German Food in Hermann
Experience Hermann’s German Heritage This Fall
Hermann was founded in the 1830s by German settlers who brought some of the best of Germany along with them. Break out your lederhosen and dirndls and get ready for a celebration of German festival culture in Hermann. Oktoberfest celebrates German food, beer, wine, and spirits but also friendship, community, and good cheer.
Hermann has it all: Bavarian-style pretzels, German beers, oom-pah music, and more. With an impressive variety of beer, wine, and spirits, Hermann’s Oktoberfest rivals even the famous Bavarian celebration, and you don’t need a passport to join in on the fun. Here are some of our favorite flavors to savor during October in Hermann.
Fall in Love with German Traditions, Food, and Fun
Try the best German sausages in the Midwest at local spots like Swiss Meats & Sausage Co. and the Hermann Wurst Haus, or explore the German specialties at local restaurants and wineries.
Our Wurst is the Best!
German sausage is one of the greatest foods in the Midwest, and Hermann has some of the best:
- Visit Swiss Meats & Sausage Co. and try their champion sausage and smoked meats, including their three-time “Grand Champion” & “Best of Midwest” Weisswurst.
- The Hermann Wurst Haus’ deli-style restaurant has a variety of German specialty meats and dozens of flavors of award-winning bratwurst, including their own “Best in Show” brats!
Delicious Food Goes Beyond the Wurst
There’s more to German cuisine than sausages and bratwurst. Discover seafood spaetzle and other German delights at the Tin Mill Restaurant, Kartoffelpuffer (potato pancakes) and Sauerbraten at Vintage Restaurant, or unique offerings like the Reuben Quesadilla at Willie’s Phillys. Enjoy a Germantown Burger or other German specialties at Concert Hall and Barrel Bar.
On October weekends, Hermannhof Winery will be offering potato pancakes and roasted peanuts, in addition to locally-made German sausages. For dessert, check out Sugar Momma’s for Bavarian Strudel, Apfel Dumplings, or German treats like Ritter or Milka candy bars.
Pretzels
Pretzels have been around since the Middle Ages and are believed to have been created by European monks. Bavarian-style pretzels are a versatile treat that pairs perfectly with beer or an ideal accompaniment to a delicious Rhine-style wine. The contrast between the crunchy outer crust and the soft, fluffy interior is heavenly, and delicious on its own or with mustard, cheese sauce, or authentic German-style sausages.
Try some of the tastiest pretzel dishes at the following local eateries:
| Ainsley’s Place | Pretzels w/ Cheese | 1855 Cellar Bistro at Adam Puchta Winery | Bavarian Pretzel w/ Queso |
| Concert Hall & Barrel Tavern | Barrel Pretzel Sticks w/ Queso or Monterey Jack | Downtown Deli | Mini Pretzel Sticks w/ Cheddar Cheese Sauce |
| Fernweh Distilling Co. | Bavarian Pretzel Sticks w/ House Made Beer Cheese | Hermann 1837 Cellar Bar | Bavarian Pretzel Sticks |
| Hermannhof Deli | Pretzels w/ Bier Cheese | Hermann Wurst Haus | Pretzel w/ Beer Cheese |
| Showboat Community Theatre | Warm Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel | The Piano Bar | Pretzel Bites w/ Dipping Cheese |
| Tin Mill Restaurant | Pretzel Sticks w/ Beer Cheese | Tin Mill Brewery | Pretzel Sticks w/ Beer Cheese or Cinnamon Sugar |
| Vintage 1847 Restaurant | Bavarian Pretzel Charcuterie or Pretzel Sticks w/ Pepperjack Cheese | Willie’s Philly’s | Kid’s Hot Dog w/ Pretzel Bun or Pretzels with 2 dips |
Prost!
While enjoying all that delicious German food in Hermann during October, you’ll want to try out some German beer and wines while you’re here.
