When one thinks of Austria and Vienna, the first things that come to mind are frankfurters and beer. But the former capital of the Habsburg Empire has received influences from all the peoples who were under Austrian rule for many years and even today in Vienna you can enjoy cuisines from all over the world in excellent restaurants.
The city centre is synonymous with tourist menus and, for those who can afford it, fancy restaurants, but you can have an ‘authentic’ experience without spending a fortune by dining in a historic café or grabbing a sausage sandwich at one of the many kiosks scattered around the city.
For a taste of typical cuisine, it is good to keep an eye on the main signs to look out for. Heurigen are places that offer Austrian wine accompanied by typical Viennese dishes. Bierkolake are perfect for those who want to drink beer, while kellerkolake and beisel offer regional dishes.
Your mission while on holiday will be to find the perfect schnitzel and sacher cake: it’s not mission impossible, the right addresses for finding the best traditional restaurants and patisseries in Vienna can be found below, along with vegetarian restaurants, pizzerias and upmarket restaurants.
Here’s how our map of where to eat in Vienna works: first we recommend typical dishes, then the best places by type, and finally the best areas to go out to eat. Don’t miss anything, the diet only starts when you return!
Any self-respecting meal usually starts with a soup (suppe). The tastiest are Frittatensuppe with omelette strips, Griessnockerlsuppe with semolina dumplings, Kurbissuppe with pumpkin, Nudelsuppe-Rindsuppe which is a noodle soup, Tomatensuppe with tomatoes and Zwiebelsuppe with onions.
Among the main dishes, one of the most famous is Goulash, a slightly spicy beef or veal stew. Rostbraten (roasted beef ribs) and Tafelspitz (boiled beef) can be tasted in typical restaurants, although one of the most famous meat dishes remains Wiener Schnitzel. All dishes are accompanied by cooked vegetables of various kinds, gemischter Salat (mixed salad) or the classic pommes frites (Chips).
Austrian desserts are excellent, especially the stuffed cakes. The most famous is the Sacher torte, but you should also try the Mozart cake, made with pistachio cream, apricots and chocolate mousse. Apfelstrudel, or apple, sultana and cinnamon strudel, is very popular.
If you want to learn more about Austrian cuisine and typical dishes, read our article on What to eat in Austria.
Assuming that the most typically Viennese experience you can have is eating a hot sausage at one of the kiosks scattered around the city (Vienna’s famous würstelstand), make a note of this word: beisl. These are typical Viennese taverns, simple but with a warm atmosphere, wooden furniture and ceramic stoves.
Popular with Viennese from all walks of life, they are the best choice for those who want to sample schnitzel, tafelspitz, zwiebelrostbraten and other hearty specialities of Austrian cuisine.
Far more informal are the heurigen, the traditional inns, found mainly on the outskirts of Vienna, where you can enjoy exclusively Viennese wines on tap or in bottles with the tasteful culinary accompaniment. The most famous area for heuriger is Grinzing, a hilly district in the 19th district that can be reached by tram 38. Here the streets are dotted with taverns with shady gardens where you can sit on summer evenings and drink fresh white wine (typically Grüner Veltliner) and eat local specialities served buffet-style.
Below you can find a selection of recommended traditional taverns and restaurants where you can eat in Vienna.
Café Anzengruber1 in the 4th district is considered by many to be the place to eat the best goulash in Vienna. It takes three days to prepare and the onions are simmered for hours. In addition to the famous stew, here you will find all the classics of Viennese cuisine in generous portions and fair prices.
Reinthaler's Beisl2, just a few steps from St Stephen’s Cathedral, is one of the most central and accessible beisl for tourists. The ambience is simple but cosy, the food genuine and the prices moderate. The Wiener Schnitzel here is excellent and the portions generous.
Gasthaus Pöschl3 in the 7th district (Neubau) is an authentic beisl frequented mainly by Viennese. The atmosphere is homely, the service friendly and the dishes respect tradition with quality ingredients. The Zwiebelrostbraten (roast with onions) and Beuschel (stewed innards) are particularly popular.
