Rising over Hell’s Kitchen with views of the Hudson River, the luxury apartment rentals at 555TEN place their residents in a city where countless cultures can be experienced in the midst of Midtown West. This fall, residents of 555TEN can celebrate their own New York City version of the traditional Oktoberfest. In fact, with so many German beers and specialties in or near Hell’s Kitchen, you can enjoy Oktoberfest well into the winter—or any time of year—without having to fly to Germany.
Start the weekend at Hallo Berlin, one of New York Magazine’s favorite German restaurants in the city, where the atmosphere couldn’t be more authentic. Grab a leather seat near the bar in the dining room that’s decked out in the colors of the German flag, or come with friends and take over one of the large tables in the back garden—and feast on founders Rolf and Bernadette Babiel’s signature wienerwurst, bratwurst, knockwurst, and bockwurst, all served with the full range of appropriate accompaniments: red cabbage, sauerkraut, onions, and mustard.
Make Valhalla another stop on your Oktoberfest tour of Hell’s Kitchen to sample what’s on tap at what Thrillist named one of the best beer bars in New York City; according to Thrillist writer Chris McClellan, he’s “never been to Valhalla and not geeked out with” another customer. With 48 beers on tap, this really is a beer lover’s heaven, where the spirit of Oktoberfest will encourage you to try each of the Oktoberfest-appropriate brews, including the Abita Oktoberfest, Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen, and the Bell’s Oktoberfest, which the menu describes as having “herbal hop aromas” that will transport you to the Black Forest.
Another local, not-to-be-missed Oktoberfest destination is the Times Square Oktoberfest, coming October 30th, which will feature arts, crafts, and food all day from 10 am to 6 pm. Although this may be one of the last local events of the “official” month of Oktoberfest, it does not have to signal an end to the festivities.
Move a little farther south to neighboring Chelsea, and you can end the night back at the river at the Standard Hotel Biergarten, where Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner serves sausages and beer underneath the High Line. For a truly decadent Oktoberfest finale, you can reserve a special table called a “Stammtisch” that allows you and your friends to get your own beer from three of its built-in taps.
Throwing your own Hell’s Kitchen Oktoberfest is a great way to enjoy not only German culture, but the diversity and excitement of NYC. Residents of 555TEN will have no excuse not to say “hallo” and celebrate, German-style.
