What to eat in Salzburg

Whether served in rustic restaurants or at lively food markets, Salzburg’s snacks and small plates are full of flavour and tradition.

Bosna
A true Salzburg street food icon, Bosna was created in the 1940s and remains a local favourite. It features a spicy sausage in a crispy bread roll, topped with onions, mustard and curry powder. Bold, savoury and quick to eat, it is a must-try for street food lovers.

Brettljausn
Also known as “Jause”, this traditional cold platter includes cured meats, cheeses, pickles and horseradish, typically served on a wooden board. With its rustic roots in Alpine farming life, it offers a balance of hearty, spicy and tangy flavours. The best part: it is perfect for sharing!

Gröstl
This one-pan dish of fried potatoes, bacon and onions, often topped with a fried egg, is beloved for its simplicity and rich flavour. Crispy on the outside and tender inside, Gröstl is smoky, hearty and deeply satisfying. Especially in the colder months, it is the perfect Alpine comfort food to warm up with in Salzburg.

Kaspressknödel
Do you love cheese? If so, this dish is for you. These fried cheese dumplings are made with Alpine mountain cheese and bread, then pan-fried until golden and crisp. Often served in a soup (a clear broth) or with a fresh salad. Kaspressknödel are savoury, hearty and full of rustic flavour.

Kasnockn (cheese dumplings)

Kasnockn is made from soft spaetzle tossed with melted mountain cheese and topped with crispy onions. Originally a way to use leftovers, it became a beloved comfort food. Creamy, rich and delicious, it is best enjoyed very hot!

Bauernschmaus (farmer’s feast)

Once common on Austrian farms, Bauernschmaus, is a hearty platter of roast pork, sausages, dumplings and sauerkraut. It showcases the richness of rural cooking, and the taste is smoky, rustic and deeply satisfying.

Tafelspitz

This boiled beef dish was famously favoured by Emperor Franz Joseph I. Simmered in broth with root vegetables and served with horseradish and apple sauce, Tafelspitz is elegant, tender and a must-try once in Austrian. You will find it in Salzburg’s more refined restaurants, such as our Restaurant Zirbelzimmer, where traditional dishes crafted from regional products are prepared right at your table. It is a truly unique experience.

Salzburger Bierfleisch

Rooted in Salzburg’s beer tradition, this beef stew is slow cooked with local beer, onions and spices. The result is a deep, malty flavour with tender meat in a rich sauce. Ideal for a cold day in a tavern.

Game dishes

Game dishes like venison and wild boar have a long tradition in Austrian hunting culture. Roasted or braised with herbs and red wine, they are full of bold, earthy flavours. Often served with dumplings and lingonberry sauce in autumn.

The signature dish: Salzburger Nockerl

This airy soufflé dessert is considered Salzburg’s most iconic sweet dish. Shaped in three golden peaks, it is said to symbolise the city’s surrounding hills called Mönchsberg, Kapuzinerberg and Gaisberg. Served warm and dusted with powdered sugar, it is light, sweet and best enjoyed fresh from the oven.

Sacher insider tip: At our Restaurant Sacher Grill it is served with hand-whipped raspberry cream – make sure you try this delicious dessert there!

Apple strudel

Though its origins trace back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, apple strudel remains a staple across Austria. Filled with thinly sliced apples, cinnamon, raisins and wrapped in delicate pastry, it is served warm and often with cream or vanilla sauce. Its delicious taste makes it a year-round favourite.

Moosbeermuas

A lesser-known Alpine dessert, Moosbeermuas is made from blueberries cooked in a skillet with flour, butter and sugar. Originally a dish from mountain huts, it has a dense, spoonable texture and a deep berry flavour. It is rustic, slightly tangy and full of natural sweetness.

Germknödel

This steamed yeast dumpling is filled with plum jam and topped with melted butter and a generous dusting of poppy seeds and sugar. Often served in ski huts, it is soft, pillowy and gently sweet, with a warm, fruity centre. A true winter classic.

Cremeschnitte

A Central European favourite, Cremeschnitte consists of crisp layers of puff pastry filled with silky vanilla custard cream. Light but indulgent, it is served chilled and dusted with powdered sugar. Its smooth texture and mild sweetness make it a refined choice for dessert lovers.

Original Sacher-Torte

Created in 1832 for Prince Metternich in Vienna, the Original Sacher-Torte has become one of Austria’s most iconic cakes. It is still made by hand in 34 individual steps after the original recipe with delicious chocolate sponge, apricot jam and coated in chocolate glaze. Best enjoyed at the place of its origin, at the Sacher Café in Salzburg.

