19 Best Restaurants in Innsbruck, Tirol, and Vorarlberg, Austria

One of Innsbruck's go-to gourmet experiences, this restaurant in the heart of the old town is known for its obsession with using local ingredients as much as possible, with absolutely no artificial additives. Details of suppliers, farms, and even local hunting grounds for the game on the menu are available for perusal. The interior is modern and the atmosphere is trendy.

In the small village of Aurach about 5 km (3 miles) south of Kitzbühel, Hallerwirt is known for its great Austrian cuisine and charm. Old wooden floors and a ceramic stove in the parlor lend a period flair to this 400-year-old farmhouse. A colorful mix of people gathers here, and young and old enjoy the easygoing vibe. The congenial hosts, Monika and Jürgen Stelzhammer, take time to give everyone some good wine suggestions. The friendly staff serves specialties such as Jerusalem artichoke soup and fillet of lamb.

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).

Stylishly modern, with a functional yet intimate atmosphere, Sitzwohl has built up a solid reputation for superb cuisine, with an emphasis on Mediterranean and Tyrolean dishes. Chanterelle mushroom stew with dumplings or black gnocchi with wild salmon and fennel are favorites here. Lunchtime service is quick and efficient for business diners, but the evenings are more relaxed. In addition, chutneys, jams, and soups are available from the attached deli.

With fine views of the city, an atmospheric bar, and a veranda and garden for summer dining, this is one of Innsbruck's most exquisite restaurants. Housed in a former imperial hunting lodge across the River Inn from the city center, it's been earning fine-dining accolades since 1899, thanks to a menu that features Austrian staples with a sophisticated twist. The two-course business lunch is a great way to experience the menu at a reasonable price, with options like Viennese goulash with fried egg or bouillabaisse with garlic bread. The evening menus are always a surprise, with dishes decided by the chef that same day.

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 during the free monthly jazz concerts.

Locals frequent this unpretentious, conveniently located café and bakery for the best pastries in town.

This gorgeous Baroque town house, built in 1720 beside the iconic Nepomuk-Kapelle, is today a restaurant serving hearty Austrian dishes at very reasonable prices. Try the Wiener schnitzel, the tafelspitz, or the zander fish. Not ready for a full meal? Kornmesser also offers traditional beer snacks, like Bavarian veal sausages, as well as tasty sweet treats like apple strudel.

Allegedly the oldest tavern in Bregenz, this rustic restaurant offers delicious traditional food 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.

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. 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.

This restaurant is as popular with locals as it is with visitors. The kitchen takes a modern approach to traditional dishes, with pork medallions topped with ham and Gorgonzola, and veal steaks ladled with a creamy herb sauce that's as steeped in flavor as the restaurant is steeped in history. The traditional dining rooms on the arcaded ground floor and the summer-only terrace are popular places to sit: the former both romantic and private, and the latter good for people-watching. Start with a glass of Sekt (an Austrian sparkling wine) flavored with a dash of cassis—a kir royale—as you peruse the menu. The restaurant is also the breakfast room of the Goldener Adler hotel.

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.

This tidy indoor market offers plenty of farm-fresh produce, including a variety of cheeses, just-picked berries, and a wide choice of mushrooms. You'll also find pastas and other homemade delicacies, with its central location making it a good stop for an inexpensive lunch. It's basically a take-out place, but there are a few stand-up tables available to eat on. Go to the bakery for your choice of breads, and then browse the stalls to find your ideal fillings. There are usually more food stalls in the Marktplatz outside too.

This elegant restaurant has a strong focus on home-style Austrian cuisine with a sophisticated twist. Most ingredients are locally sourced, and meat features heavily. Dining here is an enjoyable, intimate experience and in summer you can choose to eat outside on the back terrace. Come at lunch on a weekday to enjoy the heavily-discounted set menu.

This family-run restaurant offers excellent food, from burgers to Austrian specialties, and an extraordinary location in an ancient landmark. It was originally built in 1180, as a city watchtower, and retains much of its historical charm. Several of the bay-window alcoves in the shuttered house have great views of the main square, while others overlook the river. Try the Tafelspitz, an Austrian specialty of boiled beef served with vegetables and horseradish, or the Pfandl, a fillet of pork and a steak served in an old-fashioned pan. On a sunny day, come early to get a table outside.

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.

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.

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.

This striking half-timber house with a steep gabled roof is in an idyllic position right on the shore of the Bodensee, next to the floating stage used for the Bregenz Festival. With a fabulous lake view, diners can watch the steamers from the nearby harbor go by while enjoying classic Austrian dishes with an accent on fresh fish. Some dishes from Germany and Switzerland are also offered. The wine list is noteworthy, and in the winter the Chimney Room, with an open fire, is popular.