I have lived in Salzburg nearly three years now and in that time, have spent many a morning at brunch, a midday at lunch or a cafe, an evening at a dinner restaurant, sharing a delicious with friends or family. Salzburg, being a very touristy destination, although it is small, boasts seriously so many restaurants, way more than you'd expect from a little city!
Nearly anything you could desire, you'll probably find it here. I've not even been able to include every place I've tried as they've disappeared from memory, but I've trawled through my photo albums and old Instagram stories to try and bring a massive selection of delicious spots to try. I'll keep updating this list as I continue to sample more yummy spots.
One thing that's important to note - you should pretty much always make a reservation for any restaurant in Salzburg. No matter what day of the week or time, you're always safer off making one as more often than not, they're fully booked and don't accept walk-ins. You can book many restaurants in Salzburg using Google Maps; sometimes you might need to call in.
CAFE BAZAR
An iconic coffeehouse built in 1881 and unchanged since, this is a traditional (and quite bougie) cafe where the upper class come and sit to read newspapers, gossip with waiters and watch the world go by.
Location: Schwarzstraße 3, overlooking the Salzach River
Café Tomaselli
This cafe in the heart of the Altstadt was once the cafe of choice of the Mozart family, so this one is a particularly popular one. Go around 5pm, an hour before they close, for the best chance at a good seat outside.
Location: Alter Markt 9, on the edge of the Residenzplatz
My Mom's
This is hands down my favourite cafe in all of Salzburg. A tiny little coffee shop with the best window display in town, they sell absolutely mouthwatering baked goods and do some delicious drinks to go with. I highly recommend the vegan cookies and the vegan cinnamon rolls but really, every single thing is yummy. I've gone through about four loyalty cards with them already...
Location: Linzer Gasse 28, in the heart of the Neustadt
220Grad Rupertinum
I included this under lunch too, because I often stop in for a yummy seasonal lunch. But most often I'm here for a chai latte or something from their very long list of impressive coffees on offer, and maybe a cheeky slice of cake.
Location: Wiener-Philharmoniker-Gasse 9, across from the famous Festspielehaus
220Grad Nonntal
Their other location is smaller, a bit moodier decor and just as delightful. I particularly like coming here on a sunny day and nabbing a spot in their little terrace out back for a coffee.
Location: Nonntaler Hauptstrasse 9A, near the Unipark Nonntal
Humboldt Bio
This yummy restaurant offers a mouthwatering spread for brunch, lunch and dinner. The food is locally sourced and organic. I've tried it for all meals, but I have to say that brunch is consistently the real reason to keep coming back. Try their three-bowl brunch.
Location: Gstättengasse 4, in the Anton-Neumayr-Platz
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium
This tiny gem takes the title of the oldest restaurant in Europe. Built into the walls of the St. Peter's Abbey, you're going to feel a wonderful ambiance. The food is a bit overpriced for what you get, but you pay for the experience and the ability to say you've dined in Europe's oldest restaurant!
Location: Sankt-Peter-Bezirk 1/4, right next to Stiftskirche St. Peter
Das Kaffeehaus by Hotel Melanie
Traditional homebaked goods, fresh brunch platters and really good coffee make this little gem on the Chiemseegasse the perfect spot for brunch, lunch or just a quick coffee pick-me-up.
Location: Chiemseegasse 5, just off the Kapitelplatz
GustaV
This tiny hole-in-the-wall all-vegan cafe is the perfect cosy brunch nook serving up homemade vegan goodies. They aim to keep their ecological footprint as small as possible so you'll find healthy, locally sourced ingredients and a small menu put together with love.
Location: Wolf-Dietrich-Strasse 33, in the Neustadt
Coolinarik
Coolinarik is a cutely decorated little cafe featuring homemade regionally-sourced dishes. It's primarily a breakfast and brunch spot and they serve up delicious coffees in glass catcus mugs and homemade knödel - I had a snickers knödel and an apricot knödel and both were mouthwateringly good.
Location: Münzgasse 1, at the edge of the Altstadt
220Grad Rupertinum
I included this under cafes too, because I often stop in for a chai latte here. They've also always got a fresh and delicious seasonal lunch menu on offer and I'm always impressed by the flavours they bring together.
