4 Best Restaurants in Carinthia and Graz, Austria

This rustic brewery is in one of the oldest buildings in Klagenfurt and attracts a mixed and lively clientele. The excellent beer produced here pairs perfectly with the local cuisine. If the weather permits, try to get a place in the lovely courtyard. Its convenient location in the city center makes it a popular meeting place; be prepared for a crowd.

A tiny old house turned coffee shop in the center of the city, Cafe Schwalbennest serves traditional Austrian cakes such as homemade sweet poppy seed and cheese-curd tort. It's also a great breakfast spot with regionally sourced cheese and meat, and has a nice Austrian wine list for later in the day. Green shutters on a red facade make Cafe Schwalbennest easy to spot, and there is an upstairs patio overlooking the River Mur, which runs through Graz. But beware, with only three tables upstairs, it can be difficult to snag a spot.

Warm wooden parlors, romantic corners, and authentic Austrian cuisine define this rustic spot. Products are mainly local and seasonal, in keeping with the restaurant's slow-food philosophy. Pumpkin and dark-green pumpkinseed oil are prominent ingredients. Try the schnitzel in a coat of pumpkinseeds with potatoes and field salad or homemade pasta with pumpkinseed pesto. Leave space for dessert such as parfait with plum jam. The daily lunch menus are popular with locals, and the restaurant can get packed quickly.