One of the best restaurants in Austria is the Schindlhaus (516136; photo above) in Söll. A young chef has swept in, creating exciting meals. Critics claim the wines are also priced exceptionally. The Mediterranean influences here are blended with local mountain foods.

Hotel Bär (05358-2395, fax 239596) and the Kaiserhof (5358-2022, fax 220260) are in the same class as Schindlhaus. At the Bär try the homemade gnocchi, the appetizer bar, the grilled specialties with a strong garlic sauce and finish off with a fine cheese. The Kaiserhof might serve salmon tartar followed by fine seafood with cream polenta. Any gourmet lover will leave pleased. Costs are in the range of €23–€50 at any of these three award-winning restaurants.

Another top restaurant in the region is Brixner Thalhof (05334-8468) in Brixen im Thale. This restaurant is proof positive that good simple cooking is sometimes the best. Even the most expensive meal doesn’t break €25. We could eat here every night.

Stallhäusl (05332-76342) comes highly recommended as does the Stöcklalm (05333-5127). Gasthof Hochfilzer (05333-5491) is about one-and-a-half km. out of town but is well worth the walk.

The Stube of the Postwirt has the most atmosphere, given the group of old timers at the big front table who puff on their pipes and argue loudly about everything. The food is good and filling. The Stube came in second for best apple strudel in town. It was good but not quite as fine as Cafe Mirabel’s, up the street past the Thomson Tours office.