The aim of this article is to guide you through some of the best restaurants in Salzburg, each offering a variety of recommended traditional Austrian dishes.
These restaurant recommendations are in different areas of the old town, for different times of the day, and with a distinct character to enable you to taste a variety of Austrian food while experiencing the particularities of each of these places.
The Experience I want you to Have
This is not a guide to the best food in Salzburg. This guide doesn’t respond to special dietary habits and ignores foreign cuisine that’s not part of the Austrian menu.
Instead, this restaurant guide focuses on where to eat in Salzburg and what to eat to get the most authentic Austrian experience. It guides you to my favorite Austrian restaurants.
My Relationship with Austrian Food
Before we get started, I would like you to understand where this is coming from.
I have always preferred international cuisine.
I’ve found Austrian food to be boring and it is true that it is repetitive. We eat meat, prepared in different ways, and compared to Asian food, which I love, Austrian food is less diverse in flavor.
However, the more I got into Austrian cuisine, initially because of my intention to tell you about it, the more I developed a curiosity and love for Austrian dishes and the places that serve them, and I am still on that journey.
Once or twice a week, I explore different Salzburg restaurants to try various dishes. With this article, I share these experiences and want to enable you to fall in love with Austrian food just as I have.
The Best Restaurants in Salzburg
Each of the restaurants I introduce serves a different purpose and for each restaurant, I recommend an Austrian dish that I think you will enjoy.
Johanneskeller
Johanneskeller is the perfect fusion between a quaint traditional Austrian restaurant and a place, young and full of energy. I remember when it opened. It was a year after my favorite restaurant in Salzburg closed and most of their staff shifted to Johanneskeller. They are a fun and friendly bunch. Don’t expect to be treated like in a luxury restaurant but rather like a friend.
The entrance to the restaurant is on the side of the trinity church which the building belongs to. Upon entering you see the bar but then you have to go downstairs. Keller in German means basem*nt and that’s what it is. In summer there is also the option to sit in the yard which is great because, despite the central location, the yard is quiet.
The restaurant is only open in the evening and you can only pay cash.
What to eat at Johanneskeller
My favorite dish would be Schweinsbraten. Schweinsbraten is one of the most typical Austrian meals. It’s a Sunday dinner-style dish. A slice of tender roasted pork topped with gravy and served with light and wondrous potato dumpings along with Sauerkraut.
And should you feel like something outside the zone of Austrian cuisine, the Mediterranean gyros (spit-roasted meat) with tzatziki is an ideal solution. The prices at Johanneskeller are reasonable while the portions are really big.
Features: dinner – big portions – casual – closed on Sunday and Monday – kind staff – cash only
Website: Johanneskeller on salzburg.info
Andreas Hofer Weinstube
If you recall history, perhaps the name Andreas Hofer rings a bell. He was a Tyrolean innkeeper that in 1809, became the leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleon. Unfortunately, he was captured and executed, but he’s still hailed as a hero today, especially in Tyrol.
Just as the name suggests, Andreas Hofer offers Austrian food with a focus on Tyrolean cuisine in a historic environment. Steingasse, where the restaurant is located, is one of the oldest streets of Salzburg. It’s a narrow street, the restaurant’s windows are small and with the dark rustic wooden furniture, candlelight helps to light up the room.
Andreas Hofer not only offers excellent Austrian food but is one of the most traditional restaurants in Salzburg. It opened more than 100 years ago and that’s how it feels like.
This restaurant is also only open in the evening but they accept credit cards.
My favorite Dishes at Andreas Hofer
At this restaurant, I recommend trying Kaspressknödel and a Schnitzel variation. Kaspressknödel is a specialty in Salzburg and the West of Austria. They are tasty bread and cheese dumpling often served in soup as a starter, but here they can also be a main course. If you are hungry, I would recommend them as a starter and Mailänder (Milano) Schnitzel as a main dish to really fill you up.
You have probably heard about Wiener (Vienna) Schnitzel since it’s the most famous Austrian dish. But you can try Schnitzel at every Austrian restaurant, therefore I recommend Mailänder Schnitzel, a rare Schnitzel variation at Andreas Hofer. One that highlights the Italian influence in Tyrol. Mailänder Schnitzel is coated in parmesan cheese instead of breadcrumbs. A sensation, especially for cheese lovers.
If you are a vegetarian, you choose Kaspressknödel, the cheese dumplings as a main course. If you are not too hungry, order either the Mailänder Schnitzel or the Kaspressknödel as a main course and not as a starter. Also, when dining with just the two of you, you might take both dishes and share so each of you gets to try both. We are always about trying as much as possible.
