Stiftskeller

Stiftskeller is a cellar restaurant at Stiftgasse 1 in the Altstadt of Innsbruck, Tyrol, close to the Hofgarten and the imperial buildings at the northern edge of the Old Town. The vaulted cellar setting is its defining feature, giving the dining rooms a cool, enclosed character quite different from the street-front inns nearby. It serves Tyrolean mains and desserts at mid-range prices, with mains around EUR 14-25 (about $16-29). There is no Michelin recognition or celebrated chef behind it; the proposition is traditional cooking in an atmospheric historic space.

Signature dishes are drawn from the regional repertoire. Tiroler Gröstl, the pan-fried potato and meat dish topped with egg, appears as a staple. Schweinsbraten with Knödel, roast pork with a bread or potato dumpling and gravy, is a hearty Austrian Sunday-style plate. Apfelstrudel, the thin pastry filled with spiced apple, is the most common dessert choice and a fitting end to a Tyrolean meal. Portions are large, so many diners skip a starter.

The vaulted brick or stone ceilings create a warm and slightly echoing room that fills with conversation at busy times. Dress is casual, and the mood is relaxed and convivial, more suited to groups and families than to quiet romantic dinners. Beverages include Austrian beer, regional wine and the usual soft drinks; there is no specialist cellar programme in the sense of a sommelier-led list, despite the name.

Reservations are recommended on weekends and during busy seasons such as the Christmas markets, when the Old Town is crowded. On weekdays, a table can often be found without booking, but a phone call or website booking removes the risk. Booking a day or two ahead is generally sufficient. The location, a short walk from the Hofburg, the Hofkirche and the Hofgarten, makes it a convenient lunch or dinner stop within a day of sightseeing in central Innsbruck.