Spousal Unit and I joined a boatload of friends (literally!) for a Christmas Market cruise on Gate 1. (Review of the cruise to be posted separately - but it will be great!). While wandering the old town and it's very nice market (and enjoying abundent gluewhein mit flaming rum) we settled down for a nice lunch at Schlenkerla. Great choice! First, the smoked beer. Not my favorite, but hey, when in Bamberg ya gotta try it. The menu was not extensive but that's not a negative. I think too many restaurants offer too many choices with too little quality. Not a problem here. My friends ordered gulasche soup; a baked potato with salad combination plate (with two "small" baked potatoes drenched with what appeared to be fifteen pounds of butter); very tasty sausage with very, very tasty sauerkraut; and what I ordered: Bamberg style stuffed onion with mashed potatoes. I thought I was being virtuous. I must rethink my definition. The two very large onions were stuffed with a pork/bacon/bread/herb mix then roasted. Delicate taste that paired beautifully with mashed potatoes and smoked beer/beef stock sauce. Wunderbar! Look, I'm not a fan of tourist traps. Schlenkerla is certainly well-promoted to all of the tour operators, but most of the diners were obviously local. The menu was the same for all, as was the service. Excellent choice, and highly recommended. read more

Famous for their Rauchbier I now got to try their food. They got the typical local dishes. We had the Krustenbraten and Tafelspitz. Both dishes were well prepared. They are quite busy in summer, but they made space for our large group. Great hospitality. But for some reasons they do not entertain bachelor parties. read more

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Good dark beer. Tasted like salmon and cigars in a sauna. Would unironically recommend the vegetarian option. Would not recommend drinking half a pint then hiking to the castle. 10/10 old timey 1400s-y establishment read more

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Upon your visit to Bamberg, Schlenkerla is a must, grab your street bier @ the window and go outside to chat and people watch or grab a seat inside and a meal, can't go wrong either way. The service is always good, the Germans are on top of it anywhere you go, the food is tasty and the ambiance is great...always love going here. Don't miss it, if you are in town. read more

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Smoked beer is a must-try while in Bamberg. Cool location with great beer! Service was quick and friendly read more

Schlenkerla - Smoked beer - German Near Me - Bamberg, BY

They are very rude. Everyone must order a bier from the room you are in. A bier from the other room does not count. If you don't drink bier you have to wait outside for your party. I wanted to try the bier. My wife wanted to eat but was told to leave. DO NOT GO HERE! They speak English, but they say that they don't. read more

Doesn't really look like much when you walk past but the outside is deceiving. The inside is so beautiful and quaint. Really dingy but it gives you that weird, comforting feeling that you expect when you are tucked away enjoying a nice glass of beer in a really traditional German house! I really love the dining room, the ambiance, the extremely kind hosts. The beer itself was delicious - and strong!!! Would very highly recommend. read more

No! Can we please have.... No! Are you able to..... No! Possibly have mustard with the pretzel? No! Pretzels do not come with mustard! You have it with sausages, not pretzels! Not a delight. Come up with your own word. You cannot have lunch prior to noon. No! read more

The food was good and the old building was interesting. They had many types of Rauchbier including non and low alcohol. There were a couple of vegetarian options available. The only negatives were that we made reservations in person earlier in the day and they didn't have our reservation on file when we arrived. Perhaps reservations should have been made online? Also our waitperson was a bit short but they served us promptly. All and all it was a good experience. read more

It's worth going to Sclenkerla just for their outstanding smoked beers in the classic Bamberg style but the lovely dining room and the well prepared traditional Bavarian cuisine make staying for dinner a great option. We didn't have a reservation but they squeezed us in at a table with another nice couple. We sampled (drank pints of) their tasty beers and enjoyed a delicious meal. I had beef cheeks and the wife had potato soup and the braised bock beer pan. The cheeks and accompanying dumpling were rich, tender and delicious. The potato soup (vegetarian) was really good. The braised bock beer pan aka schupfnudeln, which consisted of cabbage braised in beer with egg noodles ( also vegetarian) was tasty but a little light on the cabbage for our tastes. Service is excellent and prices are quite reasonable for this local gem. read more