Location: Wiener-Philharmoniker-Gasse 9, across from the famous Festspielehaus
220Grad Nonntal
Their other location is smaller, a bit moodier decor and just as delightful. I particularly like coming here on a sunny day and nabbing a spot in their little terrace out back for a colourful, locally soured, seasonal lunch.
Location: Nonntaler Hauptstrasse 9A, near the Unipark Nonntal
Tula Bistro
I went here for an outdoor spring lunch with my mum overlooking the river sitting on their glass terrace. They have a small well-selected menu, with a daily special, offering seasonal and locally sourced vegetarian and vegan food.
Location: Hellbrunner Str. 3, inside the Künstlerhaus overlooking the Salzach River
Coffee House
I love coming here and they have a massive selection of brunch, lunch and baked goods with tons of vegan and vegetarian options. They also have one of the best chai lattes in Salzburg and loads of plugs and comfy seating, so I like coming here to work when I want a change of scene, too.
Location: Linzer Gasse 39, tucked a little bit back with a big terrace in the Neustadt
Afro Cafe
Afro Cafe is the most well-known Salzburg coffee and tea brand and you'll find it being served across the city. So make the time to go to its source and have a yummy comfort food lunch to go with it.
Location: Bürgerspitalpl. 5, across from the Monchsberg
FIT.smartfood
They pride themselves on a healthy, fit, sustainable and energy-giving menu. The meals are simple but delicious and great for a quick lunch on the go. I recommend their veg burger!
Location: Maxglaner Hauptstraße 8, in the Maxglan neighbourhood
Lemonchilli
I'd be wanting to try this spot for ages as I have biked past it so many times. They offer a comfort food menu - think burgers and chilli - which is nice for a lowkey dinner. The best part is the big outdoor terrace, especially at dusk.
Location: Nonntaler Hauptstraße 24, in the Nonntal neighbourhood
dean&david
A quick and healthy twist on fast food, dean&david does yummy and fresh smoothies, salads and bowls, perfect for lunch. Their plant-based chickn is seriously good.
Location: Makartplatz 3, at the entrance to the Mirabell Gardens
Ping Pong Poke
These massive bowls are fresh and filling. You can select from pre-designed bowls and wraps, or you can opt to make your own bowl and fill it with all sorts of yummy goodness. I was also intrigued by some of the more unique ingredients, not typical of a fast food spot, such as curry-flavoured granola and popcorn for your salads! Highly recommend - and big portions.
Location: Münzgasse 1, at the end of the Altstadt, and Franz-Josef-Straße 7, near the Mirabell Gardens
Cafe San Marco
I love this spot in the summer because then they extend the restaurant right into the park of the Makartplatz and you can have dinner outdoors.
Location: Makartplatz 5, so you can have your summer dinner in the park
Steinterrasse
Often people come here just for drinks - so I've included it there too - but it's also a sweet spot for lunch or dinner. The roof terrace is arguably one of the best views of the whole city, right in front of the Kapuzinerberg. It's a bit of a bougie spot, so I recommend dressing up a bit.
Location: Giselakai 3-5, on the roof of Hotel Stein
Vegitalian
An entirely vegan Italian spot that just hits the nail on the head every single time with plates of comfort food. It's like a slice of Italy in Salzburg. And they've got a cute little outdoor terrace for nice evenings.
Location: Nonntaler Hauptstraße 43, in the Nonntal neighbourhood
Superstanza
In my opinion, the best Italian restaurant in Salzburg. Boasting a massive menu with scrumptious flavours, this is a place you really shouldn't miss. And they serve Crodino, which is an alcohol-free Aperol Spritz; it's one of the few restaurants in Salzburg that does.
Location: Lederergasse 10, just off the Linzer Gasse
Spicy Spices
This little hole-in-the-wall family-run restaurant is simply a delight. Massive portions of vegan and vegetarian Indian food, featuring handwritten signs pinned to the windows and the kindest owner... it's hands down one of my fav restaurants in the city. Just know it's cash only.
Location: Wolf-Dietrich-Straße 1, just off the Linzer Gasse
Kombu
Probably the best sushi in Salzburg, there are two locations: one downtown Salzburg and one out at the Schloss Hellbrunn. I've tried both and they're both scrumptious. A little pricy, but mouthwateringly good.
