A Mozart dinner concert is Salzburg’s most theatrical way to spend an evening: a three-part meal in an old Baroque dining hall, with the courses served between sets of music performed by singers and instrumentalists in 18th-century costume. The classic version is staged in the Stiftskeller St Peter, the restaurant that belongs to St Peter’s Abbey at the foot of the Mönchsberg and that claims to be one of the oldest in Europe, with a history reaching back more than a thousand years. The programme draws on the operas Mozart wrote for the stage in Vienna and Prague, with arias and duets from The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute, performed close enough that you can see the singers’ faces and hear them without amplification. The musicians weave between the tables, the hall is lit in warm candlelight tones, and the whole evening lasts about three hours. The dinner is traditional Austrian and international cooking, usually with a vegetarian option on request, and the ticket link takes you to the dinner concert ticket.
How to book
The evening starts in the early evening, typically around 19:30, and ends around 22:30, though your ticket will show the exact times. Tickets are sold for a fixed performance, and most options include the dinner and the concert in a single price, with drinks paid separately at the table.
A Salzburg Card bundle that pairs the card with the dinner concert is also available, which makes sense if you plan to see the fortress and the Mozart houses on the same trip. Book a few days ahead in summer, during the Festival and in Advent, when the hall sells out.
What to expect
This is entertainment rather than a formal recital. The performers act, joke and engage with the audience, and the repertoire is chosen for its crowd-pleasing arias rather than complete works. Dress is smart casual, and many guests dress up a little for the occasion.
Tell the restaurant about allergies and dietary needs when you book, because the menu is set. The hall is on the left bank, a short walk from the cathedral and the Getreidegasse, so you can eat nothing but a light snack before you go and still walk home through the lit old town.
Making the most of it
If you want the music to be the main event, choose the dinner concert on a night when you will not also attend the Mirabell Palace or fortress concerts, as the repertoires overlap. If food comes first, go earlier in the week, when the hall is calmer. Afterwards, stroll up to St Peter’s cemetery, which is quiet and atmospheric, and which is said to have inspired the catacomb scene in The Sound of Music, or take a last look at the floodlit fortress from the Mönchsberg lift station.
Good to know
The set menu usually has a vegetarian option, and children’s portions are sometimes available on request, so mention both when you book. Arrive about fifteen minutes before the start to find your table and order drinks, as the performance begins promptly. Seating is often at shared long tables, which adds to the convivial feel, and groups of friends or families can ask to sit together when they book.
What to expect
The experience
A multi-course dinner in a Baroque hall, with costumed singers and musicians performing Mozart arias and ensembles between the courses.
Best time
An evening on any day you are not already booked for another concert; book ahead in summer, at Festival time and in Advent.
How long
About three hours, from an early-evening start to around 22:30.
Tips
Tell the restaurant about dietary needs at booking, dress smart casual and keep drinks money aside, as drinks are usually extra.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want a memorable Mozart evening without committing to a formal recital.
- Families
- Best for older children who enjoy opera and a long evening; younger children may find three hours a stretch.
- Couples
- A romantic, candlelit evening that combines dinner and music in one booking.
- Pair with
- A day on the old town and the fortress, then a walk through the lit lanes afterwards.
- Time needed
- About three hours.
Good questions
Where is the Mozart dinner concert held?+
The classic version takes place in the Stiftskeller St Peter, beside St Peter’s Abbey on the left bank, a short walk from the cathedral. Your ticket confirms the venue for the date you choose.
How long does the evening last?+
About three hours, usually from the early evening to around 22:30, with the courses served between sets of music.
Is dinner included in the ticket?+
Most dinner concert tickets include the meal and the performance in one price, while drinks are normally paid separately. Check the ticket details for the option you choose.
What is the dress code?+
Smart casual is fine, and many guests dress up a little for the occasion. There is no formal requirement.
Can the dinner concert be combined with the Salzburg Card?+
Yes, a bundle exists that pairs the Salzburg Card with the dinner concert, which suits visitors planning to see several museums on the same trip.
