Quick answers — eating in Salzburg
- Best restaurant overall
- Restaurant Ikarus
- Best value
- Gasthof Auerhahn (€40-€70 / $45-$75)
- Strongest cuisines
- German & Austrian, Modern European
- Dishes to try
- Wiener Schnitzel, Salzburger Nockerl, Kasnocken (or Spätzle), Mozartkugel
- Booking window
- For MICHELIN-starred restaurants like Ikarus or SENNS.Restaurant, booking 2-3 months in advance is highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings. Popular dates fill quickly.
Booking well in advance, especially for MICHELIN-starred venues, is essential. Dress codes typically range from smart casual to formal. Tipping around 10% is customary if service is good. Dinner hours generally start from 6:00 PM or 6:30 PM, with kitchens often closing around 9:30 PM or 10:00 PM.
German & Austrian
Best German and Austrian restaurants in Salzburg
German-speaking Europe hides a lot of quiet fine dining: precise, produce-led cooking in small rooms, alongside the beer halls everyone already knows.
Pfefferschiff
One MICHELIN StarModern Austrian · Hallwang (just outside Salzburg) · €140-€200 / $150-$215
Jürgen Vigné
Set in a charmingly rustic yet elegant country house just minutes from the city, Pfefferschiff offers refined Austrian cuisine with a contemporary touch. Chef Jürgen Vigné's cooking emphasizes seasonal, regional ingredients, transformed into sophisticated dishes that retain a comforting familiarity. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, perfect for a special occasion.
Order: Filet of lake char, venison with local forest mushrooms.
Esszimmer
One MICHELIN StarModern Austrian · Mülln · €160-€220 / $170-$235
Andreas Döllerer
Esszimmer, part of the Hotel Goldener Hirsch, provides a luxurious setting for its exquisite Modern Austrian cuisine. Chef Andreas Döllerer, often recognized for his work at Döllerer's Genießerhotel & Restaurant in Golling, brings a similar philosophy here, focusing on indigenous ingredients and traditional recipes elevated with contemporary flair. The elegant room enhances the refined dining experience.
Order: Salzburg-style veal goulash, pike-perch with root vegetables.
Restaurant Brunnauer
One MICHELIN StarModern Austrian · Nonntal · €120-€180 / $130-$195
Richard Brunnauer
Richard Brunnauer's eponymous restaurant serves sophisticated, market-fresh cuisine with a distinct Austrian foundation, often influenced by French techniques. Located in a tranquil, residential part of Salzburg, it offers an intimate and unpretentious atmosphere. The focus is squarely on the quality of ingredients and precise execution, ensuring a consistently excellent dining experience.
Order: Wiener Schnitzel vom Kalb, roasted pike-perch.
Restaurant Pur:isst
Bib GourmandModern Austrian · Schallmoos · €50-€80 / $55-$85
Pur:isst offers excellent quality cooking at a very reasonable price, earning it a Bib Gourmand distinction. The focus is on seasonal, regional ingredients, prepared with a modern twist but retaining authentic Austrian flavors. The atmosphere is relaxed and contemporary, making it a great choice for a high-quality, unpretentious meal.
Order: Spinach dumplings with brown butter, creative vegetarian dishes.
Gasthof Auerhahn
Bib GourmandTraditional Austrian · Elisabeth-Vorstadt · €40-€70 / $45-$75
A traditional Gasthof that consistently delivers hearty, authentic Austrian fare with a refined touch, earning it a Bib Gourmand. The ambiance is classic and cozy, reflecting centuries of Austrian hospitality. Ingredients are sourced locally, ensuring freshness and quality in their well-executed, classic dishes. It's an excellent spot for experiencing genuine regional cuisine.
Order: Zwiebelrostbraten (roasted beef with onions), Tafelspitz (boiled beef).
Modern European
Best modern European restaurants in Salzburg
Modern European is the catch-all for kitchens that borrow technique from France, produce from their own region and ideas from everywhere — usually tasting-menu only.
Restaurant Ikarus
Two MICHELIN StarsInternational Guest Chef Concept · Maxglan · €300-€400 / $320-$430
Martin Klein
Located within Hangar-7, Restaurant Ikarus offers a unique 'Guest Chef Concept,' featuring a different world-renowned chef each month. The result is an ever-evolving, avant-garde menu that challenges expectations, served in a sleek, aviation-inspired setting beneath the wing of a plane. It's a culinary journey without leaving the table, reflecting global haute cuisine.
