Dresden

Dresden is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth largest by area, and the third most populous city in the area of former East Germany, after Berlin and Leipzig. Dresden carries visitors away with a synthesis of the arts: fascinating buildings and art treasures, impressive museums, as well as orchestras and choirs of worldwide reputation. Dresden offers attractions in great variety and combines three aspects which complement one another: notable art treasure, architectural sights and a charming landscape. Dresden's cultural heyday came during the 18th-century reigns of Augustus the Strong (August der Starke) and his son Augustus III, who sponsored many of Dresden’s iconic buildings, including the Zwinger and the Frauenkirche. While the devastating 1945 Allied firestorm levelled most of these treasures, their contents were safely removed before the bombings and now take pride of place in Dresden's rebuilt museums. Across the river from this treasure trove of classic art and architecture, Dresden's Neustadt has dozens of funky restaurants, shops and one of the liveliest nightlife scenes in Germany's east. For more info visit the cities web-site; So here we go 9 brew-pubs as of July 2022 plus a few above average pubs/restaurants of note; 

Brauhaus und Ballhaus Watzke. Koetzschenbroder Strasse 1, Dresden

Hours: daily 1100-2400                      

A must visit brewpub on the Elbe river, a big restuarant with a beergarten overlooking the river and a part of Dresden. Just a short distance from the autobahn, so easy for a short break. Four taps with (Altpieschener/Rauchbier/Weihnachtsbock/Pils). A must drink is their unfiltered Pils.  Also a venue known for dancing. A great cosy place housed in an amazingly beautiful building. The staff are incredibly friendly and helps you with advice. The food is incredible and so is the beer. A great atmosphere for a Brauhaus, with a very spacious restaurant area, with unique brewery inside (sometimes they have special offers like 1 litre for less than €5!). A really awesome "biergarten" with views of the old city. A very popular place with a cool buzz.

Brauhaus am Waldschlösschen, Am Brauhaus 8b, Dresden

Hours: Daily from 11:00                   

A large brewpub located in the premises of an old brewery. The brewpub, located on the north side of the Elbe, is somewhat off the centre of Dresden, but is easily accessible by tram. There is also a large biergarten overlooking the river Elbe. Both house-brews and other beers are available from tap. The standard selection seems to cover Helles, Dunkel, Hefeweissbier and a Zwickelbier. The menu consists mostly of traditional German dishes - with a Saxonian twist seems to be quite popular at lunch time.  A nice place to spend time. The service was friendly and swift. Seems to be quite popular lunch/dining place. 

Freiberger Schankhaus, Neumarkt 8

Hours: Tues - Sun 12.00 - 22.00

Location is good and chilling, right in the middle of the Old Center, on a beautiful square. Based on the famous regional beer of Saxony, this restaurant brewery prides itself on authentic Saxon cuisine and it does so with a bang. The menu is concise boasting a wide array of beers and local dishes. The top two dishes are the Schankhaus Pfanne and the Haxe and These two are a must try. The beer compliments the food really well and if you have any trouble pairing it up, the staff are always on hand and will readily help you in attaining that desired goal. Truly a brilliant restaurant in terms of authentic Saxon cuisine and authentic Saxon beer.

Radeberger Spezialausschank, Terrassenufer 1, Dresden, Saxony Germany 01067 

Hours: Daily 11.00-01.00                         

Quite easy to find in the general/main tourist area near Semper Opera House, Zwinger Palace, Frauenkirche, etc. A quite narrow, "noble" brewery-tap stretching over three floors from the banks of the river Elbe to the "Brühlsche Terasse"; the "roof" serves as entrance from the "Brühlsche Terasse" and as patio, which if you’re sitting outside on top, it’s lovely with a great view of the Elbe River. Inside is rather tight but nice; walls with wooden panels and the basement bar has copper tanks for the unfiltered Radeberger. This is the only place outside Radeberg, where you can taste Radeberger Zwickel, i.e. the unfiltered Radeberger. The food menu looks nice, but the place is not cheap. Their patisserie is excellent, try the "Eierschecke", a local variation of cheese-cake. Friendly staff, nice place with lots of atmosphere - worth a visit if you are in Dresden.

Feldschloesschen Stammhaus GmbH (Brewery Tap),Budapester Str. 32, Dresden, 01069

Hours: Daily 11.00-01.00?       

A restaurant serving hearty fare with the beer brewed on the premises. The menu offers different plates of rather typical German meals but you can find something for every taste. The place is also big enough if you go with friends. A second level is also available. Smokers are also considered, but outside. The Dresden brewery "Stammhaus" also contains a beer museum. Great atmosphere, and of course, good beer is not mainstream (bland) stuff you get in every other corner of the world. Otto says Good food, friendly staff, and a historic environment. The beer is good and if you choose the offer 1 Litre Mass and a Brezel for 5 Euros you cannot complain.

Feldschlößchen (Feldschlößchen AG), Cunnersdorfer Str. 25, Dresden, 01189

Note this is the Main Brewing plant. This is the only brewery I know that doesn't sell beer. Strange but true!

Christian Schwingenheuer, Schönbrunnstraße 1

Hours: Tues & Thurs 13.00 - 19.00

Great handmade beer. The ales are also highly recommended. Awesome taste, good beer choices and a friendly owner who gives detailed explanation's about the beers and the brewing process. You can visit the brewery only 2 days a week for beers and its cash only. The other choice is to beer a tour/tasting which is around 39 euro and is very well organised and informative.

