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Dining in Europe > Graz Where shall I go to eat, what food do I like and what do the locals prefer? All to often, tourists questions are left unanswered and as a result, they end up in a tourist trap! Here is a short overview what Graz can offer the taste buds! Starting of at the Färberplatz and the adjacent Mehlplatz, both of which are in the heart of the Old Town, visitors can find a number of places to eat and drink, all of which will reflect the citys culinary diversity. Restaurants If you want to sample the Steiermark regions local cuisine, then you would be well advised to got to the or the Gambrinuskeller or the Gamlitzer Weinstube. You could also try the well-known Gasthaus zur Goldenen Pastete. If you find yourself in the city centre but still want to enjoy a bit of scenery, the Klöcherperle is a good choice. If you cross the Mur and go to the Lend district, you will also find a number of excellent restaurants, such as the Altseirischen Schmankerlstube, which is on route, or the cosy Mohrenwirt which is situated beneath the Mariahilf Church. As everyone knows, its not only good food, but also atmosphere and surroundings that make a good restaurant. With this in mind, the Kehlberghof, which has 14 Gault Milau points and is situated at the edge of Graz, has to be mentioned. Its a truly original restaurant. The Casino-Restaurant is also renowned for its fine cuisine and the Laufke is perfect for candlelight dinners in a wooden-panelled room. Lovers of italian food will enjoy the Amalfi and the citys hip and trendy young and young at heart frequent the Ristorante Galliano, which also serves mediterranean cuisine. Graz is also home to a number of splendid spanish and latin american restaurants such as the Malaga and the Brot und Spiele in the Mariahilfstraße 17. The latter restaurants special attraction is the exhibit of what is rumoured to be one of Che Guevaras socks (with holes!)! The Rincon-Andino in the Eggenberg district and the La Puerta in the pedestrian shopping zone are also worth a visit ' both are known for their south american grilled foods! If you like steak, or texan, argentinian or brasilian foods then the Steak House Biergwölb zum Pfiff (Tel +43 316 82 34 02; Mo-Fr: 11:00-24:00; Sa: 18:00-24:00; Schönaugasse 3; 8010 Graz) is very good and it also serves regional meat dishes. Persian specialities can be sampled at the Shiraz in the Schönaugasse 41 (Tel: +43 316 82 05 05 / +43 676 790 00 03) ' visit and you'll soon discover that 1001 culinary desires can be fufilled! Since opening a year ago, the Kornati seafood restaurant has proved a welcome addition to the citys restaurant scene. It serves mouthwatering dalmatian fish dishes. Don't despair if you are vegetarian, the staff at the Mangold are on hand to take your order. Trendy Bars and Pubs Its location in the southern Alpine region has caused Graz to aquire some Meditterranean characteristics, both climatically and atmospherically. Coupled with the fact that it is a university city, this has given the city a feel for a certain joie de vivre and openess and its nightlife scene reflect this. You can find places to sit and have a chat or have a snack, throughout the day and into the early hours. The Wartburg is a local favourite, as are the Poco Loco (be warned, the cocktails are addictive!), the Posaune and the Bierbaron. St. Leonard locals visit the Girardikeller. If you want to mingle with the in-crowd, then you will have to find your way to the Schillerhof. The Kommod has reached near-legendary status since opening and the nearby Triangel and Stockwerk also get crowded, this not least being due to the tasteful music they play. If you like pub culture then Graz also has something for you. As their names suggest, Flann O' Brien, Molly Mallone and the Crazy Horse all have celtic touch and they also serve Irish beers and whiskeys! In actual fact, their seems to be no end to the number of 'English/Irish' pubs that are opening in Graz, with Kavannaghs beint the most recent addition. Along with the re-opened Stern, it has given the district in Grazs inner city that it is located in, a breath of fresh air. Cafes and Bars Coffee house culture has been a central feature of Austrian life since the Turkish Wars and you can find wonderful cafes throughout Austria. Visit any one of them and discover why this