You might not think of Salzburg as an all-nighter – and you’d be right – but there’s still plenty going on once the sun sets behind the mountains. During the summer months, evenings become chilly: spent drinking cold beer in the Biergarten in the shade of chestnut trees or gazing out at the domes and towers of the Altstadt from the stylish roof terrace. All year round, you can get into the nightlife scene with a little creativity, sipping biodynamic Austrian wines, craft beers or cocktails in cozy bars on the right bank. And if you’re ready for a party, you’ll find late-night jazz clubs, concerts and DJ nights if you know where to look.
Find a bar by area
Right Bank: Altstadt
Darwin’s
To achieve this nifty little number, follow up your cocktail by summoning it to Salzburg’s prettiest medieval street, Steingasse. Here, soft music, atmospherically backlit vaults and tubular lighting illuminating the bar set the scene. The doodle-like walls are a tribute to the Father of Evolution, with monkey men, globes and theories engraved on them. Cocktails can be groundbreaking, too: from bang-for-the-money espresso martinis to herbal elixirs mixed with local honey that will blow your socks off. See the website for details of regular cocktail making workshops.
To contact: Steingasse 1; facebook.com/darwins.salzburg
Price:%s: ££
Die Weisse
Going strong since 1901, this Salzburger Weissbierbrauerei prides itself on the purity and vibrant flavor of its cloudy Weissbier wheat beer, a love-it-or-hate-it Marmite. Die Weisse is the part of the brewery open to punters and combines a high-ceilinged bar, a series of cozy, timber-lined lounges and a summer courtyard with plenty of tree shade. In addition to an excellent selection of seasonal beers, the menu also includes hearty snacks (meatballs, goulash, fried chicken and schnitzel) that you can gobble up. As the evening progresses, a cheerful crowd and DJs flock to the Sudhaus bar.
To contact: dieweisse.at
Price:%s: ££
Alchimiste Document
Proof that the global craft beer wave has reached Salzburg is Alchimiste Belge. This is a great drinking place where you can taste 150 types of extraordinary beer. Rock tunes play and the atmosphere is relaxed, with a cheerful crowd gathering for cherry-laced Krieks, Trappist beers and hoppy IPAs. If you can’t decide, the chipper bar staff will be happy to give advice. When the weather gets warmer, people flock to the sidewalk terrace on Bergstrasse. And if you have a small group, it’s worth checking out the beer tastings (there are details on the website).
To contact: alchimiste-document.at
Price:%s: ££
Steinterrasse
Steinterrasse is literally the icing on the cake of the new chic boutique Hotel Stein. The seventh-floor rooftop bar inspires little awe with views of the towers, domes and robe-rooms of medieval houses of Salzburg’s castle-crowned Altstadt. While impressive by day, it really comes into its own at night when the city starts to sparkle and the DJs start spinning. Signature cocktails like white peach sorbet and spicy aperolita (pepper-infused aperol with tequila and lime) pair nicely with light snacks, from ceviche to antipasti and tuna sashimi. It’s the perfect Instagrammable spot to sip cocktails and chat over champagne.
To contact: hotelstein.at
Price:%s: £££
Kentkeller
A little further from the center and you reach this impressive beer cellar, which has been around since 1636 and now blends historic flair with urban modern design, with its soaring brick vaults, wood-panelled halls and strikingly backlit bars. There’s always a good buzz, especially in summer when the garden terrace at the foot of the Kapuzinerberg buzzes with locals sipping naturally hazy organic house beer (Steinbier) and nibbling on delicious food (see website for full list of concerts and events). From organic beef on sourdough to homemade fish fingers with parsley potatoes, it’s a step up from the usual pub grub.
