But please without cheese! – Finding restaurants that offer good vegan options is not so easy, at least not in Austria’s traditional countryside. And believe me this rural area of Austria is very traditional! Welcome to the so-called Salzkammergut, also known as lake and mountain region. Located in the middle of Austria it is easily reachable and has some vegan friendly hosts that you shouldn’t miss.
If you want to discover Austria’s great nature with stunning mountain peaks and refreshing clear lakes but not give up on the plant based culinary delight, you came to the right place.
This blog post unveils small cafés, bistros and fancy restaurants that care for your vegan diet. Let’s dive in.
Vegan cafés, breakfast and brunch in the Salzkammergut
In Mondsee you can find the breakfast restaurant Naked Flowers. Start the day right with a rich breakfast bowl, avocado toast or porridge. Similar healthy breakfast or brunch you can have at the cozy Dorfcafe Lenzing.
At Bilobi in Strobl you can have with your breakfast a caffeine-free coffee alternative: lupins coffee with vegan cream and coconut sugar.
If you are in for a treat these two cafes in Gmunden should not be missed: Piu-ma and La Sonett. Piu-ma is a very small, cute place for a coffee and cake. I had the best chocolate cake – be aware they don’t always have vegan cakes. La Sonett has a big collection of sweets, but the vegan options are a little slim.
The famous Zauner confectionery in Bad Ischl has a vegan breakfast option. An interesting fact is that this pastry shop has the biggest European cake buffet. Ask if they have vegan cakes, sometimes they do and the dark Zaunerstollen is vegan!
Additionally, at the Café Anna kredenzt in St. Georgen im Attergau is a great option for vegans. Either for breakfast or for cake.
Plant-based options at the Christmas markets
The Christmas markets in the lake and mountain region are magical. However, when it comes to vegan treats, they have for sure need to catch up. If you like chestnuts or potato fries you can find that almost at every Christmas market. But if you want something else it’s going to be difficult. The only Christmas market that has a stand with vegan food is in Mondsee, where you can have a vegan potato soup, and you might find vegan Bosna. Surprisingly also Wolfgangsee has one vegan dish that is the garlic soup in a bread.
Bistros and small restaurants with vegan options
In Mondsee your vegan heart beats faster because next to Naked Flower you can find Marias Biotreff, which is a shop where you can find organic foods as well as cosmetics. Also, there you can have breakfast as well as lunch and snacks.
At the Kostbar Syriana in Bad Goisern you can dive into Middle Eastern flavours: hummus, falafel, flat bread, baba ghanoush and many other specialities.
A small street food truck at the Lidl parking lot in Lenzing called Mei.Essn offers Thai bowls for take away don’t forget your reusable containers.
Newly opened and something that still needs to find its place in the (too) traditional townscape of Bad Ischl: Kayu Bowl. Sweet and savoury bowls perfect for an easy lunch.
Just a few houses before also on the same street you find Ofenfrisch, where you can enjoy a delicious vegan Bosna with fries. Something I highly recommend over Börni Börger who offer a vegan burger with potato patty, pineapple and mild chili peppers. A mix that isn’t delicious.
There are many bistros next to the numerous lakes in the region. Most of them have at least fries for vegans or at the Die Strandung Beach Bar in Altmünster you can also enjoy a vegan burger. In Schörfling at the Gerüchteküche you can have a vegan Bosna.
Vegan at the mountains of Austrias lake region
Many mountain huts in Austria already offer vegan options. Make sure you call the mountain huts beforehand and ask about vegan dishes. Good experiences with vegan foods on mountain huts I had was at the Ebenseer Hochkogelhaus, the Wiesberghaus – the food was exceptionally good. At the Rieder Hütte you find vegan apple strudel and a vegan main dish. The Pühringer Hütte and the Gablonzer Hütte also have vegan strengthening for hungry hikers.
Restaurants that offer plant-based meals
Die Röhre in Unterarch am Attersee translated The Tube. Because it is an actual tube, a construction tube converted into a restaurant, where you can find many vegan dishes and even ice cream and other desserts. The location right next to the street is not the most beautiful one but it is surrounded by nature. And the food is delicious.
Fencing Italian food then you can get satisfied in Strobl at the restaurant Carlzone Strobl. With a good selection of vegan dishes, you will find something there for sure. Ideal for a quick lunch break during a day on Lake Wolfgang.
At the next town in St. Wolfgang the Mexican fans will come to their taste. At the Genussschmied you can enjoy vegan tacos, quesadillas or a one pot dish. I will tell you a secret: the quesadillas are super tasty. If you need a lot of food to get full you will need to order a starter.
