Our hospitality concept
What characterises a Südtiroler Gasthaus restaurant?
For centuries, tavern-style restaurants have been the vibrant heart of village life in South Tyrol, and they continue to play a significant role in the community today. Such restaurants have become an integral part of South Tyrolean culture and identity. But how did they come about? And what makes them so special?
For thousands of years, South Tyrol has been a land of passage. The Romans built their Via Claudia Augusta road over the Reschen Pass; they travelled over the Brenner Pass and through the Pustertal valley. Later, pilgrims, knights, merchants and emperors journeyed through the region. As early as the 12th century, records mention pilgrim hospices and the granting of “pouring privileges” – the right to serve alcohol. By the 13th century, the first “Gasthaus” guesthouses resembling the restaurants we know today began to emerge in South Tyrol.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into modern times, the thriving trade and travel along the major routes of South Tyrol led to the establishment of numerous inns, coach houses, post houses, church inns, wine taverns, bathhouses, holiday inns and pilgrimage inns. As early as 1533, Tyrolean guesthouse regulations mandated a certain standard of quality and required food and drink prices to be clearly displayed.
By 1546, there were 68 guesthouse restaurants in the trading town of Bolzano, many of which are still in business today! The newer establishments have embraced the old tradition of hospitality. This dedication to welcoming guests ensures that Südtiroler Gasthaus restaurants continue to thrive and remain places where everyone feels at home.
“Each restaurant has its own unique style, shaped by its history, the local environment and the people behind it.”
Discover the charm of Südtiroler Gasthaus restaurants
Visit us and create memories that last a lifetime.
The Südtiroler Gasthaus cookbook
Bring home the flavours of South Tyrol.
Südtiroler Gasthaus gets a new look
Fresh, contemporary, yet authentic!