28 Best Restaurants in Austria

Known simply as "The Bosna Grill," this tiny sausage stand has become a cult destination for locals and international travelers. This Bulgarian-inspired, Salzburg-born specialty comprises two thin, grilled bratwurst sausages in a toasted white bread bun, topped with chopped onions, fresh parsley, and a curry-based seasoning mixture that's been a secret since the owner, Zanko Todoroff, created it more than 50 years ago. To find the hole-in-the-wall eatery, look for the long line of hungry people in the tiny passageway that runs from the Dantendorfer shop on Getreidegasse to the Universitätsplatz. It's open from 11 am to 6:30 pm daily, so come for lunch, an afternoon snack, or an early dinner. In winter, join the locals by combining your warm Bosna with a cup of Punsch (orange liquor-spiked punch) from the nearby Sporer liquor shop.

One of Vienna's most popular third-wave coffeehouses. It lives up to its hype and long lines with exceptional coffee, stylish decor, delicious baked goods and a sustainable focus. It's also just a cool place to hang with all the cool people. The patrons are a mix of locals tapping away on laptops over lattes and visitors enjoying the people-watching and the small selection of wine and bubbly.

If you haven't been to Zauner, you've missed a true highlight of Bad Ischl. The desserts—particularly the house creation, Zaunerstollen, a chocolate-covered confection of sugar, hazelnuts, and nougat—have made this one of Austria's best-known pastry shops. Emperor Franz Josef used to visit every day for a Guglhupf, a lemon sponge cake.

This historic covered market still has a handful of fresh fruit, vegetable, and seafood stands, but most people come today for the varied dining and drinking options. Whether you're in the mood for Spanish tapas, Chinese noodles, or Austrian leberkässemmel (a kind of meatloaf sandwich), you'll find it here—along with great stops for coffee, cakes, beer, and wine. Most of the dining options close between 6 and 8 pm, so it's a better option for lunch than dinner.

Oma is the word for Grandma in German, and if you ever wished you had one of your own to make you homemade kuchen (cake) or simple, hearty Austrian meals, make a beeline for Vollpension. This delightful café-restaurant employs Austrian grandmas (and a few grandpas) who make their favorite cake recipes for you to enjoy. They also serve hearty breakfasts and small but satisfying snacks like sausages with bread and mustard, potato salad, and sandwiches. In addition to coffee and tea you'll find wine, beer, prosecco, and coffee cocktails.

Since opening 2020, Weiss has quickly become one of the city's top dining draws, with owner-chefs Milena and Erik bringing their burgeoning international reputations to Bregenz. Billing itself as a restaurant-bar-café, Weiss offers everything from snacks to elaborate multi-course menus, making it an imaginative, unfussy, and surprisingly affordable dining experience. Along with neighboring establishments like Petrus and Cafesito, Weiss has helped transform Anton-Schneider-Strasse into Bregenz's foremost foodie drag.

Opened in 2020, this specialty Third-wave coffee shop and roastery brews excellent cups of java and serves small bites like yogurt, fruit, and pastries in a cool, contemporary setting.

This casual, light-filled bar-café a few steps from the center of town is the perfect spot to pick up coffee and baguettes or to linger over champagne and cocktails. There's a cozy interior, welcoming outdoor tables, and a great wine, beer, and cocktail list. Betty's is known for Flammkuchen (super thin Alsacian flatbreads, similar to pizza). Meat, vegan, and veggie versions are available but you can also find gourmet baguette sandwiches and tapas.

This tiny, Swedish-run Third-wave coffee shop brews beans from a premium Swedish coffee roaster and serves exceptionally good homemade kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns), as well as vanilla and cardamom variations, plus house-crafted bagels and gourmet sandwiches. It's a great place to grab a sandwich to take on your hike.

The Schandl family of Rust is one of the best-known wine growers of the Neusiedl Lake area; their devotees come for wine tastings and stay for dinner. The simple but satisfying menu includes fish soup, pork schnitzel, and cabbage stew, as well as various cold cuts, cheeses, and other snacks designed to complement the wine.

Dark wooden paneling, crystal chandeliers, and the smell of coffee make this Viennese-style café a meeting point for intellectuals, artists, and students. International newspapers and magazines are available, as is a variety of cakes, pastries, and breakfast dishes. You can have breakfast any time of day, or choose something from the daily menu. A typical small dish to sample is Kasnocken (cheese dumplings with brown butter); more substantial choices might include traditional boiled beef. Enjoy your cappuccino with live piano accompaniment during the free monthly jazz concerts.

