Key facts at a glance
The food scene in Zell am See ranges from hearty Pinzgau cuisine with Kaspressknödel and Bauernkrapfen to award-winning restaurants and lakeside spots with panoramic views. Regional produce takes centre stage in many places.
Part of our complete guide: Restaurants in Zell am See
Zell am See-Kaprun, with its majestic alpine panorama and serene Lake Zell, isn’t just a feast for the eyes. It’s a treat for the taste buds too! A trip to this Austrian wonderland is incomplete without savoring its local delights. As a travel and food enthusiast, I set out on a gastronomic journey through this picturesque town, and I am thrilled to share my delectable finds with you.1. Apfelstrudel at a Café or Konditorei
Morning in Zell am See began with a visit to a traditional Austrian coffee house, or Café or maybe Konditorei. Warm, fragrant, and absolutely mouth-watering, the Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) served is a pastry masterpiece. Thin layers of dough envelop spiced apples and raisins, creating a mesmerizing blend of flavors and textures, perfectly complemented by a scoop of vanilla ice cream.- Konditorei Mosshammer — Stadtplatz 4, old town. Strudel and Sachertorte made fresh daily.
- Café Seegasse — Seegasse 10, old town. Table service.
- Unterkofler bakery and Konditorei — Kirchgasse 2.
- Stadtcafé — Bahnhofstraße 1, beside the parish church.
2. Pinzgauer Kasnocken in a Mountain Hut
For lunch, I headed towards the mountains, where cozy huts offer not just breathtaking views but also regional specialties. Pinzgauer Kasnocken, a cheesy delight made from doughy dumplings, local cheese, and crispy onions, is an absolute must-try. The heartwarming dish tasted all the better in the cool mountain air, overlooking the snow-covered peaks of the Hohe Tauern.- Steinerwirt 1493 — Dreifaltigkeitsgasse 2, Zell am See.
- Auhof – Das Wirtshaus — Augasse 4, Kaprun.
- Gastwirtschaft Tafern — Peter-Buchner-Straße 2, Kaprun.
- Dorfkrug — Achenstraße 2, Kaprun.
- AreitAlm, Breiteckalm and Sonnkogel — up on the Schmittenhöhe.
- Pinzgauer Hütte — 1,704 m, reached on foot.
3. Freshly Caught Fish from Lake Zell
Dinner was at a lakeside restaurant where the day’s catch from Lake Zell was the highlight. Trout, char, or perch – freshly caught and grilled to perfection with a drizzle of lemon and a sprinkle of herbs. Paired with a glass of Austrian white wine, it’s an experience that captures the essence of Zell am See.- Seewirt — Loferer Bundesstraße 49. Fish from Lake Zell and the regional organic fish farm.
- Seecamp Restaurant by Rudi Eder — Thumersbacher Straße 34, on the northern shore.
- Seensucht — Seeuferstraße 41, inside the Seehotel Bellevue.
4. Austrian Sausages at Local Stalls
No trip to Austria is complete without indulging in their sausages. Bratwurst, Käsekrainer, or the spicy Bosna – each has its unique flavor and is best enjoyed with a dollop of mustard and a piece of crusty bread.Deliberately no address here. The stalls move with events and the season, so any list would be wrong by next year. What you can rely on is house sausage and speck as part of a Brettljause on the staffed mountain huts.
5. Sachertorte for the Sweet Tooth
And finally, for dessert, the legendary Sachertorte! This chocolate cake layered with apricot jam and topped with a glossy chocolate glaze is an Austrian classic. Paired with a cup of coffee, it’s the perfect end to a day of culinary exploration.- Konditorei Mosshammer — Stadtplatz 4. Sachertorte for four generations.
- Unterkofler — Kirchgasse 2, and the Stadtcafé — Bahnhofstraße 1.
- Der Franzl — by the top station. Kaiserschmarrn and Powidltascherl.
- Berghotel Schmittenhöhe — 2,000 m.
- Pinzgauer Hütte — Kaiserschmarrn on the sun terrace.
