We chose Hotel Goldener Ochs in the heart of Bad Ischl both for its favorable location as well as for being a Michelin Guide Bib Hotel, i.e. a hotel where two can sleep in comfort in pleasant surroundings for less than €90 all included per night. Such hotels usually have a fine restaurant attached and once again, we were not disappointed by the Michelin recommendation.

Goldener Ochs is just off the main road going through Bad Ischl and adjacent to a fast flowing mountain stream. I somehow managed to get the car through the rather narrow gate and short tunnel into the already overcrowded courtyard parking area. This was fine for unloading and after doing so, I astonished myself by reversing out into the street again sans help and sans scratching anything. For the duration of our stay, we parked across the street in the municipal parking lot where overnight parking was an insignificant amount.

The hotel is very comfortable with a bit of a lived-in feeling without being shabby in any way. The style is not the most contemporary but all furnishings were in excellent condition. A baby bed and a further child mattress crowded the room a bit but in such a lovely town, we were never going to be in the room except for sleeping. From the wooden balcony, we had varied views: looking down we could observe through the glass roof the action in the restaurant, looking straight ahead we could keep an eye on the car in the municipal parking lot, and looking up we had marvelous clear mountain views. At night the room was pleasantly quiet and the beds comfortable.

In addition to the extensive breakfast buffets that we enjoyed there, we also dined in the open-air part of the restaurant. It was a most pleasant meal with excellent service and well-prepared food. After a hard day of mostly outdoors sightseeing, I needed a beer and my wife a prosecco and we wisely ordered a large bottle of soda water too. Two starters, two main courses, two desserts, and two coffees later, we still haven’t spent €50. It was unfortunately our final night in town or we would have dined there again.

Goldener Ochs offers all the advantages from being in town but still with mountain views and rural silence at night. It is an easy stroll into town – whether to the pleasant shopping street or the large, well-maintained parks.

Hotel Goldener Ochs
Grazerstrasse 4
4820 Bad Ischl
Austria
Tel: 06132-235-290