Must-see restaurants in Austria

  • Lutter & Wegner

    Hohe Tauern National Park

    Big on atmosphere, this smart restaurant at Villa Solitude has a fairy-tale tower setting, award-winning fusion cuisine and a terrace with knockout views…

  • Quell

    Vienna

    Time stands still at this traditional Beisl (small tavern or restaurant). The wood-panelled interior looks as if it's been untouched for years and the…

  • Gasthof Schloss Aigen

    Salzburg

    A country manor with an elegantly rustic interior and a chestnut-shaded courtyard, Gasthof Schloss Aigen excels in Austrian home cooking. The Forstner…

  • Pizzeria La Spiga

    Vienna

    Neapolitan pizzas fired up in the wood-burning oven at La Spiga are made from ingredients imported from the region, including Mt Vesuvius tomatoes,…

  • Schnattl

    Vienna

    Despite weekday-only opening hours, Schnattl is a culinary institution in Josefstadt, particularly beloved by thespians and other arty types. The inner…

  • Das Loft

    Prater & East of the Danube

    Shimmering in gunmetal grey, with floor-to-ceiling windows and reflective surfaces throughout, Das Loft has uninterrupted views across the city skyline…

  • Le Bol

    Vienna

    French cafe Le Bol specialises in tartines (open-faced sandwiches) such as artichoke crème, basil and olive tapenade, brie with chicken and red onion,…

  • Gasthaus Wild

    Schloss Belvedere to the Canal

    Gasthaus Wild, formerly a dive of a Beisl (bistro pub), has morphed into a great neo-Beisl. Its dark, wood-panelled interior retains a traditional look,…

  • Motto am Fluss

    Vienna

    Located inside the Wien-City ferry terminal, with dazzling views of the Danube Canal, Motto am Fluss' restaurant serves Austro-international cuisine with…

  • Vegiezz

    Vienna

    In a bright, white space with sage-green chairs, pinewood floors and herbs growing in wall-mounted planter boxes, Vegiezz offers an all-vegan menu. It…

  • Lusthaus

    Prater & East of the Danube

    A stroll along the Prater's chestnut-shaded avenues works up an appetite for all-Austrian grub at this former 16th-century Habsburg hunting lodge. The…

  • Das Campus

    Prater & East of the Danube

    In the heart of Vienna’s futuristic WU campus, this expansive cafe-restaurant lures non-students in with rustic communal tables, dark leather armchairs…

  • Gasthof Mader

    Upper Austria

    With its Gothic vaults, frescoed Schubertstüberl (parlour) and arcaded inner courtyard, Mader is historic dining at its best. Specialities such as crisp…

  • Rahofer

    Upper Austria

    In the centre of Steyr, Rahofer has a classic cafe across from the Enns River, a traditional restaurant opening off the Stadtplatz, and, between them, a…

  • Motto

    Vienna

    Enter the chrome door to this theatrical lounge-style restaurant with clever backlighting, high banquettes and DJ beats. Asian, Austrian and Mediterranean…

  • Café Drechsler

    Vienna

    A giant decoupage of ripped posters covers one wall at lively Drechsler. It's especially popular at brunch for poached eggs (with truffle aioli or spicy…

  • Royal Bombay Palace

    Linz

    The heavenly aromas at this elegant, authentic restaurant emanate from the 150kg stone mortar, where the chefs pound herbs and spices, and from the hand…

  • Tart'a Tata

    Vienna

    Exquisite French pastries – rainbows of macarons, glossy eclairs, babas au rhum (rum-soaked yeast cakes) and superb tartes aux fraises (strawberry tarts) …

  • Im Weissen Rössl

    St Wolfgang

    There are two restaurants and a lovely wine cellar in this highly respected, fabulously traditional hotel. The Seerestaurant (mains €15 to €23), which is…

  • Garage

    Carinthia

    At this garage-style restaurant in the heart of Lienz, the decor is an atmospheric new–old combination of dark beams, monochrome tones, marble-topped…

  • Aromat

    Vienna

    Behind its glass frontage, this little crêperie has simple formica tables, 1950s fixtures, and blackboards chalked with the day's menu cooked in the open…

  • Restaurant Esplanade

    The Salzkammergut

    This offshoot of the famous pastry shop Cafe Zauner serves Austrian favourites, including trout and a real Wiener Schnitzel (breaded cutlet) from veal or…

  • La Maria

    Tyrol

    A restaurant with pizza, pasta, steaks, burritos, Thai curry and Austrian classics on the same menu might cause foodies to raise a skeptical eyebrow. Yet…

  • Restaurant Herrlich

    Vienna

    Located inside the Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof, the upmarket Herrlich focuses on a lighter style of Austrian cooking in a modern setting replete with…

  • Landhaus Stüberl

    Lower Austria

    The name suggests a traditional tavern, but this postmillenium eatery in the Landhausviertel is anything but, and is aimed firmly at lunching bureaucrats …

  • Breakfast Club

    Innsbruck

    Hip, wholesome and nicely chilled, the Breakfast Club does what it says on the tin: all-day breakfast and brunch. And boy are you in for a treat: free…

  • Santos

    Vienna

    In a triangular-shaped corner room with floor-to-ceiling glass, this glamorous spot sizzles up classics such as pulled-pork tacos, chilli con carne,…

  • Alter Fuchs

    Salzburg

    This sly old fox prides itself on no-nonsense Austrian fare – schnitzel, roast pork with dumplings, cordon bleu and the like. Bandana-clad foxes guard the…

  • Wetter

    Vienna

    Italian food is commonplace in Vienna, but it can get a bit same-same. With its pretty platz-side outlook, Wetter would be appealing whatever the menu,…

  • Eckstein

    Graz

    Eckstein has been a long-time presence on the Graz eating scene, but has more recently reinvented itself with a smaller and more selective international…

  • Pasta Fresca da Giovanni

    Vorarlberg

    Hailing from Southern Italy, Giovanni helms the kitchen at this slick Italian job. As the name suggests, the big deal is the superb homemade pasta – from…

  • Le Burger

    Vienna

    Build-your-own burgers at this hotspot use 100% Austrian beef (veggie versions are available). They're topped with made-in-house sauces such as spicy…

  • Café Français

    Vienna

    The Viennese flock to this big, bold and sexy French all-rounder. Large windows and park views make it a lovely morning spot and small dishes like…

  • Dengg

    Innsbruck

    A cool curiosity shop of a bistro, with a minimalist, snow-white interior that contrasts strikingly with the old-fashioned kitchen appliances plastered to…

  • Brandauers Schlossbräu

    Vienna

    This microbrewery rolls out hoppy house brews, speciality beers (including an organic one) and above-average pub fare. Famous spare ribs feature alongside…

  • Waldemar

    Vienna

    Stylish and airy, with polished concrete floors, exposed aluminium pipes, and art and photography on the white-painted walls, this breakfast-to-aperitif…

  • Putzenalm

    Tyrol

    A beautiful 8km uphill hike from St Anton, this mountain hut sits in a tranquil alpine meadow, where you can often spot marmots if you look carefully. It…

  • Deli Linz

    Linz

    Breakfast and lunch bowls, tacos, burgers and open-faced toasties at this hip cafe are made with vegetarian, vegan or organic meat ingredients, including…

  • Neni

    Vienna

    This industro-cool glass cube combines a cafe, a bar and a restaurant. Dishes such as caramelised aubergine with ginger and chilli are served alongside…

  • ON

    Vienna

    The vibe is relaxed and friendly at this colourful Austro-Asian restaurant. Order from a menu that blends seasonal Chinese flavours with Austrian produce,…

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