Salzburg's Culinary Delights: A Foodie's Guide To Austria's Gem

Salzburg, Austria, is known for its delicious food, with a variety of restaurants, cafes, and street food to choose from. The city offers everything from traditional Austrian dishes to more refined cuisine. The food in Salzburg is often hearty, with options like slabs of roast pork, huge bratwurst sausages, goulash, schnitzel, and dumplings.

For those looking for a unique dining experience, the Panorama Restaurant inside Hohensalzburg Fortress offers spectacular views of the Alps, while the historic Gasthas Kuglhof provides a rural setting and a nice beer garden. Salzburg is also known for its chocolate, with the famous Mozartkugel balls being a popular choice for visitors.

Whether you're looking for a casual bite or a gourmet meal, Salzburg has something to offer everyone.

Traditional Austrian Dishes

• Wiener Schnitzel – a thin slice of breaded meat, usually veal, this is the Austrian national dish. It is served with mashed potatoes, Austrian potato salad, lingonberry jam, or sides like parsley, capers, egg, and anchovy fillets.
• Knödel – plump and delicious dumplings made from flour, eggs, and milk. They can be sweet or savoury and served as a side dish or in soups and stews.
• Gulasch – a hearty stew of Hungarian origin made with beef, vegetables, and spices. It is often served with dumplings or bread.
• Käsespätzle – an egg noodle dish with cheese.
• Tafelspitz – a premium boiled beef dish served with vegetables and broth.
• Tiroler Gröstl – a savoury Austrian hash made by frying potatoes, onions, and bits of cooked meat such as beef or pork.
• Kasnockn – a vegetarian dish of cheese and pasta.
• Kaiserschmarrn – a shredded pancake served with fruit compote, usually as a dessert but sometimes as a main dish.
• Apfelstrudel – a flaky pastry lined with apple filling and spiced with cinnamon, sugar, and raisins.
• Sachertorte – a chocolate cake with apricot jam filling, traditionally eaten with whipped cream.
• Strudel – thin pastry surrounding a filling, usually apple, cinnamon, and raisins, but also made with sweetened curd cheese, sour cherry, sweet cherry, or poppy seed.

Street Food

Salzburg, Austria, is known for its delicious food, with the city boasting great cafes, restaurants, and street food. The city has a variety of street food options, from traditional Austrian dishes to international cuisines. Here is a guide to some of the best street food options in Salzburg:

Food Markets

Salzburg has several food markets offering a variety of local produce and street food options. The weekly market at Schranne, the daily market at Grünmarkt, and the weekly organic market at Kajetanerplatz are great places to start. At these markets, you can find typical Salzburg snacks like fish soup, deep-fried chicken, sausages, and cakes. You can also buy local produce such as cheese, meat, vegetables, bread, and flowers.

Delicatessens

For a unique street food experience, visit Feinkost Kölbl, a delicatessen that stocks only the finest local produce and Austrian specialities. Here, you can find Venus breast cakes (known as "minni di virgini" in Italian) and other delicious treats. Another popular spot is the Mayer Delikatessen permanent market stall at Grünmarkt market, where you can buy venison salami, ham, cheese, and giant pretzels.

International Street Food

In addition to traditional Austrian dishes, Salzburg also offers a variety of international street food options. For example, you can find Balkan-style hot dogs at Balkan Grill Walter, serving the "Bosna Grill" since 1950: a beef sausage in a long bun with raw onions, chopped parsley, and curry powder. Wash it down with a beer, but avoid it on a first date!

Sweet Treats

No discussion of street food is complete without mentioning Salzburg's famous sweets. The city is known for its chocolate, particularly the "Mozartkugel," a chocolate confection made from marzipan and pistachio, surrounded by nougat and dark chocolate. These chocolates are sold across the city, with the most famous being from Café Konditorei Fürst. Another sweet treat to try is the "Salzburger Nockerl," a souffle dessert unique to Salzburg and can be found at the Barenwirt restaurant.

Salzburg's street food scene offers a delightful mix of traditional Austrian dishes, international flavours, and sweet treats, providing a delicious and diverse culinary experience for visitors and locals alike.

Fine Dining

Salzburg is known for its fine dining and unique delicacies. The city boasts an array of gourmet restaurants, awarded stars and toques, scattered across the city, from the historical district to its very edges.

For those seeking a traditional Austrian dining experience, Gasthas and pub-style restaurants are the places to go. A notable example is the Sternbräu restaurant in the old town, which Mozart himself is said to have dined at. The restaurant features 14 differently decorated rooms, all serving traditional Austrian dishes. These include Tafelspitz, a boiled beef dish with horseradish sauce, Bierfleisch, a beef goulash cooked in beer sauce, and roast pork knuckle served with dumplings.

Another traditional inn, located near the airport, is Gasthas Kuglhof. This restaurant is a local favourite, offering a hearty meal in a convivial setting. In the summer, diners can enjoy their meal in the restaurant's beer garden.

For those looking for a more upscale dining experience, the city has a lot to offer. The Restaurant Ikarus, located at the edge of Salzburg Airfield, is a top choice. The restaurant invites a different international chef each month to create a unique guest menu. The Casino Restaurant Salzburg, located in the grand manor house Schloss Klessheim, is another fine dining option.

Other notable fine dining restaurants in Salzburg include the Restaurant Brunnauer, the IMLAUER Sky Bar & Restaurant, the Restaurant Mirabell, and the St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, the oldest restaurant in Europe.

