Après-Ski / Nightlife

We recommend you walk through the old city for just about every version of nightlife you could desire. The view is beautiful and you’ll find small pubs and bars hidden in alleys and under archways.

Check with the tourist office for a list of concerts taking place around town or go to www.webticket.at—tickets are also sold at the information office. You never know who’s touring Europe while you’re on vacation.

Innsbruck has a bit of something for everyone. Here’s the lowdown:

Innsbruck’s Casino (photo right), the largest in Austria, attached to the Hilton Innsbruck at Salurner Strasse 15, is open for elegant gaming. Jackets are required.

The Europa-Bar in the Europa Hotel and the 5th floor bar (photo below) at the modern Hotel The Penz in the city-centre are popular spots, but the hottest meeting places in town are the bars that fill the town hall gallery which include Gössers and Havanna. The Roof Top Wine Bar 360° gives you a spectacular view from Innsbruck & the surrounding mountains.

For the young crowd, hot spots with a pub and beer atmosphere are the Theresienbräu and the Elferhaus.

Piano Cafe/Bar (Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse 5) is definitely for an older (40s and older), upscale crowd. It is relaxed and comfortable with an antique interior and paintings that cover the walls. Look carefully—it’s easy to miss.

Café Club Dine & Dance (Siftgasse 12) is a large Victorian bar with high ceilings and a smoking club atmosphere. Ring the bell to enter. The club has a large and spacious interior with seating in a loft over the main floor and a quieter, more intimate bar to the side. The crowd is mixed, but leans toward older side clientele.

Limerick Bill’s (Maria-Theresien-Strasse 9) is an Irish Pub with three upper levels and a basement. On Friday and Saturday there are bands and dance-till-you-drop evenings that can last until the wee hours of the morning.

Treibhaus (www.treibhaus.at) tucked in a back alley behind China Restaurant, just outside the Altstadt, is Innsbruck’s real bohemian hangout for all ages and types, tourists and locals alike. A spacious upstairs has a kitchen serving mediocre pizza and the basement is known for hot local jazz and ethnic music on most nights and Sunday mornings.

Krahvogel (Anichstrasse 12, www.krahvogel.at) is a very trendy “in”-bar with live music.
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For a spectacular place to sip coffee and drinks, try Segafredo Sky (on the top floor of Universitatsstrasse 15) just across the street from the Jesuitenkirche. It is nice to see the city from rooftop level. You have the mountains in one direction and the twin church towers of the Jesuitenkirche on the other.

On the ground level of the same building check out Proseccheria Mionetto, a sparkling wine bar, featuring the Italian version of dry champagne.

Other recommended spots are: Toscana, a creative, old-fashioned bar and hang out for artists and intellectuals; Ebi’ s Cocktail Bar; and Bögen-Lokale where you can dance and party until morning

Bacchus is a former 80s disco now one of the gay/lesbian meeting places in town and open until dawn.

Austria prides itself on great cafes. These are some of the best in Innsbruck.

Cafe Sacher at the entrance of the Hofburg serves coffees and rich chocolate cakes and pastries under crystal chandeliers. Try also Cafe Mundig, Café Katzung, Murauer Cafe and Café Kröll.

Just Outside the Center (worth a pilgrimage for pastry and coffee lovers)

Valier (Maximilianstrasse 27) won the “Golden Coffee Bean” in 1999. Critics rave about the pastries and the creams created by this cafe artist.

Gritsch (Anichstrasse 18) combines an excellent cafe with a bar and a bistro. This is a great place for a drink or snack as well. Ask for any of the following that will cure any sweet tooth—Schwarzwälder Kirsch, Apfelstrudel or Indianer mit Schlag.

Cafe Central (Central Hotel/Boznerplatz) is a true Viennese music cafe offering live piano music and Tango on Sunday evenings (8–11 p.m.). It also has a meal menu with elaborate pastries and desserts. Eat amidst a semi-grand interior and enjoy a large collection of newspapers. This is the traditional coffeehouse of Innsbruck.