St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (Salzburg, Austria)
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium
St. Peter Stiftskulinarium (until 2017 Stiftskeller St. Peter) is a restaurant within the walls of St Peter's Abbey in Salzburg, Austria. It is claimed to be the oldest inn in Central Europe because of a supposed mention of it in the Carmina anthology by the English scholar Alcuin of York, issued in 803 AD when he served Emperor Charlemagne and Bishop Arno of Salzburg. The former guesthouse of the Benedictine monks was also mentioned by the Monk of Salzburg in the 14th century.
Based on these and other claims, the Stiftskulinarium is perhaps the oldest existing restaurant in the world, and likely the oldest in Europe. Christopher Columbus, Johann Georg Faust, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are said to have been served at the restaurant.
The Baroque Hall - with its stucco and frescoes - is a magnificent showpiece. St. Peter is part of the famous Benedictine monastery and is located in the oldest part of Salzburg. The Baroque Hall is one of the last concert halls in Salzburg where real candle light is still permitted. St. Peter Stiftskulinarium itself is the oldest restaurant in Europe first mentioned in 803. Even the Mozart family ate dinner here. In October 1783, Mozart´s sister "Nannerl" wrote in her diary: “Papa and Henry had lunch at St. Peter... made music ... rained heavily“. Composer Michael Haydn lived and performed music in the "Haydn Room".