Austria - There is no place like Alm in Bad Hofgastein

Mountain Restaurants 
One of the great delights of a holiday in Austria is to drop in at a mountain restaurant. Put the gloves on the stove and warm up with a hot soup! Bad Hofgastein is well endowed with excellent eateries.

Baerstein Alm 

Summer view at the Baerstein

At the top of the Schlossalmbahn train at Kitzstein turn left and about 400m on the left is the Barstein Alm. Non-skiers can walk down. When the conditions are right you can also ski down on H4. In 2011 the lack of snow has meant that this has not been such a regular haunt.

Nice family run house with great food. Off the main routes so a bit quieter and well worth the diversion in high season. Friendly waitress service which, apart from anything else, avoids carrying a tray wearing ski boots on a wet floor! That's probably more risky than ski-ing. Deer is very good here when it is on the menu. The schnapps is a bit special, schh! secret recipe! Has accommodation. To us it almost feels like we are visiting someone's home. Particularly nice in Summer as it is on some of our favourite walking paths and on a regular bike circuit.

Kleine Scharte Lift station

A large restaurant with service and self service areas at the top of the cable car. There's a large sun terrace up there. Ideal if you are meeting a non-skier. There is also an outside bar. Open all year.

Hamburger Hutte

Just to the right of the 6 person Weitmoser chair, lots of character. Traditional food with good service. Can get busy when the large Scandinavian groups are in residence. On sunny days, there is often a queue outside, where there is a snow bar, but seats are available inside. Waitress service inside. Closed in summer. Has accommodation.

Weitmoser Schlossalm

Large self-service or waiter service restaurant on the busy ski junction just to the left of the Weitmoser chair as you take the ascent. Food is good with some interesting dishes. There is normally a special dish in a massive pot on the counter. Very comfortable inside, our favourite spot is a turret on the far left of the entrance that overlooks the chair-lift and town. Has a large sunny terrace. Closed in summer.

Feldinghutte

On the run down to Angertal on H31/H32  friendly family run spot with an Austrian feel. Often has music outside on the large terrace. Not a big menu but plenty of variety particularly for veggies. Great inside when there is a World Cup ski race on the telly. Easy walk up from Angertal for non-skiers or Langlaufers, there is path up from the top of the beginners T-bar. Has Apartments, closed in Summer.

Hirschenhutte

Just above Angertal on B20 and also easily reached from the cross-country loop. Very cosy and worth a look in. Food and service is good. Closed in Summer. There is a sister restaurant, the Waldgasthof across the piste that normally has more space but a little less atmosphere, open in Summer.

Hofgasteiner Haus

Simple food. Not pretty on the outside. Off the main route so it doesn't get too busy. To get there from the top of the Sendleiten chair just turn left and follow the signs. Waitress service. Mixed reports on the food this winter. Open all year. Stay overnight and get your baggage delivered by a piste basher.

Haitzingalm Hutte

At the bottom of the Kleine Scharte chair and the top of the Haitzingalmbahn chair so it is in a really good position at the side of the Piste. Large terrace, and can get busy in season. Now has a big conservatory on the side. Not a large menu but healthy portions. Spaghetti is particularly good. Service is fast, friendly and efficient. Favourite place for a coffee stop, it comes with a nutty chocolate and a glass of water. A good place to meet other skiers as all abilities can get here.  Run by a nice couple, Tom and Waltraud, lots of locals use the place. It is also the place where we go most often when we are skiing. Open during the summer when the weather is fine.

Brandnerbaur

Ski down to the farm! On the right turn at the bottom of the H2a run down from the Aeroplanstadl. Family run and friendly. It is not too busy and well worth taking time out. It's closed in summer but they also have a hut (Brandner Hochalm) high up in the summer pastures - love it. Has rooms.

Aeroplanstadl

On the junction of H2 and H3, the Aeroplan is busy throughout the day, particularly popular as an apres-ski place. Self-service food, they have pictures of all the dishes on the menu so avoids surprises. Bit of a food factory and needs to be to keep up with demand, particularly in High Season. Impressive Apple Strudel. Good draught beers.

Kitzsteinalm

Large middle station restaurant on the right of the Kitzstein train and cable car station. Popular with the ski schools but not a place we visit.

Berglift Restaurant

In the valley at the bottom of the Schlossalmbahn Train alongside the lift station. Very good value and service with excellent traditional Austrian food. Very wide selection on the menu. Tyroler Grostl is particularly good. They usually have a good value lunchtime special menu. Also has an outside bar. Waiter/waitress  service.