23 Best Restaurants in Salzburg, 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.

This inn opened its doors in 1705 as an example of that newfangled thing, a Wiener kaffeehaus (Vienna coffeehouse), and was an immediate hit. Enjoying its 11 types of coffee was none other than Mozart's beloved, Constanze, who often dropped in, as her house was just next door. The Tomasellis set up shop here in 1850, becoming noted chocolatmachers. Order the famous Tomaselliums Café (mocha, whipped cream and Mozart liqueur on the side—or inside, if you prefer) along with one of the excellent homemade cakes, tarts, and strudels. The interior is all marble, wood, and walls of 18th-century portraits, but in summer the best seats are on the flower-bedecked terrace and at the pretty "Tomaselli-Kiosk" on the square.

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.

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 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.

Whether you're craving a stellar late breakfast (served until 12 pm, or 2 pm on weekends) or you're on the hunt for a carefully crafted espresso, you'll want to put this lively café on your daytime itinerary. The husband-and-wife team behind 220GRAD—both this outlet and the one in the Museum der Moderne Rupertinum—infuses care and quality into each step, from farm to cup, which takes them around the world to meet growers. They roast the beans in small batches at their own Salzburg roasthaus. Brunch dishes taste as good as they look, as do their cakes. Their menu changes monthly to reflect seasonal specialties.

Regionally sourced, top-quality ingredients elevate the traditional Austrian dishes in this inviting wirtshaus just north of the Old City. Since 1663, locals have shared mugs of beer from the neighboring Augustinerbräu brewery in these warmly lighted, wood-paneled rooms, adorned with traditional Salzburg-style heating ovens and cushioned benches. Request a table in the cozy main-floor side room and enjoy the juicy backhendl (breaded, fried chicken), Wiener schnitzel (veal or pork), cheesy kasnocken, or beef goulash with a “bear-sized” dumpling. Seasonal specialties highlight springtime spargelzeit (asparagus) and the fall wild-game hunt. Sip homemade schnapps before enjoying kaiserschmarren (a fluffy pancake shredded, panfried with roasted plums, and topped with powdered sugar).

Sip a melange (frothy milk coffee) under the shade of the leafy trees at this people-watching coffeehouse institution on the Salzach River. Salads, soups, and toasted ham-and-cheese sandwiches served with ketchup satisfy savory cravings, while homemade topfen- and apfelstrudel beckon from the glass case of house-made tortes. Marlene Dietrich, Max Reinhardt, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Arturo Toscanini, and Seiji Ozawa are just a few of the famous faces to grace the terrace, and today well-known locals settle into dark-wood chairs at the small marble tables. Wood panels reach to the lofty recessed ceilings in the main dining area.

Red-velvet banquettes, sparkling chandeliers, and lots of gilt mark this famous gathering place, a favorite of well-heeled Salzburgers and an outpost of the celebrated Vienna landmark. It's a perfect choice for a leisurely afternoon pastry or irresistible cake. The most popular choice is the famous house-made chocolate sachertorte, though it's a little drier than you might expect. Don't pass up the coffee, which is second to none. Full meals are also served, and the restaurant offers a no-smoking room.

If you really want to enjoy food with a view, drive 3 km (2 miles) north along the B1 Linzer Bundesstrasse to Mayrwies and turn right up through the woods. Here you can take in a view of Salzburg from the mountainside perch of this former Rupertialm (St. Rupert's Pasture), a famous scenic lookout even in Mozart's time. Owned by St. Peter's Monastery, this restaurant allures with the romantic charm of an Alpine chalet. Seasonal specialties of the region top the bill: not only venison and fried trout but heavenly garnishes—cress, elder blossoms, herbs from the meadows, raspberries, blueberries, Schwammerl (mushrooms) fresh out of the forest, and cheese from goat and sheep. For breakfast, you need to make reservations at least the day before; lunch and dinner reservations are recommended but not compulsory. You can also stay the night in one of the small but smart apartments.

This weissbierbrauerei combines the original charm of one of Salzburg's most historic breweries and adds a high-ceilinged, wood-paneled modern bar to satisfy the many locals who consider it to be the ultimate private retreat (so much so that from Wednesday through Saturday it's best to make a reservation). The beer garden really hits the spot on a hot summer day, but all year long you can savor traditional Bavarian style weisswurst (veal sausages with sweet mustard) as well as the usual array of tempting Salzburg delights.

Named after the former Italian owner of this historic house (note the beautiful small archway passage), this is a top spot for tasting Marzemino, the red wine Don Giovanni drinks in Mozart's opera. But there are plenty of other goodies here: some of the best Italian coffees in the city (as well as local favourite melange); outstanding Austrian apfel oder topfenstrudel (apple or cheese pie, served with vanilla sauce); and one of the the best Salzburger nockerl.

