From Hohensalzburg Fortress, the old town feels close again as you descend towards Kapitelplatz. Construction of the fortification began in 1077, and its museums, courtyards and views can occupy much of a morning. After coming down on foot or by funicular, Alter Markt offers a pause that carries local history of its own. On either side of the square are different answers to the coffee question: a room in which to slow down and a confectionery where you can choose a sweet invented in Salzburg.
The ritual of a table on Alter Markt
Café Tomaselli, at 9 Alter Markt, has been run by the family whose name it bears for more than 150 years. Its menu offers melange, Einspänner, strudel and classic cakes; the tourism office also describes the cake waitress as part of the experience. Sitting here makes sense when there is no rush to the next museum. Individual tables cannot be reserved, so you may have to wait at busy times. It opens early but closes at 19:00: a late descent from the fortress leaves less time than you might think.
The Fürst family’s Mozartkugel
Café-Konditorei Fürst – Alter Markt stands at 13 Brodgasse. The confectionery opened in 1884 and credits Paul Fürst with creating the original Mozartkugel six years later. At the counter you can buy a praline to take away or sit with a slice of cake. The brand has several Salzburg locations: this is the Alter Markt house, not the Mirabellplatz branch with different hours. On Sunday it closes at 17:00, two hours before Tomaselli.
What to check on the way down
The funicular has its own operating arrangements and the fortress offers several ticket types; its official site is the reference for your date. After a long walk, a table may be worth more than joining another queue. Published experiences value Tomaselli’s atmosphere but also describe slow service and contested prices; Fürst’s pralines and cakes draw praise, alongside reservations when it fills up. No review replaces deciding whether you want a long coffee break or an edible memento. Both cafés are in the same small area, so you can first look at the available tables and display cases.
With an unhurried afternoon, Tomaselli turns the descent into a long pause. If you are continuing to Getreidegasse or the river, Fürst lets the Alter Markt stop stay brief while still tasting of the city.
Tomaselli rewards time at a table; Fürst lets you taste the local speciality and continue.
Cafés to compare
Compare menus, hours and recent reviews before choosing a café.
Café Tomaselli occupies a corner of Alter Markt, the small square in Salzburg’s old town reached after coming down from Hohensalzburg Fortress. The Tomaselli family has run it for more than 150 years, and the place preserves the setting of an Austrian coffee house: marble tables, wood panelling and
Austrian coffee and pastries on Alter Markt
Café-Konditorei Fürst’s original shop stands at 13 Brodgasse, with a terrace facing Alter Markt. The address matters because the brand also has retail outlets and another café on Mirabellplatz. The confectionery opened in 1884 and credits Paul Fürst with creating the original Mozartkugel in 1890: pi
Original Mozartkugel and pastries on Brodgasse
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Café Tomaselli ↗
Primary source
Café Tomaselli · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Café Tomaselli ↗
Primary source
Salzburg Tourism · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Café-Konditorei Fürst – Alter Markt ↗
Primary source
Café-Konditorei Fürst · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Café-Konditorei Fürst – Alter Markt ↗
Primary source
Salzburg Tourism · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Salzburg Tourism · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Salzburg Tourism · Accessed October 11, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Valoración y relatos de clientes ↗
Secondary source
Wanderlog · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 3.8/5 en 4913 reseñas de Alter Markt 9; consultado 11/10/2026.
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Valoración y relatos de la sede ↗
Secondary source
Wanderlog · Accessed October 11, 2026
Google 4.5/5 en 5459 reseñas de Brodgasse 13; consultado 11/10/2026.