Perched on the top floor of the bustling RathausGalerien shopping centre, Lichtblick is a café by day and a restaurant by night. With panoramic views of Innsbruck’s rooftops and the surrounding Alps, this seventh-floor haven is aptly named: a “ray of light” illuminating the city’s dining scene.

The food

Lichtblick’s cuisine combines Austrian tradition with Mediterranean charm and a hint of Asian intrigue, and had moved to a new menu the night before our visit. In fact, diners can select from three thoughtfully curated menus where each course is designed to complement one another, but you may substitute courses from other menus if you wish (as you’ll see we did with the dessert from menu 1).

We primarily opted for menus 2 and 3, and I’m going to let the pictures doing the talking here…

Poached wild-caught prawns with sweet potatoes, baby chard, blood orange-grapefruit salad & aioli
Medium rare roasted fillet of spanish duroc pork with potato cake, black salsify & sage jus
Walnut éclair on crème patisserie, caramelized nuts & buttermilk ice cream

Roasted breast of pigeon with la ratte potatoes, raspberry gel, tarragon vinaigrette, dark chocolate & raspberry jus

Consommé of simmental ox with stuffed wantan

Grilled fillet of val passira salmon trout on bouillabaisse vegetables, truffled potatoes & saffron foam

Variation of chocolate with browned butter & banana ice cream

Eggplant cream baked in filo pastry with Mediterranean couscous salad, pomegranate seeds, raisins & homemade labneh

Ravioli filled with pecorino and egg yolk cream, pickled mushrooms, black nuts

Lukewarm apple crumble on verjus sabayon & vanilla ice cream

We tried each others dishes and concluded that menu 2 was our favourite.

The chef

The head chef is Andreas Zeindlinger although at Lichtblick he’s billed as the Kitchen Art Director.

The ambience

Other than entering a shopping centre to get there, you wouldn’t know you’re on top of a commercial building. The atmosphere is vibrant yet intimate, and busy yet composed. Adjacent to the restaurant, the 360° wine bar and lounge, which is under the same management, offers a chic retreat, perfect for a pre-dinner aperitif or post-meal digestif. Being in such a lofty location, there’s a good view to be had, whether it’s day or night. Our table overlooked the Rathaus Glockenturm (Town Hall Clock Tower).

The cost

The three menus range in price from €48 to €58, with the option to add a cheese course for €14.80.

The final verdict

Lichtblick is a celebration of flavour and creativity. With dishes that surprise and an ambience that hums with energy, this is a restaurant you’ll definitely want to visit next time you are in Innsbruck.