In case you fancy dessert, take the baked apple rings!
Features: dinner – quaint – traditional – closed on Sunday
Website: https://www.dieweinstube.at/
Gasthaus Zwettler’s
If you ask me for a lunch recommendation after the tour, I would always point you to Zwettler’s. That’s not because they are open at noon and located around the corner from Mozart Square but because they care about hospitality and therefore about you.
The history of the restaurant already began 150 years ago but the building was destroyed by bombs during the second world war. The interior of the house remained the last bomb ruin in Salzburg until the 1980s when it was renovated and reopened. In 2011 the current owners took over.
Zwettler’s is a fun place to be with the waiters always paying close attention to their guests. In summer when chairs and tables are outside, their presence brightens up the whole street. Many locals go there just to have a beer at the bar. Speaking of beer, they don’t serve the usual Stiegl you find in most restaurants in Salzburg.
Their beer is branded by the name of Emporer Karl (Charlemagne) who, according to the legend, resides inside the nearby Untersberg mountain for the last 1200 years and awakens at the end of time. The beer was invented by an innkeeper who had his hut at the Untersberg and was not satisfied with the conventional beer.
When you visit Zwettlers at noon, they offer an inexpensive lunch menu. As far as I know, they are the only Austrian restaurant in Salzburg with such an offer. They are also the only Austrian restaurant that has more than just one or two vegetarian options on the menu.
What to eat at Zwettlers?
For meat-eaters, I recommend the Zwiebelrostbraten, savory roast beef with onions. The beef (Rostbraten) comes from a tender roasted standing rib roast that is topped with a stunning gravy of roasted onions and served with croquettes.
For vegetarians, on the other hand, I would recommend the Tiroler Schlutzkrapfen. These are quite similar to Italian ravioli and at Zwettlers, they are filled with pumpkin and mountain cheese. Here you can also taste the Italian influence in Austrian dishes, a most sublime pairing.
Features: Lunch – Dinner – Vegetarian Options – Closed on Monday – Casual
Website: https://www.zwettlers.com/
Pauli Stubm
Hidden in a back alley just below the fortress, Pauli Stubm is the ultimate insider tip. The building in Herrengasse is hundreds of years old and very modest. Herrengasse in history was the most notorious street in Salzburg because that’s where the executioner ran the brothels.
The oldest brothel from 1501 is still the neighbor of Pauli Stubm. But don’t be alarmed. The alley is off the beaten path but in no way shady.
The restaurant as it is today opened in the 1930s. The current chef and owner of the Pauli Stubm cooked all over the world before he took over in 2018. He personally makes sure your meal is of the highest quality while the waiters are always kind and attentive.
When you get to Pauli Stubm, you enter and take the stairs to the first floor. The Stubm (parlors), as well as the beer garden, are there. If the weather is nice, you definitely want to sit in the beer garden or otherwise enjoy the charming, rustic interior!
It’s a cozy place with a comfortable ambiance.
The Best Kasnocken in Salzburg
Pauli Stubm is known among locals for being the best Pinzgauer Kasnocken in Salzburg. Kasnocken are a vegetarian pasta dumpling dish with cheese and onions and I agree with my fellow locals, that there is no better place to try them in Salzburg.
Kasnocken is the most popular vegetarian Austrian recipe. In fact, they are the only traditional vegetarian meal you find in most restaurants.
Features: dinner – traditional – closed on Sunday – cozy
Website: https://www.paul-stube.at/
Wirtshaus Elefant (formerly S’Nockerl)
SIDENOTE: The owners of Salzburg restaurants Zwettlers and S’Nockerl swapped their establishments. The S’Nockerl owner took over Zwettlers, preserving its name and excellent service. Meanwhile, the Zwettlers owners assumed control of S’Nockerl, rebranding it as Restaurant Elefant, and successfully merged their renowned service with the features that originally defined S’Nockerl. This switch has not only invigorated both restaurants but also ensured that they remain on this list of the best Austrian restaurants in Salzburg.
Named after a famous dessert from Salzburg, the original S’Nockerl was one of the most surprising places I visited on my food journey through Salzburg. For years, I thought S’Nockerl is expensive and only for tourists. I hesitated to recommend it even if I had no idea about the place. The new owners now focus less on tourists but most of what this article says remains true.
When I first went there though, I was surprised about the moderate prices, the way the food was served, the size of the portions, and the kind of service.
