Vienna - Dining & Drinking

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Some say coffee houses and wine taverns are defining characteristics of Vienna, and with good cause. From that, one might think that drinking is the main occupation of the Viennese, but Austrians do have a weakness for good food. Most coffee houses and wine taverns can give any reputable restaurant a good run for its money. The "Beisl" is a common Viennese name for a small tavern, restaurant or pub serving food. Should you be short of time, the omnipresent Wrstelstand (sausage stands) are always worth a visit, serving typically Austrian sausage, a hot dog or a slice of pizza for very palatable prices. The cheapest sit-down food is generally to be found in university restaurants, known as "Mensas." Despite only opening on weekdays at lunchtime, they are terrific values for the money. Chain restaurants are also a common thing in Vienna; besides the obligatory McDonald's, there are specifically Austrian chains such as Schnitzelhaus or Wienerwald. And, for those with a penchant for excellent food, Vienna offers plenty of fine restaurants, especially in the Inner City. These range from traditional Austrian and Viennese cuisine to almost every fathomable gastronomic delight from all over the world. Dining in Vienna is almost instantly connected with the famous Wiener Schnitzel, but Viennese cuisine has a lot more to offer. A word of advice: it might be wise to carry cash in Vienna, as many restaurants do not accept credit cards.

Coffee Houses

The coffee house is an integral part of Viennese life. On just about every corner you will encounter one of these oases for an excellent cup of Austrian coffee, allegedly the best in the world. Cafe Central belongs among those classic places once frequented by famous turn-of-the-century literary personalities and intellectuals. Sperl is the oldest coffee house in Vienna (established in 1880) with some of the most beautiful old furnishings. A classic is Cafe Hawelka where the whole gamut of Vienna's society meets, from students to celebrities. In Cafe Restaurant Landtmann , some of Austria's top politicians and journalists are known to congregate for a cup of coffee. The stylish Cafe Blaustern, however, boasts some of the best coffee in town and customers can watch the fresh coffee being roasted behind the counter.

Gastgarten/Schanigarten

The Gastgarten or Schanigarten belongs to the Viennese gastronomic scene in the same way that the Alps belong to Austrian topography. The word "Schanigarten" is synonymous with sitting outside, breathing fresh air (rather than smoke) and enjoying a cool drink under the shade of a tree. Schanigarten are very often small calm areas in the midst of the city. Drop by the Amerlingbeisl to see an unusual example, in the inner courtyard of an old building. At Stomach, customers can enjoy Styrian specialities on mild summer evenings; the Schweizerhaus on the other hand, is a typically huge beer garden in the Prater. Kunsthaus Cafe, in a modern courtyard, is rather less-rustic in style and situated close to the city center. Vienna's Summerstage provides the setting in which the city's young and trendy congregate on summer nights, whilst the rich and beautiful prefer the fine surroundings of the Burggarten and gather at the Palmenhaus.

Heurige

Heurige are wine taverns serving the year's local vintage (Heuriger) and offer simple but excellent buffets to accompany their home-grown wines. They are found all over Vienna, but the more traditional places are usually found near the vineyards on the outskirts of the city. Neustift am Walde and Grinzing are some of the typical small villages in which you'll come across a great number of Heurige.

From Mid-Range to Expensive Restaurants in Vienna's Inner City

Restaurants serving Viennese cuisine abound in the first district. Plachutta is one of the city's best-known places to dine. At Korso, Viennese and international specialties are served with the guest's choice of wine from their impressive wine cellar. Zu den drei Husaren is on the same exquisite level: formal, elegant, expensive and with live piano music. A top vegetarian place to eat is Wrenkh, a fairly upmarket specialist restaurant. DO & CO boasts a unique location at the Haas-Haus, with a view of St. Stephen's Cathedral and superb food of gourmet quality. For those looking for something Japanese, Yugetsu comes highly recommended. Danieli is a popular Italian restaurant serving delicate Mediterranean fare.

