The Verdict
Gasthof Simony is a family-run inn and restaurant in the old centre of Hallstatt, set right on Lake Hallstatt with a garden terrace over the water. The Scheutz-Höplinger family acquired the 15th-century salt-merchant's house and converted it into an inn in 1882; it was later renamed in honour of the Dachstein researcher Friedrich Simony. The kitchen keeps to honest Austrian classics — Wiener Schnitzel, beef goulash and fish from the lake — and the draw is the setting: few tables in Austria sit this close to the water. It is cash only, and a schnitzel runs in the low twenties of euros.
The Kitchen
There is no celebrity chef here; Gasthof Simony is run by the Scheutz-Höplinger family, whose ancestors turned the house into an inn in 1882, and the kitchen cooks the regional Austrian repertoire without reinvention. The Wiener Schnitzel — pounded thin, breaded and fried golden — is the order most tables make, served with potato salad, and a schnitzel sits in the low €20s. Alongside it the kitchen runs beef goulash, mixed salads and, best of all, fresh fish from Lake Hallstatt, the local Reinanke and Saibling that justify a lakeside table. Sachertorte closes the meal. One reviewer recorded a four-item bill — a schnitzel, a chicken-spaghetti plate, a beer and a soft drink — at about €43. The room takes cash only.
The Room
The reason to come is the garden on the water: a terrace built out over Lake Hallstatt with the village and mountains rising behind it, one of the few places in Hallstatt where you can eat directly above the lake. Inside, the dining room is a low-ceilinged, wood-panelled Stube in a building that dates to the 15th century. Service is family-friendly and unhurried, the mood is calm rather than smart, and dress is relaxed. The terrace fills fast on summer afternoons, so book ahead.
Best for a Lakeside Lunch
Book Gasthof Simony for a slow lakeside lunch, a quiet anniversary plate or a calm solo meal with a view: the terrace over the water is the romance, the lake fish is the order, and the historic Stube keeps the mood gentle. It suits couples and travellers who want the Hallstatt postcard from a table rather than a viewpoint. Reserve a terrace table for summer afternoons.
Not For
Not for diners after contemporary, chef-driven cooking or a card-only convenience — this is a traditional cash-only Gasthof serving Austrian classics, and at peak season the lakeside terrace draws a tourist crowd.
Reservations
Gasthof Simony runs as a guesthouse and restaurant, and the lakeside terrace is in heavy demand in summer, so reserve ahead for a table over the water. The restaurant is cash only. It sits in the pedestrian centre of Hallstatt, a short walk from the market square.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Gasthof Simony in Hallstatt?
The building is a former salt-merchant's house dating to the 15th century, in the historic centre of Hallstatt. The ancestors of today's Scheutz-Höplinger family acquired it and converted it into an inn in 1882, later renaming it in honour of the Dachstein researcher Friedrich Simony, who lodged in the house during his expeditions.
What should you eat at Gasthof Simony?
The kitchen serves traditional Austrian classics. The Wiener Schnitzel is the signature order, and the standout is fresh fish from Lake Hallstatt — the local Reinanke and Saibling — which suits the lakeside setting. Beef goulash, mixed salads and Sachertorte round out a short, regional menu.
How much does Gasthof Simony cost?
Gasthof Simony sits in the mid-range rather than fine-dining bracket: a Wiener Schnitzel runs in the low €20s, and one diner recorded a bill of about €43 for a schnitzel, a chicken-spaghetti plate, a beer and a soft drink. The restaurant accepts cash only, so bring euros.
Does Gasthof Simony have lakeside seating?
Yes. Its main draw is a garden terrace built out over Lake Hallstatt, one of very few places in the village where you can eat directly above the water, with the mountains rising behind. The terrace is popular in summer and worth reserving ahead; an indoor wood-panelled Stube serves in cooler months.
Also in Hallstatt
Hallstatt's lakeside tables are limited and prized. Compare Seewirt Zauner on the market square, the lakefront Seehotel Grüner Baum and the riverside Bräugasthof.