Delicacies along the slopes

One thing the residents of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis know quite well: eating is more than just the intake of nutrients. Eating is pleasure. And for people from Tyrol, pleasure goes hand in hand with experiencing nature. So it’s no wonder that regional produce can be marketed so well. This is made possible by the special partnership between the farmers, cable railway companies and restaurants in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. Put simply, the mountain farmers make some of their meadows available as ski pistes in winter, and in exchange receive 15-20 percent more than the market price for grain, milk, cheese, yoghurt, eggs, noodles and meat – while the gourmet mountain huts in the skiing area and the restaurants in the villages conjure up the finest culinary delights from the local products.

Not something for late risers: mountain breakfast on the Hexenseehütte
Untouched mountain environment, lonely tracks in the snow, and a full mountain breakfast – whoever wants to enjoy a unique summit panorama at the crack of dawn will not go wrong by taking the Masner Express up to the Sunrise Hexensee. The mighty snowcat transports the early birds in an approximately hour-long ride up to 2,588 metres into the middle of the skiing area. Just in time for the big sunrise spectacle. When the first rays of sun have started passing over the mountain tops, the morning light allows thousands of small snow crystals to shine. Saving the best for last: in the Hexenseehütte, the fragrances of bacon, cheese and fresh pastry dance around in the air – everyone is guaranteed to leave on a full stomach. Und whoever has their skis with them can afterwards swing down the slopes into the valley. Just wonderful!

A ski stop at the Leithe Wirt, or the fine art of smoking meat
The Leithe Wirt nestles at the edge of the forest – 200 metres above the rooftops of Serfaus, right next to the valley station of the Königsleithebahn cable railway. The cosily rustic mountain restaurant is famous for its traditional Tyrolean cooking – and above all for its smoked specialities. Up here, bacon, osso collo, salami & co are spiced, cured and cold-smoked using beechwood shavings mixed with wild juniper twigs in the smoking hut in front of the restaurant, with great attention to detail. Not for nothing is the smoked meat called “Leithe’s Finest”.

Seealm Hög: straight from the Schneisenfeger Family Coaster to the gourmet sun terrace
Short routes to tastebud bliss: the Seealm Hög is situated right at the destination of the Schneisenfeger Family Coaster. Thanks to its open architectural design and large window fronts, it offers superb close and distant views of the lake and the mountain scenery. And the menu? It contains surprises, with vegetarian and vegan cuisine, as well as fish specialities. On mild days in late winter, you can snuggle up in one of the sun loungers – and enjoy the food and drinks service on the sun terrace.

Romantic dinner above the clouds: Sunset Dinner Masner
Anyone who loves a tranquil mountain view at twilight but does not want to get out of bed early in the morning, opts for the Sunset Dinner Masner. Even the ride in the Masner Express, a repurposed snow groomer, to the glass-paned Monte Mare restaurant at 2,430 metres above sea level, is a spectacle itself. But that’s not all. From scallops to steak tartare – gourmets are guaranteed to swoon. And once the deep red sun has fallen behind the peaks and the last crumb has been eaten, the Masner Express shows up to bring the guests on an exciting descent through the ski area into the valley.

Zirbenhütte: the fragrance of pinewood, the crackle of the open fire, the flavour of pan-fried veal
Any skier who swoops to a halt at the Zirbenhütte mountain hut gourmet restaurant with a pulse rate of 180 after tackling the challenging 12er Sportiv slope needs one thing, above all: to reward themselves! So, it’s off to the big sun terrace. Or, almost better, into one of the quaint snuggeries with their wonderful scent of pinewood. Now it’s time to recharge your energy reserves – but it in a fitting style, please! Hut Manager Philipp Kaschutnig ensures that only high quality, regional products reach your plate – such as the tender, aromatic meat of the Tyrolean Grey calf. So it’s as clear as day why his “Grauviehpfandl” (“Grey veal pan”) is famed far beyond the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis skiing area.

Crystal Cube: midday break with champagne and caviar
The Crystal Cube is THE gourmet destination for all food connoisseurs in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. The building itself, at an altitude of 2,600 metres, is a sight to behold: the cube radiates a futuristic sheen and reflects the snowy mountain landscape. Up to eight people can reserve their seats indoors to enjoy a fantastic view of the breath-taking mountain landscape. Champagne, a wide variety of finger goods, oysters, and Tyrolean Grey steak tartare are also on the menu. From a Champagne Breakfast and Luxury Lunch to High Tea, a range of heavenly delights awaits. Speaking of heavenly: if you wish, you can say, “I do,” at the Crystal Cube – not only is it an exclusive mountain restaurant, but also one of the highest civil registry offices in Europe.

Epilogue: the “Fissky Imperial” – the new Tyrolean single malt whisky
And finally, something liquid for connoisseurs: master distiller Gerhard Maass from Prutz in the Upper Inntal valley distills his Fissky Imperial from original, natural Fisser Imperial Barley, fresh spring water and peat from the Piller Moor. The Fisser Imperial Barley is a grain which almost fell into oblivion, but which has been growing on the high plateau around Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis once more. The Tyrolean single malt whisky tastes somewhat smoky and earthy, yet fruity. At all events, it’s 100 percent regional. It’s already won its first prizes...

About Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
True to the motto "Where my heart is at home!", the Tyrolean holiday region of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis offers varied and carefree winter holidays at the highest level. It is a feel-good place where all visitors can take some time out to relax and enjoy themselves carefree: whether alone, as a couple, or with the whole family. Because in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, the mountains have something to offer for everyone, young and old alike. The three historic mountain villages lie on a sunny high plateau above the Upper Inntal valley in Tyrol, surrounded by the distinctive mountain peaks of the Samnaun mountain range and the Ötztal Alps. The holiday region offers all visitors the ideal conditions for a unique winter holiday full of variety at between 1,200 and 2,828 meters above sea level: activities for winter sports enthusiasts. Variety for the whole family. Adventures for action heroes. Breath-taking panoramas for connoisseurs. Exceptional specialties for gourmets.