Gasthaus Rebhuhn4in the 9th district, near Sigmund Freud’s house, is one of Vienna’s largest beisl. It corners two streets and offers a wide selection of traditional dishes in a quaint setting with period furnishings and a convivial atmosphere.
Steman5 in the 6th district seems to stand still a hundred years ago, with a setting reminiscent of the early 20th century. Here, classic Viennese cuisine takes centre stage: Wiener Schnitzel, Zwiebelrostbraten and Tafelspitz are prepared according to traditional recipes.
Mayer am Pfarrplatz6 grinzing is perhaps the most famous heuriger in Vienna, not least because Ludwig van Beethoven stayed here. The restaurant has retained its authentic atmosphere with large rustic rooms and a shady garden. The wine is homemade and the cold buffet dishes are excellent.
Weingut-Heuriger Alter Bach-Hengl7, also in Grinzing, has been run by the same family for generations. The garden is particularly beautiful on summer evenings, and the selection of house white wines is impressive. The cold buffet offers cold meats, cheeses, salads and local specialities.
Heuriger Sirbu am Nussberg8 kahlenberg, in the hills overlooking Vienna, offers not only excellent wine and food but also a spectacular view of the city. Reachable by bus 38A, it is perfect for a romantic evening or a Sunday lunch with the family.
Viennese cafés are a true institution, so you can’t fail to visit at least one during a holiday.
Foreigners often imagine Viennese cafés to be elegant patisseries, but the mouth-watering (and super-caloric) chocolate or cream cakes, delicious pastries and fine chocolate pralines are only a portion of the cafés’ gastronomic offerings. Many Viennese go to the city’s cafés, historical or modern, for something more substantial than a snack of coffee and cake.
After beisl, cafés are the best places to taste typical Austrian specialities.
Café Sacher in the hotel of the same name is where the famous Sachertorte was born in 1832. Here you can taste the original cake served with whipped cream, although you will face often long queues and high prices. The ambience is elegant and the experience nonetheless iconic.
It is an elegant venue that was once a haunt of intellectuals and artists. Embellished with marble columns, arches and glittering chandeliers, it will make you relive the opulent atmosphere of 19th-century Vienna. In the afternoon you can enjoy your snack with the background notes of the piano, played live.
This is the historic imperial patisserie that has employed only women for sales and customer service for over 200 years. Its shop window overflowing with mouth-watering cakes is legendary, but don’t just look at the pictures: step inside and indulge in chocolate, custard and other sweet wonders.
Three floors of sweetness await you in the historic shop of the Gernster family, founders of a confectionery empire. Head upstairs to the first floor for a coffee and cake break at the Gerstner Bar, where you can enjoy a splendid view of the State Opera.
Café Landtmann, open since 1873 opposite the Burgtheater, was Sigmund Freud’s favourite café. It still maintains an elegant and refined atmosphere, with a menu that includes not only sweet but also savoury Viennese dishes. The service is impeccable and the ambience perfect for a relaxing break.
Café Hawelka is more bohemian than the previous monumental cafés. Open since 1939, it has maintained an authentic and informal atmosphere that attracts artists and intellectuals. Famous are its Buchteln (filled yeast cakes) served only after 10pm. The ambience is lived-in and genuine, far from the tourist glitz.
If you are looking for a more elegant and refined version of traditional Viennese cuisine, Vienna offers a number of top-notch restaurants that reinterpret the classics with carefully selected ingredients and careful presentation.
Plachutta Wollzeile is a Viennese institution, legendary for its Tafelspitz (boiled beef), a dish made famous by Emperor Franz Joseph. The restaurant is located in the heart of the city and is popular with Viennese and tourists alike. The Wiener Schnitzel served with potato salad is divine, as are all the carefully prepared traditional dishes.
Plachutta has several locations in Vienna (Wollzeile, Hietzing, Nussdorf) and all maintain excellent quality standards. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for dinner and at weekends. Prices are medium-high (around 35-50 euros for a main course) but the quality justifies the expense.
Zum Schwarzen Kameel has existed in the same place since 1618 and is one of the most charming historical restaurants in Vienna. Besides the restaurant proper, there is a bar/deli area where you can buy gourmet products or have a quick snack. The seasonal cuisine is strongly rooted in Viennese tradition but with contemporary touches.
