Franconian · Mühlenviertel · Bamberg's oldest brewery, founded 1533
Franconian$$Mühlenviertel (old town)reviewed by Bamberg Tourismus
"Bamberg's oldest brewery, founded 1533 — Schäuferla from the wood oven and a riverside garden that is the city's best summer room."
8Food
9Ambience
9Value
About Klosterbräu
Founded in 1533 as a prince-bishop's dark-beer house, Klosterbräu is the oldest brewery in Bamberg — a city that takes its breweries more seriously than almost anywhere on earth. The half-timbered house sits on the Obere Mühlbrücke in the Mühlenviertel, the old mill quarter, with the Regnitz running past its garden.
It is a working brewery and a brewery tavern both, the beer and the kitchen made under one roof. The draw is a Franconian table of real provenance, poured with house dark lager. Browse the rest of the city on the Bamberg dining guide, or compare the smoke-beer institution at Schlenkerla.
The Kitchen
There is no celebrity chef here — the kitchen is the institution itself, cooking Franconian classics the way the house has for centuries. The signature is the Schäuferla: a roasted quarter of pork shoulder with crisp crackling and a dark, intense gravy, widely rated among the best versions in Bamberg, served with a potato dumpling.
Around it runs the rest of the Franconian repertoire — sausages, roasts and seasonal dishes — built to drink alongside the brewery's own dark lager, the annual output a modest 4,000 hectolitres. A full plate with a beer lands around €18 a head, which keeps the long tables full of locals as much as visitors.
The Room
Two rooms, two moods. Inside is a low, wood-panelled tavern that feels every one of its centuries; outside, the riverside beer garden is, on a warm evening, one of the most beautiful rooms in Bamberg — long communal benches under the trees, the Regnitz sliding past. It is made for groups and unhurried afternoons. Service is brisk and Franconian-plain, which is exactly right.
Best for a Group Gathering
Klosterbräu is built for a group. The riverside beer garden seats a crowd on long communal benches, the Franconian plates are made for sharing a table, and the house dark lager keeps an afternoon rolling without ceremony. Come early on a summer evening to claim a bench by the water, order Schäuferla around the table, and settle in. It doubles as an easy, characterful business lunch when you want somewhere unmistakably Bamberg.
Not for
Not for a romantic tasting-menu evening or anyone after refined, modern plating — this is a 500-year-old brewery tavern whose whole charm is hearty Franconian roasts, communal benches and beer.
Frequently Asked
Is Klosterbräu worth visiting in Bamberg?
Yes, as both a brewery and a kitchen. Founded in 1533, it is the city's oldest brewery, its Schäuferla is among the best in town, and its riverside beer garden is one of Bamberg's loveliest summer rooms. A plate and a beer run about €18. Go for hearty Franconian food, not fine dining.
What should I order at Klosterbräu?
The Schäuferla — roasted pork shoulder with crackling and dark gravy — is the dish to get, alongside the brewery's own dark lager. Add a potato dumpling and you have the classic Franconian plate the house is known for.
How old is Klosterbräu?
It was founded in 1533 as a prince-bishop's dark-beer house, making it the oldest brewery in Bamberg; the site was first mentioned as a brewery as far back as 1333. It still brews on the premises in the old mill quarter.
Is Klosterbräu good for groups?
Very. The riverside beer garden and long communal benches are made for it, and the shareable Franconian plates and house beer suit a relaxed group afternoon — see more ideas on the best restaurants for a group dinner guide.
Walk-ins are the norm; call ahead for a large group, especially in summer when the garden fills.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