I'll start off with, the smoked Beer is not my thing. It was like drinking a liquid ashtray Having said that, it's obviously a thing, so I can't judge them by that alone. The atmosphere is typically German, which of course is awesome!! Service to make a reservation was great! They did have my table ready at the right time, even though the server at the front thought it would be taken for sure. Service after that wasn't so great. I didn't end up eating there as the taste of the beer was enough for me to pay the bill and leave to eat elsewhere. read more

Our tour guide recommended this place for authentic Bavarian food and boy was he right. Great German food in a authentic Bavarian style atmosphere. I just had to try the Bamberg onion which was beef stuffed inside an onion wrapped in bacon then served on top of mashed potatoes with gravy. Delicious If you like the texture of meatloaf then you will love this dish. Both my son and my husband had the veal with potato dumplings in gravy. Although my son asked to substitute the dumplings for spetzel (pasta). They were very accommodating!! My only constructive feedback is the food wasn't hot. My husband's dish was actually stone cold. They brought him out a new one right away. Think of this place as a mass producer of Bavarian meat dishes on steroids. Everything is made ahead and they only need to plate it and serve. 4 stars for atmosphere and authenticity, but 3 for the food. read more

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Great ambiance, tasty beer, friendly servers, and a very authentic feel. Would very highly recommend.

This was a great find. Tucked away on a side alley, i saw my favorite German word, Biergarten! My wife had the pork knuckle with potatoes and it was great. I had their 5 sausage platter and it was the best i'd ever had. They also carry something unique to Bamberg, smoked beer. I was curious and had one. Its not for everyone. I really liked the outdoor area and would go back read more

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Very typical but also very good regional food with the service you would expect in a well established destination restaurant. Of course you probably came here for the Rauchbier and you won't be disappointed! Recently heard it described as a bacon Guiness, but that doesn't do it justice, it is a unique flavor of its own and shouldn't be missed. read more

This is another great atmospheric brewery pub! This rustic pub is famous for its rauchbier and rauchbier is the only beer on offer. The food we ordered was excellent - but the side dish of beans was incredibly salty!! read more

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Known for their Smoked Beer (Rauchbier). This may not be for everyone, but you have to try it if you are in Bamberg. It is sort of like tasting liquid beef jerky. Grab a seat, a brew, a snack, and talk to the many people around you. Tip: There is a lot of seating in the back and outside in their beer garden. Tip #2: This is also a stop on one of the Bamberg Brewery Tours offered by the Tourism Office. read more

Schlenkerla - beer, sausage, and kraut - German Near Me - Bamberg, BY

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My favorite Deutsch brewery nested in the heart of my favorite city Bamberg. The smoked bier is to die for and during the winters it smells like bacon and crisp. Modestly priced you can enjoy a drink on the street outside and watch peole walk by. So many fond memories with my Army buddies and family and I will always have Bamberg in my heart. Most definitely approve. Today I still buy their aecht schlerlanka brand in the states, pricey, but in bamberg it's about a euro and half. Cheers read more

Schlenkerla - Love their smoked bier - German Near Me - Bamberg, BY

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Before my trip to Germany, I had heard from three different people who are not connected that if they could have one more beer before they die, it would be a smoke beer (Rauchbier in German) from this place. One even went a bit more grim by saying he wants to be in Bamberg, at Schlenkerla and wants to die just as he takes the last sip from a fresh-from-the-barrel Fastenbier. You know a place is good when it actually becomes the place people want to go to die. I was here in March so that Fastenbier (A strong beer released during the Lent season) was the only offering from the barrel. You walk up to the drink window, pay 2 Euro deposit for the glass, and they will give you this elixir. Perfectly smoked but not overly so. The head is so creamy , the body so dark. At first, it looked like a nitrogen pour of some dry Irish stout. However, the flavor was ecstasy. You can walk around with your glass pretty much anywhere around the brewery. If the weather is nice, take it out to the curb and enjoy. Bring it back to get your glass refund or a few refills. As per usual in Bavaria, crazy cute, cozy and comfortable place. Usually packed but never awkward. No table? Like I said, just chill with your beer until one comes open. The food served was great, service was friendly. My wife thought the server was giving her the peace sign before she came to our table, so, being from Japan, my wife gave her the peace sign right back. Well, my wife does not drink beer so she was quite surprised to see two beers brought over. A moment that truly tickled me. Oh, well, just means I don't have to wait for my second beer so all is good. Try the Bamberger zwiebel. An onion stuffed with a mixture of ground meat, topped with bacon and gravy then baked. Delicious food options go with one of the best beers in the world. Check out the gift shop in the back near the restrooms. They offer Rauchbier scnapps that you mustn't pass up. read more

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Fun homey atmosphere. The haxe (crispy pork knuckle in smoked beer sauce) is filling, succulent, and goes perfectly with the smoked beer!

