Food · Salzburg · Austria
What to eat in Salzburg
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Salzburg, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Start with Salzburger Nockerl, Mozartkugel and Bosna. At Augustiner Bräu you collect a stone mug, fill it from the barrel and assemble dinner from food stalls selling sausages, pretzels, roast pork and radishes. Many traditional restaurants offer a cheaper set lunch (Mittagsmenü) on weekdays.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Salzburger Nockerl
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 7
- Tipping
- Round up the bill or add about 5–10% for good service, telling the waiter the total you…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dessert · Vegetarian
1.Salzburger Nockerl
A soufflé of sweetened egg whites baked into three golden peaks, said to represent the hills around the city, dusted with icing sugar and often served over fruit sauce. It is light, large and made to order.
Where: Traditional restaurants and coffee houses in the old town; order it for two and expect a wait of about 20 minutes.
Snack · Vegetarian
2.Mozartkugel
A ball of pistachio marzipan and nougat coated in dark chocolate, created by Salzburg confectioner Paul Fürst in 1890. Hand-made versions in silver-and-blue foil differ from the mass-produced kind.
Where: The Fürst confectionery shops in the old town sell the original hand-made version; others are everywhere.
Street food
3.Bosna
Salzburg's own hot dog: a grilled bratwurst in a toasted bun with onions, parsley, mustard and a curry-spiced seasoning. It has been sold from a tiny stand on Getreidegasse since 1950.
Where: Street stands in the old town, including the small grill in a passageway off Getreidegasse.
Dish · Vegetarian
4.Cheese dumplings (Pinzgauer Kasnocken)
Small flour dumplings tossed with strong local cheese and topped with crisp fried onions, served in the pan. It is the classic hearty dish of the Salzburg mountains.
Where: Traditional inns in town and mountain huts on the Untersberg and Gaisberg.
Dish
5.Wiener Schnitzel
A thin escalope of veal, breaded and fried until it puffs up, served with lemon, potato salad or parsley potatoes. Pork versions are cheaper and labelled 'vom Schwein'.
Where: Gasthäuser and beer halls throughout the city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Kaiserschmarrn
A thick, fluffy pancake torn into pieces in the pan, caramelised with sugar and served with plum compote or apple sauce. It can easily be a meal.
Where: Coffee houses, mountain huts and traditional restaurants.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Apple strudel (Apfelstrudel)
Paper-thin stretched pastry rolled around apples, raisins and cinnamon, served warm with cream or vanilla sauce.
Where: Historic coffee houses in the old town and Konditoreien across the city.
Dish
8.Cheese dumpling soup (Kaspressknödelsuppe)
Flattened, pan-fried dumplings of bread and mountain cheese served in clear beef broth with chives, a common starter or light lunch.
Where: Gasthäuser and beer halls, especially in the colder months.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Coffee-house coffee (Melange)
Espresso with steamed milk and milk foam, served on a silver tray with a glass of water in Salzburg's traditional coffee houses, where lingering over newspapers is the point.
Where: Historic coffee houses on Alter Markt and around the old town, including one that claims to be Austria's oldest.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Salzburg beer
The city has brewed for centuries: the Augustiner monastery brewery in Mülln pours its beer from wooden barrels, and Stiegl, the large local brewery, runs a brewery museum and restaurant.
Where: Augustiner Bräu in Mülln, Stiegl-Brauwelt and beer gardens across the city.
Food experiences
Beer hall supper
At Augustiner Bräu you collect a stone mug, fill it from the barrel and assemble dinner from food stalls selling sausages, pretzels, roast pork and radishes.
Coffee-house afternoon
Order a Melange and a slice of cake in a historic coffee house; waiters will not rush you, and newspapers are provided.
Market morning
The Grünmarkt on Universitätsplatz sells produce, cheese and snacks most mornings, and the Thursday Schranne market around St. Andrew's Church is the city's big farmers' market.
Dinner at St. Peter
The restaurant in St. Peter's Abbey traces its history back more than a thousand years and is a classic setting for a candlelit dinner or Mozart dinner concert.
Quick bites and street food
- Mozartkugel — The Fürst confectionery shops in the old town sell the original hand-made version; others are everywhere.
- Bosna — Street stands in the old town, including the small grill in a passageway off Getreidegasse.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 7 are usually vegetarian: Salzburger Nockerl, Mozartkugel, Cheese dumplings, Kaiserschmarrn, Apple strudel, Coffee-house coffee and Salzburg beer. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Many traditional restaurants offer a cheaper set lunch (Mittagsmenü) on weekdays.
- Book dinner well ahead during the Salzburg Festival in late July and August, and in December.
- Tap water is excellent; ask for 'Leitungswasser', which some restaurants serve free and others charge for.
- Card payment is widely accepted, but carry some cash for market stalls and beer halls.
- Kitchens in traditional inns may stop serving hot food around 9pm–10pm.
Tipping
Round up the bill or add about 5–10% for good service, telling the waiter the total you want to pay when you hand over your money or card.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Grüß Gott | Hello (literally 'God greet you') |
| Danke schön | Thank you very much |
| Zahlen, bitte | The bill, please |
| Ein Leitungswasser, bitte | A tap water, please |
| Prost | Cheers |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Salzburg famous for?
Salzburger Nockerl, Mozartkugel, Bosna and Cheese dumplings. A soufflé of sweetened egg whites baked into three golden peaks, said to represent the hills around the city, dusted with icing sugar and often served over fruit sauce.
+Is Salzburg good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Salzburger Nockerl, Mozartkugel and Cheese dumplings.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Salzburg?
Round up the bill or add about 5–10% for good service, telling the waiter the total you want to pay when you hand over your money or card.