Dining and Nightlife

An independent review from Gary Van Haas

Dining and Nightlife > Après Ski

Innsbruck has an excellent après-ski scene. After a day of skiing, most folks head to the various bars and restaurants around the area. The city center is the most happening spot.

In the Old Town you can find lots of bars and cafés around the town square and alleys. Another thing to remember is that Innsbruck also hosts a bustling Casino with a terrific view, slot machines, roulette, and blackjack tables.

Dining and Nightlife > Dining Out

Innsbruck has superb restaurants with great food and reasonable prices. Some of the best places to eat are the Philipina Welsher restaurant found in the Hotel Europa Tyrol, the Innsbruck Inn, and the Wilder Mann in the nearby village of Lans. Here is where you will find good German Knackwurst and Sauerbraten like you never had it before, topped with mustard and applesauce. Sauerbraten is a traditional dish made from lamb intestines and stuffed with minced veal, lightly grilled in butter, and topped with sauerkraut. You can also find budget restaurants and fast food joints all over the city.

There are several vegetarian places near the Old Town, The Garden being a local favorite. If you are Jewish, you won’t find much in the way of Kosher food here, but some of the traditional wurst-stands on the streets offer Kosher food, as well as an amazing variety of German hot dogs. They are found all over the city center and are an excellent deal for the money. Most restaurants and bars stay open until 2 a.m.

Dining and Nightlife > Clubs And Bars

Innsbruck’s club and bar scene is a good value compared to other European ski resorts such as in Gstaad, Switzerland and Chamonix, France where prices tend to go higher. Drinks and entrance fees are in the reasonable U.S. $5 to $7 range, and the places are usually fun and lively.

Some of the better places are the Wild Club, Moguls, and Innsbruck Inn all located along the big market street, Maria-Theresien-Strasse. Popular bars include the Zwolver Bar and the Piano Bar, where there’s always a crowd as well as the Pavilion located at the Old Palace Garden area.

There is virtually no visible gay scene here at all, and as far as the town goes, it’s a bit conservative, so it’s best to keep your partying to yourself or in the pubs. And the same goes for the straight drinking crowd—no craziness or partying on the streets is allowed, otherwise you may just find yourself visiting the local burgermeister and paying a hefty fine.

Dining and Nightlife > Cinema

Visitors to Innsbruck will be able to see all kinds of new and old American blockbusters and European films in nice, comfy movie theaters. The best one is the Innsbruck Cinema in the center, but the only trouble is they tend to dub all the films in German. The same goes for video rentals in the comfort of your hotel rooms. It’s not very often you will find a movie or video in English. Prices are reasonable and comparable to video rental and theater prices in the United States running about $7 a ticket.

Dining and Nightlife > Performing Arts

Innsbruck has several playhouses in the area and also hosts the world famous Innsbruck Opera House and theater, featuring musicals and such memorable classics as, The Marriage of Figaro, Aida, and more. Here at times, you will also find classical music by Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Ludwig van Beethoven featured. This is a great place to just kickback, relax, and enjoy the finer things in life.

There are also plays being performed weekly at the Performance Theater in the center on Wilhelm Street near the Winter Palace. Just keep in mind that plays are mostly in German.

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