Gastro guide: Top food & travel destinations in Graz, Austria

Kunsthaus Graz. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/KunsthausGraz?locale=de_DE

One of the main reasons drawing so many people to Austria is its aesthetic: the postcard-pretty cityscape, accented by stunning Baroque mansions, cobbled streets, and terracotta rooftops, embraced by broad-crowned trees. Any innovation added to the picture immediately strikes the eye. And in the very heart of Styria, the award for being the most bizarre (in a good sense), extraordinary, and futuristic structure goes to Kunsthaus Graz (Graz Art Museum).

Locals lovingly call it the Friendly Alien, and once you see the rounded shape with some sort of tubes on top, your imagination can’t help but visualize a cute extraterrestrial creature. Built in 2003 after the project of Colin Fournier and Sir Peter Cook, the gallery houses contemporary art, and its intentionally provocative appearance is categorized as blob architecture. The whole purpose here was to organize less strict and institutional exhibition areas by implementing unique forms and materials.

Among this year’s museum highlights are Kellerkino – a philosophic approach to the power of cinematography to frame space and time; Renate Krammer’s study of lines; and Azra Akšamija’s Sanctuary, revolving around the ethical and other aspects of sustainability.

Ticket pricing – €5,50 – €12

One cannot enter the belly of the alien and come out without eating a delicious meal. Kunsthaus Café is the museum bistro that serves haute cuisine. It may sound like a traditional coffeehouse, but instead, you will discover a hotspot for young urban people. The interiors are not as spectacular as the biomorphic blob architecture nearby, but they do have a charming industrial feel, created with plain cement floors, walls, and ceilings, coupled with hanging Edison lamps and wooden metal furniture.

During the day, the kitchen prepares breakfast and brunch specialties accompanied by coffee and tea. Later on, you can sip on long drinks while munching on small plates of shareable foods. Some of the dishes to sample here are smashed beef burgers with cocktail sauce, curry bowl with chicken rice in mint-parsley sauce, beef tartare with avocado salad, granola bowl with yogurt, and roast beef quesadilla with baked beans. Kunsthaus Café also provides a dessert display where you can find sweet items like vegan carrot cake and chocolate cake with berry compôte.

Average bill – €34

The Austrian Sculpture Park. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/Skulpturenpark

The next attraction is a true gem – Österreichischer Skulpturen Park (Austrian Sculpture Park) showcases the fascinating idea of what can happen when art and nature combine, complement each other, and miraculously generate an immersive experience. This expo is only open from March up until mid-November, so your tour under the blue skies will be pleasant and undisturbed by unexpected temperature swings.

Founded on the premises of the International Garden Show in 2003, this landmark features 80 permanent sculptures designed by artists from all over the world. Each exhibit merges with the surroundings in an unpredicted manner illustrating the organic dialogue between flora, fauna, and the human mind. Here, everything is involved: daylight, weather, sound, and people influence the whole picture and the impression it radiates. By the way, admission to the park is free, which is another motivating factor to devote some time to exploring the perks of contemporary creations.

After a stroll through the artsy park, head over to El Pescador for a Mediterranean gastronomic experience. It is a premium seafood restaurant with a cosmopolitan and urban setting. The decor is cozy and casual in atmosphere, giving off a maritime feel.

Start your evening with raw specialties, such as fresh-shucked oysters, thin slices of scallops with teriyaki sauce, and bluefin tuna tartare. Move onto exciting grilled and sautéed delicacies like crab cevapcici, branzino filet with asparagus, swordfish steak cooked on a bed of sea salt, beef steak with tiger prawns in red pepper sauce, creamy risotto cooked in lobster bisque, and stewed mussels with garlic bread. There is a three-course tasting menu at El Pescador which consists of an appetizer or soup of your choice, fish filet in sauce with a side dish, and a dessert. Pair your meal with a fine Champagne or a glass of local red wine from their extensive sommelier-curated drinks list.

Average bill – €52

Murinsel (Mur Island). Photo from https://www.facebook.com/murinselgraz/ https://murinselgraz.at/en/

As you might have noticed, in this guide, we are mostly focused on all things art suspiciously established at the same time, in 2003. Well, there is no conspiracy here – almost 23 years ago, Graz was granted the honorable role of European Capital of Culture in 2003, which led to an incredible boost of beautifully implemented creative ideas. Murinsel, being one of them, is a man-built steel island that resembles a gigantic upside-down seashell inspired by the legendary works of Vladimir Shukhov – a Russian engineer and architect.

Inside the 47-meter-long structure floating in the River Mur, you will find an amphitheater hosting music concerts, lectures, and various performances, a cozy café boasting a breathtaking view through its panoramic windows, a slide, a rope maze, and a playground for kids.

