On Dining

Austrians take their food seriously, and regional cuisine is varied, taking advantage of local produce and high quality farm products. Many restaurants and local inns offer outstanding regional delicacies rarely found elsewhere. Viennese cuisine also offers many serious classics enjoying world recognition: Wiener Schnitzel (veal scallops, breaded, deep-fried in fresh oil) is one of the most traditional dishes; Wiener Backhendl, the queen of fried chicken; Tafelspitz mit Kren (boiled beef fillet with horseradish); Frankfurter sausages, which contrary to popular belief, originated in Vienna not Germany.

Austrian desserts, served with the ritual late-afternoon coffee or after dinner, are synonymous with Vienna: There is Apfelstrudel (applestrudel), jam-and-nut filled Palatschinken and torte, a layered cake with a wide choice of filling. The most famous, of course, is the Sachertorte, a chocolate cake filled with apricot jam and iced with chocolate.

Austria’s Wine legacy

Austria offers something unparalleled in the world of wine: A collection of destinations that are exciting, unique and easily reached. The Wachau Valley - designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site – offers breathtaking scenery on the Danube river. Burgenland: The Pannonian edge boasts stunning, surprising style & culture on Austria’s eastern frontier.  Or just take the capital of Vienna, which is the only capital worldwide that has it own vineyards.

Restaurant suggestions

Vienna:

• Figlmueller is the place to go for the most famous (and likely largest) wiener schnitzel.
• Plachutta offers traditional Viennese cuisine, with a particularly choice selection of boiled beef specialties. Here locals and visitors alike share a unique dining experience.
• Steirereck im Stadtpark is one of Vienna’s most exclusive eateries located in the heart of the Stadtpark.

Salzburg:

• St. Peter Monastery Restaurant is the oldest restaurant in Europe and features outstanding local cuisine in a traditional setting. St. Peter is also home to the Mozart Dinner Concerts.
• The restaurant Salzach Grill at the Hotel Sacher offers authentic Austrian cuisine from the Salzburg region. Don’t miss trying the Salzburger Nockerl.

Innsbruck:

• The Goldener Adler is a famous inn that has greeted such illustrious guests as Emperors Charles V and Joseph II, German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Leopold Mozart with his son Wolfgang, since 1390.

Burgenland:

• The Taubenkobel is located 1 hour south of Vienna in Schuetzen and offers a great modern twist on traditional Austrian cuisine.
• Gut Purbach, located about 1 hour southeast of Vienna in Purbach offers great traditional food from Pannonia in a rural setting.

More Information

 More on Austria's wine can be found here.