Armbrustschützenzelt: reservations, history, atmosphere, Crossbow Championship

The Armbrustschützenzelt is a particular favorite tent at Oktoberfest, famous for hosting the German Crossbow Shooting Championships and providing a special mix of good food, great hospitality, and a festive atmosphere. Its charm and tradition make it a big draw to a large number of repeat visitors, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience.

basic information

The history

In 1895, the crossbowmen’s guild “Winzerer Fähndl” installed its first tent at Oktoberfest to accommodate archers, guests, and championships. Its name expresses the historical tradition of crossbowmen, and since 1935, the tent has been the site of German Crossbow Championships with 30-meter-long shooting alleys and named as the Armbrustschützenzelt.

Seating 7,460 people, it’s one of the 14 big Oktoberfest tents. Special touches are the nameplates on stalls and balconies named after animals in the neighborhood – from A for eagle to G for chamois and W for wild boar. Over the main entrance, the eagle of the crossbowmen’s guild looks down enhancing the historic authenticity of the tent.

Special offerings

1. German Crossbow Championships: The Armbrustschützenzelt is famous for the German Crossbow Championships, where numerous shooting clubs are drawn to showing the art and tradition of crossbowmen.

2.  Traditional Costume Performances: On every Wednesday at noon, the tent hosts performances by traditional costume groups such as Goaßlschnalzer whipcrackers and Schuhplattlers, infusing the celebrations with a rich cultural flavor.

3. Community Engagement: The tent annually hosts 200 Munich senior citizens to a free visit, which testifies to its values of community and tradition.

4. Music: Platzl Oktoberfest band and nighttime shows by MyOmei maintain the excitement, with a set list that varies from classic brass to current Wiesn favorites.

Serving beer and its alternatives

The Armbrustschützenzelt offers fermented Oktoberfest beer from the well-known Paulaner brewery, brought fresh to the tent each day. With an original gravity of 13.7% and alcohol content of 6.0%, this beer is unique in its well-balanced mixture of malty sweetness and agreeable hops, distinguishing it from other festival beers.

For alternative drinkers, the menu also has non-alcoholic options and grape drinks available, so everyone can find something to suit their tastes.

Armbrustschützenzelt menu

The food is cooked by the kitchen staff based on traditional recipes, providing a genuine culinary experience. Here is the outlook of the 2024 menu. 

• The menu includes grilled chicken, pork hock, and sausage fried, providing a flavor of authentic Bavarian food.
• Vegetarians have a choice of food in the tent to suit varied dietary needs.
• Those who have a taste for sweets can indulge in authentic Bavarian sweets, providing an endearing conclusion to the meal.

The precise menu for 2025 will be ready at the beginning of September, providing guests with a preview of the tasty options.

opening hours

The Armbrustschützenzelt is open daily from 10:00 AM to 11:30 PM, providing more than enough time for guests to enjoy its lively atmosphere.

Armbrustschützenzelt reservation 2025

The reservation portal opens on March 13. Bookings in advance are provided in the form of evening and weekend reservations, as well as a reserved Munich Saturday quota. Reservations are exclusively handled via the official reservation website since the tent doesn’t take booking requests through fax, mail, or online forms for booking particular dates. This efficient process provides a hassle-free and seamless booking experience for all patrons.  Last-minute reservations for all Saturdays were offered in 2024 and 2023 too. 

Unfortunately, weekend lunch reservations begin as early as 9:00 AM, making them less convenient for many visitors.

Sun. September 21	09:00 AM – 04:15 PM
Sun. September 28	09:00 AM – 04:15 PM
Sun. October 05	09:00 AM – 04:15 PM

Location & Accessibility

Located at Theresienwiese, the Armbrustschützenzelt can be reached with ease using public transport. Nearby tram and subway stops like Theresienwiese, Goetheplatz, Poccistraße, and Schwanthalerhöhe allow visitors to travel to the tent with ease.