Kornati is a Mediterranean-inspired quaint establishment, nestled inside a blue house in Franckstarsse district. It offers authentic Croatian cuisine made from the produce of the Adriatic Sea. The owner, Boro Radmanovic, is an Austrian globetrotter who loves to share his passion for good food and fine wine with his guests. The kitchen team combines fresh fruits de mer and meat with regional vegetables to create classic dishes presented in the form of their signature tasting menus.

Indulge your taste buds on a gastronomic journey with irresistible delights: beets and goat cheese salad with walnuts, crispy calamari in pickle aioli, chestnut mushroom risotto topped with chili oil, yellowfin tuna steak with cauliflower cream, and seafood stew with shrimps, mussels and calamari in spinach velouté with polenta. In sweets, you can enjoy dessert items like white chocolate ganache with peach sorbet and lavender panna cotta with orange syrup. All the tasting menus are accompanied by an optional wine pairing of Istrian and Dalmatian labels.

4-course menu – €65
Wine pairing – €34

5-course menu – €75
Wine pairing – €46

The Natural History Museum. Photo from https://www.facebook.com/Joanneumsviertel

Exploring modern tendencies is undoubtedly a very fascinating activity. But if you want to discover Graz in its entirety, reflecting on its past might be equally exciting. To find out how the region’s flora and fauna have evolved since the Earth’s formation, head to the Natural History Museum. Its multi-level exhibitions include numerous geology, paleontology, zoology, and botany artifacts.

Gaze at the Ice Age displays and fossils, showing a complex process that led to the biodiversity of the present. Apart from the permanent expos, you can also visit temporary programs, such as Spores (07.09.2023 – 14.07.2024), featuring an array of enlarged microscopic images, videos, and even some models in living conditions.

Ticket pricing – €5,50 – €12

Talking about history, L’Osteria is a neighborhood trattoria that has been serving the gourmands for over 20 years. Started in 1999 in Nuremberg, it is a chain of Italian restaurants that have been successfully represented in eight other European countries, including Switzerland, England, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Austria, France, and Luxembourg. The one in Graz is a popular meeting place for lovers of pizza and pasta.

Located in the heart of the old town, L’Osteria has a vintage flair to its ambiance especially if you are sitting outside near the Baroque palace walls. The dining room possesses a modern open bar and is adorned with Mediterranean design furnishings that harmonize perfectly with the surroundings. Another highlight is that the fresh pasta is made in L'Osteria’s very own company factory, along with the pizza dough. Patrons of the restaurant can savor exquisite dishes: spinach ravioli with bacon, creamy calamari risotto with red-yellow peppers, warm chickpea salad with fried shrimp in garlic oil, bratwurst pizza with fennel, and chicken gnocchi in tomato sauce. Do not miss out on their delightful warm apple crumble cake with vanilla ice cream, for a sweet culmination.

Average bill – €47

Schlossberg. Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

It would be a pity to spend a vacation in Graz and not find time to marvel at its charming historic sights. So lace up your all-day sneakers and explore the top destination (figuratively and literally) of the city – Schlossberg. Getting there is an adventure in itself – climbing 260 steps leading to the local emblem – the clock tower – might feel a bit challenging, but the reward is truly satisfying: a spectacular bird’s eye view over the beautiful old town, with its tiled rooftops of the cute, pastel-colored mansions.

The clock is cherished as an ancient treasure dating back to the sixteenth century, and its quirky feature – reversed hands – gives it a unique appeal reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s looking-glass house.

There is a fabulous park with manicured gardens around, offering numerous picnic spots. A hidden tunnel pierces the hill, lined with neon compositions. The entire cave network even accommodates a nightclub and the world’s longest underground slide for a speedy way down.

The Slide Graz – €6,00

Situated on top of the Schlossberg mountain, Aiola Upstairs is the ideal place to enjoy the best panoramic views in Graz. It boasts an outdoor patio with white-canvas umbrellas and a seamlessly designed interior behind floor-to-ceiling glass walls that blend into the environment. The restaurant serves traditional Austrian breakfasts with a selection of bread, cheese, and smoked meats, along with yummy morning cocktails like mimosas and bloody marys.

In the evening, Aiola Upstairs transforms into a chic establishment that features international upscale cuisine, coupled with the magical atmosphere of candlelight. Diners can relish scrumptious entrées, such as porcini mushroom risotto, yellow curry chickpeas with vegetables, charred sole filet with horseradish, pan-fried prawns in Port wine jus, grilled pork cutlet with gnocchi, and beef sirloin with red cabbage. Complement your food with a great choice of wines and a full bar menu revolving around everyone’s beloved classics.

Average bill – €69

A well-planned itinerary is just a part of the deal for a memorable vacation. Many unexpected occurrences might intervene, such as flight delays, booking cancellations, sudden weather changes, etc. How do you overcome the unpleasant obstacles? And what is the most bizarre thing that happened to you abroad? Share your experience with our community in the comment section below.

To get more ideas on Graz, check out our piece Fine dining in Graz, Austria: the 5 best restaurants.