Trachennowe Braukunst Gbr, Richard-Rösch-Straße 13

Probably the most likeable micro brewery in Dresden. With beers that do not have to hide from the big boys!

Braumanufaktur Radebeul, Str. des Friedens 30, Radebeul

A modern German brewery that only dose brewery tours you will need to book in advance and they cost around 35 euro!

Apfeldiebs Atelier, Schützengasse 2

Cidery nothing know about this place at the moment?

So that’s the Brew Pubs out of the way and if you are still thirsty why not try some of the better bar's and restaurant’s?

Augustiner an der Frauenkirche, An der Frauenkirche 16/17, Dresden

Open; Daily 10.00 - 01.00                    

A great place located into the heart of Dresden, located in the newly erected historic centre; semi-modern, light Bavarian interior, patio in front of the pub offering great views to the re-built Frauenkirche; all the Augustiner beers (including the seasonals) are available here, even the hard to find excellent Augustiner Pils comes here fresh from the tap in a very good quality, the Edelstoff is served directly from a wooden barrel (in summer); quite decent meals (Bavarian and Saxonian specialties at very un-merciful prices (in the touristy heart of Dresden) are served the whole day. A must for those, who want to drink some top rate beers in Dresden......

Gaststätte Zum Bautzner Tor, Hoyerswerdaer Str. 37, Dresden 01099

Hours: Mo - Fr 18 - 02 Sat 14 - 02 Sun 10 – 02 

In some ways this is a typical German Gaststätte, one big, dimly lit, brown room, a lot of tables and chairs and a pool table. Nostalgia rules here in this pub; when You enter it, You can’t be sure if  you are in a museum (of the defunct GDR), stuffed with GDR furniture, old TV sets, radios and so on, or in a tousled student’s pub. Anyway, this is the official brewery tap of Dresden Neustädter Hausbrauerei: almost the their whole range is available here, either on tap or bottled (seasonals included). Recommended ! The house-brewed beers are all excellent (there's a year-round Rot, Helles, Alt, Hanf, and a cider, and a Rauchbier in the summer, Bock in the winter--also a few local bottles, but nothing special there). They also do a brewery tour with beer tasting and hearty food, and provide a history of the brewing industry, approx. 18 Euro and you need to book in advance.  The food is surprisingly flavourful as well typical Eastern European German food served in an atmosphere that is in someways 40-50 years old, then this is the place for you. Otto says a great atmosphere, fun staff, very laid back. Great food, home-brewed beer and low prices. Definitely a “Must Go” if you're in Dresden.

Craft Beer Store Dresde, Görlitzer Str. 25, Dresden, Saxony

Open ; Daily 12 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A nice bottle shop located in the Neustadt neighbourhood of Dresden, just after Ljubljana’s Za Popen’t. It is a two room store with the beer separated by style on the shelves. Very good selection of German beers and imports. Plus one tap serving a draught beer. I’d say most of Germany’s burgeoning micro-brew scene are represented here (but then what do I know about Germany’s burgeoning microbrew scene!). Very reasonably priced as well.

Planwirtschaft, Louisenstrasse 20, Dresden.

A cosy, old fashioned pub, restaurant and tea-room located in the "wild" Neustadt quarter with a nice "backyard" biergarten. The food is excellent and unusual, with Italian, bohemian and local influences. There are 6 taps serving Radeberger/Rechenberger/Lieske Schwarzbier/Guinness/Lieske Zwickelbier/Schöfferhofer. Great, worth a long detour!

Zum Gerücht (Laubegast), Altlaubegast 5, Dresden

Open; Daily from 7pm, Sunday from 6pm

Superb pub at end of  tram line 4, located in an old building in Laubegast, formerly a village, now part of Dresden. Its very homely and selling rare craft beer, also the tap for the Hausbrauerei Laubegast. Two regular beers, plus two seasonals, they are all "obergärig" = warm fermented. Bit out of the ordinary, but nice. Good service.

Freiberger Schankhaus, Neumarkt 8, Dresden

Hours: täglich geöffnet ab 11 Uhr       

Quite a nice place next to Frauenkirche and Neumarkt Striezelmarkt in the touristy part of old Dresden (near the biggest tourist sights). Offers quite a few beers (10+ beers) from the Freiberger brewery, including the hard to find kellerbier on tap (which is also available for take away). The beer is OK. The food is hearty and good service is standard German, the prices were quite cheap considering it’s in a very touristy part of Dresden.

Watzke Brauereiausschank am Goldenen Reiter, Hauptstrasse 1, Dresden

Hours: daily 11 – 24         

Just across the river from the old town. A nice surprise to find a micorbrewery here. Inside its a modern building, with some outside seating, a semi-traditional pub at the beginning of the "wild" suburban quarter of "Neustadt", the part of Dresden, that wasn’t destroyed during WW II, but nearly during the times of GDR..... You’ll find here the two regular Watzke brews plus one monthly changing seasonal. The partly covered patio offers a good view over the Elbe to the newly erected Frauenkirche and other Dresden attractions. Otto Says; Unspectacular, but cosy pub, food is standard fare, though not cheap, service is friendly. Good for a few comfortable ticks and worth a visit whilst in town.