Karl Obauer is one half of the famous Obauer brothers, who together run the two-Michelin-star Restaurant-Hotel Obauer in Werfen, in Austria’s Salzburg region. With his brother Rudolf, he has spent more than forty years building a small family house into one of the most respected restaurants in the country, admired for its modern take on Austrian cuisine.
Karl Obauer is known for a style of cooking that honours Austrian tradition while embracing creative, contemporary touches. Working side by side with his brother, he has made Werfen – a town dominated by its medieval castle – a genuine destination for lovers of fine food.
TL;DR
- Austrian chef, co-owner of Restaurant-Hotel Obauer in Werfen
- Runs the restaurant with his brother Rudolf Obauer since 1979
- Holds two Michelin stars and Austria’s top guide ratings
- Known for modern, creative Austrian cuisine
- Signature dishes span river fish, game and offal specialities
Karl Obauer key facts
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Restaurant | Restaurant-Hotel Obauer, Werfen |
| With | Brother Rudolf Obauer, since 1979 |
| Rating | Two Michelin stars |
| Known for | Modern Austrian cuisine |
The Obauer brothers of Werfen
Karl Obauer and his brother Rudolf have run Restaurant Obauer in the heart of Werfen since 1979. Housed in a building whose origins reach back centuries, the restaurant sits below the striking Hohenwerfen Castle in the Salzburg countryside. The brothers share the kitchen as equal partners, and their long collaboration has become one of the great success stories of Austrian gastronomy.
Cooking style
Karl Obauer’s cooking draws on classic Austrian cuisine, refreshed with modern ideas and built on carefully selected ingredients. The brothers are known for creations such as trout strudel with Veltliner sauce and mushroom puree, tipsy char with tomatoes, peas and wild raspberries, and rich game and offal dishes. Their food is at once traditional and inventive, and their remarkable consistency has kept the restaurant at the top of Austria’s rankings for decades.
Recognition
Restaurant Obauer holds two Michelin stars and is routinely counted among the finest restaurants in Austria. Many gourmets regard the Obauer brothers as the most successful chefs in the country, earning the highest nominations from national and international guides year after year. The next generation of the family now helps lead the service team, carrying the Obauer tradition forward.
Signature style
Karl Obauer’s signature lies in the marriage of alpine produce and refined craft. Together with Rudolf he builds dishes around the fish, game and herbs of the surrounding region, elevating local ingredients through precise technique without losing their honest character. It is a cuisine that captures the landscape of Salzburg on the plate while pushing Austrian fine dining forward.
Karl Obauer in context
Karl Obauer is one of Austria’s foremost chefs, cooking in partnership with his brother Rudolf Obauer and ranking among the country’s elite alongside Thomas Dorfer.
Follow Restaurant Obauer
Restaurant-Hotel Obauer – official site
Karl Obauer FAQ
Who is Karl Obauer?
An Austrian chef and co-owner of the two-Michelin-star Restaurant Obauer in Werfen.
Who does he cook with?
His brother Rudolf Obauer, with whom he has run the restaurant since 1979.
How many Michelin stars does the restaurant have?
Two.
What kind of food does he cook?
Modern, creative reinterpretations of classic Austrian cuisine.
Where is the restaurant?
In Werfen, in the Salzburg region of Austria.
