Where to eat in Innsbruck: what to order and where
Innsbruck eats Tyrolean: fried potatoes, cheese dumplings, schnitzel and a sweet pancake to finish. The old inns are in the old town and in Wilten, and they fill at weekends, so book dinner. The Markthalle by the Inn is the easy lunch, and the cake in the oldest cafe is worth the detour.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The old town for the historic rooms, Wilten for plainer prices.
- Order this
- Tiroler Gröstl, Kaspressknödel and Kaiserschmarrn.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 11:30, dinner from 18:00. Many kitchens close by 21:00.
- Book or walk in
- Book the old town inns at weekends. The Markthalle and the cafes take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up by about 5 to 10 percent and say the total when you pay.
What to eat in Innsbruck
- Tiroler GröstlFried potatoes with bacon and onion, often topped with a fried egg. A mountain lunch you find on almost every traditional menu.
- KaspressknödelFlat fried cheese dumplings, served in beef broth or with a green salad.
- KäsespätzleSoft egg noodles baked with mountain cheese and topped with fried onions.
- SpeckknödelLarge bread dumplings with cured Tyrolean bacon, served in broth or with sauerkraut.
- Wiener SchnitzelBreaded veal, fried in butter and served with potato salad and lemon.
- KaiserschmarrnA torn, caramelized pancake with raisins and a plum or apple compote. Usually made to order, and meant to be shared.
Where to eat in Innsbruck, by neighborhood
Altstadt
Historic inns and cafes in the arcaded lanes. Prices are higher around the Golden Roof and lower in the side streets.
Wilten
The district south of the center, around the abbey and Anichstraße. Plainer places, lower prices and many locals at lunch.
St. Nikolaus and the Markthalle
Across the Inn, with the market hall and a few cafes and small restaurants away from the tour groups.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Goldener Adler
€€€Historic inn · Altstadt
OrderWiener Schnitzel or Kaiserschmarrn
A Tyrolean inn that has stood by the Golden Roof since 1390, with wooden rooms and a short list of regional dishes.
- Book
- Book online or by phone for dinner; the terrace is first come
Confirmed open: goldeneradler.com
-
Stiftskeller
€€Beer hall and restaurant · Altstadt
OrderTiroler Gröstl or the dumpling plate
A restaurant and beer hall in the middle of the old town, with Augustiner beer and a long menu of Tyrolean classics.
- Book
- Walk in, or book for dinner at weekends
Confirmed open: stiftskeller.eu
-
Café Munding
€€Confectioner and cafe · Altstadt
OrderA slice of cake and a coffee
Tyrol's oldest confectionery, baking in the Gumpphaus since 1803. The cakes and pralines are made on site.
- Book
- Walk in
- Closed
- Sunday and Monday
Confirmed open: munding.at
-
Gasthaus Anich
€€Traditional inn · Wilten
OrderTiroler Gröstl or Zillertaler Ofenleber
A plain, well-priced Tyrolean inn run by the Wilten abbey, with a good lunch menu.
- Book
- Reservations recommended for dinner
- Closed
- Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
Confirmed open: gasthausanich.at
Food markets in Innsbruck
- Markthalle InnsbruckMore than 40 stalls under one roof by the Inn: cheese, bread, fish, butchers, spices and seven places to eat.Monday to Saturday from 7:00; the stalls close in the afternoon, and Saturday earlierSource: markthalle-innsbruck.at
How Innsbruck eats
- Meal timesLunch is the main hot meal. Evening kitchens often close by 21:00, so don't arrive late.
- TippingRound up by 5 to 10 percent and say the total to the server when you pay.
- ReservationsBook the best-known inns for dinner, especially at weekends and in December.
- Coffee and cakeA coffee house is for sitting. Order a coffee and a cake and stay as long as you like.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photos of the dishes by the door.
Staff calling you in from the pavement beside the Golden Roof.
Kaiserschmarrn listed as a ready-made dessert instead of made to order.
Eating in Innsbruck: questions people ask
What food is Innsbruck known for?
Tyrolean mountain cooking: Tiroler Gröstl, Kaspressknödel, Käsespätzle and Kaiserschmarrn. It is heavy, filling food made for cold days.
Where is the best place to eat in Innsbruck?
For history, the Goldener Adler. For a quick traditional lunch, the Stiftskeller or Gasthaus Anich. For cake, Café Munding.
Do you need to book restaurants in Innsbruck?
For the old town inns at dinner, yes, especially at weekends and in December. Cafes, the Stiftskeller and the Markthalle take walk-ins.
How much do you tip in Innsbruck?
Round up by 5 to 10 percent and say the total when you pay. Service is not always added to the bill.
Is Innsbruck expensive for food?
The old town costs more, and Wilten and the Markthalle cost less. Lunch menus are the best value.