10 of Austria's Best Restaurants

Austrian contemporary artist Otto Zitko designed the interior of this trendy new joint, opting for chaotic black paint splashes dramatically propelled across the ceiling in sharp contrast with the chic and tidy white-clothed tables that sit politely below.

The menu is a wonderful melody of contemporary and traditional dishes, making the occasional nod to Austrian cuisine, with the wiener schnitzel, Vienna’s culinary crown jewel, being one of the restaurant’s most popular orders—made using the authentic recipe of veal, and served with a traditional potato and cucumber salad on the side. Managing impressively to have an ambiance that is simultaneously formal and relaxed, Skopik and Lohn is a great introduction to Viennese cuisine and is not to be missed.

It is rare to find a restaurant that is exclusively vegetarian, and even more of a rarity to find one that has been awarded Michelin stars. TIAN’s menu is entirely meat-free and employs a refreshingly creative take on vegetarian cuisine—a welcome change from the half-hearted veggie options that often appear on menus. The founder, Christian Halper, has a strict philosophy of using fresh, seasonal ingredients, dispelling the myth of vegetarian diets consisting of “rabbit food.” Each dish is beautifully composed on the plate, never straying far from being an artistic culinary masterpiece.

Outstanding Austrian cuisine is served at this mountain-top chalet—dining at Hospiz Alm is the perfect way to enjoy Austria’s alpine culture after a hard day’s work out on the slopes. The gloriously cozy interior, delightfully arranged around a roaring fire, is so comforting you’ll want to stay for an eternity. The traditional cuisine (generous plates of schnitzel, potato salad, and apple strudel) should be paired with wine from the well-stocked cellar—featuring many local varieties from an impressive collection of thousands of bottles.

If you want to try the very best of Austrian cuisine in the capital, Steirereck is the place you should head to. Hidden away in the lush greenery of the Stadtpark, this elegantly attired dining room looks out onto the Wien Fluss, boasting huge windows that allow light to flood in, which is particularly picturesque on a summer’s evening. Awarded two Michelin stars, the restaurant has a strong reputation for producing modern Austrian cuisine to the highest standards, using fresh local produce to create forward-thinking dishes, such as confitted and pan fried perlfisch ribs and steamed and glazed strudel.

When visiting Innsbruck during the winter months, treating yourself to warming food is essential after a day’s wandering in the snow enjoying the city sites. Spicy food, packed with heat from chili, is one of the great antidotes to frosty weather, and Madhuban is where you will discover some of Innsbruck’s finest. A friendly and ambient atmosphere, combined with dishes bursting with powerful flavor, leave a lasting impression.

This delightfully traditional eatery has a rich history within its walls, having been built originally in the 1400s as part of the Emporer’s Palace. After being repurposed into a restaurant in 1929, it quickly garnered a reputation for serving some of the finest local cuisine in town, enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. A generous menu, featuring many Austrian favorites, and an ambient atmosphere make this a must-visit venue of Innsbruck.

Hand-picked, fresh, thoughtful vegetarian cuisine inspired by both Asian and European flavors are at the heart of this restaurant in Graz. Suitable for vegan visitors as well as veggies, Ginko serves a wonderfully colorful buffet of meat-free dishes, including trays of yummy desserts—including chocolate coffee, raspberry poppy, and mango coconut cupcakes.

Restaurant Wasserfall combines hearty Italian cuisine with a warm atmosphere to make it one of the most popular restaurants in Salzburg. The essence of the menu is “traditional dishes with a modern flair;” seafood and truffle pasta, pork fillet saltimbocca, and pannacotta with compote are among the highlights.

Kim is one of few women chefs to grace the Austrian culinary scene—a passionate and ambitious chef that Vienna is very lucky to have. Authenticity, tradition, and experimentation are all elements at the core of the philosophy that she employs in her restaurant in Währinger in the 9th district—where she transforms fresh European ingredients into delicious Asian dishes. Be sure to book in advance as tables can be tricky to clinch.

Klaus Piber, owner of Vienna’s contemporary Asian restaurant YOHM, was inspired to open his restaurant on Petersplatz after experiencing experimental cuisine in cities such as Hong Kong, London, and New York. Chef Andreas Fuchs and his team take the foundations of traditional dishes from all over the continent and spice them up with an artful modern twist. According to Piber’s philopsophy, “intrinsic flavor, clarity of spices, and freshness of the products must always be the priority.”