Zum Weißen Rauchfangkehrer (The White Chimney Sweep) with its four different rooms is presented in perfect rustic Viennese style. The menu offers traditional cuisine without frills, genuine and tasty. It is an institution loved by the Viennese for its consistent quality and authentic atmosphere.
Gmoakeller near the Konzerthaus is another Viennese institution, a typical tavern serving high-quality traditional cuisine in a quaint ambience with stone vaults and period furnishings. The meat dishes and traditional soups are particularly popular.
Restaurant Pürstner is a rustic and cosy establishment offering hearty portions of typical dishes. The atmosphere is informal but the food is carefully prepared according to traditional recipes. Excellent value for money considering the quantities served.
Vienna boasts an avant-garde gastronomic scene with numerous Michelin-starred restaurants and establishments listed in major international guides. These addresses offer innovative cuisine while often maintaining roots in Austrian tradition.
Steirereck in the Stadtpark is considered one of the best restaurants in Europe, with two Michelin stars. Chef Heinz Reitbauer offers contemporary Austrian cuisine that emphasises local and seasonal ingredients with innovative techniques. The experience is complete: from the impeccable service to the atmospheric location in the park, from the exceptional wine cellar to the artistic presentation of the dishes.
Booking well in advance is essential. Prices are high (tasting menu from 180 euro upwards) but for a special occasion it is an unforgettable experience. The Steirereck also runs the Meierei in the Stadtpark, more informal and affordable, where you can enjoy excellent Viennese cuisine from breakfast to dinner with a relaxing view of the river.
Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant in the Palais Coburg has two Michelin stars and serves international haute cuisine with strong Mediterranean influences. The ambience is elegant and the service of the highest standard. The wine cellar boasts over 60,000 bottles, one of the best stocked in Europe.
Konstantin Filippou is the restaurant of an Austrian chef of Greek descent who has won two Michelin stars for his personal cuisine that blends Mediterranean and Austrian influences. The restaurant is intimate and sophisticated, perfect for romantic dinners or important business dinners.
Vienna has an excellent choice of Italian restaurants, with numerous pizzerias and Italian-run businesses that maintain high quality standards.
Pizzeria Via Toledo serves excellent Neapolitan pizza with quality ingredients and professionally made dough. Prices are slightly higher than the average Viennese pizzeria, but the quality justifies the expense. The ambience is simple and informal.
Pastamara is a Michelin-starred Sicilian restaurant. With Italian staff and the freshest ingredients imported from Sicily, it serves handmade pasta and revisited traditional Sicilian dishes. Perfect for a special occasion or for those in the mood for quality Italian cuisine.
Other recommended Italian pizzerias in Vienna include Pizzeria Randale, Casolaro Bros, Pizza Mari, Tesla Pizza and La Spiga. All are run by Italians and offer authentic Neapolitan pizza with naturally leavened doughs and quality ingredients.
Although traditional Viennese cuisine is strongly carnivorous, the city has in recent years developed an excellent vegetarian and vegan offer that satisfies even the most discerning palates.
Tian is a Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant offering completely plant-based haute cuisine. The dishes are creative, aesthetically beautiful and surprisingly tasty. The tasting menu allows diners to sample the chef’s creations in a refined gastronomic journey.
Simply Raw Bakery in the Innere Stadt is popular with the Viennese for its creative vegetarian and vegan cuisine. The menu is extensive and imaginative, with dishes that go beyond the usual veg options. The value for money is excellent and the atmosphere cosy.
Swing Kitchen is a Viennese chain of completely vegan fast food. Great for a quick and cheap lunch, it offers burgers, wraps, fries and desserts that are completely plant-based but taste surprisingly similar to traditional fast food. Prices are moderate and portions are generous.
For vegans shopping, don’t miss Billa Pflanzilla in Mariahilfer Straße: a completely vegan Billa supermarket with exclusively plant-based products. Here you can also buy ready-to-eat meals to go.
A must-do during a holiday in Vienna is to have lunch or dinner at Naschmarkt29, Vienna’s most famous market, popular with tourists and locals alike.
