Restaurants and Bars

Anyone who starts to explore Salzburg gastronomically will come across a host of cafes in the Altstadt (Old Town), good restaurants, and a number of beautiful beer gardens.

Cafes and Coffee Houses

There are only two places that fall into the category of coffee houses, but they are real classics. You can find the Cafe Tomaselli at the Alter Markt (Old Market) in the Altstadt. You can easily spend an afternoon here reading the latest newspapers (including the International Herald Tribune) and sipping your delicious Viennese coffee. In summer, you can sit outside on the balcony and enjoy the marvelous view of Altstadt. The Bazar, another traditional coffee house near the Salzach River and the Staatsbrücke, was a favorite haunt of writer Thomas Bernhard. It is still a favorite with intellectuals, artists and professors (mostly from the nearby Mozarteum Academy of Music), as well as employees from neighborhood banks and offices. The Cafe Fürst, which claims to have invented Mozartkugel (the world-famous chocolate candy), is also a good choice, but there are lots of cozy cafes to choose from in Altstadt. Some of them have their own confectionery brands, one example being the Konditorei Schatz, which is located in a passage between the Universitätsplatz and the Getreidegasse. Outside the town center, in an area called Äußerer Stein, the Ratzka is very popular, not least because of its delicious pastries. Some cooking magazines claim it makes some of the best cakes in Austria. The Strasser is a good place munch on a gateau and spend a relaxing afternoon. On the other side of the Salzach River, you can choose between the Cafe Pamina, which is near the Mozartplatz, and the Cafe Stein, which is a must during the summer. Customers at this cafe enjoy an excellent view of the historic Altstadt on a clear day.

Beer Pubs and Beer Gardens

The most famous brewery in Salzburg is the "Stiegl Brauerei," which has its own museum, where visitors can learn about the art of beer brewing. The Stiegl beer cellar, where you can sample the beer, is situated near the Festung Hohensalzburg (Salzburg Fortress) and is always a good choice for a beer enthusiast. In summer, you can sit in the leafy Biergarten, from which you can observe the goings-on in the Old Town. The Müllner Bräu, which is also called Augustiner Bräu, is frequented by the Mülln area's locals. Its dining halls can accommodate up to 3000 people, and it has a beer garden with seats for up to 2000 people. If you are looking for something more intimate, then Die Weiße in the neighborhood of Andräviertel might be for you. As the beer garden here is not too big, though, it does tend to get rather overcrowded in the summer months, so you might want to try Raschhofers Rossbräu, which is situated in the Herrnau shopping center. Most of the beers here come from Upper Austria. Another option for those looking for a cozy pub is the Fidele Affe near Linzergasse.

Austrian and Regional Dishes

If you would like to try local food, you should check out Krimpelstätter, located in the Mülln district, next to the Müllner Bräu. Or you could try the Stiftskeller St. Peter. Although this is quite touristy, it is worth a visit, if only because it is located on the grounds of St. Peter's Monastery. The Kohlpeter restaurant in Liefering is fairly central but still has a countryside feel to it.

Other Culinary Discoveries

Salzburg also has a range of international restaurants, such as the Nagano, a Japanese restaurant on Getreidegasse that has the best sushi in town. Salzburg also has quite a few Chinese restaurants, such as Chinatown, in the Altstadt (Old Town). As far as Italian restaurants go, most of these offer the usual pizzas and pastas. Nonetheless, Pan e Vin in the Gstättengasse stands out in that it also offers modern Italian cuisine. If you like Turkish food, try Ossi Spezialitäten on Linzergasse. Late-night hunger pangs should vanish after a visit to the Steirische Weinstuben. The place is sometimes regarded as being a little bit sleazy, but the grilled chicken, which you can order until 2 in the morning, is legendary.