Graz
"Where should I go to eat, what food will I like and what do the locals prefer?" All to often, tourist’s questions are left unanswered and as a result, they end up in a tourist trap! Here is a short overview of what Graz can offer the taste buds!Starting off at the Färberplatz and the adjacent Mehlplatz, both of which are in the heart of the Old Town, visitors can find a number of places to eat and drink, all of which will reflect the city’s culinary diversity.
Restaurants
If you want to sample the Steiermark region’s local cuisine, then you would be well advised to go to the or the Gambrinuskeller or the Gamlitzer Weinstube. You could also try the well-known Gasthaus zur Goldenen Pastete. If you find yourself in the city centre but still want to enjoy a bit of scenery, the Klöcherperle is a good choice.
If you cross the Mur and go to the Lend district, you will also find a number of excellent restaurants, such as the Altseirischen Schmankerlstube, which is en route, or the cosy Mohrenwirt, situated beneath the Mariahilf Church.
As everyone knows, it’s not only good food, but also atmosphere and surroundings that make a restaurant special. With this in mind, the Kehlberghof, which has 14 Gault Milau points and is situated at the edge of Graz, has to be mentioned. It’s a truly original restaurant. The Casino-Restaurant is also renowned for its fine cuisine and the Laufke is perfect for candlelight dinners in a wooden-paneled room.
Lovers of Italian food will enjoy the Amalfi and the city’s hip and trendy young (and young at heart) frequent the Ristorante Galliano, which also serves Mediterranean cuisine.
Graz is also home to a number of splendid Spanish and Latin American restaurants such as the Malaga and the Brot und Spiele in the Mariahilfstraße 17. The latter restaurant’s special attraction is the exhibit of what is rumoured to be one of Che Guevara’s socks (with holes!)! The Rincon-Andino in the Eggenberg district and the La Puerta in the pedestrian shopping zone are also worth a visit – both are known for their South American grilled foods!
If you like steak, or Texan, Argentinian or Brazilian foods then the Steak House Biergwölb zum Pfiff (Tel +43 316 82 34 02; Mo-Fr: 11:00-24:00; Sa: 18:00-24:00; Schönaugasse 3; 8010 Graz) is very good and it also serves regional meat dishes. Persian specialties can be sampled at the Shiraz in the Schönaugasse 41 (Tel: +43 316 82 05 05 / +43 676 790 00 03) – visit and you’ll soon discover that one thousand and one culinary desires can be fulfilled!
Since opening a year ago, the Kornati seafood restaurant has proved a welcome addition to the city’s restaurant scene. It serves mouthwatering dalmatian fish dishes. Don’t despair if you are vegetarian, the staff at the Mangold are on hand to take your order.
Trendy Bars and Pubs
Its location in the southern Alpine region has caused Graz to acquire some Mediterranean characteristics, both climatically and atmospherically. Coupled with the fact that it is a university city, the city has a certain joie de vivre and openness to it, and its nightlife scene is sure to reflect this.
You can find places to sit and have a chat or have a snack throughout the day and into the early hours. The Wartburg is a local favorite, as are the Poco Loco (be warned, the cocktails are addictive), the Posaune and the Bierbaron.
St. Leonard locals visit the Girardikeller. If you want to mingle with the in-crowd, then you will have to find your way to the Schillerhof.
The Kommod has reached near-legendary status since opening and the nearby Triangel and Stockwerk also get crowded, this not least being due to the tasteful music they play. If you like pub culture then Graz has something just for you. As their names suggest, Flann O‘ Brien, and Molly Mallone have a celtic touch serving up Irish beers and whiskeys.
In fact, their seems to be no end to the number of English/Irish pubs that are opening in Graz, with Kavannagh's being the most recent addition. Along with the re-opened Stern, this inner city district has been given a breath of fresh air.
Cafes and Bars
Coffee house culture has been a central feature of Austrian life since the Turkish Wars and you can find wonderful cafes throughout Austria. Visit any one of them and discover why this part of Europe is famous for opening its living room to the public.
There are three coffee houses in Graz which are especially noteworthy: the Strehly, the café in the Hotel Herzog and the Opera Cafe (Opernring 22).
Another jewel in the crown is the Fotter. In the summer you can easily pass an hour or two over a coffee in its magical gardens.
Those with a sweet tooth will no doubt find a special place in their hearts for the Philip and the Café Preinsack. Every day, the in-house bakers make lots of delicious cakes, gateaux and chocolates. The Segafredo or the Don Camillo in the picturesque Franciscan Square are perfect for a Macchiato to go.
Fast Food the Austrian way
Eating on the go is not a problem in Austria – you will find countless sausage stands (Würstelstand) on every corner, which also sell excellent barbecued foods. Here are some tips on what you could order if you come across the following: do try the "Kotelett-Semmel" (Cutlet Roll) at the Würstelstand am Jakominiplatz, which is virtually a meal in itself, along with the Krainer with horseradish and mustard. If you’re at the Hauptplatz, you’ll find various vendors selling delicious doener kebabs and mozzarella sticks as well as regionally produced roasted sausages. The Würstelstand Gutmann is also very good.
Photo: Graz Tourismus, Hans Wiesenhofer
Copyright © 1999-2008 wcities.com all right reserved