One area of the market is entirely dedicated to food, with a long line of bars and restaurants of all kinds, suitable for all budgets; one area is entirely dedicated to fish restaurants.
For more information, read the article on the Naschmarkt.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Where are the best restaurants in Vienna? Where do you spend less? Where can I sample typical Austrian cuisine? Here’s our guide to the best places to eat in Vienna, from the centre, District 1, to the outskirts.
The Innere Stadt corresponds to Vienna’s District 1, the historical heart of the Austrian capital. As in many tourist cities, the historic centre abounds with restaurants offering set menus at affordable prices, but often the quality of the food is not the best.
At the opposite extreme are the fine restaurants, including some of the best in the city: the concentration of upscale restaurants in the centre of Vienna is particularly high compared to other European capitals. Perhaps this is a legacy of the Habsburg period?
If you can’t afford an imperial meal, don’t despair: even in the Innere Stadt you can find nice little restaurants that won’t blow you away. To find them, avoid the main streets and look in the side streets.
Along the Ringstrasse, restaurants and bars are scarce: if you plan a stroll along this elegant boulevard, leave after a hearty meal, just in case!
More interesting is the gastronomy on offer in the Museumquarter, where modern cafés and restaurants have recently opened, attracting a young clientele, with some unabashedly hipster establishments.
The Grüel is the part of Vienna comprising districts 2 to 9, inhabited by a mix of students, professionals and wealthy residents: the neighbourhoods within it are very diverse, each with its own personality, and this is reflected in the diversity of bars and restaurants you can find.
Generally speaking, dining in one of the Grüel districts will allow you to choose between traditional Austrian cuisine and the most imaginative ethnic cuisines from around the world.
One of the best areas to eat in Vienna is Leopoldstadt, in district 2, close enough to the centre to be convenient and architecturally interesting, but much more cosmopolitan and much less snobbish than district 1. You will find excellent restaurants at slightly lower prices than in the Innere Stadt.
District 2 is also home to the Prater, which, besides being a fantastic amusement park, is an ideal area to stop for a quick bite to eat or dinner because of the quantity and variety of venues available. You can choose from kiosks, traditional taverns, biergartens, cafeterias but also fine restaurants recommended by food guides.
If your hotel is located in the city centre or within the Grüel, you are unlikely to go further: districts 10 and up make up the outskirts of Vienna and, with the exception of Schönbrunn Palace, have no particular tourist attractions.
If something drives you to these areas, you can enjoy some interesting advantages for your meals: you will be more likely to find an authentic atmosphere, not built for tourists; prices are much lower; many restaurants have parking facilities.
Some practical tips will help you find your way around the Viennese gastronomic scene and avoid common mistakes.
The Viennese have fairly strict meal times. Breakfast is eaten between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., lunch between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., and dinner from 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Many traditional restaurants close their kitchens relatively early, around 21:00-22:00.
Reservations well in advance are indispensable, even weeks or months in advance for the most renowned and starred restaurants. During high season (Christmas, New Year, summer) even the most popular beisl fill up quickly.
For the tourist restaurants in the centre, reservations are rarely needed, but the quality is often mediocre. If you want to eat well, identify the places that interest you and call for reservations, especially for dinner and at weekends.
In Austria it is customary to leave a tip (Trinkgeld) rounding up the bill by 5-10%. If the service was excellent, you can go up to 10-15%. Tipping is not compulsory but is appreciated and is part of the local culture.
Tap water in Vienna is excellent, comes directly from the Austrian Alps and is very fresh. In restaurants, you can ask for ‘Leitungswasser’ (tap water) and it is served free of charge, although some tourist venues may discourage you by preferring to sell bottled water.
The most popular beer is Ottakringer, brewed in Vienna, followed by Gösser, Stiegl and Zipfer. Pale beers are mild, while those who prefer stronger flavours can opt for dark beers or Zwickl (unfiltered beers).
Austrian wine is excellent, especially whites such as Grüner Veltliner (fresh and fruity) and Riesling. In heuriger you will find young wine served in half-litre glass mugs.
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