Some good places to eat

This list is by no means complete! It merely contains a number of places that I can recommend and that offer good value for your money. For a more complete listing, check out Falter's Wien, wie es isst web page, which is a more or less complete database of restaurants in Vienna (in German). The TimeOut online guide also lists some good restaurants (in English)

Please bear in mind that many of these restaurants, especially those not in the first district (Addresses starting with "1., ..."), will most likely not have English menus, and the waiters will most likely not speak or understand English. You will have to survive on your knowledge of German.

The restaurants are listed alphabetically. Addresses are given in the way commonly used in Vienna, i.e. district, name of street, number of house, so 7., Neubaugasse 20 means 7th district, Neubaugasse number 20. Prices are indicated in Euro. If you cannot see the € (Euro) symbol, you may need to upgrade your browser or installed fonts.

Maps of the subway and tramway system can be found here.

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Viennese (extremely cheap)

Duran (various branches, e.g. 1., Rotenturmstrasse 11 or 10., Viktor-Adler-Markt 13)
Vienna's cheapest eatery. Warm meals under € 4, never mind the 1970s plastic interior. Has branches in Budapest and Istanbul.
How to get there: Rotenturmstrasse: subway U1 and U3 (Stephansplatz) | Viktor-Adler-Markt: subway U1 (Reumannplatz).
Mensa der katholischen Hochschulgemeinde (1., Ebendorferstrasse 8)
Student refectory run by a Catholic students' association. Warm meals for under € 4, but don't expect much. Check what's on the menu.
How to get there: subway U2 or tram D, 1, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 (Schottentor)
NIG-Mensa (1., Universitätsstrasse 7)
Another student refectory. Expect slightly less than at the Catholic refectory. Here's the menu.
How to get there: subway U2 or tram D, 1, 2, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 (Schottentor)
Radatz (various branches, e.g. 1., Schottengasse 3a)
A local butcher's shop that also sells tasty, inexpensive meals at lunchtime.
How to get there: subway U2 or tram D, 1, 2, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 (Schottentor)
Trzesniewski (various branches, e.g. 1., Dorotheergasse 1 or 6., Mariahilferstrasse 95)
Sells delicious open sandwiches at € 0.80 apiece.
How to get there: Dorotheergasse: subway U1 and U3 (Stephansplatz); Mariahilferstrasse: subway U3 (Zieglergasse)
Würstelstände (sausage stands)
They're ubiquitous, and most aren't bad. A few which I like are listed below:
How to get there: Albertinaplatz: tram D, 1, 2 (Opera) | Hoher Markt: subway U1 and U3 (Stephansplatz) | Rennweg ("Kleines Sacher"): suburban rail S1, S2, S3, S7 or tram O and 71 (Rennweg) | Thaliastrasse: subway U6 or tram 46 (Thaliastrasse) | Wallensteinplatz: tram 5, 33 (Wallensteinplatz).

Viennese (traditional/basic)

Hansy (2., Praterstrasse 67)
You can barely get more Viennese than this. Falter says: "Arriving at Wien Nord railway station and going to Hansy will give you the most representative impression of Vienna imaginable."
How to get there: suburban rail S1, S2, S3; subway U1, U2; tram O, 5 (Praterstern).
Ohrfandl (3., Seidlgasse 36)
Described in the Falter restaurant guide as one "one of the most curious restaurants in the city: a mixture of cheap pub, bourgeois restaurant and Heurigen." You must climb up the stairs to the first floor. Excellent food.
How to get there: suburban rail S1, S2, S3 (Wien Mitte); subway U3 or U4 (Landstrasse); bus 74A (Weyrgasse).
Quell (15., Reindorfgasse 19)
Traditional Viennese Gasthaus, very basic.
How to get there: tram 52 or 58 (Kranzgasse).
Reinthaler (1., Gluckgasse 5)
Traditional Viennese Gasthaus, very basic, very authentic. Crammed at lunchtime with civil servants working in the nearby government buildings.
How to get there: subway U1, U2, U4 (Karlsplatz); trams D, 1, 2 (Oper).
Smutny (1., Elisabethstrasse 8)
Traditional cuisine, tourist-aware, but not a tourist trap.
How to get there: subway U1, U2, U4 (Karlsplatz); trams D, 1, 2 (Oper).
Ubl (4., Pressgasse 26)
How to get there: bus 59A (Schleifmühlgasse or Pressgasse).
Zum Alten Heller (3., Ungargasse 34)
Excellent traditional cuisine, slightly more expensive.
How to get there: tram O (Sechskrügelgasse) or subway U3 (Rochusgasse).
Zur Stadt Krems (7., Zieglergasse 37)
How to get there: tram 49 (Zieglergasse).

Viennese (luxury)

Steirereck (1., Stadtpark, Kursalon)
Without doubt the best and most expensive restaurant in Vienna. Reservation recommended.
How to get there: subway U4 (Stadtpark), but if you eat there, you can probably afford a taxi.
Stomach (9., Seegasse 26)
Excellent traditional and innovative cuisine, must book to get a table.
How to get there: subway U4 (Rossauer Lände).

