Bärenwirt
For rib-sticking Austrian specialities with a side of incredible views, get a table on the terrace at this Salzburg institution. Open since 1663 (yes, really), it serves delicious, hearty classics like dumplings, soufflés, goulash and pork medallions with crispy potatoes. They also claim to serve ‘the best fried chicken in Austria’. If the weather isn’t smiling on you, the wood-panelled interior is delightful too.
Müllner Hauptstraße 8
baerenwirt-salzburg.at
Humboldt
This cosy and chic Alpine-styled newcomer is all about organic: everything on the menu is, including the drinks, which the owners have sourced within Austria. Locals love the lunch deals, which might include Tafelspitz – a classic Austrian dish of boiled beef – and dumplings or spaghetti, as well as salads and lighter bites. The brunch bowls, filled bagels and omelettes are all excellent too.
Gstättengasse 4
humboldtstubn.at
Ikarus at Hangar-7
This architecturally impressive restaurant in a futuristic exhibition space has a different guest chef in charge of the kitchen every month. As you’d expect, the menu can change dramatically from one session to the next, but the constants are forward-thinking cooking and dramatic plating. There might be rock lobster with beurre blanc, tomato and saffron, or otoro tuna with corn, yuzu and katsuobushi, and peaches with white chocolate and curry.
Wilhelm-Spazier-Straße 7A
hangar-7.com
Uncle Van
One of Salzburg’s best and most popular Vietnamese restaurants, Uncle Van is always busy. From pho to fragrant Vietnamese curries, summer rolls and noodles, it’s a brilliant option for those who’ve had enough pastry and potatoes, as well as for vegetarians and vegans. The tick-box menus for customising your own wok dishes are great fun too, and will keep younger travellers happily entertained.
Nonntaler Hauptstraße 8
uncle-vat.at
Esszimmer
A Michelin-starred experience awaits you at Esszimmer, a short bus ride from the city centre. Andreas and Andrea Kaiblinger’s elegant, brightly coloured dining room feels classic but not stuffy, and the tasting menu is likewise – expect dishes like textures of pumpkin, a ricotta raviolo, flank steak with oxtail ‘jam’ and truffle, or roasted monkfish with lentil and chickpea curry. At €49, the three-course set-lunch menu is superb value, and there are pescatarian and vegetarian menus too.
Müllner Hauptstraße 33
esszimmer.com
Augustiner Bräu
The food court at this venerable Salzburg beer hall, which dates back to the 17th century and is the country’s largest, is a great place to head if you’re keen to sample the best of traditional Austrian cuisine under one roof. From freshly baked pretzels to sausages with mustard, roast chicken with dumplings, deep-fried trout and cheeses galore, there’s something for everyone to soak up the steins of beer. Wander from deli stall to deli stall, stopping regularly to refuel your tankard of course.
Lindhofstraße 7
augustinerbier.at
220 Grad
This family-run coffee and brunch joint takes the coffee it serves really seriously – it even has its own roastery. If you’re interested in the brews, you can book onto one of the coffee seminars and workshops they run. Or you could simply settle in for the morning with a French press and one of their famed Austrian breakfast plates, which might include herby scrambled eggs, home-baked onion bread, wild boar ham and a dinky Black Forest gateau. There’s another branch on Chiemseegasse, too.
Nonntaler Hauptstraße 9A
220grad.com
The Glass Garden
Under the Hotel Schloss Mönchstein’s striking glass dome is this one-Michelin-starred restaurant, which is fast gaining an international reputation for fine dining. Chef Markus Mayr has put together a seasonal menu shaped by standout ingredients like scallops, venison and rabbit. The Austrian wine pairings are always spot on, too. If you’re looking for somewhere really special with views over the city to round off your trip to Salzburg, this is it.
Mönchsberg Park 26
monchstein.at
M32
In the same building as the Museum of Modern Art, M32 has dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, antlers displayed upside down from the ceiling in a nod to Austrian hunting traditions, and a menu of elevated classics. Fish dishes are strong here, showcasing locally caught produce, as are intuitive pairings like game with wild mushrooms. This is most definitely a destination joint, and the views of Salzburg Old Town and the castle are hard to beat.
Mönchsberg 32
m32.at
Green Garden
Vegans, vegetarians and those looking for a night away from the famously meaty Austrian classics will adore Green Garden, Salzburg’s finest ‘green kitchen’. From towering and tasty meat-free burgers with chunky chips, to cauliflower tacos, falafel wraps and vegan ice cream, there’s no shortage of delicious options. The wines are all vegan too, and the cocktail list is impressive: try a rose gin, or one of the fresh fruit sodas if you’re not drinking.
Nonntaler Hauptstraße 16
thegreengarden.at