Ski & Snow

Culinary Favorites

Exercise in crisp and clean mountain air makes hungry, especially if you do sports in high Alpine areas beyond 3.000 meters altitude – just like in Sölden’s two glacier ski areas. As is right and proper in one of Austria’s most popular and trendy ski areas, you can choose from myriad self-service ski huts but also from unique mountain restaurants with table service, which are an absolute must-visit. So we looked around the giant ski area that covers incredible 146 slope kilometers and found three absolute favorites: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and one for the road! All of them are easily accessible by top modern mountain lifts for both skiers and non-skiers.

Breakfast at “Wirtshaus Giggijoch”. © Rudi Wyhlidal / Bergbahnen Sölden.

Breakfast at “Wirtshaus Giggijoch”

For a great start into the day, we treat ourselves to a lavish breakfast including Tirolean delights. At 8 pm one of the first mountain gondolas takes us to the Giggijoch top station and Wirtshaus Giggijoch, a rustic mountain inn in modern Alpine stile. Accompanied by the very first sunrays, we indulge in freshly baked bread rolls, scrambled eggs with bacon, yogurt, ham and cheese delights, a glass of prosecco and orange juice.

Those who prefer having breakfast later (available until 11 am), can also sit on the sunny and wind-protected terrace which offers awesome views of the surrounding mountain world.

The breakfast menu is really huge, just perfect to get ready for a memorable day on Sölden’s marvelous ski slopes. While taking a look back to “Wirtshaus Giggijoch” we decide to come back very soon: the homemade Austrian specialties served for lunch and in the afternoon are definitely worth a try! The scent of freshly baked apple strudel and “Topfennockerln” was in the air when we left the inn…

What’s next? A very spectacular location for lunch: the ice Q gourmet restaurant at 3.048 meters above sea level – close to the Gaislachkogl top station. The huge glass facade reminds of a futurist building that offers uninterrupted panoramic views, encircled by no less than 250 mountain peaks above 3.500 meters. Lunchtime with a view! It’s hardly surprising that the James Bond movie producers have chosen this fabulous spot as one of their prime shooting locations.

There are two options at the ice Q: enjoy fine wines and haute cuisine in the restaurant area where mouth-watering lunch menus are served and an excellent kitchen team prepares culinary treats, accompanied by a glass of noble wine. Or make a shorter lunch break in the wonderful panorama lounge or on the sunny terrace where a huge choice of trendy drinks and wines plus exquisite snacks and tapas await you all day long.

Afternoon snack in the “Tiroler Stube”

After a gorgeous day on the slopes you are yearning for a last break before the ski lifts will close, just to get into the right mood for jovial après-ski hours down in the valley. We strongly recommend a stopover in the “Tiroler Stube” at the middle station of Gaislachkogl mountain gondola. Special treats: daily changing dumpling specialties or mouth-watering sweets like typical Ötztal fried donuts called “Ziachkiachl”.

Lunch break in the “Tiroler Stube”. © Ernst Lorenzi / Ötztal Tourismus

What’s best, the restaurant has table service either in the wood-paneled lounge or on the sunny terrace and you can choose from six different draft beers (ask for the Beer Pass!), varied wine specialties, excellent spirits and long drinks. And don’t worry, you can always take the mountain gondola for returning to the valley just in case you had a couple of drinks.

Sunbathing on the terrace of Restaurant Schwarzkogl

Last but not least: don’t miss the splendid sun terrace of Restaurant Schwarzkogl at 2.595 meters altitude – in winter accessible only on skis or snowboard (piste no. 24). It ranks among the sunniest spots of the entire ski area, offering deckchairs and a relaxation area. The stunning views of the mighty Gaislachkogl peak and the Rettenbach glacier fields add to a memorable experience.

Additionally, this self-service restaurant is famous for its Italian-style dishes including gratinated fruit, lemon sorbet, angler fish in a coat of chorizo, truffled pork fillet as well as fresh yogurt and fruits.

Fantastic view of Ötztal’s mountain world. © Ötztal Tourismus

Florian Weis, Skigebiete-Test.de.

Florian Weis, Skigebiete-Test.de

Florian Weis, managing director of TouriSpo GmbH & Co. Kg, has been responsible for Germany’s most popular winter sports portal Skigebiete-Test.de for more than 10 years. He feels at home in all ski areas around the globe. If he doesn’t hit the slopes together with his three sons in the nearby Bavarian Forest, he probably enjoys winter sport days in the major ski areas of Austria, Switzerland or North America.