167 Best Restaurants in Austria

Neatly tucked away in a quiet and quaint area of the Old City, this ancient inn goes back half a millennium (Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert all dined here). Yes, it's touristy, but the food—including classic hearty dishes like goulash soup, Wiener schnitzel, and apple streudel—is as good as that in many other beisl. You can hear its age in the creaking floorboards when you walk through some of the small, dark-wood-panel rooms. The Mark Twain room has walls and ceiling covered with signatures of the famed who have been served here.

A short walk east from the heart of town, this popular restaurant and wine bar serves inventive twists on Austrian classics: think spinach and feta cheese strudel with garlic sauce, chanterelle mushroom goulash with bread dumplings, and spicy turkey cordon bleu with cranberries and salad. The portions are hearty, the prices are reasonable, and the service is excellent. Choose from an extensive list of Austrian wines to accompany your meal.

In the heart of the vine village of Neustift am Walde, this inn dating from 1609 sticks to tradition. The selection of white wine includes Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Chardonnay, and reds of Blauburger and Zweigelt. All help to wash down the traditional Viennese dishes served, including pork schnitzel and fried chicken.

Great salads, soups, and small plates are served in this airy space.

The core of this frescoed building in the town center dates from the 16th century, but subsequent renovations have brought the five-story structure up to date. The three-room restaurant offers a menu with an emphasis on fish and game, and many ingredients come directly from the owner's own farm and fish ponds or from other local suppliers. Go for the trout, and make sure to taste the house beer from the on-site brewery, also the source of a special made-for-the-festival brew, Zillertel Gauderbier. The "Bräu" also has some nice rooms to stay the night; book early if you want to reserve a room during the Gauder Fest.

Beamed ceilings and emerald green paneling lend quirky style to this historic restaurant in the heart of the old town. Traditional Austrian fare is its forte (served in hearty portions), but it prides itself on its pizza, too—it even has a wood-fired oven. For a true traditional dish, try the jägerhauspfandl (grilled pork tenderloin and mushroom cream sauce with roast potatoes) or pumpkin-, game-, or duck-based seasonal specialties. There are cozy wooden parlors, as well as a garden, and the place is popular with locals and tourists alike.

From trendy breakfast café-bars and take-out poke bowl restaurants to excellent ice cream parlors and confectioners, tiny Münzgasse is Salzburg's grab-and-go dining hot spot. If you only try one place here, make it the Salzburg branch of Joseph Brot, a popular Viennese bakery that's renowned for its crispy, caramel-colored sourdough bread. You'll also find a good selection of pre-made sandwiches, cakes, and patisseries, along with a deli counter with eggs, cheeses, and cured meats. The coffee is delicious, too.

Each morning, the bread here is baked fresh—kneaded by hand—using what the owners call an ancient recipe that uses only organic ingredients. All of the breads are whole grain, and include varieties such as honey lavender, sourdough walnut, and sourdough pumpkinseed. The ambience is pristine factory meets Old Europe: a Styrian stone floor and dangling chandeliers alongside sleek, modern baking ovens. The adjacent daytime bistro serves excellent lunch menus (which often includes some of their excellent bread, of course).

At this landmark in Krems's Old Town district, you'll find excellent regional cuisine along with an outstanding wine selection (some of these vintages come from the backyard). Owner-chef Haidinger learned his skills at Bacher, across the Danube in Mautern, so look for fresh river fish on the ever-changing set menus, along with locally-hunted wild boar and venison. The set menus start from three courses (€42.50; soup, main, and dessert) and go all the way up to six (€72.50).

Adjacent to Gosau's pretty parish church, this inn is evidence of the venerable tradition of placing town restaurants next to houses of worship (on Sunday farmers would attend the service then head for the nearest table and discuss the past week's events). Today, the restaurant is a popular place, with local specialties and lovely views from the terrace. Mentioned in town records as early as 1596, the inn here has now been much restored and built up in typical modern Alpine style of natural wood, mounted antlers, hunter greens, and bright reds. The current hosts, the Peham family, enjoy sharing the region's cultural traditions, and host folk dances and brass bands as well as offer guided hiking trips.

This landmark café is on one of the most charming squares in Vienna. The "Little Cafe" is open daily for coffee, cocktails, and light snacks, and few places are more delightful to sit in and relax on a warm afternoon or even into the night. In summer, tables are set up outside on the cobblestone square where the only sounds are the tinkling fountain and the occasional chiming of bells from the ancient Franciscan monastery next door. The cafe can be seen in the film Before Sunrise. Service can be slow at peak hours. 

With white-linen tablecloths, candles, flowers, and windows opening onto the street, this is one of Salzburg's most pleasant restaurants. Menu selections consist of local fish like char, mouthwatering steaks and lamb shanks, and traditional Austrian dishes like Styrian fried chicken. There menu also serves delicious game dishes in season. The private-dining cellar is called the Freysauff but don't be misled; it may mean "free drinks," but you definitely need to pay.

Housed in a converted 1934 power station with exposed brick walls and beams, this stylish two-story restaurant serves creative regional Austrian fare along with an excellent wine list. It's modern but rustic, industrial but welcoming, serving authentic regional cuisine creatively presented. Be sure to try the homemade bread, farmer's butter, smoked bacon, and schnapps from their own organic farm.

The small bakery and café, a few steps from the Goldenes Dachl, offers homemade strudel (sweet or savory fillings wrapped in a fine pastry) and Italian coffee specialties. The café opens at 7 am every day and stays open until late.

