You don’t have to travel to Germany to raise a liter of beer in the spirit of good cheer. New York City offers a whole host of beer gardens where you can enjoy a cold one at communal tables and make new friends. Zum Schneider, pictured above, is the Alphabet City mainstay that has been calling for a Prosit since 2005, and since then many other entrepreneurs have learned there is something incredibly special about the concept of a beer garden.

Greenwood Park is one of our favorites–a mechanic-shop-turned beer garden adjacent to Green-Wood Cemetery. Before you tie one on, take a respectful walk through the cemetery to pay respects to its permanent residents and enjoy some of the best views of Manhattan to be had outside the Promenade.

Lavender Lake in Gowanus serves up hot pretzels on its quiet back patio and offers a rotating list of local drafts.

Radegast is another of our favorites. While not outdoors, the popular Williamsburg watering hole offers a genuine experience of a German beer hall with a variety of draft beers.

Table Green is an excellent reason to visit Battery Park, which, unless you live there, you probably don’t know how attractive it’s become. Happy hour takes place 5pm-close. May we suggest this as a stop after the Parade of Ships kicking off Fleet Week on May 22.

Clinton Hall has branched out from its original location in the Financial District a rooftop beer garden in Williamsburg. Solar powered, naturally.

Bierstrasse in Harlem keeps it real with German drafts like Krombacher and Erdinger. Located at the foot (quite literally) of the George Washington bridge, this is a great option in questionable weather, as it’s open-air yet covered.

Threes Brewing is yet another attraction in the up-and-coming Gowanus, but this beer garden keeps it local. In addition to its own beers you’ll find bites from The Meat Hook and coffee from Ninth Street Espresso.

Spuyten Duyvil, translated from Dutch as “to spite the Devil.” Located in Williamsburg (not to be confused with having proximity to the Spuyten Duyvil bridge that links Manhattan to the Bronx), Spuyten Duyvil ranked on Grub Street’s list of the best bars in Williamsburg.