Traditional coffee houses

Coffee houses are a tricky business, difficult to understand for non-locals. For regulars, they're like extended living-rooms (a leftover from the times when apartments were so small that the coffeehouses indeed were used as living-rooms). Prices may seem high, but consider that you don't just buy a coffee, you also buy time. No-one will complain if you buy just one small coffee and then stay and read newspapers for hours. Actually, in the more traditional coffeehouses this behaviour is expected. Non-smokers beware: do not expect no-smoking areas.
The following is a list of my favourite traditional coffee houses. Note that a "Café-Konditorei" is not a traditional coffee house, but rather a pastry shop.

Bräunerhof (1., Stallburggasse 2)
One of the most original cafés in town. Beware: your clothes will smell of food and smoke for days.
How to get there: subway U1 or U3 (Stephansplatz).
Diglas (1., Wollzeile 10)
Great ambience, excellent cakes and pastries, but the coffee is amongst the worst you can get in Vienna.
How to get there: subway U1 or U3 (Stephansplatz).
Eiles (8., Josefstädter Strasse 2)
Traditional grand café, one of the best in town. Pricey, but classy. Chess tables available. Regularly visited by actors from the nearby Burgtheater.
How to get there: subway U2 or tram 2 (Rathaus).
Korb (1., Brandstätte 9)
If you like original 1950s interiors, this is a must-see, because it's the last of its kind.
How to get there: subway U1 or U3 (Stephansplatz).
Prückel (1., Stubenring 24)
Traditional coffee house with live piano.
How to get there: subway U3, tram 2 or bus 1A (Stubentor).
Sperl (6., Gumpendorfer Strasse 11)
Traditional grand café; billiards and chess tables. Won the "Coffeehouse of the year" award in 1998.
How to get there: subway U2 (Museumsquartier).
Westend (7., Mariahilfer Strasse 128)
My absolute favourite. Somewhat seedy and smoky, but lots of Viennese atmosphere. Chess players welcome.
How to get there: subway U3, U6 or tram 5, 6, 18, 52, 58 (Westbahnhof).

Beer gardens

Fischerbräu (19., Billrothstrasse 17)
Very nice garden with home-brewed beer.
How to get there: subway U6 (Nussdorfer Strasse); tram 37 or 38 (Glatzgasse).
Schweizerhaus (2., Strasse des 1. Mai 116)
An institution at the far end of the Prater funfair. Will be crowded, but you'll find a place to squeeze in somewhere. Hearty food, best beer in town.
How to get there: subway U1 (Praterstern), U2 (Prater-Messe); tram 1 (Prater Hauptallee).
Siebensternbräu (7., Siebensterngasse 19)
Good food, huge portions, good home-brewed beers. Has specialities like hemp beer, smoke beer and chili beer.
How to get there: tram 49 (Stiftgasse).
University Campus Altes AKH (9., Spitalgasse 2-4)
A former hospital built in the 18th century under Emperor Joseph II, now converted into a university campus. During the summer, it becomes one giant beer garden.
How to get there: tram 5, 33, 43 or 44 (Spitalgasse).

Vegetarian

Traditional Viennese cuisine is not particularly suitable for vegetarians. Luckily, there are a couple of restaurants specialising in vegetarian cuisine. Sadly, there's not too many of them.

Nice Rice (6., Mariahilfer Strasse 45, Raimundhof)
Oriental vegetarian specialities.
How to get there: subway U3 (Neubaugasse).
Regenbogen (9., Schwarzspanierstrasse 18)
Health food shop with a studenty crowd.
How to get there: tram 37, 38, 40, 41 or 42 (Schwarzspanierstrasse).
Vegetasia (7., Kaiserstrasse 45)
Excellent Taiwanese food. The dishes are called "fish" or "chicken" and even taste and look like it, but are made of 100% vegetable produce.
How to get there: tram 5 (Westbahnstrasse) or 49 (Kaiserstrasse).
Vego (7., Neubaugasse 81)
Excellent Indian food at very reasonable prices.
How to get there: tram 46 (Strozzigasse); bus 48A (Neubaugasse).
Wrenkh (1., Bauernmarkt 10)
Innovative Austrian cross-over; excellent cuisine: easily ranks among the best restaurants in Vienna; not cheap.
How to get there: subway U1 or U4 (Schwedenplatz).

