Review: Weisses Rössl, Innsbruck, Austria

Situated in the heart of Innsbruck’s historic Altstadt and less than a minute’s walk from Innsbruck’s iconic Golden Roof, Weisses Rössl is tucked away along Kiebachgasse – a street historically known for craft workshops – and enjoys a somewhat quieter, authentic neighbourhood atmosphere away from the primary tourist thoroughfare. The building is known (from official municipal records) to date back to at least 1410, but an ancient wood beam carved with the year 1292 suggests its origins could be much older.

Our entrance took us directly into a medieval vaulted stone cellar, complete with a cosmopolitan cocktail and wine bar, and up a broad staircase to the restaurant which, rather unusually for an Altstadt inn, has its main dining areas on the first floor of this historic building.

The food

Combining alpine heartiness with modern refinements, the menu at Weisses Rössl celebrates classic Tyrolean heritage while welcoming subtle international nuances. Chef Hans Ruetz takes foundational regional comfort foods—from rich braised meats to mountain cheeses—and elevates them with precise technique and fresh, high-quality local produce.

Our starters included the Tyrolean escargots served with a delicious garlic and herb butter, along with some toast so you didn’t miss a drop.

Our younger son, a pescatarian, had the colourful gemüse tartar which he had enjoyed on a previous visit – a vegetable tartare balanced with a smooth avocado cream.

To complete our starters, my wife and I shared the winzerjause – a generous spread of local smoked specialties and artisanal cheeses sourced directly from nearby farmers.

We all had different dishes for our main course. My son’s Gebratener Zander was delicately pan-fried and arrived with a crisp, golden skin, alongside buttery leaf spinach and tender parsley potatoes.

I’ll admit to a little food envy when I saw the zander, but was not disapointed with my own choice – the haupsfandl – which comprised of succulent pork fillet medallions served bacon and green beans.

My meat-eating son’s Zwiebelrostbraten consisted of tender roast beef from the high sirloin topped with a mountain of crispy fried onions, also with bacon and beans – a popular accompaniment in Austrian cuisine.

Completing our dishes, my wife’s Romanasalat went down well also, and included cos lettuce tossed in a rich, creamy Caesar dressing, topped with grilled chicken and crunchy garlic croutons.

While we opted out of desserts on this occasion, sweet tradition remains a cornerstone of their offering, featuring classics such as fluffily torn Kaiserschmarrn with stewed plums, warm apple strudel, and Palatschinken (pancakes filled with apricot or cranberry jam).

The chef

The soul behind the kitchen is Hans Ruetz, a local chef who started his culinary journey at Weisses Rössl. After some years as head chef, he decided to broaden his horizons with a culinary world tour, gaining experience in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. He returned in 2012, bringing international influences and years of expertise to every dish, with a focus on quality, craftsmanship and delivering great flavours.  For guests heading toward the restrooms, strategically placed interior viewing windows allow diners to peek directly at the kitchen team at work behind the scenes.

The ambience

This wasn’t our first time at Weisses Rössl – we had been previously been for lunch in winter when we had sat indoors in a wood-panelled room. This time it was late Summer and the weather warm enough for us to sit out on the first floor terrace at the rear of the restaurant. It was lovely to be in the open air and enjoy the atmosphere of the Old Town.

The cost

Starters generally range from €8 to €16, while main courses sit between €18 and €32 and classic Tyrolean desserts between €6 and €12 – exceptional value for regional dining in Innsbruck’s historic centre.

The final verdict

Sitting out on the mood-lit first-floor terrace during a warm late-summer evening at Weisses Rössl is rather special. Diners get to enjoy a rare and delightful experience in Innsbruck’s Altstadt amidst centuries of rich Tyrolean history. This remarkable medieval atmosphere is complemented by warm, attentive service and authentic and flavourful Tyrolean dishes in the heart of the Alps.

Disclosure: Our trip was sponsored by Innsbruck Tourism.