Addresses, opening hours and closing days
The venues are named above, under each dish. Here they are together in one place with what actually affects the drive: address, hours, closing day. Checked in September 2026 against the venues’ own websites. In a seasonal resort, operators and closing days change constantly, so call ahead before a long drive and book in the evening during high season.
Zell am See
- Konditorei Mosshammer — Stadtplatz 4. Four generations of the same family; own ice cream in summer.
- Café Seegasse — Seegasse 10. Old-town building, table service.
- Unterkofler bakery and Konditorei — Kirchgasse 2. Monday to Saturday 07:00 to 18:00, Sunday from 07:30.
- Stadtcafé — Bahnhofstraße 1, pedestrian zone next to the parish church. Own ice cream, including a vegan version.
- Steinerwirt 1493 — Dreifaltigkeitsgasse 2. Daily 12:00 to 22:00, kitchen closes 21:45.
- Seewirt — Loferer Bundesstraße 49.
- Seecamp Restaurant by Rudi Eder — Thumersbacher Straße 34, on the northern shore. Kitchen daily 11:30 to 21:30.
- Seensucht — Seeuferstraße 41, inside the Seehotel Bellevue. Two Gault&Millau toques. Note: on its seasonal break, reopening 21 December.
- flos restaurant — Schmittenstraße 79, in the boutique Hotel Martha. Listed in the MICHELIN Guide; four-, six- or eight-course menus. Booking effectively mandatory.
Kaprun
- Auhof – Das Wirtshaus — Augasse 4. A traditional Stube and a modern dining room.
- Gastwirtschaft Tafern — Peter-Buchner-Straße 2. Monday to Saturday 15:00 to 23:00, closed Sunday. Sommelier in the house.
- Dorfkrug — Achenstraße 2. Steaks and stone-oven pizza.
On the mountain
- Berghotel Schmittenhöhe — 2,000 m, by the top station. The Genussalm, a wine lounge with a walk-in wine cabinet (reservation required) and the Schnaps-Hans terrace.
- Der Franzl — by the top stations of the trassXpress and Areitbahn III. Table service, a view of more than thirty 3,000-metre peaks. The photo at the top of this article was taken here.
- AreitAlm and Breiteckalm — the quick options; the Breiteckalm is self-service in an old timber hut.
- Sonnkogel — herb-led cooking; like the AreitAlm it holds the Austrian Ecolabel.
- Pinzgauer Hütte — 1,704 m, a genuine alpine hut, open daily in summer. Reached on foot, or in winter on touring skis or snowshoes.
- Glockneralm (rebuilt 2023, wood-fired pizza) and the Hochzeller Alm right by the top station on the summit ridge.
- Gipfelrestaurant Kitzsteinhorn — 3,029 m, the highest restaurant in Salzburger Land, with the table-service Schmittenblick.
- Restaurant Gletschermühle — at the Alpincenter, 2,450 m, a large terrace looking over Kaprun to Lake Zell.
If you would rather have the simple, hearty version up on an alpine pasture than restaurant cooking, the routes that get you there are in the hiking guide. Muslim visitors will find the background on halal availability and certification in Halal Food in Zell am See-Kaprun.
One note for completeness: Landhotel Erlhof in Thumersbach, long a fixture here, has been closed since the end of August 2026 for a change of ownership and refurbishment, and is expected to reopen in December 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which regional specialities should you try in Zell am See?
Classics include Pinzgau Kaspressknödel (cheese dumplings), Bauernkrapfen, flaky pastry doughnuts as well as local cheese and Schüttelbrot crispbread.
Are there fine-dining restaurants in Zell am See?
Yes, alongside down-to-earth inns there are award-winning and hotel restaurants as well as lakeside restaurants serving refined cuisine with panoramic views.
Where can you dine with the best view?
Restaurants right on the Zeller See and at the mountain stations of the Schmittenhöhe and Kitzsteinhorn serve meals with panoramic views over lake and mountains.
Can you find vegetarian or international cuisine in Zell am See?
Yes, many venues offer vegetarian dishes, and there are Italian, Asian and international restaurants in town.
