More than 300 guests at Kurz' and Friesacher's "Gin und Schinkenfleckerl" reception in Salzburg

Prominent figures from politics and culture

Among the prominent guests, Philipp Hochmair stood out in particular. The actor, who can currently be seen in Salzburg in the title role of "Jedermann" at the Salzburg Festival, said he had been out at Vienna's legendary "Schwarzes Kameel" the night before and traveled virtually straight from the bar night into the festival city. At the Café Bazar, he was one of the few to stick with water while gin and tonic flowed all around.

From federal politics, ÖVP parliamentary group leader Christian Stocker traveled in, among others. This made the list of party heavyweights present a manageable one: besides Kurz and Stocker, no other named members of the National Council were spotted. The mix of business figures, cultural creators, and invited private guests defined the atmosphere of the evening.

Angels and snakes at the entrance

The crowds made the biggest headlines: even before it began, a line formed at the café entrance because the number of registered guests significantly exceeded the originally planned capacity. Inside, it was also at times so tight that the serving staff had difficulty bringing the ordered "Schinkenfleckerl" – a Viennese specialty of egg pasta with ham and cheese – to all the tables.

The "Schinkenfleckerl" component of the reception is no coincidence. Friesacher and Kurz cultivate the mix of Austrian cuisine and the namesake drink as a deliberately set contrast to the more glamorous festival receptions held, for example, the previous evening at the same location. The concept is intended to come across as deliberately down-to-earth.

Anyone looking for a retreat in the densely packed rooms found one in the early evening primarily on Hanuschplatz outside. With temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, the rush to the reception continued past midnight. Some guests moved to neighboring establishments after the official part.

Police: only routine presence

Overall, the event proceeded without any notable incidents. Salzburg police were present, according to their own statements, only with routine patrols around Hanuschplatz. Neither the police nor the organizers reported any incidents beyond what is usual for a busy city-center event.

Organizers and guests expressed satisfaction with the evening's course. It was announced that there would be a fifth edition of the reception next year – then, as expected, again at the same location and with a similar mix of prominent figures, local color, and the now inevitable question of who had once again arrived directly from which Viennese bar.

The event's photo gallery was published the following day via the organizers' and friendly media outlets' social networks; individual images also surfaced on Instagram, where they racked up several tens of thousands of views in the hours following the reception.