Helen, Georgia: A Taste of Germany in the North Georgia Mountains

Story & Photos by Owen Ogletree

 
Tucked away in the scenic North Georgia foothills sits a surprise people might not expect: a Bavarian-themed village complete with Alpine architecture, old-world taverns, an annual Oktoberfest celebration, and some of the best German beer and comfort food this side of Munich. This is Helen, Georgia - a town that not only serves up bratwurst and beer but also a remarkable origin story. 
 
Helen began as a humble logging and mining settlement in the early 1900s. The town’s name comes from the daughter of a railroad surveyor, dating to 1913. When the timber ran out in the 1930s, Helen nearly did too - until a local official hit upon a wild idea: reshape the dying town into a fantasyland of cobblestone, gingerbread trim, and Oktoberfest spirit. With the help of local business owners and a few German craftspeople, Helen went all-in on being Georgia’s own little Bavaria, a theme preserved today by strict zoning laws. The result resembles pure storybook charm.
 
If you visit Helen, you’ll find just as many hikers, rafters, and souvenir-seekers as you will beer aficionados. Helen is compact, so get a room downtown and stroll from one end to the other in minutes, soaking up the village vibes along the way. And when hunger (or thirst) hits, Helen’s German-style taverns and restaurants answer with steins, schnitzels, and sausages worthy of the Old Country. Following is a short guide to sipping, sampling, and savoring the best of them.
 
 

 
Hofbrauhaus Restaurant
9001 N Main Street
Begin your day just west of town at Helen’s well-loved Hofbrauhaus. Despite the familiar name, it’s a local original that's not affiliated with the international German brewery tavern chain. However, patrons will spot the famous Hofbräu beers on draft, along with a solid selection of domestic and imported bottles. The setting? Think big mountain cabin meets rural Bavarian beerhouse, perched right beside the scenic Chattahoochee River. The current family owners, who took over in 2018, kept the spirit and vibe of the original 1976 establishment going with a food menu of potato pancakes, hearty goulash, golden schnitzel, crispy schweinshaxe, and plump wursts. Swing by for live music on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
 
 

 
King Ludwig Biergarten
8660 N Main Street
Wander east along Main Street, and soon you’ll spot the King Ludwig Biergarten just outside the Heidelberg tavern. Park yourself at a sturdy wooden table, order a Paulaner, Hofbräu, or König Ludwig Weissbier, and chat up your neighbors. This is the spot for soaking in the sunshine, swapping stories, and working your way through sausage platters as the crowd buzzes around you. If beer isn’t your thing, the Biergarten also pours mixed drinks in souvenir mugs.
 
 
The Heidelberg
8660 N Main Street
Directly to the rear of The Biergarten sits one of Helen’s most popular German taverns. The Heidelberg’s original owners, Harold and Terry Link, were born in Heidelberg, Germany, and moved to the United States in 1976. They selected North Georgia as their honeymoon destination. While in Helen, the couple decided the town needed an excellent German restaurant, so they relocated to Helen, purchased the property, and were instrumental in designing the original building and restaurant. The current owners keep the German traditions alive at The Heidelberg by offering a cozy bar to the right, a gift shop in the back, and an upstairs dining area to the left. The full bar provides spirits and cocktails, along with 10 German-imported draft beers from Hofbräu, DAB, Früh, and Paulaner. Salvator doppelbock from Paulaner forms a mouth-watering rare treat. The upstairs restaurant offers a full, traditional German menu with schnitzels, sausages, sauerbraten and giant pretzels.
 
 

 
Chatt Street Tap Room
9 Chattahoochee Strasse
Craving a change of pace? Slip down a nearby alley to Chatt Street Tap Room, where twenty-four craft brews flow from the taps - from IPAs to stouts and sours. The vibe is spartan and modern, with high-top tables, Untappd-powered beer menus on large television screens, and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Order a pint or a sampler flight, settle in, and compare beer styles.
 
 

 
Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant & Lounge
8619 N Main Street
From Chatt Street, hop across the street to the Old Bavaria Inn. Down a pedestrian shopping alley, you’ll find a snug lounge and restaurant piping in traditional tunes and turning out schnitzels, wursts, and tasty American pub fare. The bottled beers are the stars at Old Bavaria Inn, with exceptional choices from Ayinger, Pilsner Urquell, Hofbrau, Spaten, Augustiner, Paulaner, Weihenstephan and Schneider highlighting the menu.
 
 

 
Café International
8546 S Main Street
Follow Main Street east, cross the bridge over the Chattahoochee River, and perch yourself out on Café International’s riverside patio. Imported beers from Hofbrau, Erdinger, Paulaner, and Pilsner Urquell join domestic favorites like Terrapin Hopsecutioner, Austin East Cider, Creature Comforts Tropicalia, and Yuengling Lager. The small indoor restaurant serves pub grub, wurst platters, pastrami sandwiches, pan-seared local trout, and the ubiquitous schnitzel dishes.
 
 

 
Christoff’s at Seventy-Six Bavarian Biergarten
76 Munich Strasse
From Café International, walk a couple of blocks around a corner to Christoff’s, a quaint European-styled snack shop offering coffees, draft beer, bottled beer, hot dogs, charcuterie, fresh baked pretzels with beer cheese and mustard, and breakfast items. Being slightly off the main tourist areas of Helen, Christoff’s provides a welcome, quiet diversion with its small indoor shop and beer garden patio. Listen to atmospheric Bavarian tunes while enjoying a fine selection of classic German imported beers. With no table service, patrons are asked to order at the bar. Expect more of a small German café than a large restaurant, but the nice beer selection makes a stop here definitely worthwhile.
 
 
Bodensee
64 Munich Strasse
Almost next door to Christoff's, Bodensee is our grand finale - a favorite with locals and tourists. Chef Aurel Prodan learned his craft in Romania and honed it in Germany before moving to Helen with his wife, Doina, in 1990. The menu is exceptional: appetizers, spaetzle, Tafelspitz beef, ribs, roast chicken, trout, an array of schnitzels, and much more. Bodensee’s beer list is just as robust, with the taps filling half-liters, liters, and pitchers - perfect for savoring with friends, old and new.
 
 
From the first stein to the last bite of strudel, Helen makes for a surreal trip through German flavors topped with Southern warmth. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning a return trip before you even leave town. Keep in mind that Helen’s annual Oktoberfest celebration runs from September 10 to November 1, 2026, at the city’s Festhalle with German music, food, beer, and a September 12 parade.