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.

With white-linen tablecloths, candles, flowers, and windows opening onto the street, this is one of Salzburg's most pleasant restaurants. Menu selections consist of local fish like char, mouthwatering steaks and lamb shanks, and traditional Austrian dishes like Styrian fried chicken. There menu also serves delicious game dishes in season. The private-dining cellar is called the Freysauff but don't be misled; it may mean "free drinks," but you definitely need to pay.

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.

It may be set in a 500-year-old building with vaulted ceilings, and on the site of the oldest inn in Salzburg (first mentioned in documents from the 15th century), but the restaurant of the Blaue Gans Hotel is all about modern, innovative interpretations of traditional Austrian cooking. The fresh flavors are evident in dishes like rabbit ragout with saffron, roasted perch with black rice, and perfectly prepared beef tartare. There are always vegetarian choices, too. Ask your server for suggestions from the expertly selected Austrian and German wine list. Look out for the quirky caricatures on the walls and ceilings, strategically placed in the early 20th century as conversation starters. In summer, meals and drinks are served on the terrace around the back, but you can always pop inside to look around the dining room and the Campari bar; opt for an oak-aged Negroni as a pre- or post-dinner drink.

Salzburg locals have relied on this small family-owned bakery since 1877 to satisfy their cravings for cremeschnitte (vanilla custard cream between puff-pastry layers), rigo-jancsi (Hungarian chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse, and chocolate glaze), himbeer-obers-souffle (strawberry-cream soufflé), apple strudel, and other mouthwatering selections from the 30 to 50 daily cakes and pastries.

Legends swirl about this famous Altstadt beer cellar: locals claim that Mephistopheles met Faust here, others say Charlemagne dined here, and some believe Columbus enjoyed a glass of its famous Salzburg Stiegl beer just before he set sail for America in 1492. But there is no debating the fact that this place—first mentioned in a document dating from 803—is Austria's oldest restaurant. All you have to do is decide where you want to eat: options include the stately wine cellar–turned–dining room Richardstube, the Alpine-style Petrusstube, and the cosy courtyard Willibald-Arkaden. There are also several private dining options. The menu at St. Peter mainly comprises sophisticated Austrian and Italian fare made with top-quality ingredients (try the delicious Wiener schnitzel with parsley potatoes). For a truly unique dining and entertainment experience, come for a Mozart Dinner; a three-course dinner with classical music accompaniment that's held several times a week in the fresco-filled Baroque Hall.

See and be seen among the Salzburg Festival glitteratti in Triangel's large outdoor seating area, or cozy up in the intimate dining room of this organic-farming-focused Austrian restaurant. The endless pounding coming from the kitchen tells you that the Wiener schnitzel is a popular choice, but perhaps the highlight here is the schweinsbraten: roast pork belly served with dumplings and cabbage.

Just a few minutes' walk from the Mirabell Gardens yet rarely busy with tourists, this New Town bakery-café has been baking bread since 1670. There's a reason it's been around so long: the quality is excellent, and the huge variety of cakes and pastries on offer guarantees repeat visits.

This spot allures with rustic wooden furniture, old folio volumes, antique weapons, and open fireplaces. Tables gleaming with white linen are set in wonderful nooks and crannies reached by odd staircases and charming salons. Generous portions of traditional dishes and quality service consistently satisfy travelers, who make up the majority of the guests. Many ingredients, including herbs, eggs, fruit, vegetables, and fish, come from the owners' farm.

The name means "At the Faithful Ape," which explains the monkey motifs in this popular gasthaus dominated by a round, copper-plated bar and stone pillars under a vaulted ceiling. Besides the beer on tap, the kitchen offers tasty Austrian dishes, such as schlutzkrapfen (handmade cheese ravioli with a light topping of chopped fresh tomatoes), or a big salad with juicy backhendl (breaded, fried chicken). Locals know this is a great value—by Salzburg standards—in a fun atmosphere, so it's often crowded; be sure to arrive early or book ahead.

Here you'll find a true time-tinged feel of an old Salzburg gasthaus, right down to a huge ceramic stove next to wooden chairs that welcomed generations of locals as they tucked into enormous plates of bauernschmaus (farmer's feast): roast pork, ham, sausage, sauerkraut, and a massive dumpling. Pair it with a frothy-headed mug of the hometown "liquid bread"—Stiegl beer—from the oldest private brewery in Austria. The "Wild Man's" namesake fountain statue originally stood at the top of the Griesgasse, and can now be found in the small grassy park across from the Festival Hall—his cheeky portrait still welcomes guests at the restaurant's entryway. When this inn opened its doors in 1884 it became one of the most important burgher houses in the Altstadt, and it continues to be a popular choice for the lederhosen crowd.