The waiters were effortlessly courteous, and we felt welcome and that the place is somewhat luxurious while the prices are in the mid-range of Austrian restaurants. Furthermore, I never went to an Austrian restaurant where I felt like I couldn’t eat more because of the size of the portions. We ate Salzburger Nockerl as a dessert but shared them and were hardly able to finish.
All in all, this became one of my favorite food experiences in Salzburg.
Wirtshaus Elefant (formerly S’Nockerl) is nowadays closed on Sunday and Monday. I can recommend it for lunch or dinner but my personal preference for nice restaurants is always the evening.
Recommended Austrian Food at S’Nockerl
The most recommended dish to order would be Salzburger Schmankerl (discontinued). ‘Schmankerl’ means ‘tidbits’. The Salzburger tidbits are a wonderful beef soup with liver dumplings as a starter and Tafelspitz with potatoes as the main course.
‘Tafelspitz’ means ‘tip of the meat’ and is meat boiled in soup. More precisely, it is the part of the cattle where the tail originates. The meat is usually from a young ox and served with the broth it was boiled in, minced apples, and horseradish.
With the Salzburger Schmankerl no longer on the menu, it’s time to explore other culinary delights. I suggest browsing through this list of the best traditional Austrian dishes to spark ideas. At the restaurant, don’t hesitate to ask the waitstaff for their recommendations – they’re sure to have suggestions. Since the new owners took over, I’ve only had the opportunity to dine at Wirtshaus Elefant once, so I’m unable to provide a personal recommendation at this time.
The Restaurant S’Nockerl is named after Salzburger Nockerl, a famous dessert from Salzburg. While the name changed from S’Nockerl to Wirtshaus Elefant, the place is still great for Nockerl, one of the few dishes that are specific to Salzburg. Salzburger Nockerl, other than Nockerl for Kasnocken, is a sweet dessert. It’s almost like a souffle. A souffle in the form of three hills that stand for the three city mountains here in Salzburg. It consists of egg and sugar. Heavenly, sweet, and with a texture that is light and fluffy, it is interesting to try when visiting Salzburg, and the perfect way to finish your meal.
I have to say, however, that being from Salzburg I only ate Salzburger Nockerl twice in my life so far and I don’t know locals who eat Salzburger Nockerl on a regular basis.
No meal is complete without dessert and it doesn’t have to be Salzburger Nockerl. Austrian cuisine offers a variety of sweet treats that are worth trying. Learn more about them in our article on Austrian Desserts.
Features: Lunch – Dinner – Great Location – Delicious – Big portions – Closed on Sunday and Monday
Website: http://wirtshauselefant.com
Zum Eulenspiegel
For years I expected Zum Eulenspiegel to only be the tiny house opposite of Mozart’s Birthplace. Furthermore, I thought it was a tourist trap. Only when I first visited did I realize that it is the whole building opposite Mozart’s birthplace and an excellent restaurant.
Through the narrow staircase, we were accompanied to the third floor where we entered an awkward room with three tables and two chairs each. So tiny in fact that there was no privacy. You could hear everything the other two couples in the room were talking about.
The room was called ‘Damenzimmer’ which means ‘ladies’ room´. However, that awkwardness passes in originality and becomes an experience on its own. But don’t worry! The ladies’ room is not the only original room available. You don’t have to sacrifice your privacy.
There is a drinking room, a study room, and more. They are equipped with open fireplaces, rustic wooden furniture, and old Austrian décor. It is the perfect restaurant for a romantic dinner and to experience not only original dishes but also the most original environment you find in Salzburg.
The name Zum Eulenspiegel originates from Till Eulenspiegel, a traveling storyteller who in the middle ages, wandered the earth to tell the truth. ‘Eule’ means ‘owl’ and ‘Spiegel’ means ‘mirror.’ He held up a mirror in front of people. He used jokes, to tell the truth, and was dressed as the Joker. This light-heartedness didn’t only inspire writers and poets but also the restaurant I am recommending here. After your visit, you will understand why.
Eulenspiegel is where my Austrian food journey began. Eating exquisite food, I realized there is more to Austrian food than I thought. A seed was planted from that moment on. I am still on a journey to taste every Austrian dish and experience all the best restaurants in Salzburg.
Eulenspiegel is expensive but offers exquisite food and a unique atmosphere. It’s worth the price and even if it’s opposite of the Birthplace of Mozart, it is far from a tourist trap.
Eulenspiegel is a restaurant I would recommend for dinner. It’s open for lunch but the sublime atmosphere would be perfect for a romantic dinner.
