Review: Breakfast and Brunch At Red Bull’s Hangar-7 In Salzburg

Salzburg is supposedly known for three things: Mozart, The Sound Of Music, and Red Bull. Did you know that? Because, to be honest, I didn’t know that Red Bull was from Austria, let alone, Salzburg. Well, technically it’s from the a small village near Salzburg, but close enough.

So naturally, there is an entire hangar built by Red Bull to house all their famous aerial crafts while serving up world class Michelin starred food. It’s home to one of the best breakfast/brunch I’ve had in all my travels.

A 22 Second History Of Red Bull

In 1982, Dietrich Mateschitz goes to Thailand and meets Chaleo Yoovidhya, who introduces him to an energy drink he created 6 years prior called Krating Daeng (this translates to ‘red gaur’, or a type cow found in Southeast Asia). He loves it, they each spot $500,000 and open a company together.

Over the years, Red Bull has built its brand around an image that’s intertwined with extreme sports. They’ve since sold over 75 million cans and the drink can be found in 171 countries. You can say that it’s been an extremely successful move.

There’s A Red Bull Hangar In Salzburg

Not just a hangar, but an architectural beauty that is more a museum than an aircraft storage place. It’s home to some of the finest and rare aircrafts around that’s used by the ‘Flying Bulls’. These guys perform some of the most technically and visually spectacular air stunts and Hangar-7 at the Salzburg airport is a perfect base for their aircrafts.

Sublime Architecture

What impressed me was that the hangar’s glass and metal dome structure that let in all the natural light. The impeccably clean and polished floor reflected the curved lines of the roof onto the floor and the surfaces of the aircrafts. And although it’s not open to the public, across the tarmac is Hangar-8 where you’ll find a complementary space that’s used to meticulously maintain and repair the aircrafts.

But what really impressed and surprised me was that Hangar-7 also has a Michelin starred restaurant (2 stars) with rotating guest chefs, a cocktail bar that hangs (that’s right, it just hangs there) from the dome of the hangar, and a casual cafe that just happened to serve me one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had. All with a view right into where all the aircrafts are held.

Brunch At The Carpe Diem Lounge

While looking for the best places to eat in Salzburg, I came cross a recommendation for breakfast at the Carpe Diem Lounge. Photos of a three-tiered cake stand filled with the vibrant colors of yellow caviar, deep red beef tartare topped with fresh micro-greens, and bright color smoked salmon was enough for me to make the ‘trek’ out to the airport for breakfast. And that was just what I could see from one angle of the ‘Salt & Savory Breakfast’. There was also a ‘Sweet & Delicious Breakfast’ option.

The Best Breakfast and Brunch In Salzburg…Hands Down

Without a doubt, combined with a view right into the the hangar with all the aircrafts, this was by far the best brunch or breakfast I’ve ever had in my travels.

We came on a weekday morning in January and managed a table for two without reservations, which is only offered for a 9 and 9:30 am seating. The cafe is opened from 9 to 5 pm 7 days a week, but breakfast is only served until 11:30 am and BREAKFAST IS THE REASON YOU COME HERE.

Choosing Between The Sweet Or Savory Menu

I love when a menu is simple and the only difficult part about this one here is whether you get the sweet (25 euros) or savory (28 euros) option. Our waiter responded with a question, asking ‘if we were really hungry?’ when we inquired about getting both. We weren’t sure how to respond, but still couldn’t decide so we went with both anyway.

Each ‘breakfast’ comes with a choice of a cold beverage (Red Bull Winter Secco, Thalheimer Lemonades, or Carpe Diem Kombucha) and a hot beverage (coffee, tea, or homemade hot chocolate).

We went for a glass of the secco and kombucha and had a flat white and a herbal tea from their extensive tea menu. A perfect start.

The food came out shortly after with two packed tiered cake stand that left our eyes flicking in all directions wondering which mini dish to look at. From top to bottom, everything so beautifully prepared. Each item on the menu could have been presented on its own as part of the long tasting menu. And that’s really how you should look at this – a tasting menu presented all at once.

The ‘Salt & Savory’ Breakfast Menu

• Coffee, Tea or Homemade Hot Chocolate
• Red Bull Winter Secco, Thalheimer Lemonades or Carpe Diem Kombucha
• A Variety of Ham and Salami
• Cheese (Tête de Moine, Alpine Cheese, Cottage Cheese)
• Pretzel Pastry with “Erdäpfelkäse” and Salmon Caviar
• Beef Tartar Taco Avocado

• Calves Liverwurst on Brioche
• Smoked Char from Ausseerland with Beetroot, Yoghurt and Sauce Hollandaise
• German Weisswurst with Sweet Mustard
• Grilled Vegetables on Eggplant Cream with Marinated Buffalo Mozzarella
• “Egg Benedict” 1-Hour Egg with Spinach, Bacon and Sauce Hollandaise
• Avocado Dip with Rice Pops
• Butter & Bread Rolls

The ‘Sweet & Delicious’ Breakfast Menu

• Coffee, Tea or Homemade Hot Chocolate
• Red Bull Winter Secco, Thalheimer Lemonades or Carpe Diem Kombucha
• Homemade Nut Brownie
• Three Kinds of Danish Pastries
• Fresh Fruits with Passion Fruit Dip
• Poppyseed Slice with Vanilla Cream

• Chia Pudding with Raspberry Espuma
• Bircher Muesli “Hangar-7”
• Waffle with Fresh Blueberries and Vanilla Whipped Cream
• Homemade Marmalade
• Nutella
• Butter
• Bread Rolls & Pastries

Walking Off Breakfast In The Coolest Hangar In The World

Appearances were not deceiving and everything tasted as good as it looked. It was hard to choose a favorite dish, but I really like the Eggs Benedict, the Beef Tartare Taco, and the Pretzel Pastry with Salmon Caviar on the savory side. The Weisswurst with the Sweet Mustard was also pleasant surprise.

On the sweet side, even simple everyday items like muesli, waffles and the pastries were kicked up a notch in presentation and flavor. It was incredibly delicious and a lot of food, as the waiter had suggested.

After it was over, we took advantage of the museum and the Illume photography exhibit to wander around and walk off some of the calories. There were just so many cool aircrafts and vehicles on display and it’s all free to see. There’s no admission to enter Hangar-7.

It was definitely a highlight of my time in Salzburg both from an activity and a dining perspective. I highly recommend putting this on your list of things to do while in Salzburg along with the Mozart Concert Dinner and the Sound of Music Tour if you’re a fan of the movie and like to sing-a-long with strangers.

Updated on October 24, 2023