To contact: urbankeller.com
Price:%s: ££
Left Bank: Altstadt
Stieglkeller
Once you’ve climbed Salzburg’s high hilltop castle, you can’t beat a cold and bubbly one at this huge beer hall, where vaulted halls are filled with wooden charm and hunting trophies. If it feels a bit Oktoberfest, that’s no coincidence; It was designed by the same architect as the Hofbräuhaus in Munich. And it’s been producing good things for 500 years. The signature is the malty, medium-bodied, top-fermented Märzen, which pairs perfectly with meaty snacks from schnitzel to roast pork. Other Stiegl beers are seasonally enhanced with ingredients such as juniper, coriander and cinnamon. The large terrace offers stunning views of the Altstadt from ringside.
To contact: restaurant-stieglkeller.at
Price:%s: ££
Athlete
Ask any Salzburger to reveal their favorite place for a drink in the Altstadt; You’ll hear Sporer mentioned over and over again. Doing a brisk trade in homemade spirits, punches and liqueurs since 1903, this vaulted, barrel-lined little room is located in the narrowest house on the bustling Getreidegasse. Now run by the fourth generation of the family, Michael Sporer serves 22 different liquors in his great-grandfather’s old liquor store. Opt for a classic herbal liqueur (made according to an old family recipe and containing 19 types of Austrian herbs, fruits and roots), gypsy orange puree, or home-distilled vermouth or gin.
To contact: sporer.at
Price:%s: ££
Mülln
Augustiner Bräustübl
Augustiner Bräustübl, a wonderful beer hall in the shadow of the Mönchsberg cliffs, was founded by monks in 1621. Since then, locals have been flocking here to drink tankards of beer and put the world in order. In winter, the Salzburger fills its vaulted halls with the sound of clinking glasses and chatter, while in summer there is Austria’s largest beer garden, with 1,400 seats, shaded under chestnut trees. Fill your tea from the pump at the entrance. Snack stands serve beer foods like bagels, pork trotters and grilled sausages.
To contact: augustinerbier.at
Price:%s: ££
out of labor
R&D culture
Always a rebel on Salzburg’s cultural scene, ARGEkultur moved away from the mainstream when it was founded in the 1980s, and today there is still an alternative side to its events. Almost anything is possible here, with an expanding roster from poetry slams to concerts, world music, dance, cabaret and party nights with DJs. Expect a relaxed atmosphere for many students coming here (it’s on the Unipark Nonntal campus). ARGE Beisl is the bar side of things, with industrial elegance, daily specials and a terrace that turns into a beach in summer, complete with sun loungers and palm trees.
To contact: argekultur.at
Price:%s: ££
Enter: Advance booking for events is recommended
Airport
May Bar
The architecturally stunning glass and steel Hangar-7 complex is home to the historic Flying Bulls fleet of aircraft, which you can admire with a cocktail in hand in the sophisticated surroundings of the Mayday Bar. The beautifully lit glass dome features the Pink Lady (Hangar-7 gin, grapefruit liqueur, triple sec and lemon) and the Hangar-7 Colada (rum, pineapple, coconut, egg white and lime). Under the same roof is Ikarus, a gourmet restaurant that elevates the bar snack offering with delicious snack options like Iberian pork shoulder tacos and green papaya salad with calamari, red peppers and cashews. DJs liven up the atmosphere on Friday nights.
To contact: hangar-7.com
Price:%s: £££
Enter: No dress code per se but smarter than most
Hauptbahnhof
Cazit
One of the best places to get your groove on in Salzburg, this intimate, dimly lit, poster-covered club highlights the crème de la crème of the local and international jazz scene. There is always a nice buzz on concert nights when the venue is packed. Here, jazz is freely interpreted with everything from solo saxophone performances to classical quartets, from world music to open mic sessions. There’s always jazz playing at Jazzit:Bar next door, which hosts free music sessions on Tuesday nights and spreads out into the courtyard garden in summer.
To contact: jazzit.at
Price:%s: ££
Enter: Advance reservations for events are recommended
How do we choose
Every bar, venue or experience on this curated list has been tried and tested by our visiting destination expert to give you the insider’s perspective. From casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars, we cover a range of budgets and styles to best suit every type of traveller, and consider service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.