There are plenty to choose from in Zell am See-Kaprun, both on and off the mountain – on Schmittenhöhe and Kitzsteinhorn there are around 35 huts. Most restaurants serve traditional, hearty Austrian food like Tiroler gröstl (pan fried potatoes with meat and egg), but there are also pizza and burger options, plus more refined fine dining in the resort.
Other typical Austrian highlights to look out for include Käserspätzle (pasta-like egg noodles with cheese sauce) and Kaiserschmarren (chopped up pancake with a fruity sauce).
For further Zell am See-Kaprun inspiration, see our guides to the resort's best accommodation and après ski.
On the mountain
Breiteckalm
Near the top of blue run 1 on Schmittenhöhe, Breiteckalm is a self-service set in an old hut with a woody dining room and old skis and other artefacts hanging from the ceiling. It has a big outside terrace and an umbrella bar where après-ski starts early. Very popular with ski school groups, it serves standard Austrian fare such as goulash soup, Tiroler gröstl and Wienerschnitzel.
Price: £
Contact: 00 43 6542 73419; facebook.com
Hochzelleralm
Near the foot of the Ketting and Schmitten lifts on the back of the Schmittenöhe mountain, the Hochzelleralm is a cosy beamed building that is bigger than it looks, with a first floor area and great views. Service can be slow so don’t head here for a quick lunch but it’s good for slow-paced one, taking in the old-fashioned Austrian ambience. Good soups including garlic soup and goulaschsuppe and apple strudel to die for.
Price: £
Contact: hochzelleralm.com
Pinzgauer Hütte
Marked on the piste map and around 800m from the bottom of the Kapellbahn chairlift on Schmittenhöhe, Pinzgauer Hütte is reachable on skis – and they’ll tow diners back to the slopes behind a snowmobile. There’s a big terrace with great panoramic views and a simple dining room with benches and a wooden ceiling. Serves hearty traditional Austrian dishes including Tiroler gröstl, käserspätzle and kaiserschmarren.
Price: ££
Contact: pinzgauer-huette.at
Gletschermühle
Set at 2,450m at Alincenter, the hub of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area above Kaprun, the Gletschermühle is the place to go for a decent table service lunch. It’s a typical no-frills Austrian hut with a modern ‘umbrella bar’ extension and a small terrace. The food is typical Austrian too – simple soups, gröstl, wiener schnitzel, sausage and bacon, cheese spaetzle and a good selection of breads. All the food is from local farmers and bakers.
Price: ££
Contact: 00 43 6547 8621; kitzsteinhorn.at
Areit Lounge
At the top of the first stage of the Areitbahn gondola up from Schüttdorf, the recently rebuilt Areit Lounge in smart modern style, with big windows to make the most of the fabulous views. There’s also a central wood burning stove and a terrace. The short, changing menu may include smoked fish, Wienerschnitzel and blueberry pancakes.
Price: £££
Contact: areitlounge.at
Asitz Bräu
Set high above Leogang and not far from the top of the link to Saalbach, the Asitz Bräu includes the highest beer brewing museum in Europe and has a great ambience. It’s set over three floors, with wooden and granite floors, huge beams, oak tables, panelling from local churches and lots of gleaming brewing artifacts. Good friendly and efficient service, with excellent venison with red cabbage, pepper steak and whole roasted trout as well as the usual spare ribs and gröstl.
Price: £££
Contact: asitzbraeu.com
Alte Schmeider
Near the Asitz Brau and under the same ownership, this lovely stone and wood building has lots of different, linked rooms and eating areas, all packed with interesting artifacts. There’s live music some days too. The food on offer is wide-ranging and based on local produce wherever possible. Specialities include marinaded spare ribs, pizza from a wood-fired oven, venison with red wine, risottos and outstanding apple strudels.
Price: £££
Contact: alteschmiede-leogang.com
The Burger Factory
Small place, simply furnished with stools and banquettes, The Burger Factory is by the lake with good views from some tables. Does what the name implies – lots of different, freshly made and cooked burgers. As well as classic and cheeseburgers, the choice includes bacon and egg burger, smokin’ hottie burger (with jalapeños), and even a horsemeat burger.
Price: £
Contact: theburgerfactory.at
Thought by many to serve the best food in town, the SeeWirt restaurant is set at the northern entrance to Zell in an unprepossessing stone and wood chalet with simple furnishings. Its short menu features traditional Austrian dishes with a twist, such as braised beef cheek with balsamic vinegar and raspberries and zander (a fresh water fish) with a mustard foam.
Price: ££
Contact: seewirt-dasrestaurant.at
Salzburger Stube
This wood-panelled restaurant in the five-star Salzburgerhof hotel is where Chef Stefan Reiter and his team serve top-quality gourmet food which scores three toques in the Gault-Millau guide. Choose à la carte for delicious dishes which might include Leogang char with melon radish, apple, kohlrabi in butter and Swiss pine honey or artichoke ravioli with cabbage, grapes and pine nut melt. For dessert, if there’s room, maybe hazelnut cake with praline cream, blueberries and buttermilk sorbet. The cellar boasts over 400 Austrian and international wines to wash it all down with.
Price: £££
Contact: salzburgerhof.at
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