29 Best Restaurants in Austria

Dine at Vienna's poshest restaurant while taking in the stunning, 360-degree panoramic vistas of the city's skyline from the 18th floor of the Sofitel Stephansdom. The gourmet meals, often made with seasonal, locally-sourced fare, are just as fabulous as the view. A four-course tasting menu may include a caviar sandwich, sweetbread, fresh pan-fried pike perch from nearby Neusiedler Lake, and a dessert of melon with Yuna chocolate, parsley, and hazelnut. The ambience is centered on the spectacular ceiling, designed by Swiss multimedia artist Pipilotti Rist. She has created a magnificent visual feast, which is best viewed at sunset, as the changing colors outside have a lovely dance with the colors playing out on the ceiling above you.

Expect elegant dress and quiet conversations at this high-class restaurant, where Johannes Denk and his creative team have been awarded by Gault & Millau for more than 30 years. The menus change every year, but diners can always expect creative, French-inspired dishes with regional influences, such as organic pigeon with savoy cabbage and hazelnut, or wild-caught turbot with clam. Local game is a passion, and freshly-picked herbs from the garden accompany almost every dish, from soup to sorbet. Order à la carte or choose from a four-, five-, or six-course tasting menu—expect to pay between €140 and €190 (or €200 and €280 with wine pairing)—served by well-trained, white-gloved staff in your choice of elegant dining room. The Gourmet-Restaurant is only open during the winter months (and only Wednesday through Saturday), but the same team serve dishes all-year-round in the equally excellent à la carte restaurant "ein Tirol", with its large terrace overlooking Kitzbühel.

Tucked away inside the historic Kremsmünsterhaus, this elegant restaurant rocks a mod-retro look with cozy tables, muted lighting, and attractive stonework. The cuisine is Austrian with a touch of Asia, as evidenced by the selection of wok dishes and an excellent sushi bar. Main courses include mouthwatering variations of fish (the panfried tuna is a favorite) as well as meaty treats (the rib-eye steak is to die for). If the weather is nice, you can opt to sit outside in the inviting, enclosed courtyard. The bar is open late, often hosting famous DJs.

Every last detail, from romantic furnishings to the doting service, is done to perfection here, making this restaurant the best in the area. Chef Johanna Maier's way with trout is exquisite, but don't overlook the game, roast poultry, or veal sweetbreads. Finish with topfenknödel (cream cheese dumpling), a house specialty. Frau Maier offers cooking courses several times each month—call for dates. The restaurant is within the equally plush and inviting hotel of the same name.

This extraordinary two-Michelin-starred restaurant, set in the beautifully understated dining room of Hangar-7 and overlooking its gleaming vehicle collection, features a different renowned guest chef every month. The chefs come here from all over the world—recent kitchen residents include Istanbul's Fatih Tutak, Chicago's Curtis Duffy, Copenhagen's Eric Kragh Vildgaard, and Taipei's Kai Ho—so every dining experience is different, although fresh, high-quality ingredients are always the order of the day. The mind-boggling array of cuisines and cooking styles (from the traditional to the molecular) are always presented in set menus of around six courses, which typically cost in the region of €250—double that with wine pairings. Visiting chefs are announced several months in advance, so you can plan your trip to Salzburg accordingly; though getting a table can prove tricky so book as early as you can. Martin Klein and the Ikarus Team, who ably assist the guest chefs throughout the year, take the reins themselves every August.

In a stunningly short time, Filippou has made a remarkable impression on the Vienna dining elite, evident from its Michelin star and its Gault Millau Chef of the Year award. A seat at the prized kitchen table allows a view into the kitchen to watch the chef preparing the meal, including the famous escargot seasoned with horseradish and watercress. The dining room itself is an invitation to stay awhile; crisp, ice-blue walls are a cool complement to warm, blond-wood floors and pine tables. An abundance of natural light further softens the ambience during daylight, which is when many of Filippou's customers come to enjoy a multi-course business lunch that changes weekly. Dine outside in the garden in spring and summer and you won't regret it.

This little restaurant's location on the seventh floor of the chic Rathausgalerie is as lofty as its reputation. The entire restaurant is encased in glass, providing you with sensational views of the Old City, and thanks to the creative menu, it has gained the reputation of one of Innsbruck's best hidden gems. Guests can choose between a handful of seasonal set menus, each with captivating dishes made from fresh local ingredients. The menu changes often and the desserts are especially good. If you're not lucky enough to get dinner reservations, score a table at the adjacent 360° Cafe (also by Lichtblick).

