words michael mastarciyan
There is no doubt that Salzburg, Austria is one of the world’s most iconic cities for music. As the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music, it is forever linked to arguably the most beloved classical composer and film musical of all time.
Yet this stunning Baroque city, seemingly frozen in time, has a sweeter side, one that irresistibly tempts chocolate lovers. Salzburg is among the finest places to indulge your cacao cravings, as I discovered during a two-day confectionery tour of the city. Here are some of my tasting highlights…
Original Sacher-Torte
My forty-eight-hour chocolate odyssey began at the palatial Hotel Sacher Salzburg, my Austrian base while covering the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The hotel is also the city’s epicentre for chocoholics, where pilgrims from around the world gather to sample the Original Sacher-Torte, the Holy Grail of Austrian desserts.
Created in 1832 by sixteen-year-old apprentice chef Franz Sacher for Prince Metternich in Vienna, this legendary chocolate cake has been widely imitated, but the definitive Original Sacher-Torte is available only at Sacher hotels (there are three), Sacher cafés, the Sacher Confiserie in Vienna, and via the Sacher online shop, which ships worldwide.
What makes it so special is its balance: rich chocolate sponge layered with delicate apricot jam and finished with a thin glaze of dark chocolate icing – indulgent without being overpowering. You’ll find similar cakes across Austria, but there is only one Original Sacher-Torte, each medallion stamped with the ‘Original Sacher Torte’ crest. Served with fresh whipped cream, strong Viennese coffee and if you’re lucky, as I was at breakfast in Hotel Sacher Salzburg, a glass of sparkling wine – pure bliss!
A hidden sweet treasure
Another superb address for chocolate lovers is Café-Konditorei Schatz, where devotees have gathered for nearly 150 years. Tucked into a narrow passage between Getreidegasse and Universitätsplatz, just steps from Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg’s Old Town, it was here that I discovered what I can only describe as a raspberry cousin of Black Forest cake, traditionally made with cherries – and it was absolutely fabulous!
The Mozartkugel quest
After multiple visits to Austria and Salzburg in particular, I can say with authority that it’s impossible to leave without sampling (and buying) those devilishly good chocolate bonbons known as Mozartkugeln, wrapped in colourful foil bearing the image of Herr Mozart. But which are the tastiest and the best?
For those who may not be familiar with them, Mozartkugeln are small, round confections filled with marzipan, pistachio and nougat, coated in dark chocolate, first created in Salzburg in the late 19th century. I won’t delve into the long-running legal battles over naming rights and authenticity; I’ll simply share my favourites after tasting nearly a dozen in one enthusiastic morning.
I can affirm that both of my favourites came in blue and silver wrappers. While many popular mass-produced versions arrive in brightly coloured foil and are certainly enjoyable, they cannot compare to those crafted by Confiserie Fürst (Original Salzburger Mozartkugeln) and Confiserie Josef Holzermayr (Echte Salzburger Mozartkugel), which offer a truly authentic experience. Their creations are more delicate and beautifully layered in flavour.
Another essential stop for praline lovers is Berger Feinste Confiserie. The quality and range are exceptional – particularly the Irish whiskey and whisky-orange pralines, which will delight any fan of the fine golden spirit.
Heavenly hot chocolate
You may think you know what hot chocolate tastes like, but until you’ve had one in Salzburg, chances are you don’t. Think of a heavenly ambrosia: pure chocolate, melted and mixed into a creamy, milky froth that’s not overwhelmingly sweet and you’re close to understanding the deliciousness of the potion I drank at Café Sacher. Rich yet perfectly balanced, indulgence without excess: hot chocolate elevated to an artform.
(Left) Hot chocolate at Café Sacher. (Right) Punschkrapfen, a traditional Austrian pastry.
Pastry paradise
For lovers of cream-filled or iced pastries, chocolate or otherwise, Salzburg’s elegant cafés and traditional Austrian Konditoreien are pure paradise. I tried to resist, but eventually gave in to two of the most delicious pastries I’ve ever tasted.
At Café-Konditorei Schatz, I ordered a light and fluffy chocolate tower cake – the perfect balance of chocolate and vanilla – paired with an exceptional cappuccino. Then at Confiserie Fürst, I sampled a delightful pink cube known as a Punschkrapfen: layers of chocolate, nougat, sponge cake and apricot jam soaked in rum (or perhaps Grand Marnier), all encased in bright pink icing.
- ‘Salzburg’s Sweet Symphony: Chocolate, coffee and crescendos in the city of Mozart’ is published in Anthology Volume 25. Read more features from this volume or buy it now.
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