4 Best Restaurants in Bad Gastein, Eastern Alps

Idyllically set on the east side of the Stubnerkogel, directly on the ski slope, this Alpine hut is one of the oldest in Europe, remarkably well preserved, with wooden interiors and a huge open fire. Wooden parlors and a big terrace, with a spectacular view over Bad Gastein, invite visitors in for a substantial meal, followed by a couple of drinks after a hike or long skiing day. Try the roasted Hörnchen (a kind of pasta) with liverwurst hash and endive potato salad, or one of the desserts, such as traditional Austrian Kaiserschmarrn (chopped up pancakes served with fruit compote, often apple or plum) or Schwarzbeernocken (blackberry or blueberry dumplings). You'll need a car or taxi to get here; in winter you can ski in or take the restaurant's own chairlift.

Reservations are highly recommended during winter, when it's a popular après-ski spot.

For the complete Alpine experience, it also has 12 nice rooms.

With green wood paneling and a red timber ceiling, the restaurant is both historic and traditional but exceptionally stylish. It's also right in the old town center, and has a garden and cozy wooden parlors. Overseen by the Seel family, traditional Austrian fare is its forte, but it prides itself on its pizza too---it even has a wood-fired oven. For a true traditional dish, try the Jägerhauspfandl (grilled pork tenderloin and mushroom cream sauce with roast potatoes) or pumpkin-, game-, or duck-based seasonal specialties.