Sunglasses? Check. Drinking shoes? Check. The "last remaining outdoor beer garden in New York City?" Very Czech. "Well worth a taxi ride over the bridge to Astoria," the beer garden is "enormous" and "a perfect place to have a couple of pints outside with your friends." Be sure to fill up on "great beers and sausages" while listening to "oompah bands" at the "picnic tables under trees like in Germany." All of the indoor furniture was shipped straight from Czechoslovakia, and the attached school caters to an old-world crowd speaking in the mother tongue.

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The beer garden is a little slice of Europe plopped into the middle of Astoria. A three-minute walk from the second to last stop on the N train, the beer garden is a walled wonderland of lagers, weissbocks, ales, and other brews to wet your whistle. The garden itself is very simple, dotted with picnic tables, benches, and a central stage where the occasional oompah band might belt out some polka classics. Beer is served in pitchers for around $15 each and can be bought from either the bar in the garden, or the bar inside Bohemian Hall. The line can get long outside but the inside bar is a little more every-man-for-himself. Waitresses also tend to tables, bringing the ewers of elixir straight to patrons. The food is also regional; schnitzel, sausage, and bratwurst are staples and a plate is served with fresh bread, mustard, sauerkraut, fries, and an assortment of your choice of extra sides. Prices range from $5 to $10. Save your appetite before you go, the grilled kielbasa with mustard is excellent. The crowd is eclectic and vibrant—bordering on raucous at times—but there are kids running around, and people chatting. Drinking games are played at some of the tables, but beware playing flip-cup with wheat ale, you'll find yourself in rough shape with the possibility of a long subway ride ahead of you. On a beautiful day, the garden gets crowded, particularly after work, but enjoy yourself, sample some different brews, and imagine you're on vacation in the Czech Republic. As you're in New York, chances are that you'll here different languages floating through the air, mixing with the laughter, and the aroma of the grill.