12 Best Restaurants in Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Tirol, and Vorarlberg

Das Schindler

$$$$ Fodor's choice

One of Innsbruck's go-to gourmet experiences—its 14 Gault Millau points are a fine endorsement—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.

Lichtblick

$$$$ Fodor's choice

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 Innbruck's best hidden gems. The kitchen offers 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 Caffee Lichtblick 360.

Maria-Theresienstrasse 18, Innsbruck, Tirol, A-6020, Austria
0512-566550
Known For
  • impressive location with wonderful views
  • imaginative and constantly changing menu
  • fantastic desserts
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential

Sitzwohl

$$$ Fodor's choice

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.

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Wirtshaus Schoneck

$$$$ Fodor's choice

With fine views of the city, an atmospheric bar, and 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 has 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.

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.

Goldener Adler

$$$

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.

Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse 6, Innsbruck, Tirol, A-6020, Austria
0512-571111
Known For
  • Innsbruck's oldest restaurant (opened in 1390)
  • alfresco dining in the summer
  • hearty portions of classical Austrian dishes
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

Kröll

$

The small bakery and café, a few steps from the Goldenes Dachl, offers homemade strudel (sweet or savory fillings wrapped in a fine pastry) and Italian coffee specialties. The café opens at 6 am every day of the year, until 11 pm in the summer and 9 pm in the winter.

Markthalle

$

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.

Herzog-Siegmund-Ufer 1-3, Innsbruck, Tirol, A-6020, Austria
0512-4004–404
Known For
  • relaxed and bustling atmosphere
  • one of the city's best take-out lunch spots
  • amazing homemade breads
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., No credit cards

Ottoburg

$$$

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.

Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse 1, Innsbruck, Tirol, A-6020, Austria
0512-584338
Known For
  • truly historic atmosphere
  • delicious classic Austrian dishes
  • lovely outdoor seating
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

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.

Seegrube 1, Innsbruck, Tirol, A-6020, Austria
0512-303065
Known For
  • sublime views
  • delicious Tyrolean specialties
  • requires reservations in advance
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted

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.

Marktgraben 3, Innsbruck, Tirol, A-6020, Austria
0512-562813
Known For
  • very affordable menu
  • possibly the best Thai food in Tyrol
  • classic curry dishes
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Credit cards accepted

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.

Kiebachgasse 8, Innsbruck, Tirol, A-6020, Austria
0512-583057
Known For
  • historic and atmospheric
  • classic Austrian meat-heavy staples
  • lively atmosphere
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Credit cards accepted