Gaststätte St. Bartholomä

Gaststätte St. Bartholomä is a traditional restaurant in a former royal hunting lodge on Königssee, beside the red-domed pilgrimage church and below the Watzmann east face. Its chestnut-shaded garden seats about 400, with historic dining rooms indoors. Expect Bavarian beer and a broad selection of regional dishes. The setting is the draw; food, service, and value can be uneven, so don't build the boat trip around one particular meal.

There is no road connection to the restaurant. Take the passenger boat from Seelände in Schönau; the crossing takes about 35 minutes. The public lot and pier are on the mainland, with about 350 metres of level walking from the lot to the landing. The peninsula's level gravel loop is 1.9 kilometres and takes about an hour, an easy way to stretch the stop. Boarding has a narrow, steep section and three steps, though staff can assist; the restaurant itself has limited wheelchair access. A public accessible toilet behind the restaurant requires a Euro key.

A fisherman's cottage stood here before the present lodge was built around 1700 for the Prince-Provosts of Berchtesgaden. It became Bavarian royal property in 1810, and Prince Regent Luitpold particularly liked hunting here; the dining room called Hoheit recalls him. The building has served food and drink to visitors, hikers, and pilgrims since 1912.