Order: Varies monthly with guest chefs, often includes innovative seafood preparations or complex meat dishes.
SENNS.Restaurant
Two MICHELIN StarsModern European · Gneis · €200-€280 / $215-$300
Andreas Senn
Chef Andreas Senn delivers precise and creative modern European cuisine, focusing on intense flavors and artful presentations. The restaurant, located slightly outside the city center, offers an intimate and stylish dining experience in a minimalist setting. His dishes showcase exceptional product quality and technical mastery, providing a sophisticated culinary narrative.
Order: Langoustine with sea buckthorn, pigeon with beetroot.
The Glass Garden
One MICHELIN StarModern European · Kapuzinerberg · €180-€250 / $195-$270
Armin Gschwandtner
Perched atop the Hotel Schloss Mönchstein, The Glass Garden offers breathtaking panoramic views of Salzburg from its striking glass-domed dining room. The cuisine is modern European, meticulously crafted with high-quality ingredients, presenting a delicate balance of flavors and textures. Dining here is an experience for all senses, combining visual splendor with culinary artistry.
Order: Wagyu beef with truffles, scallops with cauliflower purée.
Carpe Diem Finest Fingerfood
MICHELIN SelectedCreative Fingerfood · Getreidegasse · €80-€150 / $85-$160
This unique establishment redefines 'fingerfood' into a fine dining experience, offering exquisitely prepared small bites served on elegant spoons or in delicate portions. Located in a chic, modern setting on the historic Getreidegasse, it's perfect for a less formal yet highly refined culinary adventure. The creativity and quality are consistently high.
Order: Wagyu beef sushi, truffle risotto in an eggshell.
Budget
Where to eat cheaply in Salzburg
Balkan Grill Walter
A legendary hole-in-the-wall within the Getreidegasse, famous for its 'Bosna.' This spiced sausage in a bun with onions and parsley is a delicious and quick street food experience. Expect queues, especially during peak hours. Around €5-€7.
Green Garden
Salzburg's pioneering organic vegetarian and vegan restaurant offers fresh, creative dishes using seasonal produce. From vibrant salads to hearty curries and innovative plant-based burgers, it's a healthy and delicious option. Main courses typically range from €14-€18.
Pauli Stub'n
A charming and authentic Austrian eatery known for its excellent traditional dishes at reasonable prices. Expect classics like Wiener Schnitzel, Goulash, and various dumplings in a cozy, local atmosphere. Main courses are generally €12-€20.
Fasties
Offering gourmet burgers and craft beer in a casual setting, Fasties uses high-quality, regional ingredients for its creative burger combinations. It's a popular spot for a satisfying and flavorful meal that deviates from traditional Austrian fare. Burgers cost around €12-€16.
Sporer
While primarily a liqueur shop dating back to 1903, Sporer is a beloved local institution for a quick, affordable, and warm experience. They serve small cups of their homemade liqueurs and punch, especially popular in colder months. A shot costs around €3-€5.
Local dishes
What to eat in Salzburg
Wiener Schnitzel
A thin, breaded, pan-fried cutlet of veal, traditionally served with lemon wedges and potato salad or lingonberry jam. It’s an iconic Austrian dish, known for its crispy golden crust and tender meat. Often found on menus across Salzburg, providing a quintessential taste of Austrian culinary heritage.
Salzburger Nockerl
A light, fluffy dessert soufflé, uniquely shaped to represent Salzburg's three city mountains. Made from egg yolks, sugar, and flour, it's typically baked until golden and dusted with powdered sugar, often served with fruit sauce. It’s a sweet, cloud-like local specialty that offers a delightful culinary experience.
Kasnocken (or Spätzle)
Small, soft egg noodles or dumplings, pan-fried and typically served with melted cheese (often Emmental or Bergkäse) and topped with crispy fried onions. This hearty and comforting dish is a staple of Austrian alpine cuisine, offering a rich and savory flavor profile that satisfies after a day of exploring.
