Ask a Local: Innsbruck

Tip 1: Food and Drink off the Beaten Track

One of our favourite bars in Innsbruck is Brooks ODB in the Museumsstraße. It’s a small pop-up bar with a British vibe which opened last autumn. It may well be gone again by March 2020, but we hope not! Brooks is the perfect place to stop off for a quick drink while out and about in the city centre. We recommend the „Damengedeck“ (€4.50), which comprises a glass of prosecco and a shot of „Berliner Luft“ peppermint liqueur. The coffee is also good and tastes even better in combination with one of the delicious cinnamon cakes.

David Schuchter and Anna Pichler love sport and culture. Innsbruck offers both.

If you’ve had one too many peppermint liqueurs the night before, we recommend the Café Central in the Gilmstraße for a bit of easy breakfast living. The „Central“, as it is known to locals, has been our Sunday chillout spot of choice for years and has a real Viennese vibe with its huge chandeliers, old furniture and amusingly grumpy waiters. Try the Café Central soup and a large lemon & soda to top up your electrolyte levels and get you back up and running after a heavy night.

The Café Central in Innsbruck is a great place to get rid of your hangover.

Another top tip for breakfast and lunch is the Meierei in der Wagnerischen. This small restaurant is located within a bookshop, making it ideal to first devour lunch and then a few works of world literature. Breakfast here is really good and features lots of local produce. Lunch is also delicious, though it is a good idea to book in advance – there is just one big table for everyone. In summer there is the option of dining al fresco on the small roof terrace.

At lunchtime we like going to Woody’s Schmankerlkiste. Oli, the owner, originally trained as a mechanical engineer but then decided he wanted to try something new, so he set up a food truck at three locations in Innsbruck offering healthy, regional and seasonal food. It is very much first-come, first-served and while stocks last. Make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment. We like the „Rösti-Burger mit Rote-Beete-Schafskäse-Laibchen“, a burger with pulled pork, beetroot and sheeps‘ cheese.

Friendly and fresh: Woody’s Schmankerlkiste in Innsbruck.

Tip 2: Alpaca Trekking in Seefeld

Animal lovers in and around Innsbruck should make the short trip to Seefeld on Friday or Saturday to take part in an alpaca trek. Alpacas are friendly, sensitive animals which will accompany you on a journey through the beautiful landscape on this high plateau above the Inn Valley. Once you arrive back at the farm, there is plenty of time to pick up a pair of alpaca wool socks from the shop. Seefeld can be reached quickly and easily by train from Innsbruck using the spectacular „Mittenwaldbahn“ railway line blasted into the rock face.

David with a furry friend during an alpaca trek in Seefeld.

Tip 3: Hit the Movies at Cinematograph

Cinematograph is a small cinema in the Museumsstraße affiliated to the larger Leokino in the Anichstraße. Both are known for their wide range of arthouse and independent films. We love the relaxed atmosphere and eclectic selection on offer, a million miles away from the typical mainstream Hollywood fare served up at most cinemas. Most films are shown in the original language with subtitles. We recommend a glass of red wine and a sweet treat such as a „Mannerschnitte“.

Cinematograph is popular with film buffs in Innsbruck.

Tip 4: Picnic at Salfeinsee Lake

In summer and autumn we enjoy going to the Salfeinsee, a mountain lake near Innsbruck. It is a great place to take photos. In the early morning and early evening the lake provides an incredible backdrop as the peaks of the Kalkkögel mountains are reflected on the still surface of the water. It is just a short drive from Innsbruck to Grinzens. Walk into the Senderstal Valley for about four kilometres until you reach the sign for „Salfeinsalm“. Follow the signs to the „Salfeinsee“. It takes around one and a half hours to get to the lake, but the walk is relatively easy. Don’t forget to pack a picnic!

Picnic at the Salfeinsee lake.