Locals frequent this unpretentious, conveniently located café and bakery for the best pastries in town.

One of Austria's grand old coffeehouses, this is the only one of its kind in Upper Austria. It's the perfect place to savor a cup of coffee, read the newspapers, and enjoy a light meal. Ask for the specialty, Linzertorte (almond cake with jam) with your coffee, or try the homemade apfelstrudel.

Enjoy breakfast every day until noon in the elegant yet cozy Café Wallner. They are famed for their gingerbread which they make by hand in the traditional way. In the summer, the line is out the door for their homemade ice cream or enjoy one of their luxurious cakes, like the Schneewittchentorte, a cream cheese base with a poppy seed crust.

This gorgeous Baroque town house, built in 1720 beside the iconic Nepomuk-Kapelle, is today a restaurant serving hearty Austrian dishes at very reasonable prices. Try the Wiener schnitzel, the tafelspitz, or the zander fish. Not ready for a full meal? Kornmesser also offers traditional beer snacks, like Bavarian veal sausages, as well as tasty sweet treats like apple strudel.

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.

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.

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.

Après-ski can't begin early enough for the casually chic crowds that pile into this famous café and pastry shop in the heart of Kitzbühel. For locals, the Praxmair is a meeting point for regular get-togethers, cabaret performances, and small events. The wood interior and a tiled stove give the place a special flair, though summertime diners should sit outside and watch the world go by.

With tables set outside amidst flowering plants and trees, in the middle of cobbled Nestroyplatz, it is no wonder this is one of Vienna's favorite breakfast and brunch spots. The menu is huge with plenty of vegetarian options, but if you're here for a leisurely breakfast or brunch, go with the eponymous Ramasuri sandwich, with bread from one of Vienna's best bakeries (Josef), wildflower cheese, scrambled eggs, candied bacon, and sun-dried tomatoes. Drinks, coffees, and service are excellent, so this is a perfect stop at any time of day.

When you're at the Prater, try to eat at Schweizerhaus, which has been serving frothy mugs of beer, roast chicken, and stelze (a huge hunk of crispy roast pork on the bone) for more than 100 years. The informal setting, with wood-plank tables indoors or in the garden in summer, adds to the fun.

Long known as a reliable haunt for breads and strudels, Ströck has multiple locations throughout the city. Open for evening and weekend meals, the eateries serve only organic, locally grown goods. For a light dessert, try the vegan chocolate-dipped cherries with brown sugar.

This riverside bar-restaurant, overlooking the landing station from which the Danube to Melk cruises depart, makes a lovely spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Local specialties like freshly-caught fish and flammkuchen (a pizza-like pie slathered in crème fraîche, onions, and bacon bits) sit alongside no-fuss favorites like burritos, burgers, and steaks. Come in the evening to watch the sun slowly set over the river as you eat.

This striking half-timber house with a steep gabled roof is in an idyllic position right on the shore of the Bodensee, next to the floating stage used for the Bregenz Festival. With a fabulous lake view, diners can watch the steamers from the nearby harbor go by while enjoying classic Austrian dishes with an accent on fresh fish. Some dishes from Germany and Switzerland are also offered. The wine list is noteworthy, and in the winter the Chimney Room, with an open fire, is popular.

The legendary Würstelstand am Hohen Markt serves the best bürenwurst and American-style hot dogs. As with most of the wWürstelstands, or "iImbiss" kiosks, there is a surprising amount of food on offer. Cheese-filled sausages (käsekrainer) served with a slice of bread is a popular local choice, as is currywurst. Pickles, hot peppers, ketchup, horseradish, and onions cost extra. You can also pick up a beer or soft drinks. It's open until the wee hours. 

Between Rotenturmstrasse and Bäckerstrasse, this place dishes up 25 or more flavors of smooth, Italian-style gelato, including mango, caramel, and chocolate chip, and has frozen yogurt and vegan ice cream, too. Breakfast and a few sandwiches are also available.

In a delightful tree-shaded courtyard, this biergarten has quickly become immensely popular. Zattl is the owner and he loves his beer, and the secret to his success is to have huge tanks of Bohemia's best brew, unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell, delivered to the cellar to be tapped directly into the glass. You can even tap your own beer at some tables. Good local dishes like veal goulash and grilled chicken are inexpensive and well-prepared. Stick to the garden for a quiet break, unless you prefer the pub-like atmosphere inside.