Mozartkugel
A small, round confection consisting of a pistachio marzipan center, surrounded by nougat, and coated in dark chocolate. Invented in Salzburg in 1890 by Paul Fürst, it's a world-famous treat. The original ones from Fürst are still handmade and wrapped in blue foil, a delicious edible souvenir.
Erdäpfelgulasch
A comforting and savory potato goulash, often vegetarian but sometimes with sausage, featuring tender potatoes simmered in a rich paprika-spiced sauce with onions and caraway seeds. This hearty stew provides warmth and flavor, representing a simpler, yet deeply satisfying, aspect of Austrian home cooking. It pairs well with crusty bread.
Tafelspitz
Boiled beef, usually from the top round, served in its own broth with root vegetables like carrots and potatoes, often accompanied by apple horseradish and chive sauce. It's a classic and refined Austrian dish, famously favored by Emperor Franz Joseph I, known for its tender meat and elegant presentation. A culinary tradition.
Apfelstrudel
A classic Austrian pastry consisting of thin, flaky dough wrapped around a filling of grated apples, cinnamon, sugar, and raisins. It’s typically served warm, sometimes with a dusting of powdered sugar, vanilla sauce, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A timeless and comforting dessert, perfect with coffee.
Bosna
A unique Salzburg street food consisting of two grilled pork sausages (Bratwurst) served in a white bread roll, seasoned with onions, curry powder, and a special mustard blend. It's a flavorful and convenient snack, popular with locals and visitors, offering a quick and distinctive taste of the city's casual fare.
How to book a table in Salzburg
- · For MICHELIN-starred restaurants like Ikarus or SENNS.Restaurant, booking 2-3 months in advance is highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings. Popular dates fill quickly.
- · Many fine dining establishments require a credit card guarantee or a non-refundable deposit for tasting menu reservations, especially for larger groups. Clarify cancellation policies when booking.
- · Consider trying a fixed-price lunch menu at starred restaurants. They often offer a more accessible price point to experience the chef's cuisine, though choices may be more limited.
- · Be mindful of no-show policies; they are strict. Cancellations within 24-48 hours often incur a fee or the full cost of the tasting menu, so communicate changes promptly.
FAQ
Salzburg restaurant questions travellers ask
What is the best restaurant in Salzburg?
Restaurant Ikarus in Maxglan is the benchmark table — International Guest Chef Concept, led by Martin Klein, two michelin stars, around €300-€400 / $320-$430 per person. Order the Varies monthly with guest chefs, often includes innovative seafood preparations or complex meat dishes.
Where is the best German and Austrian restaurant in Salzburg?
Pfefferschiff in Hallwang (just outside Salzburg) is the German and Austrian table to book in Salzburg (€140-€200 / $150-$215 per person). Other strong options: Esszimmer, Restaurant Brunnauer, Restaurant Pur:isst.
Where is the best modern European restaurant in Salzburg?
Restaurant Ikarus in Maxglan is the modern European table to book in Salzburg (€300-€400 / $320-$430 per person). Other strong options: SENNS.Restaurant, The Glass Garden, Carpe Diem Finest Fingerfood.
Where can I eat well in Salzburg without spending a fortune?
Gasthof Auerhahn is the best-value table on this list at roughly €40-€70 / $45-$75 per person. Beyond fine dining, locals point to Balkan Grill Walter, Green Garden, Pauli Stub'n.
How far in advance should I book restaurants in Salzburg?
For MICHELIN-starred restaurants like Ikarus or SENNS.Restaurant, booking 2-3 months in advance is highly recommended, especially for weekend evenings. Popular dates fill quickly. Many fine dining establishments require a credit card guarantee or a non-refundable deposit for tasting menu reservations, especially for larger groups. Clarify cancellation policies when booking.
What food is Salzburg famous for?
Wiener Schnitzel, Salzburger Nockerl, Kasnocken (or Spätzle), Mozartkugel, Erdäpfelgulasch — the dishes most worth eating where they come from. A thin, breaded, pan-fried cutlet of veal, traditionally served with lemon wedges and potato salad or lingonberry jam. It’s an iconic Austrian dish, known for its crispy golden crust and tender meat. Often found on menus across Salzburg, providing a quintessential taste of Austrian culinary heritage.
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