Your design hotel near Salzburg

Sonnhof by Vitus Winkler – a design hotel near Salzburg, poised on Salzburgerland's sun terrace, just 60 kilometres from the city. A gourmet address firmly of its time. Minimalist. Modern. Elegant. Grounded. Rustic. Natural. Rooted in centuries of tradition.

Time for good taste, time for mountain stories – carried through peaks and valleys, and onto the plate, where Vitus Winkler turns the Alps into a quiet culinary summit.

Simply being. Where life feels right.

Relaxation Room Sonnhof by Vitus Winkler

Wellness

Rooms & prices

Gourmet Restaurant Kräuterreich

Activities & experiences

Where Passion Lives – Vitus & Eva-Maria's Design Hotel in Salzburg

At this design hotel in Salzburg, passion has always been personal. Vitus's mother instilled in him a passion for cooking and for the hotel that inspired her to great achievements – the first toque for Sonnhof was awarded for her cooking, and she introduced him to the sensual world of kitchen magic as a little boy. Vitus has been running this design hotel together with his wife Eva-Maria since 2012, developing it into a gourmet destination that today attracts guests from all over the world. It was always clear to him that he would return home to their design hotel in Salzburg after a few stints in world-class restaurants. Since then, he rediscovers his homeland every day as a treasure trove for his award-winning cuisine.

Every room is a home
Arrive – unpack – feel good

Roots and Wings: The Story of the Design Hotel near Salzburg

1928: Vitus's great-grandmother Fanny Schandlbauer builds a cosy little hotel in St. Veit im Pongau, near Salzburg.
From around 1950: Fanny's daughter Maria and Johann Schandlbauer run Sonnhof as a recreational hotel. Maria cooks simply, but very well.
1980: Fanny's granddaughter Rose-Marie and her husband Ernst Winkler – one of the world's best ski racers of his time – take over Sonnhof. They add a wellness area.
1996: Rose-Marie earns Sonnhof its first toque, a culinary milestone for what is today a celebrated hotel in Salzburgerland.
2012: With Vitus and Eva-Maria Winkler, a new era begins. Fresh ideas, clear design vision, and strong ambition shape the house's evolution into a modern design hotel in Salzburg.
2016: The first major milestone of the transformation: entrance area, lounge & bar, winter garden, and numerous rooms are comprehensively redesigned. Sonnhof presents itself for the first time in the modern, nature-inspired style that defines the house today.
2019: Vitus's creative herb-driven cuisine is crowned with four Gault&Millau toques – a highlight of his culinary career.
2020: The spa area is expanded. An outdoor infinity pool, saunas, and relaxation rooms with panoramic views create a nature-inspired retreat, adding a new dimension to the experience at this design hotel near Salzburg.
2024: With the construction of new luxurious suites, modern comfort rooms, a contemporary fitness and seminar room, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and the new build of the gourmet restaurant "Kräuterreich," Sonnhof sets new standards in design and cuisine as a hotel in Salzburgerland.
2025: A year for the history books: Vitus Winkler is awarded two Michelin stars – another milestone in his extraordinary culinary journey.
2026: The next major honour follows: Vitus Winkler is named "Chef of the Year 2026" by Gault&Millau – one of the highest accolades in Austrian gastronomy.

Passion for what we do – regional quality, without compromise.

Sustainability at Sonnhof, Design Hotel near Salzburg

Nature shapes the cuisine, the philosophy, and the everyday actions at this design hotel in Salzburg. As a hotel in Salzburgerland, Sonnhof is committed to the responsible use of resources, quality, and provenance.

Meat, fish, and dairy from species-appropriate farming – preferably regional and Austrian
Fruit and vegetables from environmentally responsible cultivation, ideally regional, seasonal, and without unnecessary packaging
Whole-animal, respectful processing, out of respect for both animal and product
Cleaning with steam devices and natural detergents
Paperless accounting and digital processes
E-mobility in everyday private life
Own photovoltaic system as part of a responsible energy concept

Be happy by Sonnhof