Allgäu cuisine is a celebration of place—where alpine pastures, pristine lakes, and ancient forests converge to create a distinctive culinary identity. The region's chefs honor centuries-old traditions while embracing seasonal innovation and sustainable practices.
This guide navigates the spectrum from rustic mountain huts to Michelin-worthy establishments, each offering authentic expressions of Bavarian hospitality.
Elevated Dining
Restaurant Ludwigs
Situated within AMERON Neuschwanstein, this sophisticated dining room reinterprets regional classics through a contemporary lens. The tasting menu changes with the seasons, featuring ingredients sourced from local farms and alpine foragers. Extensive wine cellar with particular depth in Austrian and German Rieslings.
Schlossrestaurant Neuschwanstein
Refined dining with castle views from floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu balances innovation with tradition—expect dishes like venison with juniper reduction, spätzle with black truffle, and reimagined Kaiserschmarrn. Reservations essential, particularly for window tables at sunset.
Das Rübezahl Dining Room
An intimate space serving seven-course tasting menus that read like love letters to the Allgäu. Chef-owner sources from a network of small producers, many accessible only by mountain trails. The cheese course alone features twelve alpine varieties, each explained with the passion it deserves.
Traditional Gasthaüser
These family-run establishments have served travelers for generations, offering hearty portions, warm hospitality, and recipes passed through centuries. The ambiance is convivial, the portions generous, and the prices remarkably fair.
Zum Schwanen
A Füssen institution since 1782, occupying a painted medieval building in the old town. House specialties include Allgäuer Käsespätzle prepared in cast-iron pans and slow-roasted pork shoulder with dark beer sauce. The Stube (parlor) retains its original wood paneling and ceramic stove.
Gasthof Krone
Located in nearby Schwangau, this family gasthof is where locals celebrate milestones. The menu hasn't changed substantially in fifty years, nor should it—the Maultaschen are legendary, as is the house-made Leberkäse. Garden seating under chestnut trees in summer.
Bräustüberl Füssen
Attached to the local brewery, this boisterous hall serves beer-friendly fare alongside eight house-brewed varieties. The Schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) is legendary among hikers, who pack the tables after descending from Tegelberg. Authentic, unpretentious, essential.
Mountain Huts & Alpine Dining
Accessible by cable car, hiking trail, or both, these alpine refuges serve sustaining meals in settings of extraordinary natural beauty. Many operate only during summer months and early autumn.
Tegelberghaus
Perched at 1,707 meters, accessible via cable car or a strenuous two-hour hike. The terrace offers 360-degree panoramas while you recover with Kaiserschmarrn and Radler. Hot dishes lean toward classics: goulash, sausage platters, and hearty soups. Opens May through October.
Bleckenauhaus
A working alpine dairy at 1,167 meters, where cheese-making continues as it has for generations. The menu is limited but exceptional—fresh cheese with bread, alpine bacon, buttermilk, and homemade cakes. The hike from Schwangau takes two hours through flower meadows.
Pöllat Gorge Restaurant
Positioned at the base of the gorge beneath Neuschwanstein, this surprisingly refined establishment serves elegant lunches to castle visitors. The trout comes from nearby streams, prepared simply with butter and herbs. Terrace seating overlooks rushing water.
Artisan Producers
The region's artisan producers welcome visitors to witness traditional methods and purchase directly from the source. Many offer tastings and informal tours.
Essential Stops
- Sennerei Lehern: Alpine cheese dairy producing Bergkäse aged up to 18 months
- Höfle Hofkäserei: Organic dairy specializing in raw-milk cheeses and yogurts
- Metzgerei Wagner: Fourth-generation butcher known for house-cured salamis
- Landsberg Brewery: Craft brewery reviving 18th-century recipes
- Imkerei Bergwiese: Mountain honey harvested from wildflower meadows
Most producers operate small shops with limited hours—typically mornings and early afternoons. Call ahead or inquire at your hotel concierge for current schedules and directions.
Markets & Provisions
Füssen Weekly Market
Every Friday and Saturday morning, the Reichenstraße transforms into a farmers' market showcasing regional produce, cheeses, breads, and prepared foods. Arrive early for the best selection of seasonal specialties. Perfect for assembling a gourmet picnic.
Schwangau Farm Stands
Unmanned honor-system stands dot country roads, offering fresh eggs, vegetables, and berries in season. Leave payment in the provided box—a charming example of rural trust that has endured for generations.
Beverages & Libations
Beer Traditions
Bavaria's beer purity law (Reinheitsgebot) dating to 1516 still governs production. Local breweries focus on Helles (pale lager), Weißbier (wheat beer), and seasonal Märzen. The Radler (beer mixed with lemonade) is the preferred refreshment after mountain activities.
Wine Selection
While Bavaria isn't wine country, restaurants maintain excellent cellars featuring Austrian Grüner Veltliners, German Rieslings from Mosel and Rheingau, and South Tyrolean Pinot Noirs that complement regional cuisine beautifully.
Alpine Spirits
After-dinner traditions include house-made Schnaps (fruit brandies) and herbal digestifs infused with alpine botanicals. Many huts and gasthaüser produce their own, often from foraged ingredients like gentian root, mountain pine, and wild berries.
Dining Customs
Reservations: Essential for elevated dining, recommended for popular gasthaüser, unnecessary at mountain huts (which typically don't accept them).
Meal Times: Lunch service runs 12:00-14:00, dinner from 18:00-21:00. Many establishments close between services and on Mondays.
Tipping: Round up bills or add 5-10% for good service. Hand tips directly to servers rather than leaving on the table.
Dress Code: Smart casual suffices almost everywhere. Only the most elevated restaurants expect jackets.