"Graz's Gault&Millau-hatted Styrian canteen - order the EUR 17.50 Backhendl and pumpkin-seed oil on everything, then linger over a local lunch."
About Der Steirer
Half a Styrian chicken, fried in five crisp pieces for EUR 17.50 - the Backhendl is the dish to order first at Der Steirer. The restaurant sits at Belgiergasse 1 in the Gries district, a short walk from the Kunsthaus, and is part of Florian Weitzer's family hotel group. It pairs a serious Styrian kitchen with a deep regional wine bar, holds a Gault&Millau hat, and runs all day - the rare place that works equally for a quick lunch, a long team dinner and a glass of Schilcher alone at the bar.
The Kitchen
Der Steirer cooks Styria without apology: the produce-driven food of southern Austria, built on pumpkin-seed oil, Schilcher wine, free-range chicken and local game. There is no celebrity chef out front - the kitchen runs under the Weitzer group's long-standing team - and the menu reads like a regional primer rather than a showcase. The Backhendl, half a chicken fried in five pieces at EUR 17.50, is the signature; the "Steirer" salad dressed in dark pumpkin-seed oil at EUR 7.90 is the test of whether a Graz kitchen means it.
Beyond those, the menu runs to venison medallions on red cabbage around EUR 34.50, butter-fried Arctic char on asparagus risotto near EUR 28, and a roster of Styrian tapas meant for grazing with wine. The Gault&Millau hat recognises the cooking; the adjoining Vinothek, stocked deep in Styrian growers, explains why locals treat the place as a wine bar that happens to cook very well. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the kitchen stays open through the afternoon when most of Graz has closed.
The Room
Der Steirer is busy and unpretentious - a tavern hum rather than a hush, with closely set tables, a bar lined with Styrian bottles, and a terrace that fills the moment the sun is out. Lighting is bright and casual, the crowd mixes office lunches, families and wine drinkers, and the noise level rises happily into the evening. Dress is whatever you walked in wearing. It is open daily from late morning to midnight, which is part of the appeal.
Best for a Relaxed Business Lunch or Team Dinner
Book Der Steirer for a midday business lunch, an informal team dinner or a solo seat at the bar because it is reliable, regional and easy: all-day service, fair prices, a wine list that rewards curiosity, and food nobody has to apologise for ordering. The room is loud enough to talk freely and unfussy enough that no one feels overdressed or out of place. For more, see Graz's full dining guide and the best restaurants for a team dinner.
Not for
Not for a hushed fine-dining evening - Der Steirer is a busy, wine-bar-loud Styrian canteen with shared tables and a tavern hum, open all day rather than staged for a quiet degustation.
Frequently Asked
Is Der Steirer worth it?
Yes, if you want honest Styrian cooking at fair prices. Der Steirer is not fine dining; it is a Gault&Millau-listed regional canteen and wine bar where the Backhendl is EUR 17.50 and the pumpkin-seed-oil salad is EUR 7.90. The value is excellent, the wine list is genuinely good, and the all-day hours make it one of the most useful tables in Graz for a relaxed meal.
How hard is it to book Der Steirer?
Easy to moderate - it is a sizeable, all-day restaurant, so walk-ins often work outside peak times, but the terrace and Friday and Saturday evenings fill, especially in summer. Book directly through the restaurant a day or two ahead for a group or a prime terrace table. Der Steirer is at Belgiergasse 1 in the Gries district, near the Kunsthaus.
What is the dress code at Der Steirer?
There is no dress code - this is a relaxed Styrian tavern and wine bar where you can turn up in whatever you are wearing. Office lunch crowds, families and wine drinkers mix freely, and nobody dresses for it. Come as you are; the only thing the room asks of you is an appetite for pumpkin-seed oil and Schilcher.
What should I order at Der Steirer?
Start with the Backhendl, half a Styrian chicken fried in five crisp pieces for EUR 17.50, and the 'Steirer' salad dressed in dark pumpkin-seed oil at EUR 7.90. From there, the venison medallions on red cabbage (about EUR 34.50) and the butter-fried Arctic char (near EUR 28) are the kitchen's stronger plates, and the Styrian tapas are built for sharing over wine.
Is Der Steirer good for a group or team dinner?
Yes - the all-day hours, generous portions, fair prices and lively tavern room make it one of the easiest team tables in Graz. The shared-plate Styrian tapas and a deep regional wine list keep a group happy, and the noise level means you can talk freely. See our best restaurants for a team dinner for more options.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Der Steirer
Direct booking · open daily, all day
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressBelgiergasse 1, 8020 Graz, Austria
NeighbourhoodGries, near the Kunsthaus
CuisineStyrian / Austrian
MainsEUR 17-35 · Backhendl EUR 17.50
Dress CodeNo rules
RecognitionGault&Millau hat