part of Europe is famous for 'extending its living rooms into public'! There are three coffee houses in Graz whcihare especially noteworthy: the Strehly, the café in the Hotel Herzog and the Opera Cafe (Opernring 22). Another jewel in the crown is the Fotter. In the summer you can easily pass an hour or two over a coffee in its magical gardens. Those with a sweet tooth will no doubt find a special place in their hearts for the Philip and the Café Preinsack. Every day, the in-house bakers make lots of delicious cakes and gateaux and chocolates. The Segafredo or the Don Camillo in the picturesque Franciscan Square are perfect for a 'Macchiato to go'. Entertainment in GrazWhatever it is that you like, from literature to music, from fine art to festivals, you will be sure to find something to keep you entertained in Graz. Lovers of cinema and Cabaret are also catered for, they need only go to venues such as the Cinema in the Augarten and if you have money to throw away, the Casino Graz is perfect for you. Music Classical Classical music can be heard at the Stefanien Concert Room in the Grazer Congress (Tel: +43 316 82 64 67; Albrechtgasse 3; 8010 Graz) und and depending on the time of year, the Kasematten Open Air Arena at Schloßberg, is also an excellent location which music-lovers can visit. Jazz If you are not in the city at any of these times, then you can always go to the Stockwerk, the WIST (in the basement of the MoXX), the Royal Garden Jazz Club in the Bürgergasse 4 or the Miles Jazz Bar. On Sundays, the Jazz brunch at the Hotel Wiesler, (Tel: +43 316 70 66 0) is very popular. Last but certainly not least, one has to mention the GamsbART at the Karmeliterplatz 5 (+43 316 83 29 35), has to be mentioned. It is part of the 'Jazz Cartell' and its a great place to sample an open-air concert in the picturesque Generali courtyard. Pop and Rock Theatre and Cabaret Theatre buffs of all ages will have a ball in Graz! The citys main thespian meeting point is the Schauspielhaus, which has more than 550 seats. The Theatre in the Trainstation is particularly suited to those who want to be part of an 'active audience' and 8-18-year olds are catered for by Next Liberty. The Orpheum, which has already been mentioned, also has two 'Märchen' stages, and a programme of events called Graz erzählt ('Graz tells a story') is held here every year. Numerous fringe productions and Cabaret performances also find and audience here. Museums Grazs museums are as diverse as the world of culture itself and the Kulturhaus (House of Culture), is only one example of what the city has to offer. The most wide-ranging exhibition of artwork can be found at the Landesmuseum Joanneum. It has 16 departments that are spread throughout the city! Here are a few: the Alte Galerie (Old Galerie), is full of art from the Romantic and Baroque periods, the Neue Galerie (New Galerie) exhibits work from the 19th century to the present day. There is also Landeszeughaus and Eggenberg Castle. Will you be able to fine tune your senses after being exposed to such a variety of treasures? Visit the MUWA!, the Museum of Perception and the Senses and you will soon find out! Cinemas and Internet Cafes An upholstered seat, a good view of the screen and someone sitting next to you who won't throw popcorn at other cinemagoers - if this is your idea of a good night at the movies, then you are looking in the right city. Graz was not chosen as the venue for the Diagonale, the Festival of Austrian Film, for nothing. The CinepleXX is comfortable, spacious and modern. If you are after something with a tradtional feel to it, then try the Cinema in the Augarten. It has an old-fashioned flair to it and also screens foreign language films. The Geidorf-Art House Cinema is also a local favourite. If you can't decide if you want to go to the cinema or watch a video at home, then the Rechbauerkino offers a solution - its a cinema with an adjacent video store, so you can decide what you feel like once you get there! English films are screened at the Royal English Cinema. In keeping with the information age, Graz also has numerous internet cafes, where you can check your email and surf the web. The Center West, in the pavillion of the 'Landesaustellung' (comm.gr2000az) is one possible stop-off point, as is the Youth Hostel. Dining in Europe > Graz
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