The story
Kunsthandwerk in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee anchors its Carinthian cooking in a restored forest ranger house where family Magnet guides the daily service. Chef Johannes Magnet shapes every ingredient instead of simply arranging it. Market-fresh vegetables arrive alongside wild herbs and locally gathered blossoms that define the seasonal menu. This hands-on approach elevates everyday Austrian cooking without relying on heavy sauces or complicated techniques.
The morning harvest often appears first as a choice between a clear broth served with fluffy semolina dumplings or a velvety Carinthian asparagus preparation. That same green shoot moves directly into a creamy risotto paired with precisely timed trout filets from nearby waters. Every component receives careful attention until it reaches the dining table. A rich chocolate mousse finished with fresh strawberries closes the meal on a familiar note.
Guests settle into the preserved timber and stone walls that once sheltered forest wardens during their patrols. The unpretentious layout keeps conversation easy while the staff maintains a steady pace across the floor. This consistent care earned thirteen points from Gault&Millau in their latest evaluation. The rating reflects a straightforward promise to serve honest meals in a space that respects its own history.
Recognition
Details
History
In a beautifully maintained old forester's lodge, the Magnet family tends to their guests with both affection and professionalism. Flawless, for example, is the two-part soup selection: one hearty and clear with fluffy semolina dumplings, the other finely creamy with Carinthian asparagus—which then immediately makes its next appearance in a risotto that would satisfy even the most fundamentalist Italianophile, yet remains "merely" the accompaniment to a perfectly cooked char fillet. Chocolate mousse with strawberries that truly deserve the name forms a classic and perfectly fitting conclusion. Address: Radelsdorf 1, 9556 Liebenfels, Austria. Contact: 04215 28 94, wirtshaus.kunsthandwerk@a1.net, https://www.wirtshaus-kunsthandwerk.at/. Opening hours: Wed–Sat 17–21, Sun 12–15, variable. Variable team: Johannes Magnet, Chef.
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