Location: Franz-Josef-Straße 27, in the Altstadt, and Hellbrunnerstraße 73, with a mountain view
east
This Asian Fusion restaurant does a delightful spread of really tasty Asian food from across the continent. I recommend sitting upstairs in the beautifully designed space and sampling a bit of everything. YUM.
Location: Getreidegasse 36a, in a cute little square encircled by restaurants
YŌJI
One of the best sushi spots in Salzburg, this small restaurant is hugely popular. I recommend their vegetarian plate and you'll get to try a delicious variety of properly mouthwatering veggie sushi - none of this boring plain avocado or cucumber rolls, but really creative and flavourful rolls.
Location: Gstättengasse 9, tucked against the wall of the Monchsberg
Yaoyao
Situated upstairs at the Europark shopping mall (sitting directly on the S-Bahn train line), Yaoyao is surprisingly delicious. You might not expect it from a mall restuarant, but these guys know their stuff. They hand throw noodles and you can watch them stretching and pulling them before chowing down into a big juicy bowl of them. Highly recommend.
Location: Europastraße 1, upstairs in the mall
The Keep Garden Kitchen
This was the very first restaurant I went to in Salzburg when I first moved here in late 2021. Dad and I had just driven down from Brussels with all my belongings and we found this vegan spot that did an All You Can Eat buffet and it was exactly what we needed after days of moving and packing and unpacking and building furniture. I'm not sure they still do an AYCE menu, but the food was SO good when we went that even a menu selection would be delicious, I'm sure.
Location: Schwarzstraße 50, near the Hauptbahnhof
My Indigo
This is just a go-to classic. I come here all the time for a quick bowl. It's like fast food but super fresh and healthy. They've got loads of vegan and vegetarian options and really just hit the spot for a quick meal. There are a number of locations across Salzburg.
Location: Rudolfskai 8, right on the Salzach and Auerspergstraße 10, near Mirabell and Sterneckstraße 28, behind the Kapuzinerberg, and Europastraße 1, in the Europark Mall
Pauli Stubm
If you're after traditional Austrian food - schnitzel for the meat-eaters and Käsespätzle for the rest of us which is kind of like a thick noodle which is baked in cheese - then Pauli Stubm is a classic in Salzburg. Tucked away behind the Kapitelplatz, you'll get the real experience here.
Location: Herrengasse 16, just up from the Kapitelplatz
IKEA
What would a dinner restaurant list be if it didn't include the veg meatballs from IKEA? A classic. And we have our very own IKEA attached to the Europark Mall so what better way to finish a day of home shopping than with a big plate of classic veg meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy.
Location: Europastraße 5, attached to the Europark
Moritz Eis
When it's boiling hot out, there is simply nothing for it but to beeline it to the nearest ice cream shop for a cold treat. My favourite is Moritz Eis at the end of the iconic Getreidegasse, the big shopping street in the heart of the Altstadt.
Location: Getreidegasse 47, in the heart of the Altstadt
Salzburger Brezen
A traditional Salzburg treat, you must stop for a Salzburg pretzel as you wander through the Altstadt and the market open daily Monday to Saturday. They've got so many different flavours and kinds, something for everyone. There are usually different kinds on offer each day.
Location: Universitätsplatz 1, at the daily market
Das Kaffeehaus by Hotel Melanie
I also included this one under brunch because they do a delicious selection, but if you're just after something sweet, they do an excellent Buchteln here which is a traditional sweet yeast roll doused in custard. YUM.
Location: Chiemseegasse 5, just off the Kapitelplatz
Zum Zirkelwirt
This very traditional Austrian restaurant - decor and all - does Germknödel which is one of Austria's best traditional dishes. A Germknödel is a fluffy yeast dumpling, filled with jam and served poppy seeds and vanilla cream sauce. YUM.
Location: Pfeifergasse 14, at the edge of the Altstadt, just beyond Mozartplatz
Gelateria Romana
Using only organic and fresh ingredients to come up with some delicious and interesting new flavours, this place does delicious ice cream and crepes. Plus, they're open late so it is the perfect spot for a sweet evening treat.
Location: Linzer Gasse 3, in the middle of the Neustadt
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