Tip: Although the exact recipe remains a sweet secret to this day, passionate bakers might enjoy trying our approximate recipe to recreate the Austrian experience at home.

Mozartkugel

First created in 1890 by confectioner Paul Fürst, the Mozartkugel remains Salzburg’s most iconic sweet. It features a centre of pistachio marzipan and nougat, enrobed in dark chocolate. It is still produced by hand at Konditorei Fürst, a tribute to Salzburg’s famous Mozart and a perfect souvenir.

Ginger bread

This tasty treat is especially popular during the Advent season. Spiced with cinnamon, cloves and honey, it is often decorated or filled with jam and nuts. In Salzburg, you will find it in the traditional Christmas markets (read more about the top Christmas markets you must visit in Salzburg) and traditional bakeries. It is a festive bite full of warm spice and nostalgia.

Salzburger confiseries

Salzburg is known for its refined confiseries, where handcrafted chocolates and pralines are part of the city’s sweet tradition. One highlight is the elegant Sacher Confiserie Salzburg, offering delicate pralines, chocolate creations and the Original Sacher-Torte in miniature form. Also worth visiting are Konditorei Fürst, home of the original Mozartkugel, and Confiserie Berger, known for its chocolate pralines.

Drinks in Salzburg are more than refreshment, they are part of the city’s cultural identity. From beer halls to modern bars, Salzburg’s beverage traditions reflect both Alpine heritage and refined taste. Private breweries in Salzburg such as Trumer, Stiegl and Augustiner Bräu have shaped the city’s beer culture for centuries. For something stronger, traditional Schnaps made from fruit or herbs carries the spirit of the mountains in every sip. On the refined side, Mozart liqueur, a rich chocolate-based cream liqueur, offers a sweet and elegant contrast. Seasonal drinks like Sturm, a young fermenting wine served in autumn, round out the picture of a city that truly knows how to raise a glass.

Do you prefer cocktails over beer? Not to worry, Salzburg has many elegant bars to offer as well. Make sure not to miss the Sacher Bar, where you can enjoy some of the best cocktails in the city. Do not forget to reserve your table!

Did you know that Sacher has its own cookbook? With this curated collection, you can bring the flavours of Salzburg into your own kitchen. The Sacher Cookbook reflects the essence of Austrian cuisine and offers a way to relive travel memories while enjoying Salzburg’s restaurant culture at home.

Salzburg’s Wirtshäuser and beer halls are the heart of its culinary tradition. The Augustiner Bräustuben Mülln, founded by monks in 1621, is Austria’s largest beer hall and a true local institution. Sternbräu, located in the historic old town, combines centuries-old charm with regional cuisine. For a more intimate setting, Gasthof Goldgasse offers authentic Austrian dishes in a cosy atmosphere, just a five-minute walk from Hotel Sacher.

The Salzburg coffeehouse tradition is a key part of the city’s culture. At Café Konditorei Fürst, you can taste the original Mozartkugel where it was first created. Café Tomaselli, Austria’s oldest coffeehouse, offers atmosphere and elegance since 1705. And at Café Sacher Salzburg, enjoy local delicacies like the Original Sacher-Torte in true Viennese style.

Salzburg offers a vibrant fine dining scene that blends tradition with creativity. Within Hotel Sacher Salzburg, two restaurants showcase Austrian hospitality at its finest. The Zirbelzimmer impresses with its original 19th-century charm, while the Sacher Grill combines modern flair with award-winning classics like the famous Wiener Schnitzel. Did you know that, for the third time, Restaurant Sacher Grill was awarded by Falstaff for the best Schnitzel in Salzburg? Yes, you have to try it.

At Hangar-7, the internationally acclaimed Ikarus concept brings rotating guest chefs from around the world to a spectacular, modern setting. Restaurant Brunnauer, located in the historic Villa Ceconi, stands for Austrian gourmet cuisine with international flair and a strong regional focus. For timeless elegance, visit the St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, one of Europe’s oldest restaurants, serving refined dishes since 803.

Magical tip: During the Christmas season, both restaurants at Hotel Sacher also offer festive menus in a sparkling atmosphere.

Salzburg is known for delicious dishes like Kasnockn, Salzburger Bierfleisch and Bauernschmaus, as well as sweet classics such as Salzburger Nockerl and Mozartkugeln.

The Bosna, a spicy sausage in a bread roll with onions and curry, is Salzburg’s most popular street food.

The iconic dessert is Salzburger Nockerl, a light soufflé said to represent the city’s surrounding hills as well as the famous Original Sacher-Torte.

Salzburg is known for local breweries and its beer, traditional Schnaps and the chocolatey Mozart liqueur.