Sitting down at a Munich beer garden feels refreshingly casual — long wooden tables under chestnut trees, a litre of beer, a pretzel. But Bavaria's beer gardens run on a set of unwritten customs, collectively known as the Biergarten Knigge, and visitors (Americans especially) tend to trip over them almost immediately. These traditions are so culturally important that they're actually written into law: the Bavarian Beer Garden Ordinance of 1999 declares that beer gardens fulfil social and communicative functions, and caps closing time at 11 p.m.

The first trap is seating. Plenty of tables are reserved for regulars — look for a sign reading "Stammtisch" before settling in anywhere. But don't be shy about tables with people already at them: communal seating is the whole point. Ask "Ist hier frei?" (is this seat free?), take your place, and expect to chat with strangers. That's the gemütlichkeit, the famous Bavarian coziness, doing its thing.

Toasting has its own etiquette. The word is "prost," and eye contact with every person you clink with is non-negotiable — skip it and folklore says you've signed up for seven years of bad luck. Toasting isn't a one-off either; tradition calls for around ten toasts per stein to keep the beer foamy and fresh. Since a full Maß weighs a lot, clink near the bottom of the glass and set it down before you drink. One more superstition: never toast with water in Bavaria.

Pacing matters more than you'd expect. German beers often pack a higher alcohol content than visitors are used to, and each serving is a full litre — roughly two pints. Locals sip slowly and snack steadily, so follow their lead: order a brezn (pretzel) with obatzda, the classic Bavarian cheese spread, and alternate with water. Nobody rates the tourist who's roaring drunk by 8 p.m.

Finally — and this one goes against every instinct for anyone raised to clear their plate — don't finish your beer. The last few flat sips at the bottom have a name, "Noagerl," and they're considered not worth drinking. Glasses are often whisked away before they're empty, and noisily slurping the dregs earns you the label "Noagerlzuzler." Leaving the bottom of the glass isn't rude; it's practically expected.

Why should travellers care? Beer gardens are one of the cheapest, friendliest ways to drink with locals in Germany, especially in Munich, the heart of Bavaria's beer scene. Learn these four habits and you'll blend in within your first stein — no rulebook required. Thanks to Explore.com for the original roundup.