In the middle of Salzburg's Old Town stands the extensive restaurant complex of the Sternbräu. One of the town's oldest catering institutions, this hostelry has been welcoming guests for over 472 years. Against the background of Salzburg's social, political and economic developments, Gerhard Ammerer and Harald Waitzbauer relate in vivid detail the vicissitudes of the old inn and brewery.

Taking the Sternbräu as an example, this copiously illustrated volume describes the history of the catering industry in Salzburg through the ages. The authors give an account of moments of glory and disastrous bankruptcies; they tell of dances attended by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and trace the history from the first electric lighting in a Salzburg open-air restaurant in 1888, through the development of the Sternbräu into a major restaurant complex in the 20th century.

The occasion for this book was the recent extensive reconstruction and renovation, which took almost two years. Since 1 October 2014 the "Stern", as it is known in Salzburg, is resplendent in its brand-new design.