St. Peter Stiftskulinarium Oldest Restaurant Evaluate, Salzburg, Austria

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is legendary for being the oldest restaurant on the earth. Whereas visiting Salzburg, locals persuaded me to attempt it, and it is turn into one in every of my favourite eating places.

One in every of my favourite eating places on the earth additionally occurs to be the oldest.

The 1,200-year-old St. Peter Stiftskulinarium in Salzburg, Austria, was first documented in a letter to Charlemagne, known as the father of Europe, in 803 and I have been fortunate sufficient to eat right here twice.

I did not know St. Peter Stiftskulinarium existed earlier than my first journey to Salzburg, and solely discovered about it from locals I requested for meals suggestions. They raved about it and shared its fascinating historical past. I knew I needed to expertise it for myself.

I’ve all the time been fascinated by the restaurant’s historical past, which is cloaked in legend.

It’s stated that Christopher Columbus, Johann Georg Faust, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were patrons of St. Peter Stiftskulinarum. It has also served cardinals, bishops, princes, kings, and in more modern times, Bill Clinton, Clint Eastwood, and lots of others. Locals advised me that the president of Austria and different European political figures dine right here as properly. 

As I discovered extra concerning the restaurant’s storied previous, I discovered a lot of its legacy is cloaked in legend.

For instance, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium didn’t always accept money in exchange for food when it first opened. It was customary to serve meals to non secular vacationers, who would usually keep and assist on the monastery whereas passing by.

And Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sister, Nannerl, wrote in her diary in 1786 that their household met right here for dinner.

Michael Haydn, a well-known composer, additionally lived and carried out music within the “Haydn Room,” which is situated subsequent to the Baroque Corridor. Baroque Hall is a candle-lit live performance corridor in St. Peter’s Stiftskulinarium the place particular occasion Mozart dinner live shows are held as we speak.

In the present day, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is a hip, upscale restaurant that serves each conventional Austrian dishes and fashionable delicacies.

In the present day, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is thought for its important historical past and previous clientele, in addition to conventional, but fashionable Austrian delicacies.

The regular menu consists of quite a lot of dishes like steak, pasta, venison, beef, hen, duck, and seafood, in addition to vegetarian and vegan choices.

Dinner costs are between €22 and €49. There’s a second menu for multi-course meals. These luxurious eating experiences vary from €62 to €153.

From eating right here I’ve discovered that their hottest conventional dish is Tafelspitz, beef boiled in a broth that is served with creamed spinach, minced apples, and horseradish. Different in style Austrian dishes embrace wiener schnitzel, Marillenknoedel (apricot dumplings), and Salzburger Nockerln, which is a meringue-like dessert made with eggs and sugar. 

On my most up-to-date journey to St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, I made a reservation per week earlier than I arrived in Salzburg.

I have been to Salzburg twice and dined at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium as soon as throughout every journey.

My most up-to-date journey to Salzburg was this previous winter. I used to be there for 5 days, and I made a reservation per week earlier than I arrived. 

I used to be desperate to return to St. Peter Stiftskulinarium after the good expertise I had the primary time, which was within the fall.

I used to be excited to be inside its unimaginable environment once more, eat scrumptious meals, and additional discover the sense of thriller I felt whereas eating on this legendary institution. 

Getting a reservation on the oldest restaurant on the earth is not as arduous as you may assume.

In my expertise, getting a reservation is surprisingly simple, seemingly as a result of the restaurant can seat 620 people.

Restaurant employees did inform me, nevertheless, me that weekend brunch reservations are inclined to refill pretty rapidly. 

When making a reservation, I used to be advised that it isn’t doable to make requests to take a seat in particular rooms, however it’s permitted to discover the restaurant no matter the place you dine. 

To get to the restaurant from my lodge, I needed to cross the Makartsteg, a bridge over the Salzach River with stunning views of Salzburg’s Outdated City.

For my part, Salzburg is a tremendous and underrated metropolis. It is comparatively small and I feel it may be explored in a single to 2 days.

Throughout my journey to Salzburg this previous winter, I stayed in Neustadt, which is Salzburg’s New City.

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is in Salzburg’s Outdated City, so I simply needed to cross the bridge to get there.

I assumed the views throughout the water had been stunning, and the stroll all through Outdated City was picturesque. The cobblestone streets felt intimate and storybook-like, lined with atmospheric retailers, eateries, and residences.

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is not seen from the streets of Salzburg, which I feel makes it appear secretive and unique.

I knew from my first go to that St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is not seen from the road. Its entrance is situated in a tucked-away courtyard inside St. Peter’s Abbey. 

As I neared the restaurant’s location, I noticed a stupendous church with a shocking bell tower, which is St. Peter’s Church. St. Peter’s Abbey, which homes the restaurant, is an extension of St. Peter’s Church.

Apple maps led me to an archway of a giant pink and cream fortress.

The primary time I walked to this restaurant, I used to be skeptical that it was situated by this archway, because it appeared an unlikely place for a restaurant.

The second time I visited, I used to be so excited to stroll by the archway once more figuring out what was on the opposite aspect. 

Throughout the courtyard, I noticed a turquoise plaque with the quantity 803, the 12 months the restaurant was established.

The stroll throughout the courtyard to the restaurant felt suspenseful.

It was arduous to consider that I used to be getting into a constructing that originated within the 12 months 803. Once I walked by the archway below the turquoise plaque, I used to be greeted by a pleasant host who walked me to my desk.

One of many eating areas is a patio lounge. I feel it is a hip spot for out of doors eating with a cool nightlife vibe.

