The story
Der Kirchenwirt seit 1326 is an Austrian gourmet restaurant at Leogang 3, Leogang, in the Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer area of Salzburg State. Gault&Millau awarded the house 18 points for 2026. The tavern was first recorded in 1326 as the Taverne zu St. Leonhard, and the Unterrainer family has owned the complex for roughly 150 years.
The kitchen follows a line it calls "Alpine Küche," built on products, recipes and traditions from across the Alps. Gault&Millau singled out the seasonal menu, which sits alongside Austrian classics. Two dishes stand out in the guide's description: cured Alpine salmon in verjus, and a frozen sour cream that replaces the usual sorbet course.
The building includes a listed Gothic pack-horse stable, vaulted Stuben and a wood-paneled wedding hall. Guest rooms are grouped as Classic, Deluxe, Junior Suite and Grand Suite, and each is furnished around its own story. The garden faces the Leoganger Steinberge. Seats in the Stuben are limited, so the restaurant asks guests to reserve ahead.
The cellar dates back centuries and is opened almost daily in the restaurant. Wine Spectator gave the house its Best of Award of Excellence in 2020. The wine pairing, according to Gault&Millau, goes well beyond the usual tavern approach, which suits a kitchen this focused on Austrian wine and seasonal food.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
Next year marks the 700th anniversary: Very few establishments can claim such an awe-inspiring tradition while still delivering dynamism, innovation, and refined attention to detail. This exceptional finesse is evident at the Kirchenwirt, not only in its outstanding culinary execution but also in the design of its individual guest rooms and the curation of its legendary wine cellar. Alongside classics of Austrian cuisine, Barbara Kottke and her brother Hans-Jörg Unterrainer, together with their wonderful team, present guests with a seasonally tailored menu where the cured Alpine salmon in verjus and the frozen sour cream served in place of the outdated sorbet course—dreamily accompanied by a glass of aged Sercial Colheita—truly excel. That the wine pairing consistently operates beyond any standard tavern convention goes almost without saying. An eternally youthful classic of Austrian gastronomy! Address Leogang 3 5771 Leogang Austria Contact 06583 82 16 info@k1326.com https://www.k1326.com/ Opening Hours Thu–Mon 17–22 Team Stefan Birnbacher Chef Christoph Auer Sous Chef Christian Jepp Maître d'
Location
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