Biergarten is a table-service buffet restaurant in Epcot’s German Pavilion. Live Oktoberest-like entertainment is performed and a variety of German meats, sides, salads and desserts are offered. The restaurant counts as 1 credit on the Disney Dining Plan and annual pass and DVC discounts are available for those paying out of pocket. In this post, we’ll review Biergarten’s atmosphere, cuisine and value!

We’ve traveled the length of World Showcase and tried most of the table-service restaurants. For a few different reasons, Biergarten eluded us. I like buffets less and less with as I get older and most Disney World buffets are more miss than hit. For every fantastic and creative spot like Boma, there’s a spot with bad food that seems to coast by because they have character meet & greets.

Biergarten also hangs in the back of the German Pavilion, which is already a little understated. There’s no big sign or landmark to look for. Judging from the facade and the double doors that hide the restaurant, you’d never know the party that’s going on inside!

What’s the saying? It’s always Oktoberfest somewhere? That might be a little mixed up but that’s exactly what is happening once inside of Biergarten. Guests are seated in a three tiered half-circle that you could call an amphitheater if you’re feeling generous with definitions. It has that vibe thanks to the stage at the bottom of the three levels. The stage’s backdrop and the lamps around give the appearance of being outside at a festival of sorts. On the top floor is where the food resides, with two sides of the buffet. The food, which I’ll get to in a minute, is essentially the same on both sides.

Prior to the pandemic, Biergarten had shared seating where guests might share a table with strangers. Since reopening, the restaurant has switched to each party getting their own table. While this could switch back at anytime, it’s the policy as of March 2024. I can’t say I’m the best at conversing with strangers (ya know, I write on a website on the internet) but it’s easy to see why Biergarten lends itself to that style of dining. When the beer’s flowing and the band is playing, the restaurant is communal.

There are plenty of restaurants in World Showcase and the atmospheres are strong but not that different than what you might find out in the real world. Biergarten, to its credit, is different in that regard. There’s a taste of the Oktoberfest and Bavarian culture. Yes, it’s idealized but it’s not something you can find everyday unless you live in an American Bavarian town.

Biergarten opened in 1982 and it’s easy to tell, in both good and bad ways. The good outweighs the bad though in that the restaurant feels like it embodies that old Epcot ideal. It’s an entertaining and spirited experience that will teach you a little bit of German (again, idealized) culture. The setup of Biergarten feels distinctly Epcot-ish too. Not a lot of restaurants are half-circles.

The downside of being built in the 80’s is that Biergarten looks a little old in spots. It’s not enough to detract from the top notch atmosphere but it doesn’t look state-of-the-art either. That’s less noticeable thanks to the live band that comes out every 45 minutes or so to perform a 20-25 minute set. The band is festive and fun, playing different German songs and showcasing unfamiliar instruments.

All this to say that Biergarten has one of the best atmospheres in Walt Disney World. I didn’t find it to be overly loud or obnoxious, even with it being just Melissa and me dining. The restaurant is probably best experienced in a group but it’s not a bad date spot either. There were also a bunch of families there, with kids down by the stage dancing to the music. Biergarten is fun for everyone!

That’s more words than I usually spend on a restaurant’s atmosphere because it is the main selling point for Biergarten. But the food was better than I expected! I’ll point out a few favorites from each section of the buffet but here’s a link to the menu if you want a more thorough look.

The salad plate at Biergarten was surprisingly strong with the potato salad being my favorite. Melissa doesn’t typically like potato salad but loved this one! The macaroni salad was also good but not quite up to that level. While we’re talking about this plate, who doesn’t love a pretzel roll?

Unsurprisingly, the sausages and potato dishes were the stars elsewhere in the buffet. The bratwurst was the best of the options which is no surprise if you’ve ever been to the delicious Sommerfest in the German Pavilion.

I had two pieces of schnitzel while at Biergarten, one was fantastic and the other was just okay. That’s par for the course at buffets but proof that it can be really good? Biergarten had two carving stations, both of them were good. My favorite option there was the roasted turkey. I’m not a big turkey fan but this one was seasoned exceptionally and not dry at all!

Finally, there was the dessert table. Yes, I put nearly all of this into my stomach in the name of research. You’re welcome! The apple strudel was the winner here, with a delicious cream and great baked apples in the middle.

Overall, I thought the food at Biergarten was better than most buffets at Walt Disney World. It’s not to the point of Boma but it’s on the higher end of the spectrum for in park buffets. If you like German food then you’ll probably love the options here. If not, then I think there will be enough variety to still enjoy the experience.

As for the value, Biergarten is currently $49 before any discount. That is one of the cheaper buffets in WDW and in line with most table-service restaurants. That price includes soft drinks but not beer, which seems kind of wrong to not order if you’re at a place called Biergarten. I wouldn’t call this a good value if paying out of pocket but it’s better than many throughout Disney World. We’ll call it a slightly above average value!

The beer is included in the Disney Dining Plan but the restaurant isn’t an overly great value in that regard. We were on the dining plan and happened to be there at a time where we could combine it with priority seating for a concert at the the American outdoor Theater. If you can do that, then this becomes a pretty good value on the Disney Dininig Plan.

I came into Biergarten not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised by the entire experience. The buffet was good with a few real winners. The atmosphere was one of the best in all of Epcot, which is no small feat! I would happily go back to Biergarten and have no doubt that I’d have fun no matter who I was with. Not many restaurants can claim that but not many restaurants have a never ending Oktoberfest!

Overall Rating – 8/10

Have you tried Biergarten? Let us know your thoughts or any questions you might have in the comments below. Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our Disney World Trip Planning Guide to help you out. Looking for discount tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!