Among Austria's top dining spots, Obauer is presided over by brothers Karl and Rudolf, who share chef-de-cuisine responsibilities. The cuisine creatively mixes local delights and herbs with nouvelle garnishes, many inspired by the brothers' far-flung travels. Trout strudel with Veltliner sauce; honey quail with nettle, pear mustard, and sherry saucel stuffed zucchini blossoms with wild thyme and mushrooms—any of these specialties might top the nightly bill of fare and are highly recommended. For a complete experience you can also book one of Obauer's 11 chic and modern guest rooms and suites and enjoy a memorable breakfast in the morning.

The Pepper Ship is one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Salzburg, despite being 5 km (3 miles) northeast of the Neustadt. It's in a pretty, renovated rectory (dated 1640) and adjacent to a pink-and-cream chapel. You'll receive a friendly welcome and then settle in to a pampered experience in the country-chic atmosphere, adorned with polished wooden floors, antique hutches, and tabletops laden with fine bone china and Paloma Picasso silverware. There's a choice of seasonally changing, five- and seven-course menus (including all-vegetarian menus). Expect to pay northwards of €150 for each meal, without drinks. A taxi is the least stressful way of getting here, but if you have your own car, drive along the north edge of the Kapuzinerberg toward Hallwang and then Söllheim.

This gourmet establishment at the Palais Hansen Kempinski Hotel earned a Michelin star within months after opening. Now chef Thomas Pedevilla has taken over and serves an Alpine-Mediterranean menu. The interior is elegant, not opulent, with ivory walls and ebony-covered chairs complementing the stark white table linens. There are two entrances, one from the hotel lobby and one on the street, a nod to locals that this restaurant is for them, too. Five-, seven-, and nine-course dinners are available for a fixed price.

The classic Austrian dessert, the Sacher torte, resulted from a family saga that began with Franz Sacher, Prince von Metternich's pastry chef, and ended with Franz's son and his wife, Anna, opening the 19th-century hotel. Today, the Restaurant Grüne Bar continues the tradition of creating some of Vienna's finest cuisine, with modern takes on classic meals in multicourse tasting menus including a six-course "blind date" menu. The slightly less formal Rote Bar, at the front of the hotel, always has fish and meat classics on offer à la carte.

This extraordinary, two-Michelin-starred restaurant is one of Salzburg's finest fine dining experiences. The seven-course menu changes every two months, but typically comprises inventive and playful game, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. And there's always one mainstay: the exceptional black Patagonian toothfish with ajo blanco, tomato, and caviar. The dishes are beautifully presented—particularly the hors d'oeuvres, which are intricately arranged by taste (from sweet to umami) on a stone tablet shaped like the restaurant's logo—and the service is flawless. Set in a former bell foundry to the northeast of the New Town, the interior is theatrically industrial, with exposed brick walls and pipes, suspended light fittings, and polished copper tables. There's also a giant antique bell that silently looms above diners' heads. Today, what chimes most here is the food, prepared before your eyes in the open kitchen and brought to your table by identikit, black-shirted servers. Wine pairing is available for an extra €170.

Considered one of the world's 50 best restaurants and holding two Michelin stars, this eatery is definitely the most raved-about place in Austria. Winning dishes include delicate wild boar's head with "purple haze" carrots; turbot in an avocado crust; or char in beeswax, yellow turnips, and cream. At the end of the meal, an outstanding selection of more than 120 cheeses awaits. The restaurant is in the former Milchhauspavilion, a grand Jugendstil-vintage dairy overlooking the Wienfluss promenade in the Stadtpark, the main city park on the Ringstrasse. If you don't want the whole gala Steirereck experience, opt for a bite in the more casual lower-floor Meierei, which is still stylish, with its hand-painted floor and furniture in shades of milky white.

