Kerem Demirbay gave a confident Hoffenheim the lead in the 16th minute, but a Steven Zuber own goal brought the hosts level before half-time.
Bayern hit the post twice in a stronger second-half showing from the record champions, but Hoffenheim held on for a valuable point.
Hoffenheim came into the game with an unbeaten record to preserve and they showed all the confidence of a side who has not yet tasted defeat this season.
Their midfield and attack line was extremely high up the field, forcing Bayern to spend more time than they are used to inside their own half, and always under pressure from at least one white shirt.
Bayern nevertheless broke for the first chance of the game in the 13th minute when Rafinha tried to beat Oliver Baumann inside his near post, but the Hoffenheim goalkeeper turned the ball behind for a corner.
Shortly after, Hoffenheim had their first serious attack of the game with Nadiem Amiri sent through and he pulled the ball back for Demirbay to curl his an inch-perfect shot into the top left-hand corner of Manuel Neuer’s goal from the edge of the area.
Sebastian Rudy had a shot saved by Neuer as Hoffenheim continued to look the more confident of the two sides, until a Douglas Costa cross was fumbled out to the feet of Thiago Alcantara by Baumann with the Bayern midfielder simply returning the ball weakly to the Hoffenheim custodian with the goal at his mercy.
Bayern equalised 10 minutes before half-time when Arjen Robben sent Douglas Costa into the area on the left and his low cross, aimed for Lewandowski at the far post, was turned into his own goal at the near post by Zuber.
The hosts had much more of a spring in their step in the second half and Hoffenheim simply were no longer able to keep them under pressure in their own half.
Zuber again risked scoring an own goal as Lewandowski touched a ball on to the far post, where he this time managed to get the ball away from Alcantara before he could shoot.
Hoffenheim started to settle as the game entered its final quarter and Sandro Wagner and Demirbay both had shots blocked as chances were created at both ends.
Substitute Thomas Muller went close to opening his account for the season, testing Baumann as the game entered into its final 10 minutes.
Muller then set up Mats Hummels for a shot which came back off the left-hand post before the defender headed another effort straight at Baumann as Bayern launched a late assault on all three points.
Muller also hit the post in stoppage time as his personal drought continued, but Bayern risked losing the game seconds later when Pavel Kaderabek’s cross was only inches too far from Wagner, who was sliding in at the far post.
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