9 Best Restaurants in Innsbruck, Tirol, and Vorarlberg, Austria
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The gastronomic scene of Austria's westernmost provinces is as varied as its landscape: first-rate gourmet restaurants, traditional inns, rustic local taverns, as well as international chains and ethnic cuisine are all part of the mix. In small towns throughout the region restaurants are often the dining rooms of country inns, and there are plenty of these. Austria used to have a reputation for substantial but stereotypical dishes of meat, dumplings and sauerkraut, but things have changed considerably. Gourmet meals are available at many wonderful restaurants, often at much more reasonable prices than is typical of Europe’s high-class dining scene. That said, in many villages you’ll find inns catering largely to local farm workers, where the old favorites are still the order of the day—prepare to be filled rather than thrilled.
Most hotel restaurants will be closed in the off-season, usually November and April. In ski season breakfast is typically served early enough for you to hit the slopes in good time, and dinner is timed so that exhausted skiers can get an early night in preparation for the next day.
Restaurants range from grand-hotel dining salons to little Wirtshäuser, rustic restaurants where you can enjoy hearty local specialties such as Tyroler Gröstl (a skillet dish made of ham or pork, potatoes, and onions, with caraway seeds, paprika and parsley), Knödel (dumpling) soup, or Schweinsbraten (roast pork with sauerkraut), while sitting on highly polished (and rather hard) wooden seats. Don't forget to enjoy some of the fine Innsbruck coffeehouses, famous for their scrumptious cakes and cappuccino.
Cafe Central
Dark wooden paneling, crystal chandeliers, and the smell of coffee make this Viennese-style café a meeting point for intellectuals, artists, and students. International newspapers and magazines are available, as is a variety of cakes, pastries, and breakfast dishes. You can have breakfast any time of day, or choose something from the daily menu. A typical small dish to sample is Kasnocken (cheese dumplings with brown butter); more substantial choices might include traditional boiled beef. Enjoy your cappuccino with live piano accompaniment every Sunday from October to April. In summer, there is also terrace seating.
Gasthof Goldener Hirschen
Allegedly the oldest tavern in Bregenz and close to the Upper Town, this rustic restaurant offers delicious traditional food and drinks in lively surroundings. Many say it's the most authentic Austrian eatery in town, great for tafelspitz (slow-cooked beef with horseradish). It also has tasty pasta dishes, including spicy spaghetti in a tomato, onion, bacon, and red pepper sauce. In spring, local asparagus is featured and later in the year the menu focuses on game. You won't go wrong with the apricot dumplings for dessert.
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Gasthof Kornmesser
Gasthof Löwen
Guests started eating here more than 500 years ago, and they've been coming back ever since. The old dining room has wood-paneled walls and is the perfect setting in which to enjoy a Zwiebelrostbraten (steak with onions) and a good red wine. Unfortunately, the historic tables with the beautiful inlay work are not for sale. Ernest Hemingway certainly enjoyed his stays in "the old inn with the antlers in Tschagguns." There's also folk music performed here regularly. You can ask the staff if one of the five guest rooms is available. The reception is in the Montafoner Hof, just across the street, which belongs to the same family.
Hotel Gasthof Bräu
The core of this frescoed building in the town center dates from the 16th century, but subsequent renovations have brought the five-story structure up to date. The three-room restaurant offers a menu with an emphasis on fish and game, and many ingredients come directly from the owner's own farm and fish ponds or from other local suppliers. Go for the trout, and make sure to taste the house beer from the on-site brewery, also the source of a special made-for-the-festival brew, Zillertel Gauderbier. The "Bräu" also has some nice rooms to stay the night; book early if you want to reserve a room during the Gauder Fest.
Restaurant Seegrube
Simply put, this restaurant in the Seegrube cableway station is one of the best dinners with a view in the country. At 6,500 feet high, the view of the city lights twinkling below makes a wonderful background for a romantic dinner. The food itself is mostly Tyrolean specialties including gröstl, a bacon, onion, and potato fry-up topped with a fried egg. During the week, a hearty breakfast including smoked salmon, sausages, and cheese feeds hungry hikers. During July and August, there is also a jazz brunch every Sunday, starting at 11 am.
Thai-Li
This Thai kitchen has quietly fashioned a reputation as one of the best and most popular dining spots in the Old Town. Thai-Li is short on elbow room, but long on excellent food presented with elegance and efficiency. Come for lunch, when you can sit outside at the tables on the cobbled pavement. In the evening, start with skewers of grilled chicken and pork, fried prawns, and vegetables with a range of dipping sauces. For a main course, try one of the curry dishes, such as duck simmered in coconutty red curry. Beverages include a good selection of teas, coffees, and fruit juices. Not to be confused with Thai-Li-Ba across town.
Weisses Rössl
This is Innsbruck's oldest restaurant, and the hunting pedigree of the area is reflected by the array of antlers adorning the walls in the authentically rustic dining rooms. Be aware that this is not a vegetarian's natural habitat, but meat lovers will enjoy the solid local standards, such as Tiroler Gröstl, a tasty hash, and Wiener schnitzel (veal, or pork if you prefer, cutlet), both of which taste even better on the outside terrace in summer. Ask about the specials that don't appear on the menu, such as wild game or freshly picked mushrooms. Because the place hosts regular local gatherings it can get quite lively; for a quieter experience, request a table in one of the smaller stubes.