Silvio Nickol is one of the leading chefs in Austria, the head of the two-Michelin-star Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant at the Palais Coburg in Vienna. German by birth but long established in Austria, he cooks a refined, French-inspired cuisine of great precision and creativity, and has kept his restaurant among the very best in the country for over a decade.
Trained in some of the most demanding kitchens in the German-speaking world, Nickol brings a rigorous classical foundation to his cooking, matched with a personal, contemporary sensibility. His dining room, set within one of Vienna’s grandest palaces, is a byword for luxury and quality.
TL;DR
- German-born chef, born in 1975 in Saxony
- Trained in leading German kitchens, including the Schwarzwaldstube
- Worked with masters such as Harald Wohlfahrt and Heinz Winkler
- Won two Michelin stars at Schlosshotel Velden in Austria
- Head of the two-Michelin-star Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant at Palais Coburg, Vienna
Silvio Nickol key facts
| Born | 1975, Saxony, Germany |
| Nationality | German (based in Austria) |
| Restaurant | Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant, Vienna |
| Michelin | Two stars |
| Style | Refined, French-inspired, precise |
An early start in Saxony
Silvio Nickol was born in 1975 in Saxony, in eastern Germany, and discovered his love of cooking remarkably young – by his own account preparing a meal for his little brother at the age of seven, in Hoyerswerda. He began his culinary training in earnest in 1991, embarking on an apprenticeship and then working his way through some of Germany’s most prestigious Michelin-starred restaurants, a path that would give him an exceptional classical grounding.
Learning from the masters
Nickol honed his craft at restaurants including the Wald- und Schlosshotel and the legendary Schwarzwaldstube in Baiersbronn, working alongside some of the greatest chefs in the German-speaking world – among them Harald Wohlfahrt, Roger Souvereyns and Heinz Winkler. Their influence shaped the style he is known for today: French-inspired, creative and technically precise. Few chefs have trained under such a concentration of masters, and it shows in the polish of his cooking.
Two stars, in Velden and Vienna
In 2009 Nickol took over the Schlossstern restaurant at the Schlosshotel Velden in Austria, winning two Michelin stars there. Then, in 2011, at the invitation of Peter Puhringer, he moved to lead the fine dining at the magnificent Palais Coburg in Vienna. The restaurant was later renamed the Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant, and under his leadership it, too, earned two Michelin stars and a place among the World’s 50 Best discovery lists, along with top marks in the Gault&Millau guide. It remains one of the finest and most luxurious dining rooms in the Austrian capital.
Signature style
Nickol’s cuisine is elegant, precise and rooted in the French classical tradition he absorbed from his mentors, but expressed with his own creativity and a modern sense of lightness and balance. Working within the opulent setting of the Palais Coburg – and its extraordinary wine cellar – he creates food that matches the grandeur of its surroundings while remaining refined and personal.
Silvio Nickol in context
Nickol is one of the leading chefs of Vienna’s fine-dining scene, trained by masters such as Harald Wohlfahrt and standing alongside fellow Vienna chefs featured on Pickup Table 4 such as Heinz Reitbauer.
Follow Silvio Nickol
Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant – official site
Silvio Nickol FAQ
Who is Silvio Nickol?
A German-born chef leading the two-Michelin-star Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant in Vienna.
How many Michelin stars does he have?
Two, at his restaurant in the Palais Coburg.
Who did he train with?
Masters including Harald Wohlfahrt, Roger Souvereyns and Heinz Winkler.
What is his style?
Refined, French-inspired cuisine that is creative and technically precise.
Where is he from?
He was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1975, and is based in Vienna.
