Sydney Eat Street: Top 10 places to enjoy German Oktoberfest
Take a cue from the annual Oktoberfest celebrations across Sydney and raise a stein to German fare – you’ll be guaranteed a ‘crackling’ good time. Sydney Eat Street reveals the 10 best places to enjoy your Oktoberfest.
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Take a cue from the annual Oktoberfest celebrations across Sydney and raise a stein to German fare – you’ll be guaranteed a ‘crackling’ good time.
These are the five best places to enjoy your Oktoberfest
The Castlereagh by Fassnidge – Porktoberfest
Sausage and beer are practically synonymous with Oktoberfest; it’s also the inspiration for The Castlereagh Club by Fassnidge’s Porktoberfest, a three-course meal that pairs suckling pig with craft beer; it’s essentially a deconstructed version of the German festival fare, not surprising considering that hospitality group by Fassnidge, is spearheaded by Colin Fassnidge, the by a chef, and TV personality renowned for elevating pub-grub to a hatted level. “Pork, beer, and good times go hand-in-hand,” said by Fassnidge’s director, Clayton Ries. “This is the first of an annual event that showcases not only some of NSW’s finest craft breweries but will also be able to highlight sustainable local farmers and the importance of supporting Australian high-quality produce. Three-course full pig fest, craft beers showing that beer drinkers can be just as fancy as other beverage connoisseurs.” These bespoke dinners, held Thursdays and Fridays through October, will feature a different local brewery each evening. Sittings are limited to 20 people, so book in soon. It’s $130pp but use the code “PERRY” to get 50% off – that’s $65 back in the piggy bank.
Level 1, 199 Castlereagh St, Sydney; thecastlereaghclub.com.au
Frenchies Bistro and Brewery – Oktoberfeast
The beer side of this bistro takes centre stage when Master brewer Vincent De Soyres’ channels his German heritage for Frenchies’ Oktoberfeast [sic]. “Given our extensive beer offering and my part German heritage, we couldn’t go past hosting an Oktoberfest event this year,” said the co-founder of Frenchies Bistro and Brewery. “What better way to celebrate the renowned German beer event right here in Sydney than in a unique brewery setting, accompanied by independent beers, games and beer prizes for a little extra fun.” Frenchies has an extensive selection of beers, including a German Lager that is being brewed especially for the day, as well as classic dishes such as pretzels, wursts with sauerkraut, crispy skin pork knuckle with beer gravy, and apple strudel. Entry is $25pp.
– The Cannery, 6/61-71 Mentmore Ave, Roseberry
Jägerstube
Oktoberfest and beer halls go hand-in-hand, so there is no better place to have fun than one of the southern hemisphere’s biggest beer halls with its own beer. “We worked with a brewer in Germany, and they created Jägerstube beer specifically for us,” said Jägerstube co-owner Oscar Zechner. Jägerstube is a Bavarian restaurant at the Croatian Club in Schofields. There’s not just authentic beer, though; traditional dishes prepared to chef standards are also on the menu, including chicken and pork Schnitzels, spaetzle, bite-sized bits of egg pasta, or for a bit of everything, Das Ultimative Erlebnis (The Ultimate Experience) Jägerplatter with crumbed camembert, pork and beef rissoles favourites including pork knuckle, German sausages, chicken Schnitzel and sides (minimum of two people, $49.50pp). Live music on Saturdays. (Open Friday, 5pm-9pm, Saturday, 12pm-10pm).
– The Croatian Club Braca Radic, 79 South St, Schofields; jagerstube.com.au
Munich Brauhaus
It’s Oktoberfest year-round at Munich Brauhaus in The Rocks, so you can raise a stein and sing along most any day of the week. There’s plenty of German beer, but the co-star is definitely the crackling pork belly as part of the Munich Platter ($39pp). It also has, a crispy half pork knuckle, Frankfurter, Nuernberger, Thüringer chicken schnitzel, sauerkraut, red cabbage, creamy mash, apple compote and bier jus. You’ll need a partner in crime, though, as it’s for two people. All that with lively oompah music in the background. Prost. (For details, visit y).
– 33 Playfair St, The Rocks, www.thebavarians.com/venue/the-rocks-sydney
What’s Fresh
Perfectly timed, The Australian Heritage Hotel is holding its annual Aussie Beer Fest Sunday the 16th of October (12pm-6pm). After a two-year hiatus, the craft brewing experience will be accompanied by music, entertainment, and a wide selection of food stalls.
-100 Cumberland St, The Rocks; australianheritagehotel.com
The Bavarian
You can skip arm-day at the gym, as when you order a stein (1L) filled with German draught you’re essentially doing curls with a 2.2kg eight. Alas, even though moist and tender crumbed schnitzels are practically huge plate-sized servings, that excuse probably won’t work twice, so just enjoy the moment and drink up.
— Multiple locations; thebavarians.com
German Club at Concordia Club
Treat the family to dinner and show, Bavarian style with the German Club’s Oktoberfest events. Book for their famous pork knuckle and stay for performances by St Raphael’s Dance Group and music from The Masters (October 16) and The Bavarian Boys (October 24).
Dinner sessions run from 4pm. The bistro is open from 5pm-7pm.
— Mackey Park, 1 Richardsons Crescent, Marrickville; concordiaclub.org.au
German Butchery, Deli & Cafe
No need to head for some leg-slapping fun when you can take a pass on the pubs and host your own Oktoberfest shindig.
At German Butchery, Deli & Cafe owner you can pick-up a big batch of freshly baked Brezel and award-winning Weisswurst (white sausage), the requisite fare at any German bier hall, as well as more local ones like Jägerstube in Schofields.
— 1/2A Sarsfield Cct, Bexley North; german-butchery.com.au
Stuyvesant’s House
For well over 50 years brothers Rudi and Mx Dietz’s hospitality and hearty laughs have welcomed diners into their authentic German restaurant.
This North Sydney institution has developed generations of loyal customers with their roasted pork knuckle, the Shared Schlacht Platter – a hearty plate of meats with sauerkraut – and a wine cellar with more than 4000 bottles.
— 45 Alexander St, Crows Nest; stuyvesantshouse.com
Octoberfest Hut
While a plain sausage with sauce on white bread is fine at a backyard BBQ, but when it’s quality you’re after, head to the farmers markets in Marrickville (Saturdays) and Potts Point (Sundays).
There you’ll find Robert Pfrogner grilling up premium German sausages made choice cuts of meat.
Robert explains: “In Germany, eating sausages is just eating good quality meat, but in a different way. It’s not devaluing it, it’s the same thing but prepared with a different method.”
— For location details visit octoberfesthut.com
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Everyone is happy to see the sun peeking through the clouds, but winter’s not all bad. Bid farewell to the colder days with one last hurrah of warming fare.
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