From Munich's chestnut trees to Villa Street

The long road to the beer garden

The idea for Steins was first conceived by founder Ted Kim in early 2006. A Bay Area native, Ted simply wanted a new place to go that served delicious made-from-scratch cuisine and a robust selection of great craft beer. Without any prior restaurant or bar experience, he took off to Europe and became enamored with the biergartens of Germany. Drinking underneath the massive chestnut trees and engaging in World Cup banter with complete strangers who happened to be sitting at the same communal table became the spark for what would eventually become Steins — a place where fond memories could be built, spurred on by good food, drink, and company.

Fast forward seven years and, despite more than a few bumps in the road, Steins Beer Garden of Downtown Mountain View opened its doors in March 2013 to long-anticipated fanfare. From then until 2025, the company also took on the mantle of hosting the official Mountain View Oktoberfest. Steins has been under new management since July 2025, and remains what it set out to be: an engaged member of its community and a reliable staple for its guests.