Colorful winter evening in idyllic Austrian village Hallstatt.
Food - Drink
Here’s What You’ll Find At Austria’s 1,200 Year Old Restaurant
By MICHELLE WELSCH
Opened in 803 A.D., the St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is one of the oldest restaurants in the world. Though Salzburg’s St. Peter’s Abbey was once home to 7th-century Benedictine monks, the structure now houses a wine cellar and nearly a dozen dining rooms that offer traditional dishes, Mediterranean cuisine, and live music.
First mentioned in a document from the time of Charlemagne, the monastery originally focused on wine trading before it became something of a hotel in the early 1500s. In 1992, its first restaurant lease was signed by Claus Haslaur and Veronika Kirchmair, who redesigned the building by imbuing its history with a more urban twist.
Today, the Michelin Guide describes the restaurant as a beautifully designed interior serving traditional Austrian dishes alongside an expansive wine list. Wood carvings from the building’s original facade can still be seen, while Baroque-style rooms offer live Mozart concerts, making this a must-see location for history buffs and foodies alike.