4 Best Restaurants in Salzkammergut, Austria

If you haven't been to Zauner, you've missed a true highlight of Bad Ischl. The desserts—particularly the house creation, Zaunerstollen, a chocolate-covered confection of sugar, hazelnuts, and nougat—have made this one of Austria's best-known pastry shops. Emperor Franz Josef used to visit every day for a Guglhupf, a lemon sponge cake.

In a city famed for tourist crowds, most restaurants are hit or miss, but the Bräugasthof, with its delicious fish dishes and gorgeous lake views, is definitely a hit. Flavors from Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary infuse the regional menu. Operating hours are restricted from December through February.

Enjoy breakfast every day until noon in the elegant yet cozy Café Wallner. They are famed for their gingerbread which they make by hand in the traditional way. In the summer, the line is out the door for their homemade ice cream or enjoy one of their luxurious cakes, like the Schneewittchentorte, a cream cheese base with a poppy seed crust.