Im usually a fan of stouts but my Austrian friend recommended me the Rauchbier. A smoked beer you say? Very intriguing, and very tasty. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is a mouthful to say but it is well worth it. Pair it with sausages, pork, beef, cheese, and any other German staples. Hearty is the way they do it here. read more

This place was so delicious! Their smoked bacon beer , I can't find the exact word to describe it. It is the only German beer that I will drink again though. I'm definitely planning on coming back again for the pork leg pieces and potatoes! read more

Schlenkerla - German Near Me - Bamberg, BY

A lovely big, bustling beerhall within a 300+ year old brewery where they serve one of my all time favourite beers, Aecht Schenkerla Rauchbier, one of the reasons I came to Bamberg. So I was actually just a wee bit disappointed, because although it was still the beer I love, it didn't taste any better to me from the brewery than it did from a bottle hundreds of miles away. And of the 3 Rauchbiers I had in Bamberg, it came third in my personal taste bud challenge, the others were more subtle which I guess is more to my liking. Still a great beer, mind you. Didn't see any of the mentioned merchandise unfortunately, as I would have liked a souvenir. read more

Great beer ! I have a short time to enjoy great old german beer at the restaurant. They have a small counter for beer purchase which you can enjoy the great beer without waiting for a table. Good taste of herb hobs and barleys.... so smooth. I recommend to try it when you visit this small town Bamburg. read more

Schlenkerla - Great Beer ! - German Near Me - Bamberg, BY

Worth a stop! I was concerned this place would be overrun with tourists and not worth the hype, but I am so glad we stopped in. We sat in their back beer garden for a Smoked Beer (Rauchbier) on a Friday afternoon. The beer was very good. Even if you don't think you'll like it... you will. Great way to kick off an afternoon exploring the city. read more

It's clear that no trip to Bamberg is complete without a visit to the Schlenkerla, and it was a very nice place indeed, with beer that is as good as it gets. We did not try the food this time, but we must go back some time. A bit daring to give five stars for a visit only involving beer, but I'll risk it. read more

If you enjoy beer or trying something new, check out the smoked beer that is offerred at this brewery. This beer is an acquired taste but ohh so very good. It can be quite busy but it does offer walking up to the window and buying your beer directly from the server/bartender and either stand or sit in the informal drinking area. Did not eat there but there are numereous restaurants in the local area. read more

In the charming town of Bamberg you'll find Schlenkerla, a restaurant that still has it's rustic charm from the 1400's. Try the specialty rauchbier (smoked beer) which is smooth and delicious. If you're after a hearty meal tuck into generous portions of pork and potatoes and enjoy feeling like you've stepped back in time. read more

To my favorite/only smoked beer I have ever had, thank you Schlenkerla!! Not to mention the food they have here. I always get the hamburger stuffed inside a onion(Zweibel Rindefleisch und Kartofel). You may have to fight for seating, but that's for a reason..... It's great! Must visit! read more

Beers good, grab a table and sit down. As other have said the food is not that great would not recommend it for food.

I've been here twice in three years. Right off the bat: the beer is excellent: like nothing else on earth. Go and have a beer from the window immediately to your right as you walk in. Drink the beer. Have 1 to 3 more. Then turn around and go to one of the dozens of other Franconian restaurants in the city of Bamberg. I love Franconian and Bavarian food, and this place qualifies as "good enough", but the service is awful and the place is perpetually packed with German tour bus groups. I disagree with the other American reviewer regarding what a "typical" German beer hall is like. The common denominator for great German restaurants, indeed, what separates Germany apart from the rest of Europe, is the friendliness of the German people. You don't get that here. Maybe they are overworked, maybe they get sick of the (German) tourist trade, but the waitstaff are beyond surly regardless of what language is being spoken. If I was interested in that I'd have gone to France. read more