Located in a historic grain processing plant, Tin Mill Brewery features authentic German brewing. Take a self-guided tour of the facility to see their copper brewing kettles imported from the Hallertau region of Germany. They brew most of their beers according to the German Purity Law of 1516. Tin Mill Brewery also offers tastings, a restaurant, a gift shop, and live music.
Their beers include the Munich Helles, a clean and malty golden lager; Hoppy Vienna Lager, featuring Vienna malt and Saphir hops; and a Grapefruit Radler—a refreshing blend of grapefruit juice and lager. While Radlers don’t meet the German purity law requirements, they exceed the refreshment factor making them ideal for a warm afternoon in the Biergarten. For those seeking something more conventional, sample their First Street Wheat, a traditional Hefeweizen, or their Skyscraper, which is a German-style Pilsner.
Visit Turbulence Brewery for their German-style specialty beers, like their You Are Here German Pilsner or Der Herbst Marzen. This nano-brewery located inside Wings-a-Blazin’ features an 18-tap selection of microbrews, and some of the most entertaining names for their beers – Flight Director, Lost Luggage, and Argonaut Blonde, just to name a few. How fun are those?!
Raise a Glass to Hermann’s Wines
Hermann’s wineries offer a taste of Missouri’s unique viticultural traditions. Sample local award-winning wines made from Missouri grapes, which often resemble German Rhine wines. Sweet whites like Vignoles are similar to German Riesling, and Chambourcin compares to German Pinot Noir. Norton, a native American grape, creates a bold, full-bodied red wine, and a tasting experience you are not likely to find in Munich! Visit these establishments and toast “Zum Wohl!” (To Your Health!).
- Hermannhof Winery is America’s only two-time winner of the Brown Forman Trophy and many other medals and honors. Try their Vignoles Petit Rocolte – the first two-time winner of the “Best New World White Wine” award, or their best-selling White Lady of Starkenburg, made in the style of a German Riesling. Hermannhof Winery won a gold medal for their Norton Port a the 2025 Missouri Wine Competition.
- G. Husmann Wine Company – George Husmann is celebrated as the Father of the Missouri Grape and one of the most important historical figures in Hermann’s history. Try their namesake wine, which is a blend of Missouri Norton and California Cabernet Franc and Nebbiolo.
- Perched high on the hill, Stone Hill Winery offers great views of Hermann – what a wonderful way to relax and enjoy their award-winning wines. Choose from their Vignoles, Nortons, Chambourcins, and more. Stone Hill Winery’s Pink Catawba & Vignoles received Best of Class distinctions in the 2025 Missouri Wine Competition.
- The Adam Puchta Winery, founded in 1855, is the oldest, continuously owned family farm winery in the United States. Seven generations of the Puchta family have been creating wonderfully balanced wines, like their Estate Norton and Dry Vignoles. Their Dry Vignoles won the 2025 Governor’s Cup, awarded to the “best wine in the state” at this year’s Missouri Wine Competition.
Street Food
It wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without the food stands! Enjoy the Hermann Masonic Temple bratwurst stand at 1st Street & Gutenberg (right in front of the Caboose Museum) or Kettle Korn from the Hermann Lion’s Club stand, located in the Hermann Wurst Haus parking lot on Gutenberg Street. Odin’s Roasted Nuts will be serving the delicious traditional German treat at Hermannhof Winery.
Plan Your Trip to Hermann
Getting to Hermann is easy, whether you drive, take the train, or bike the Katy Trail. Once here, you can explore on foot, arrange for transportation, call Lyft You Up Rides, ride the Hermann Trolley, or utilize the Hermann Crown Suites Taxi & Shuttle Service. Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center for maps, restaurant menus, hours of operation, and more. There are public restrooms and free luggage lockers located right outside the Visitor Center, making it the ideal meet-up spot for groups coming in from different locations.
Visit Hermann and discover why it is one of Missouri’s favorite destinations this time of year.
