Visit Kröll in Innsbruck, Austria, a café in an 800-year-old prison offering over 20 strudel flavours, from traditional apple to chicken curry.
Innsbruck’s specialist strudel café
To the rest of the world, strudel is a pastry stuffed with apple and maybe sultanas. At Kröll in Innsbruck, Austria, it is a whole lot more than that.
Innsbruck’s specialist strudel café is part of Innsbruck city centre’s medieval warren. Kröll is inside an 800-year-old former prison near the Hofburg, Hofkirche and Golden Roof, but aside from the low, vaulted ceilings, looks relatively modern.
That modern look comes with a modern attitude. Kröll does Tyrol’s traditional dish, but takes it off in exciting new directions.
Why book the Innsbruck Card for sightseeing and transport?
- Free access to top attractions: Visit museums, historic sites and landmarks in Innsbruck without paying individual entrance fees.
- Free public transport included: Use buses and trains within the city at no extra cost, making it easier to get around.
- Flexible duration options: Choose a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour pass to match your travel schedule.
- Save time and money: One pass covers many things — great for first-time visitors wanting convenience and value.
- Easy digital format: Use the card on your phone — no need to print any tickets or vouchers.
Fruit and savoury strudels
The apple strudel is the best seller at Kröll, but it is treated as a gateway drug. There are several other fruit strudels, including mango, peach and plum.
Then come the sweet-savoury combinations, such as sour cherry and ricotta. And, once into fully savoury mode, the strudels go wild. Chicken curry strudel anyone? Cabbage and bacon?
The idea is that the strudel can be eaten at any time of the day in the city of the Alpenzoo, St James’ Cathedral and Bergisel ski jump.
Kröll generally offers at least 20 flavours of strudel at any one time, and with three half-sized strudels available, almost like a tasting flight.
Five great things to do in Innsbruck
- 🚵 Explore the Alpine villages on an ebike tour.
- 🍽️ Take a traditional food tour and indulge in classic Tyrolean dishes.
- 🪂 Fly over the Stubai Valley on a tandem paragliding adventure.
- 🏰 Take a private day tour to the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle.
- 🎶 Embrace the cheese at a Tyrolean folk show.
The history of the Kröll strudel café, Innsbruck
This innovative Innsbruck café hasn’t always specialised in strudels, however. It was opened by Margit Kröll in the 1970s, and was then the first combined bakery and coffee shop in Innsbruck city centre.
When Margit’s daughter, Stephanie, took over in 2005, she realised a new selling point was needed. Supermarkets were muscling in on bread sales, so she decided on the strudel as a point of difference.
It has worked spectacularly. Now locals go into Kröll to see which new flavours are on offer. Tourists, however, have their horizons expanded.
Things to do near Strudel-Café Kröll
Golden Roof – Just around the corner from Kröll, Innsbruck’s famous Golden Roof is the city’s best-known landmark and an easy stop while exploring the Old Town.
Imperial Palace Innsbruck – About five minutes’ walk away, the Hofburg is a grand former Habsburg residence with lavish state rooms and exhibitions about the imperial family.
Innsbruck Cathedral – A few minutes’ walk from the café, this Baroque cathedral is particularly notable for its ornate interior and ceiling frescoes.
City Tower – Almost opposite the Golden Roof, the 15th-century City Tower offers elevated views over the Old Town and surrounding mountains.
Tyrolean Folk Art Museum – Around 10 minutes’ walk away, this museum has an extensive collection of traditional Tyrolean furniture, clothing, crafts and household objects.
Alternative attractions
Café Katzung – Also in Innsbruck’s Old Town, this traditional café is a useful alternative if the main appeal of Kröll is experiencing Austrian café culture alongside cakes and pastries. It is particularly close to the Golden Roof.
Café Central – Around 10 minutes’ walk from Kröll, this large traditional coffee house provides another opportunity to experience the classic Viennese-style café tradition that is also well established in Innsbruck.
Café Munding – Around 10 minutes’ walk away, this historic café and pastry shop has been operating since 1803 and is another good choice for cakes, coffee and traditional Austrian café atmosphere.
Markthalle Innsbruck – About 10 minutes’ walk from Kröll, this indoor market has food stalls and local produce, making it a more informal alternative if you are primarily looking for somewhere to eat rather than a traditional café.
More Austria travel
Great Innsbruck activities include riding the cable car to the top of the Hafelekarspitze mountain via the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo. You can also try a Tyrolean folk show, ebike tours and a visit to the Bergisel ski jump. Meanwhile, Schloss Ambrass and Swarovski Crystal Worlds are short journeys out of the city. I’ve also created a guide to the best tours and experiences in Innsbruck.
Other Austria travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- A travel guide to Linz for first time visitors.
- Vienna’s Museum of Art Fakes.
- Vienna to Salzburg train times and ticket prices.
- Visiting Salzburg’s Sound of Music locations.
- Can you walk from Salzburg Airport to the city centre?
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