The Student Scene

Hundreds of thousands of students in Austria's capital frequent the many places to eat surrounding its main university, although there are plenty more scattered around the city. Close to the university, Einstein is a rather rustic-style place serving good food. Stein serves as a popular meeting point after lectures; this modern establishment is always busy and attracts a mixed crowd. Probably some of the best and cheapest places for students to go out and eat are in the eighth district, where you will find pubs and restaurants, such as the Tunnel, en masse.







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Stomach


Roast beef a la carte
 Seegasse 26
Vienna 1090
+43 1 310 20 99
Stomach
Cafe Landtmann


Meeting spot for journalists, politicians and actors
 Dr Karl Lueger-Ring 4
Vienna A-1010
+43 01 24 100 0
http://www.landtmann.at
Cafe Landtmann
Cafe Sperl


A memento of old Vienna
 Gumpendorfer Straße 11
Vienna, Vienna 1060
+43 1 586 4158
http://www.cafesperl.at/
Cafe Sperl
Hawelka


Perhaps the most famous cafe in town
 Dorotheergasse 6
Vienna A-1010
+43 1 512 82 30
http://www.hawelka.com/
Hawelka
Cafe Central


Famous café once loved by the city's intellectuals
 Herrengasse / Strauchgasse
Vienna A-1010
+43 01 533 376 324
Cafe Central
Stein


Trendy cyber café
 Währingerstrasse 6
Vienna A-1090
+43 1 319 72 41
http://www.cafe-stein.com/
Stein
Blaustern


Stylish place with its own freshly roasted coffee
 Döblinger Gürtel 2
Vienna A-1190
+43 1 369 65 64
http://www.blaustern.at
Blaustern
Danieli


First-class Italian restaurant
 Himmelpfortgasse 3
Vienna A-1010
+43 1 513 7913
http://www.danieli.at
Danieli
Cafe Einstein


A students' place
 Rathausplatz 4
Vienna A-1010
+43 01 405 26 26
http://www.einstein.at
Cafe Einstein
Korso Bei Der Oper


Expensive gourmet restaurant
 Kaerntner Ring 1
(Hotel Bristol)
Vienna 1015
+43 1 51 5160 (Hotel)
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/search/restaurants_lounges.html?city=&stateProvince=&country=&p
Korso Bei Der Oper
Zu den drei Husaren


Fabulous and expensive
 Weihburggasse 4
Vienna A-1010
+43 01 512 10 92 0
Zu den drei Husaren
Amerlingbeisl


Marvelous courtyard garden
 Sitftgasse 8
(Siebensterngasse)
Vienna A-1070
+43 01 526 1660
Amerlingbeisl
Do & Co


Dining with Vienna at your feet
 Haas-Haus
Stephansplatz 12, 7. Stock
Vienna A-1010
+43 1 535 39 69
http://www.doco.com
Do & Co
Plachutta


Traditional beef dishes served
 Wollzeile 38
(Dr-Karl-Lueger-Platz)
Vienna, Vienna 1010
+43 1 512 1577
http://www.plachutta.at/
Plachutta
Yugetsu


Sushi and flying shrimps
 Führichgasse 10
Vienna A-1010
+43 1 512 27 20
http://www.yugetsu.at
Yugetsu
Prater


Legendary funfair
 Prater 9
Wiener Praterverband
Vienna, Vienna 1020
+43 1 728 0516
http://www.prater.at
Prater
Schweizerhaus


Substantial food in the midst of Prater
 Prater 116
Vienna A-1020
+43 1 728 01 52
Schweizerhaus
Grinzing


Historical taverns and magical atmosphere
 Grinzing
Vienna, Wien 1190
+43 1 21 1140 / +43 1 22 4555
Grinzing
Vienna
Vienna - Art & Entertainment
Vienna - Historical Background
Vienna - Where to Stay
Vienna - Neighborhood Guide
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