19 Best Restaurants in The Bavarian Alps, Germany

An exceptional bakery in the heart of Oberammergau, Aurhammer has the best selection of bread in town (try the lip-smacking walnut loaf, the \"King Ludwig\" crusty roll, or a classic soft pretzel), as well as a choice of pre-filled rolls, savory and sweet pastries, and cakes. Sit in with a coffee, or take your treats for a stroll. It's open until 5 pm Tuesday through Thursday, but only in the mornings during weekends and on Mondays. 

If there's one place you have to visit during your time at the lake, it's this immensely popular (yet still surprisingly great value) brewery-restaurant in Tegernsee. Part of the enormous Benedictine monastery Kloster Tegernsee, the Bräustüberl specializes in dishing up hearty Bavarian fare, from veal tenderloin to smoked pork belly, as well as tasty, low-cost Bavarian snacks: choose from a dizzying array of grilled sausages, fried herring, goulash soup, mixed salads, cheese platters, cold cuts, and more. The food tastes best when washed down with a homebrewed beer—try a Mass (a liter-size mug) of their legendary Tergernseer Helles or Spezial brew—and even better in summer, when you can sit out on the chestnut-shaded terrace with views of the lake and mountains.

With a prime location on Obermarkt, this is Mittenwald's best konditorei und kaffeehaus (patisserie and coffee shop), as evidenced by the rarely unoccupied sidewalk tables and the slowly creeping queue of locals and visitors. The elegant, bread-heavy window display is enough to tempt you in, but it's the cake displays inside—coupled with the aroma of freshly brewing coffee—that will guarantee you stay a while.

Once part of a monastery and later adorned with one of the town's most beautiful painted baroque facades, the Alpenrose features traditional Bavarian fare and is famous for featuring venison dishes the entire month of October. A sidewalk terrace is open on sunny days; a zither player strums away most evenings in the Josefi wine cellar.

There is no spot more idyllic in Hohenschwangau to enjoy excellent food and stunning views over the Alpsee and mountains beyond. The self-service terrace café next to the Museum of Bavarian Kings is a good choice to escape the tourist masses for lunch or afternoon coffee and cake on the terrace.

Directly below the Hohes Schloss and flowering with geraniums is one of the town's oldest inns, which remains family-run and serves hearty meals in a dining room with colorful frescoed walls and an extensive menu of traditional regional dishes.

Part of Hotel Maximilian, this lively brewery is a great place for sipping tasty authentic beer alongside traditional local cuisine. Dishes change on a weekly basis, but expect Bavarian specialties, from roasted pork knuckle (with beer sauce, red cabbage, and potato dumplings) to schnitzels and käsespätzle (cheese dumplings). Look out for seasonal specials, from locally-caught fish to wild game. Sit in the attractive restaurant under a beamed ceiling or out in the beer garden under ancient chestnut trees.

This old brewery serving traditional Bavarian dishes has a rich history that reflects the social class that once met here: politicos, peasants, burghers, and salt miners. Reichenhallers from all walks of life still meet here to enjoy good conversation and hearty local beer.

Adorned with frescoes depicting cheerful drinkers, this popular brewpub fills up with large groups and families every day of the week. The menu features standard Bavarian pub fare—expect sausages, steaks, and schnitzels galore—to be enjoyed alongside a frothy liter of beer. If in doubt, order the Bräustüberlpfanderl, a belly-busting banquet featuring pork knuckle, roast pork, roast duck, potato dumplings, and red cabbage. The atmosphere is more intimate than a traditional beer hall, as dining is divided into smaller rooms; in summer, sit out on the tree-shaded terrace.

High in the hills above Bad Wiessee, this attractive restaurant combines great food with unparalleled Tegernsee views. Begun by proprietor Josef Brenner, who brought a then-unfamiliar taste of nouvelle cuisine to the region, the restaurant's regularly-changing menu maintains its assortment of seasonal specialties; come in autumn for a veritable venison feast, from roasted saddle to braised shoulder to rich goulash. But prepare to pay for your meal with a view, as some seasonal mains cost in excess of €50.

This 16th-century mill just off the main road outside of Bad Reichenhall has an intimate rural feel and an inviting terrace. Fish is the specialty here, though local game is also on the menu.

This is a traditional place (dating from the 16th century), with coffered ceilings, thick walls, smiling waitresses in Dirndls, and an old Kachelofen (enclosed, tiled, wood-burning stove) that heats the dining room beyond endurance on cold winter days. The food is hearty, traditional Bavarian. For a quieter dinner or lunch, reserve a space in the Bäckerstube (Baker's Parlor).

Situated opposite the \"new\" Pfarrkirche St. Martin, this classic, wood-paneled, 19th-century inn with lovely painted ceilings is one of the city's most charming dining options. Friendly international staff serve up hearty portions of typical Bavarian food like roasted duck with potato dumplings and red cabbage, alongside a surprisingly wide selection of vegetarian and even vegan items; very rare for this meat-loving region. In the summer, take a seat out in the beer garden—as long as it's not been booked for an event.

This historic white house with brilliant blue shutters has a beer garden and a small playground that's perfect for families. Locals love this dining room and its meat-heavy Bavarian cuisine, with produce sourced from local farmers, butchers, and fishmongers. Try the Bauernschmaus, a traditional feast comprised of steaming sauerkraut topped with sausages and liver dumplings. You'll probably feel like a nap after all that, so consider booking into one of the minimalist Bavarian-style bedrooms, complete with soft featherbeds and extensive wood paneling.

On the lake's northern shore, this self-sustaining restaurant has been created from a series of farm buildings dating back to the 19th century. There's a strong focus on meat-heavy regional delicacies here, from Bavarian veal steak tartare to medallions of venison loin, with a particular focus on beef dishes utilizing meat from the restaurant's own cattle. A large terrace and walls of windows provide phenomenal views of the lake, and a kid-friendly beer garden keeps young visitors happy until dusk.

The Markthalle is in a building that opened in 1483 as the Kornhaus (grain storage) and then became the Feuerhaus (fire station). Now at this farmers' market you can grab a quick lunch and a drink (or picnic supplies) at reasonable prices.

This friendly café and restaurant next to the monastery is an ideal spot for a light lunch, dinner with local ingredients, or a coffee with house-made cake. You can wash it all down with a fine choice of brews from the abbey. Try the Edelweiss Schnitzel with pretzel breading, served with wedges and sour cream dip.

This small restaurant, which offers communal dining at large wooden tables, serves authentic Bavarian cuisine at fair prices: try the schweinebraten (pork filets with sauerkraut), or the turkey medallions in cream sauce. Ideally located between the Franziskaner-Kurgarten and the Kurpark, it has a quiet, comfortable atmosphere both inside and out on the fair-weather terrace.

Located beside the boat dock on Herreninsel (home to King Ludwig II's famous palace), this century-old-hotel-turned-beer garden and restaurant provides gorgeous views across the lake. The food is hearty and traditional, the portions are large, the prices are reasonable, and the service is friendly; what's not to like?