Consistently ranked as one of the top restaurants in Austria, the "Dovecote" is a rambling, elegantly restored 19th-century farmhouse located halfway between Eisenstadt and Rust in the village of Schützen am Gebirge. The sublime 10-course "Taubenkobel menu" (€188; €306 with wine pairing) changes with the seasons, but expect a series of inventive dishes, such as beetroot soup with smoked eel and horseradish, or succulent venison with elderflower and asparagus. Dishes are complemented with wild herbs from the meadows and hills around Lake Neusiedl. As well as renowned restaurant, Taubenkobel is one of the region's most luxurious accommodation options. The dozen elegantly-designed suites here (complete with wooden beams, cathedral ceilings, four-poster beds, antique furnishings, and modern amenities) are set around a peaceful, lily-pad-filled pond, so you start your day with a swim among the frogs and dragonflies. All stays include a uniquely decadent "three-act" breakfast, served in the hotel's bistro restaurant Greisslerei. Email Taubenkobel directly for packages combining dinner and a stay.

It's some way out of town, but the exquisite food, intimate atmosphere, and gorgeous views at this fine dining restaurant make it worth a special trip. Passionate owner-chef Erich Lukas crafts clever, seasonal set menus that combine Austrian and Mediterranean influences to great effect. Unusually, it's also possible to order dishes from the menus individually. For budget conscious travelers, the neighboring Verdi Einkehr bistro shares the same kitchen but serves more standard Austrian fare. If you don't have a car, you'll need a taxi to get here as it's located close to Lichtenberg, about three kilometers (two miles) north of the town center.

Back when Beethoven dined at the Black Camel, it was already a foodie landmark. Since then, it has been renovated (but only in 1901) and more recently split into a delikatessen and a restaurant. Try the former if you're in a hurry—fresh sandwiches are served at the counter. If time allows, dine in the elegant, intimate, Art Nouveau dining room, which serves full meals. The beinschinken (Viennese ham) is the specialty of the house and is renowned throughout Austria.

A tiny bar, café, and restaurant, Aiola is located at the top of the Schlossberg mountain fortress. The restaurant serves traditional Austrian breakfasts with a selection of bread, cheese, and meat, and dinner entrées such as Styrian corn-fed chicken breast with gnocchi and a white wine risotto with chanterelles. Relax under crisp, white-canvas umbrellas on an outdoor deck, or behind the glass walls that blend with the environment. Enjoy a glass of the local dry Rose Schilcher or a coffee with all of Graz spread out before you.

Inventive dishes, excellent staff, and an inviting atmosphere sum up a visit to 151. The menu is a fascinating fusion of Austrian, Mediterranean, and Asian flavors, including vegan options. Dinner only. The seating layout doesn’t offer much in the way of privacy, but the service and food more than make up for it. The luminescent bar has a good selection of gin, rum, and Austrian and international wines and the terrace is magical.

In a city famed for tourist crowds, most restaurants are hit or miss, but the Bräugasthof, with its delicious fish dishes and gorgeous lake views, is definitely a hit. Flavors from Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary infuse the regional menu. Operating hours are restricted from December through February.

Chef Stephan Vadnjal offers up fresh local fish and seafood with a Mediterranean flair and a hand-picked wine selection to match. The interior is clean and smart; the service welcoming. Entrance is around the corner from the square.

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).

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.

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.

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 its vaulted ceiling and dark, gleaming wainscoting, Peppino im Hofkeller offers the most innovative Italian cuisine in the city. The chef serves a classic Italian menu that includes homemade pasta dressed with seasonal specialties and wonderfully fresh seafood. Look for the sea bass with grilled vegetables, creamy salmon tagliatelle, and their daily fresh ravioli and risotto.

Since establishing herself as Austria's most inventive Asian chef, Korean-born Sohyi Kim continues to impress with her celebrated Asian-fusion cuisine. Cooking for every guest as she would for a friend, lunch is à la carte; or, a four-course tasting menu can be requested in advance. Only on Fridays does she create her famed surprise dinner tasting menu. You’ll have your choice of a main, but the remaining tasting menu will be a surprise. Dinner reservations should be made weeks in advance, by telephone only. This place is tiny with only about 20 seats, making it an intimate (but hard to land) dining experience.

Salon Marie offers a stylish setting with its chandeliers, greenery, and floor-to-ceiling street art by Josef Wurm. The expansive menu by Chef Aleš Rascan includes something for everyone, be it Holstein schnitzel, spicy grilled octopus, or homemade vegan spring rolls and curry. The restaurant is closed on Sundays, but does a Grand Brunch from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Attached to the Burgtheater, this was once the carriage vestibule of the emperor's court theater. Today, the dining room is full of splendor and a menu that changes frequently, but diners can expect the best from one of Austria's most celebrated chefs. Dishes often include fish, beef, or lamb meals, and, of course, Wiener schnitzel.