What I would recommend at Eulenspiegel
The organic char fish would be my choice if you like fish. It comes from their own farm in Upper Austria, where also most of their vegetables come from. The fish is pan-roasted in butter as a whole and served with potatoes.
A dish that I have not seen in any other restaurant in Salzburg is snails. Few people know that they once were a part of Austrian food. Today they are typical for high-quality French cuisine but Eulenspiegel as a fine dining restaurant prepares them as well.
Features: open for lunch – recommended for dinner – fine dining – unique ambiance – good wine
Website: https://www.zum-eulenspiegel.at
Strobl Stüberl
The Strobl Stüberl is a legend in the culinary landscape of Salzburg. That is on the one hand because of the good food and on the other hand, because it’s open until at least 3 am.
Strobl Stüberl is the only place that offers proper food at night. Austrian Restaurant close between 10 pm and 12 pm and all that’s remaining is sausages and Kebab. If you are going out or staying up late for some reason and still want to eat fine Austrian food this is the only place.
But if you think it’s only for drunks, that’s far from reality. It has its very own style and taste.
They don’t even have a website and their Facebook page is an unofficial fan page. I even hesitate to recommend this hidden gem because I don’t want it to become more popular.
Strobl Stüberl is expensive but worth it. Their menu consists of a mix of hearty Austrian dishes and international delicacies, especially seafood.
What to eat at Strobl Stüberl?
It’s difficult for me to choose from the incredible array of heavenly dishes, but here I’d recommend that, if you want to go for a standard Austrian dish, you should choose the schnitzel with potatoes. A classic and they do it perfectly.
During the season, if you love seafood, you should try one of the seafood dishes. Shellfish though is available year-round for your pleasure. Tired of Austrian foods during your visit? There’s a splendid Spanish seafood pan that will give you a fresh taste of the sea with the aromatically divine fragrances of Spanish herbs and spices.
Features: open for dinner until late at night – expensive – legendary – no credit cards
Website: non-existent
Stadtalm
Stadtalm is the restaurant with the best view in Salzburg. It’s a simple place and not a gourmet restaurant. It might, however, be the most down-to-earth place in Salzburg and that’s what Austria and Salzburg are about.
It’s the perfect place to stop and enjoy the view during a recommended hike along Mönchsberg mountain. In winter, I recommend sitting inside. I love the atmosphere in the small room in the corner of the building. It’s a private room and you sit on the edge of the cliff with the best view. True fortress style feeling.
The opening hours change in summer and winter. That’s because you have to walk along the mountain to get there in winter it gets dark earlier. Most of the year Stadtalm is open for lunch. In summer dinner would also be recommended. By the way, Stadtalm is also a hostel.
One that is not heavily advertised. Therefore it might be the most underrated accommodation in Salzburg. It’s in the most amazing location, on one of my favorite photography spots in the world. None of the five-star hotels could compete with that view.
Anyway.
What to order at Stadtalm?
With the alpine pasture surrounds, Stadtalm (Alpine pasture) lives up to its name. Here, the Austrian snack meal of Brotzeit (cold cuts, cheese, and bread) is on the menu, a fine choice during a walk in nature.
If a cold meal doesn’t appeal to you, then do make sure you try the greaves dumplings with sauerkraut. This warm and satisfying meal takes dumplings brimming with greaves (crispy lardons) served atop the sauerkraut for an authentically delicious way to taste an Austrian classic.
Features: Stunning View – Requires a bit of a Hike – Opening Hours depend on the Season
Website: http://www.stadtalm.at (only in German)
Conclusion
Exploring Austrian food and the best restaurants in Salzburg is sure to expand your palate and your horizons. Indeed, from the onset, it seems like little more than meat and potatoes, but I assure you if you open your mind, you will discover tempting dishes that will fully satisfy your hunger and your spirit.
Explore More of Salzburg’s Culinary Scene
If you enjoyed this guide to the best restaurants in Salzburg, you might also find these articles interesting:
- Street Food in Salzburg: Discover the vibrant street food scene in Salzburg and find out where to grab a quick, delicious bite.
- Breakfast in Salzburg: Start your day right with a hearty breakfast. Find out the best spots in Salzburg to enjoy your morning meal.
- Austrian Dishes: Learn more about the traditional Austrian dishes that you can try in Salzburg’s restaurants.
- Austrian Desserts: Satisfy your sweet tooth with these traditional Austrian desserts.
- Salzburger Nockerl: Dive deeper into the story of Salzburger Nockerl, a famous dessert from Salzburg.
