Restaurant in Oberammergau

Maxbräu – A Stunning Spot That Falls Short for Families

Maxbräu is easily one of the most impressive restaurants in Oberammergau in terms of design and atmosphere. With its beautiful decor, spacious interior, and one of the largest outdoor patios in town, it’s definitely a standout visually—arguably the best-looking restaurant in the area. The vibe is classy yet relaxed, and it makes for a great place to grab drinks or enjoy a nicer evening out.

The menu leans toward traditional German cuisine with a fine-dining twist. The food is generally good, and the service is solid. One major plus: Maxbräu has a full bar, which is surprisingly rare in town and makes it an attractive option for evening gatherings or work dinners.

That said, I have to knock it down a bit for a few reasons. First, the food prices feel a bit inflated compared to other restaurants in Oberammergau. The quality is decent, but not exceptional enough to fully justify the higher prices. My biggest disappointment came with the duck breast—two small, overly fatty slices for a steep price. When I tried to order the chicken breast at 7:00 PM, I was told it was already sold out—despite the restaurant being noticeably under capacity for the entire evening.

Oddly, despite the many open tables, the staff routinely turned walk-in guests away, telling them to make reservations next time. It created an awkward tension, especially since the restaurant didn’t appear to be full or overwhelmed.

Maxbräu also isn’t a great fit for families with kids. The menu doesn’t cater to children at all—no kid-friendly options, no simple dishes—and the adult entrées we ordered for our little ones were too small and too sophisticated for their picky tastes. A lot of food went to waste.

Over several visits, I had a mix of experiences. It was great for a work outing with a group, and I enjoyed some quiet drinks and a cigar on the patio one evening. But the visit with my family was where things didn’t quite hold up.

Bottom Line:

Maxbräu is a beautifully designed, upscale spot with a great bar and a solid menu—perfect for business dinners or adult groups looking to unwind. But if you’re traveling with children or looking for good value and flexibility, you might want to...

Avoid at all costs.

I have not encountered such bad management and personal in many many years

On arrival all seemed ok. And keep in mind. The place was really not that busy

We placed our order and then seem to be forgotten. All tables around that came in later were served drinks and we remained waiting. Eventually the other waiter noticed that we had been sitting without drinks for a long period and asked. To which we replied we are waiting. Eventually came.

The food.. not good. The schweinebraten was super fatty and chewy and the sauce was bought. The salad had no sort of dressing. Plain and boring.

The Kellerbier however was really good 👍.

Then when finished it took about 10 mins to get the attention of the waitress that we wanted to pay. She cleared the table and then clearly forgot us. She keep attending other tables, sitting more people, taking orders etc.

Eventually I got tired of waiting as I had things to do. I stayed up. To which the owner came over and asked if all was ok. (She spent the whole time we were there, just sitting and folding napkins.. not necessarily needed as she had prepared far more than needed in the day) I told here I am not happy with the service. That our drinks were forgotten and we have been waiting almost 20 mins to pay. She then replied that I am been a bit dramatic and then continued on folding napkins. I then said, I think you have folded enough napkins. You could clearly help and even offer to let us pay, so we could leave. I was then told to leave the premises while my partner was to sit and remain and wait to pay.

I refused to leave as I said and if you want call the police then that's fine. I just want to pay and leave, This is my bank card that needs to pay. But the service now is a joke. And after about 5 mins of the manager/owner been extremely unprofessional and unpolite. We were...

Update from my review 2 years ago.

The beer is still nice, but insanely expensive, and unless you tackle your server, it's nearly impossible to get one beer, and especially a second.

It's criminal what they do to Bavarian cuisine, a Schweinshaxe breaded and deep-fried? A Kaiserschmarrn that's basically cooked on a manhole cover, but lacks that delicious crusty bottom? Absolutely insane.

4-stars for the beer, 2-stars for the food, 1-star for the service.

They have deliciously hopped-beer, which is hard to find in Germany. If that wasn't the case, I would never go here.

Their food is below par for the area but that isn't reflected in the price.

Their hosts and waitstaff are frankly arrogant, they also always seem to be one-member short of what would constitute acceptable service.

I've been three times, the last two at the request of other people, and it's been consistently...