The story
Esszimmer Schwanen serves an organic kitchen at Kirchdorf 77, 6874 Bizau, in Vorarlberg, Austria. Gault&Millau gave the restaurant 15.5 points in 2026. It operates inside the Biohotel Schwanen, a family-run house in the Bregenzerwald.
The kitchen works strictly organically and follows the teachings of Hildegard von Bingen. Fresh herbs and the first young vegetables come from the #wildeweibergarten in Bizau, while everything else is sourced from regional partners. Franziska Hiller leads the kitchen and has been with the house for more than 25 years.
The five-course Wild Women menu is a surprise menu, priced at 100 euros per person, with wine pairing available for 60 euros. Gault&Millau praised the wild garlic soup and the ravioli with nettle and quark filling in a light lemon jus. The veal chop comes with green and white asparagus and fluffy potato dumplings, and the meal ends with an Empress Schmarren and sorrel and sour cream ice cream.
The house was redesigned by architect Hermann Kaufmann with craftspeople from the valley, using natural silver fir and oiled oak. The cellar traces back to the 16th-century origins of the house. Its wine tradition began when cheese traders brought Italian wine home from Milan.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
Even with its modernization, Emanuel Moosbrugger’s modern Schwanen has preserved its tradition alongside the cozy, distinctive forest lounge. Enjoying the refined cuisine here, particularly the Wild Women Menu based on Hildegard von Bingen’s guidelines, remains a constant delight. Franziska Hiller’s clear menu also impresses with an excellent wild garlic soup and outstanding ravioli featuring a nettle and quark filling with a light lemon jus. The veal chop is perfectly seared and utterly delicious, served with green and white asparagus and fluffy potato dumplings. The pink venison fillet arrives at the table with kohlrabi and finger pasta, though we would have preferred a bit more intensity in the herb juice from the Wild Women Garden. The fluffy, sweet Empress Schmarren and the sorrel and sour cream ice cream bring this gastronomic experience in the Bregenzerwald to a perfect close. Address: Kirchdorf 77, 6874 Bizau, Austria Contact: 05514 21 33 | emanuel@biohotel-schwanen.com | https://www.biohotel-schwanen.com/ Opening Hours: Thu–Mon 11:30–13:30 and 17:30–20:30 Team: Franziska Hiller, Chef
Location
Facebook
Instagram