Upon getting into the restaurant, the very first thing I noticed was a stupendous out of doors patio lounge that I discovered it was as soon as the abbey’s entry courtyard for monks and religious travelers. 

I sat on this lounge space throughout my first go to within the fall and beloved the look of it, with comfy couches, benches, and chairs lined in colourful, textured throw blankets, fake fur, and pillows. 

It jogged my memory of a hip, upscale New York Metropolis bar — and in addition an historic church. 

The latest time I ate right here was in winter, and the patio decor appeared whimsical with Christmas bushes, twinkly lights, and different festive fixtures.

Once I first ate on the patio, the decor felt summery with neon lights, straw lighting fixtures, and jungle-themed artwork.

However once I returned in winter, the look was up to date to replicate the brand new season. I assumed the altering design stored the restaurant feeling recent and thrilling.

Inside, I discover the inside design to be eclectic, but elegant.

Claus Haslauer and his wife Veronika Kirchmair-Haslauer signed the first-ever lease for the restaurant in 1992 on the age of simply 25. Veronika started a design transformation of the restaurant area in 1999. 

I am joyful that I visited the restaurant throughout two completely different seasons. It was apparent to me that the interiors are up to date repeatedly, as properly. I used to be mesmerized by the daring, deep colour palette, in addition to distinctive, peculiar artifacts I noticed all through the restaurant.  

Whereas I loved the patio within the fall, for my winter go to, I sat in one of many conventional eating rooms.

The hostess led me to a desk in a eating room referred to as Prälatenstube that holds 24 friends, and is related to different eating areas.

The partitions and ceiling had been crafted from darkish, polished wooden with intricately-carved designs. I appreciated the deep blue and burgundy accents, and colourful flower preparations.

I assumed this eating room had a quiet, laid-back power. It did not look as giant in comparison with among the different rooms, which I assumed made it really feel extra intimate. My reservation was early within the night, so there have been a number of empty tables round me. 

Though I actually loved my expertise within the conventional eating room, subsequent time, I am going to return to the patio the place I discovered the environment to be extra vigorous and thrilling.

Whereas I waited for my meal, I ate home made bread.

This home made bread starter got here with an additional cost, however I feel it is price it. I assumed the bread was heat and scrumptious with the proper crunch, and it got here with olive, butter, and a second butter made with beets.

I did a fast Google search on the restaurant and was shocked to study that Austria is known for baking the world’s greatest bread starting lots of of years in the past. Austrian artisan bread later arrived in France and Italy courtesy of the Austrian-Hungarian empire.

The meat was cooked in a copper pot with marrow bones, greens, and herbs. I assumed the flavorful broth was the most effective elements of the meal.

On the desk, the server first smeared creamed spinach onto my plate. Subsequent, they served a big spoonful of a thick white sauce made with milk, bread, uncooked egg yolk, mustard, vinegar, pepper, salt, and a pinch of sugar.

They then positioned the meat on the middle of the plate, alongside the spinach and white sauce, and lined it with greens in addition to the broth it was cooked in. I used to be given two further sauces to accompany my Tafelspitz — an apple-horseradish sauce and a sauce made with chives.

I ordered Apfelstrudel for dessert, a standard Austrian apple strudel.

To cap off my meal, I ordered the restaurant’s home made apple strudel.

I assumed the pastry shell was flakey and lightweight, and the apple filling was gooey, scrumptious, and heat. The strudel was served with whipped cream and a wealthy vanilla sauce, and I ate each final drop.

I appreciated it so much, however I plan to order their well-known meringue-like dessert, Salzburger Nockerln, the following time I go to resulting from its excessive repute. 

The meal price round €75, which I assumed was fairly priced.

This value, which is about $80 USD included the Tafelzpitz, which was €30, in addition to a bread starter, cocktail, glass of wine, and dessert.

I feel it was a superb worth, particularly contemplating the restaurant’s historic historical past and fame.

After I ate and paid for my meal, I explored the restaurant.

I discovered myself in Richardstube, which was the monastery’s wine cellar 1,200 years ago.

Richardstube is used as a eating room as we speak and is basically the identical because it was again then, apart from the some new, stylish decor. I discovered the ambiance right here to be relaxed and intimate.

Total, I felt a fascinating, nearly eerie feeling as I walked round a restaurant that has served generations of individuals, courting again to the darkish ages.

For me, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium evokes emotions of thriller and enchantment. It felt thrilling, and like a journey again in time. Some rooms felt crypt-like with historic stone arches, pillars, and hallways, whereas others starkly contrasted that feeling with stylish magazine-worthy decor. 

Exploring the restaurant after my meal was the most effective elements of the expertise. 

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium additionally hosts Mozart dinner live shows, which I might like to attend subsequent time.

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium hosts Mozart dinner concerts within the restaurant’s Baroque Corridor, which is without doubt one of the solely live performance halls in Salzburg that’s nonetheless illuminated by candlelight. The live shows function costumed music performances and a three-course candlelit dinner based mostly on recipes from the 18th century. 

The musical program takes place a number of nights per week, and is carried out by Amadeus Consort Salzburg in three elements earlier than and in between the dinner programs. Every half is devoted to a well-known Mozart opera. You have to make a reservation to attend. 

After two back-to-back nice meals, I extremely suggest visiting St. Peter Stiftskulinarium.

I completely beloved my expertise at St. Peter Stiftskulinarium. The meals, drinks, and ambiance had been phenomenal, and I assumed it was thrilling to expertise a bit of historic historical past.

I extremely suggest making a reservation right here whereas in Salzburg for a terrific meal and an interesting alternative to study concerning the historical past of Salzburg.