The Imlauer Sky Bar sits on the 6th floor of the IMLAUER Hotel Pitter Salzburg on Rainerstraße, opened in 2014 after a major renovation of the historic Pitter building. It offers a genuine 180-degree panorama over Salzburg's rooftops toward Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mönchsberg, and it is significantly less crowded than the better-known Steinterrasse.
The Story
Georg Imlauer bought the Hotel Pitter in 2008 for a reason that sounds almost fictional: the hotel had turned him away in 1981 when he was a young hospitality worker who could not afford a room. He spent four years renovating the building, and when the Sky Bar opened in November 2014, the rooftop became the defining addition. The glass-enclosed terrace was built to let the city's historic skyline dominate rather than compete with the architecture; floor-to-ceiling glass walls keep the Altstadt domes, Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the alpine ridge visible from every seat.
The venue functions as both bar and restaurant. The Sky Bar section serves drinks from around 5 pm until 1 am; the adjacent Sky Restaurant operates a full kitchen from 11:30 to 22:30 and holds a Gault Millau 12/20 toque as of 2026. Signature dishes draw on Salzburg tradition: Wiener Schnitzel, Salzburger Nockerl, fresh fish. Gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian options are available and marked on the menu.
The Mönchsberg Room, a private 50-seat space inside the venue, can be reserved for events while the main bar remains open. The terrace holds 100 guests; the full indoor capacity reaches around 150. Arrive before sunset for the terrace. Evenings cool quickly, and a jacket is needed after 20:00.
Visiting
Rainerstraße 6-8, on the Neustadt side near the Hauptbahnhof. Barrier-free access via hotel side entrance, elevator to 6th floor. Drinks from around €8. Kitchen open 11:30-22:30; bar until 01:00. Reservations recommended for dinner. Combine with a visit to Steinterrasse on a separate evening for a proper comparison. The Imlauer view favours the fortress and Mönchsberg; the Steinterrasse faces the opposite direction.