Goldkind

A decidedly bougie offering for such a traditional Austrian town, Goldkind caters to the vegans and veggies, does an absolutely killer breakfast and is a gorgeous little place to go when you can’t face another schnitzel, steak or (OK, but not as good as Italy) pizza. I love it so very, very much here. The smoothies will save your life after a BNO (that’s a Big Night Out, grandad), and the curry is always to die for.

Peraurer

Up by the Ahorn, this is where the meat lovers go for some real, traditional quality cookingThe décor is traditional, Austrian stube with a modern twist, and the steak is cooked to perfection. This is real farm-to-fork dining, with ingredients coming straight from the valley. It’s so local, I’m pretty sure they once told me the name of the cow I was chowing down on. Not great for veggies, perfection if you like classic dishes made with the finest ingredients, cooked to perfection. Extra points for the freshwater wish they usually have on the menu.

El Toro Steak & Tapas

I’ve raved about Peraurer’s steaks (and they’re also really good here!), but it’s the tapas & the grill I want to tell you about. The menu isn’t entirely Spanish (they’ve got burgers, too), but the octopus from the grill is mega, the padron peppers are a delight, and the gambas aren’t too shabby, either. A little pricier than your average, but there’s attention to detail in the flavours here. The desserts are also incredible.

Hotel Edelweiss

OK, it’s time for brutal honesty here. I ate enough schnitzels during my time living in Austria, that I don’t care if I never have another one again. But, if you’re just starting on your journey of discovery of the delights of Austrian cuisine, Hotel Edelweiss will sort you right out. They also do a decent pasta, so if you don’t fancy your meat beaten to a pulp, then wrapped in breadcrumbs, you’ll still have a great meal here. Extra kudos for the hearty salads.

Ciao Pais – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

We mentioned already that you can get a skidoo ride up to this mountain restaurant. For that, alone, Ciao Pais is worth a visit, but even if I had to hike up the piste to get there, I would. For properly warm and welcoming mountain vibes and properly big, steaming bowls of local cuisine, Ciao Pais is always the best choice. The menu remains the same throughout the day and night, so if you don’t manage to get a reservation for the evening, get yourself down Red Run 2000 during the day for the best lunch you’ll find on the mountain. Just don’t tell everyone, or I’ll never get a table again!

Reservations – 0039 335 180 1752 (You can also send a WhatsApp message to this number in English)

Capanna Kind – ON THE DISCOUNT CARD

This self-service restaurant serves pizza, pasta and (to quote my nephew) ‘the best lasagne in the world’. Cheap, fast and great quality, Capanna Kind ticks all the boxes for a lunchtime stop on the mountain. Word to the wise, get in before the ski schools break for lunch, if you want to get a table indoors. Outdoors, they play absolute bangers: 90s RnB and pop classics. From 3pm you’ll often find a DJ up here, so not only is it a great spot throughout the day for food & drinks, you can apres until last lifts, and hop on the Sportinia chairlift to get back down, if you’ve had one too many.