Helis in Vöcklabruck is a vegetarian-vegan Restaurant with a small menu, but delectable dishes. The portions are big and price good.
After Italian and Mexican cuisine comes the Moroccan kitchen. In Gmunden you find the Adagio restaurant that is colourfully decorated with true north African spirit. Enjoy the mouth-watering vegan dishes in the lovely town of Gmunden.
Next up is Thai food, back at the Wolfgangsee. The Hotel & Restaurant Bürglstein, the Austrian Thai chef offers a little bit of local dishes with exotic Thai dishes. Plus, there you find a great selection of vegan Thai food.
For the next recommendation you need to hike – after the moto no pain no gain. But no worries, it is a short hike to reach the restaurant at the Siriuskogl in Bad Ischl. There you have not only a fantastic view over the gorgeous town but also a few vegan treats, like vegan burgers or Bosna.
Restaurants with limited offers for vegans
The following list of restaurants also offers vegan dishes or have at least one dish on their menu:
The EQ Erlebnisquartier right at the valley station of the Schafbergbahn the menu changes seasonal, most times there is also a vegan option or vegetarian that can be made vegan.
At the Das Klimt in Schörfling am Attersee you find various vegan treats. The Gustobox Attersee has vegan bruger und tarte flambée. Stoegmueller in Gmunden has a vegan breakfast option and two lunch options.
Le Burger in Gmunden, Paul der Wirt in St. Wolfgang, Hias offers vegan Pizza in Wolfgang, Hotel Jakob in Fuschl am See, Seerose in Fuschl am See, Inzima in Lenzing, k.u.k. Hofwirt and k.u.k. Hofbeisl Osteria (Pizza is served without cheese, not my fav.) in Bad Ischl.
Schmankerlstuben in St. Wolfgang, Narzissen Restaurant in Bad Aussee, Dorfwirt in Irrsee, Das Wirtshaus, Restaurant Brandauers and Kirchenwirt in Strobl, Brunnwind in St Gilgen.
AlpenParks in Altaussee has a good selection of vegetarian dishes, Gasthaus Rostiger Anker and Restaurant im Seehotel in Grundlsee.
Higher-end dining options for vegans
If you want to get out, dress up all fancy or have a special occasion, those are the restaurants I recommend – which does not mean that you can’t do that at any restaurant from the list above. Those are interchangeable categories.
Right next to the river Traun in Bad Ischl you find a chic Boutique hotel with a restaurant Trauntown. You can enjoy vegan snacks, sandwiches, bowls, burgers and my favourite vegan pinsa (pinsa is like pizza but the dough is made differently, so that it is easier to digest).
Belétage at the Traunsee is really high end. The chef is a well-known chef. A lot of the dishes are grilled or pickled vegetables. You can order a few dishes and share them if there are more people. It is also a great place to come for just a special drink. Or you can have breakfast and enjoy a day spa.
At Das Attersee directly at the lake you get summer feeling pure. The boho-chic restaurant has a broad offer of drinks, vegan tapas, salad, soup and a few vegan main courses. Don’t worry even in the winter they made a special visit at the restaurant with your table in an igloo or hut.
Die Wasnerin in Bad Aussee is a health focused hotel that doesn’t close its eyes from healthy nutrition. For dinner you can choose from a 3-5 course menu and spoil yourself with flavourful vegan dishes.
At the Seesushi restaurant at Strobl you cannot only get “lake sushi” but also vegan treats. Make sure you reserve your table. The restaurant is well visited.
Additionally you can have a look at the following restaurants: Goiserer Mühle and Steegwirt in Bad Goisern, Restaurant Stefan Haas Fine Dine in Altaussee.
Where vegans find together
Something a little bit further from the lakes and mountains, in Wels you find the Vegane Wirtinnen – vegan host. They have breakfast and lunch and are not open daily. Furthermore, they host events on occasion, like a brunch with board games or yoga and dinner.
At the vegan living room (vegans Wohnzimmer) in Altmünster are occasionally vegan brunches or similar events. These events are hosted by an association; it is not a regular restaurant. But I can highly recommend the food and the social aspect of it.
The author of the blog
Lisi is an adventurous, mostly solo traveler from Austria. She likes to travel slowly, discover underrated countries/regions, and of course, learn about cultures. She has been traveling the world and creating travel content since 2016. With a degree in tourism management and a passion for travel and cultures, she wants to tell stories that inspire her readers and help them travel more consciously.
