Munich beer garden - Unterhaching

Many bierhalls (including Hofbrauhas) don’t take reservations for groups smaller than 6. As a couple, we’ve been instructed to just find open spots at tables and join another group. It’s part of the fun!

We visited Hofbrauhaus during lunch on a weekday and it was dead. We just wandered around looking at the massive rooms (after rooms). When we returned for dinner it was hopping. Polka band, chanting crowd. Exactly what you envision. I’m not sure I would call it a carnival atmosphere. And staff were taming down some of the patrons. But it was fun. So timing is everything. Our visit was in the summer, so it being in October may be a bit different.

I would watch some videos of Munich bierhalls and see which appeal to you. You can always pop into a few and check them out.

We were there last year for Oktoberfest. Here is the official website: https://www.oktoberfest.de/en#:~:text=The%20189th%20Oktoberfest%20will%20be,21%20to%20October%206%2C%202024.
Last year, you needed a minimum of 10 people to make a reservation and you needed to prepay a certain amount to register (it explains all of this on the website.) We were only 5 people and never made reservations. We were able to get in to (eventually) each tent we wanted to visit mainly because we went a bit early. In the website there is a "barometer" page where it lists the busy and less busy times/days. You can use that as your guide if you are only going for a day trip.
As for tents, they are all very different in terms of atmosphere (though they all offer beer, chicken and pretzels.) Do some research to find out which tents have the atmosphere you are looking for during your visit. This research makes the visit more fun!
Hope you have fun!

Thank you

Oktoberfest tents and Munich beer gardens are two different things. If you stopped at Hofbrau on your walk I would pick a different beer garden or restaurant for dinner. Going to the Hofbrau during Oktoberfest in not the same experience as going to the Oktoberfest fair grounds.

Seeking a "quiet", beer garden, our friends insisted on going to the Oktoberfest park in Munich.

We are thankful as it was an exceptional experience.

I second what jkh said. No need to visit Hoffbrauhaus a second time. There are so many beerhalls. At the Oktoberfest grounds, the "tents" are really gigantic halls, each representing a major brewery. They are mostly very crowded and loud and have different sorts of music. My wife and I prefer the "Auld Weizen" hall which is the furthest down the main avenue. It's more traditional music. Wherever you choose to sit down, it will be great fun.

You can see live video from the Theresienwiese at this address:

TheresienwieseCams

If you look there now, you will see all the buildings being taken down and hauled away, quite amazing.

Also very enjoyable is the English Garden. Very large area, great to walk around, then have a beer and a meal at the outdoor tables.