Ski & Dine: Austria’s Most Unique & Unusual Mountain Inns
No skiing or winter hiking day in the Austrian Alps would be complete without a refreshment break, preferable in one of our beloved mountain huts. Enjoy local delicacies and warm hospitality in a rusty or modern alpine setting. Dedicated tours combine skiing fun and Austrian food served at unusual places.
Speckknödelsuppe (bacon dumpling soup), Käsespätzle (cheese spaetzle), Germknödel (yeast dumplings) or Kaiserschmarren (chopped sweet pancakes) - traditional Austrian dishes taste particularly well after exercising in the fresh winter air. And vegetarian and vegan options, widely available in mountain huts these days, are equally delicious.
The traditional rustic huts are beloved for their cosy rooms with low ceilings. However, newly built and modernized mountain inns, usually boasting the same wooden interiors, can be just as charming. Most of them also feature patios and terraces – a perfect place to enjoy both the sunshine and the beautiful views.
The Ski amadé region has designed special ski circuits aimed at foodies with multiple refreshments stops. Want to enjoy your meal in an unusual place? Dine in a cable car gondola or under a glass dome.
CULINARY SKI CIRCUITS
Sweet or savoury? Following in the footsteps of the locals or looking for the most spectacular panoramic views? Guests at the Ski amadé region in SalzburgerLand and Styria can choose between ten different Culinary Ski Circuits, each one including three or four traditional dishes served at different huts. A new addition this winter are mountain restaurants only using regional or homemade ingredients. “Alm cuisine by Richard Rauch” is the motto of the Styrian region of Schladming-Dachstein: 15 huts spoil their guests with dishes they have created together with the award-winning chef Richard Rauch.
TRADITIONAL HUTS WITH A MODERN TWIST
Large windows, cosy wood and alpine references are typical features of many newer ski huts. Vorarlberg is especially known for its contemporary wooden architecture and surprises with a great number of modern gourmet hotspots in the mountain regions. The elegant mountain inn Der Wolf just above Lech, planned by local multi-award-winning architect Bernardo Bader, is entirely made of wood. Frööd restaurant in Brandnertal valley boasts modern design and energy efficiency. The name says it all: “Frööd” means “joy” in the local dialect.
Wedelhütte in Tirol’s Hochzillertal valley is an especially stylish place, welcoming up to 30 guests in its panorama-glazed gourmet lounge. Heading to Kaltenbach in Zillertal valley? You can’t miss the Kristallhütte with its distinct mirrored façade. And if you decide to stay over, the inn also has large rooms and a spa with beautiful mountain views. In Bad Hofgastein in SalzburgerLand, Weitmoserin is the place to go for everyone that likes things modern and colourful.
DINING IN EXTRAORDINARY PLACES
Having breakfast served in a gondola is undoubtedly a memorable experience. The gondolas of Hintertuxer Gletscherbahn have space for up to four people, inviting guests to a hearty Austrian breakfast while they enjoy the snow-covered three-thousanders from above. Bookings are open until 7 May 2022. No matter if you are winter hiking or on a romantic mountain getaway, you can’t go wrong with a classic fondue in a glass pod overlooking Carinthia’s Lake Millstätter See. The pods fit up to six people and are open both at lunch and dinner time. You can choose between a meat and cheese fondue followed by a chocolate fondue. Next dates: 15-17 April 2022.
VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN DELICACIES
Most mountain inns also cater to those on a plant-based diet these days. SalzburgerLand’s Hochkönig resort provides information about veggie-friendly ski huts on its website. The new mountain inn LUMBERJACK on the Kleinarl side of the Shuttleberg mountain prepares all its dishes with organic ingredients, offering a wide range of vegan and vegetarian dishes. Certified organic restaurant Karl-Ludwig-Haus on the Rax mountain in Lower Austria serves plant-based dishes such as lentil soup and vegan pasta. Both the mountain and the inn are popular with winter and snowshoe hikers – who can also stay overnight. Rustic Gjaid-Alm in Upper Austria’s Dachstein region is only accessible by foot or cable car. Their menu features a great selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes. The mountain hut also offers simple rooms and a dormitory for overnight stays.