In addition to its restaurants, Salzburg also offers a variety of delicious foods to try. The city is known for its Salzburger Nockerl, a sweet souffle unique to the city. Visitors can also indulge in Mozartkugeln, chocolate and pistachio sweets made famous by the Sacher Hotel. For a more savoury option, visitors can try the local speciality of Backhendl, or fried chicken.

Sweet Treats

Salzburg is known for its sweet treats, including the world-famous Mozartkugel. This chocolate delicacy was created in 1890 by Salzburg confectioner Paul Furst and is made from marzipan and pistachio surrounded by nougat and dark chocolate. You can find these chocolates at the original Cafe Konditorei Furst, as well as other Furst Konditorei locations around Salzburg.

If you're looking for a more traditional Austrian sweet, try the Salzburger Nockerl, a sweet souffle made of eggs and sugar. Or, for something fruity, opt for the Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) or plum cake topped with fruit and a crumble topping.

For a sweet breakfast or brunch option, head to Carpe Diem Lounge-Café in Red Bull's Hangar-7 for their epic breakfast spread. You can expect an array of local flavours served on a three-tiered cake stand, with both savoury and sweet options available.

For coffee and cake, Café Tomaselli is a must-visit. One of the most highly regarded coffee houses in Europe, Café Tomaselli has been around for over 300 years. The interiors are splendid, with wood panelling, marble tops, silver trays, traditional newspaper stands, and waiters in smoking jackets. It was even one of Mozart's favourite haunts!

If you're after something a little different, try the sheep's milk ice cream at Eisl Eis. This is Austria's first organic sheep's milk ice cream, and it's particularly creamy and full-bodied. Expect cracking flavours like blueberry with rosemary, grape seed, and yoghurt with raspberry.

Finally, for a smart food experience, visit the Maybar in Hangar 7. Here, you can choose from three different set menus: brain food, mood food, or beauty food. Enjoy a succession of light dishes prettily served in glasses, all while knowing that it's super-healthy!

Local Recommendations

Salzburg is known for its delicious food, with a variety of restaurants, cafes, and street food to choose from. Here are some local recommendations to satisfy your culinary cravings:

Cafes and Restaurants

• Café Konditorei Fürst: Home to the original and world-famous "Mozartkugel", this chocolatier is a must-visit. Indulge in the chocolate ball filled with marzipan and pistachio, wrapped in nougat and dipped in dark chocolate.
• Café Tomaselli: One of Europe's most renowned coffee houses, with a history spanning over 300 years. Mozart himself was a frequent patron. Enjoy coffee and cake or try their specialty, Mozart almond milk.
• Eisl Eisl: Sample Austria's first organic sheep's milk ice cream with unique flavours like blueberry and rosemary or grape seed.
• Carpe Diem Lounge-Café: Indulge in an epic breakfast spread, featuring local flavours served on a three-tiered cake stand.
• Bärenwirt: Known for its delicious Backhendl (fried chicken), this restaurant also offers a lovely al fresco dining experience.
• Gasthaus Zwettler's: A fun and lively spot, often frequented by locals for a beer and a bite. Try their Zwiebelrostbraten (savory roast beef with onions) or the Tiroler Schlutzkrapfen (ravioli filled with pumpkin and mountain cheese).
• Johanneskeller: A quaint fusion of traditional Austrian cuisine and a youthful vibe. Try the Schweinsbraten, a typical Austrian roast pork dish served with potato dumplings and Sauerkraut.
• Andreas Hofer Weinstube: Specialising in Tyrolean cuisine, this historic restaurant serves up Kaspressknödel (cheese dumplings) and a unique Mailänder Schnitzel coated in parmesan cheese.
• Pauli Stubm: Hidden in a back alley, this restaurant is known for its Pinzgauer Kasnocken, a vegetarian pasta dumpling dish with cheese and onions.
• Wirtshaus Elefant: Try the Salzburger Nockerl, a sweet dessert resembling three city mountains, made with egg and sugar.
• Zum Eulenspiegel: Indulge in exquisite dishes like organic char fish or snails in a unique, romantic setting.
• Strobl Stüberl: Open until the early hours of the morning, this restaurant offers a mix of hearty Austrian dishes and international delicacies, especially seafood.
• Panorama Restaurant: Located inside Hohensalzburg Fortress, this restaurant offers stunning views, a terrace, and traditional Austrian dishes like Schweinebraten and Wiener Schnitzel.
• Goldene Kugel: Dating back to 1327, this historic restaurant serves Gröstl, a hearty Alpine dish of potato fry-up with bacon, onions, and meats, topped with a fried egg.
• Café Mozart: Try the iconic Salzburger Nockerl, a sweet soufflé big enough to be shared. Pair it with a Mozart Melange, a coffee with whipped cream and chocolate liqueur.

Markets and Delis

• Schranne, Grünmarkt, and Kajetanerplatz Markets: Sample local produce and typical Salzburg snacks like fish soup, deep-fried chicken, and sausages.
• Feinkost Kölbl: A delightful deli stocking only the finest local produce and Austrian specialities, including Venus breast cakes.
• Mayer Delikatessen: Located in the Grünmarkt market, this permanent market stall offers venison salami, ham, cheese, and giant pretzels.

With its array of culinary delights, Salzburg is sure to satisfy your taste buds and provide a memorable dining experience.

Frequently asked questions