The magnificent centuries-old Landhaus complex also includes this popular traditional restaurant. Styrian beef is the main event here, but there are lots of other tasty dishes to choose from. The place contains a labyrinth of charming old-world dining rooms set within the ancient arcaded Landhaus itself. Weather permitting, try to get a table in the historic courtyard.

It's hard to imagine a more idyllic setting for a memorable meal than this lovely restaurant in Unterloiben, a five-minute drive southeast of Dürnstein—especially if the weather is nice and tables are set out in the fragrant apple orchard. One of the oldest restaurants in the area, its kitchen offers inventive variations on regional themes, like Wachau fish soup, crispy roast duck, and foie gras parfait.

This modern, airy spot for lunch has tasty soups, salads, and snacks; it employs workers with limited job opportunities.

Gorgeous is the word to describe this spot's perch, which offers a view over the Wörthersee and makes a fitting backdrop for some of the area's best seafood. This former villa offers several romantic dining rooms in champagne and red tones, or you can sit outdoors on the wraparound terrace overlooking the glistening water. Don't miss the appetizer of delicate trout caviar and smoked salmon on crispy toast points, then try the grilled calamari or the Maria Loretto fish platter for those who can’t decide. For dessert, try the lemon sorbet. You'll need a taxi to get here.

An unassuming facade conceals a contemporary space for drinks and appetizers. The menu features Mediterranean bites with a touch of Asian, like the spicy octopus with grilled vegetables or the tempura cauliflower with roasted almonds and gomasio cream cheese. Their shops sells wine and spice blends, many of which you can experience in their dishes. 

This tidy indoor market offers plenty of farm-fresh produce, including a variety of cheeses, just-picked berries, and a wide choice of mushrooms. You'll also find pastas and other homemade delicacies, with its central location making it a good stop for an inexpensive lunch. It's basically a take-out place, but there are a few stand-up tables available to eat on. Go to the bakery for your choice of breads, and then browse the stalls to find your ideal fillings. There are usually more food stalls in the Marktplatz outside too.

This elegant restaurant has a strong focus on home-style Austrian cuisine with a sophisticated twist. Most ingredients are locally sourced, and meat features heavily. Dining here is an enjoyable, intimate experience and in summer you can choose to eat outside on the back terrace. Come at lunch on a weekday to enjoy the heavily-discounted set menu.

Heiligenstadt is home to this heurige in one of Beethoven's former abodes; he composed his 6th Symphony, as well as parts of his 9th Symphony ("Ode to Joy") while staying in this part of town. The à la carte offerings and buffet are plentiful, and include traditional Viennese dishes like Tafelspitz (boiled beef with horseradish). You'll also find creative seasonal menus built around in-season ingredients like chanterelle mushrooms in late summer, pumpkin in fall, and asapargus in spring. There's always a good a mix of Viennese locals among the visitors here.

Down and down you go, into one of the friendliest cellars in town, where stelze (roast pork) is a popular feature, along with outstanding regional wines—Grüner Veltliner among them—by the glass or, rather, mug. This was originally the storehouse for wines from the Melk Abbey in the Danube Valley and dates from 1438, but was rebuilt in the 18th century. It's a complex of six cavernous rooms; the most atmospheric has low-arched vaults right out of a castle dungeon. The menu has the usual Austrian fare like schnitzel plus seasonally changing vegetarian meals.

Night owls flock to the bar at Motto am Fluss until the wee hours, but this sleek eatery serves an inspired selection of dishes when the sun is up, too, like tuna steak with creamy avocado sauce. The building overlooks the Danube and resembles an ocean liner, with a retro 1950s interior of checkerboard floors below and gigantic, globe-mirrored lamps above. Chairs and tables are of a heavy, varnished, dark timber. The dining room is sprawling and has huge windows through which you can watch the city's twinkling lights. The café and terrace have a less expensive bistro menu.

This upmarket Asian takeout joint from the famed Japanese restaurant Mochi offers fresh ramen, sushi, and maki, plus coffee, matcha, and sake.

Popular with the locals and a great value, you'll find irresistible confections such as the Oberlaa Kurbad cake, truffle cake, and chocolate-mousse cake here. The lemon torte is filled with a light, fruity lemon cream and a thin layer of almond paste. The Maroni Obers Torte is a dark chocolate cake, filled with chestnut and milk-chocolate mousse, garnished with maraschino cherries. There are many Oberlaa branches to choose from, including Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 1 and Babenbergerstrasse 7. Included among the tasty delights are gluten- and lactose-free treats. Candy can also be wrapped as a lovely gift to take home.

This family-run restaurant offers excellent food, from burgers to Austrian specialties, and an extraordinary location in an ancient landmark. It was originally built in 1180, as a city watchtower, and retains much of its historical charm. Several of the bay-window alcoves in the shuttered house have great views of the main square, while others overlook the river. Try the Tafelspitz, an Austrian specialty of boiled beef served with vegetables and horseradish, or the Pfandl, a fillet of pork and a steak served in an old-fashioned pan. On a sunny day, come early to get a table outside.

This cozy Altstadt restaurant offers some lovely Italian and Mediterranean specialties on its extensive (and expensive) menu. Order à la carte (try the roasted veal chop with truffle ravioli) or opt for the steep but excellent four-course menu (€100). The setting is very special, with a vaulted rock ceiling at the back of the restaurant, and the "Almkanal"—a subterranean aqueduct—flowing right through the room.

With most local hotels offering half board, restaurant options are a little thin on the ground in Neustift. But for a light lunch, it's hard to beat this excellent little bakery, which has a handful of branches across North Tyrol (Austria) and South Tyrol (Italy). Opt for the walnut bread or take your pick from the range of sweet treats. The coffee is good, too.