Mediterranean

Beograd (4., Schikanedergasse 7)
Balkan cuisine. Weird if tasteful interior, beautiful garden.
How to get there: bus 59A (Schleifmühlgasse).
Irodion (3., Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 71)
Excllent Greek grill dishes.
How to get there: subway U3 (Rochusgasse; from the platform take the exit to Hainburger Strasse); bus 74A (Hintzerstrasse).
Kent (16., Brunnengasse 67)
Probably Vienna's nicest kebab garden.
How to get there: tram 2 (Brunnengasse). Also have a second, less crowded restaurant at 15., Märzstrasse 39, right next to U3 Schweglerstrasse.
Salonica (7., Zieglergasse 29)
Family-run, friendly, unpretentious Greek restaurant; excellent food.
How to get there: subway U3; tram 49 (Zieglergasse).
Taverna Lefteris (3., Hörnesgasse 17)
Excellent Cretan food.
How to get there: subway U3 (Rochusgasse).
Zypresse (7., Westbahnstrasse 35a)
Rather basic, but very friendly Kurdish restaurant with great kebabs and a variety of Turkish and Kurdish specialities.
How to get there: subway U6 (Burggasse-Stadthalle); tram 5 (Westbahnstrasse) or 49 (Kaiserstrasse).

Italian

Due to the heritage of the monarchy, there is such an abundance of Italian restaurants in the city that Pizza Hut had to close all its restaurants. This is just a small selection of restaurants that I've found to be good.

Frascati (6., Barnabitengasse 3)
This very popular restaurant started as a very small place, but has gradually taken over almost the whole block.
How to get there: subway U3 (Neubaugasse); bus 13A, 14A, 57A (Haus des Meeres).
Il Mare (7., Zieglergasse 15)
How to get there: subway U3 (Zieglergasse)
La Tavolozza (8., Florianigasse 37)
One of Vienna's best Italian restaurants. Not cheap.
How to get there: subway U2 (Rathaus).
Osteria Stradina (2., Praterstrasse 40)
Basic restaurant with surprisingly good pasta.
How to get there: subway U1 (Nestroyplatz).
Scarabocchio (8., Florianigasse 3)
How to get there: subway U2 (Rathaus).

Asian

During the 1980s, Chinese restaurants opened at almost every street corner. Many have since closed again. These days, the trend goes more towards pan-Asian fusion cuisine. You'll still find plenty of average Chinese places, which are particularly great if you're on a budget, as they usually serve good lunches at reasonable prices.

Chang (4., Waaggasse 1)
Specialises in noodle dishes.
How to get there:tram 62 or 65 (Paulanergasse).
Happy Buddha (15., Mariahilfer Gürtel 9)
The best Dim Sum in town.
How to get there: subway U6; tram 6 or 18; bus 57A (Gumpendorfer Strasse).
Kiang Noodles (6., Joanelligasse 3)
This is Kiang's answer to Wamagama. Very trendy, but not too expensive.
How to get there: subway U4 (Kettenbrückengasse).
Peking (1., Färbergasse 3)
One of the old Chinese places from the 80s, and one of the better ones.
How to get there: subway U2 (Schottentor); bus 1A (Heidenschuss-Am Hof).
Saigon (6., Getreidemarkt 7)
Excellent, excellent Vietnamese restaurant.
How to get there: subway U2 (Museumsquartier).
Tsing Tao (15., Gerstnerstrasse 5)
Excellent Cantonese cuisine, excellent Dim Sum.
How to get there: subway U3 or U6 (Westbahnhof); tram 52 or 58 (Gerstnerstrasse).
Wang Fu (13., Hietzinger Hauptstrasse 115a)
One of the best Chinese restaurants in town, unfortunately it's not exactly "in town", but more in the suburbs.
How to get there: tram 58 (Verbindungsbahn), then a 5-10 minutes' walk.
Wok (4., Operngasse 20b)
The restaurant that started the Asian cross-over craze.
How to get there: subway U1, U2, U4 (Karlsplatz); bus 59A (Bährenmühldurchgang).

Indian

I have a separate web page listing all Indian restaurants in Vienna with ratings. Click here for details.

Demi-Tass (4., Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 28)
Probably the best Indian restaurant in Vienna. Expensive. Reservation recommended.
How to get there: tram D (Plösslgasse)
Indian Pavilion (4., Naschmarkt 74-75)
Tiny Indian restaurant in a stall on the Naschmarkt (around the corner from the big Nordsee fish shop). One of the best Indian places in town, but always full at lunchtime and closed in the evening.
How to get there: subway U2 (Museumsquartier) or a 10 minutes' walk from Karlsplatz.
Samrat (8., Florianigasse 20)
Excellent lunch buffet; excellent curries.
How to get there: subway U2 (Rathaus)

Ice cream parlours

Another legacy of the monarchy is also the highest density of Italian ice cream parlours outside Italy. Most ice cream parlours are closed October through March.

Bortolotti (7., Mariahilfer Strasse 94)
Arguably the best.
How to get there: subway U3 (Zieglergasse).
Hoher Markt (1., Hoher Markt 4)
Has become rather ridiculously expensive, but is still good.
How to get there: subway U1 or U3 (Stephansplatz)
Tichy (10., Reumannplatz 13)
A local favourite, Kurt Tichy has been making ice cream since the 1930s. Great price/performance ratio. Recommended.
How to get there: subway U1 (Reumannplatz)

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This page was last modified Wednesday, 13-May-2009 09:04:38 CEST