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Located in a 1950’s building that once held the headquarters of the Austrian Economic Chambers, this central hotel is a perfect place to stay while you’re in Vienna. Between its multiple bars and restaurants and rooftop pool, you can split your day between relaxing and exploring. As is true of every Hoxton property around the globe, don’t miss a chance in the photobooth downstairs near New York style cocktail bar, Salon Paradise.
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Founded in 1618 and still unbelievably packed, this restaurant is essentially the Balthazar of Vienna. From its bustling outdoor cafe seating to selection of more refined indoor options, this is a great place for classic Viennese fare, strong drinks, and good people watching. Special thanks to coolstuff friend Caroline McKay for putting this spot on our radar.
This small group of bakeries is focused on bread…and some of the best bread we’ve had outside of Paris or Copenhagen. We love their sourdough kaiser rolls and daily rotating focaccia. Some locations, like the Offerl in Landstrasse, have a larger cafe menu and solid coffee.
Translated as the White Chimney Sweep, this restaurant dates back to 1848 and is the first restaurant opened by Franz Sacher who invented the renowned cake, Sachertorte, and later went on to found the luxurious Sacher hotel. While nearly 200 years old, today the restaurant is rooted in modern sensibilities including sourcing from organic farmers as close to the city as possible…oftentimes from within its borders.
Upscale Georgian food, an unbelievably beautiful block, and tree-shaded outdoor seating make Cafe Ansari a special place, particularly for lunch. Be sure to order the Georgian salad as well as a Khatschapuri to share.
Located along Vienna’s Wienzeile (which is also home to the Linke Wienzeile Buildings by Otto Wagner), the Naschmarkt is a longstanding open-air food market with nearly 130 vendors. Its Art Nouveau stalls were constructed in the early 20th century and are home to spice vendors, restaurants, specialty grocers, florists, and a weekend flea/farmers market. If you were to stop at one stall here, make it Heise & Kalte Wurstwaren. Home to our favorite käsekrainer, a Viennese sausage stuffed with chunks of emmental cheese and served alongside pickled peppers, mustard, and horseradish.
One of a handful of restaurant concepts inside the storied Hotel Sacher, Restaurant Rote Bar is a small room that feels like it leapt off the pages of a story by Ludwig Bemelmans. As the name suggests, nearly everything in the room is Red, except for its large windows which face the state opera house. The food here is traditional and delicious, and the service is world class. Surprisingly, the prices are significantly more reasonable than a similar restaurant would fetch in NYC.
Looking for a new school restaurant with tons of Viennese flavor that would feel equally as natural on a hip block of Brooklyn? Meet Cafe Kandl. After sipping on an especially delicious Austrian orange wine, we enjoyed a meal with tons of favorites, including their take on paprika chicken - deboned, rolled, and fried.
Ever bought a bottle of natural wine with a cow on it? That was almost certainly produced by Meinklang, an Austrian powerhouse that is one of the biggest natural wine producers in the world. Outside of their countryside vineyards, the group also operates a cafe and bakery in trendy Margareten where you can sip on limited release wines and enjoy a casual bite.
Quick reminder: Austria and Italy share a border. Which is why you need to believe us when we say Danilo Fusco is the chef behind some truly incredible and very authentic gelato in the heart of Vienna’s shopping district.
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Inside of the beautiful city-center garden, Burggarten, is the sprawling Brasserie Palmenhaus Wien which is situated inside an 1880’s greenhouse. While the indoor dining room is objectively stunning, on a warm afternoon there is almost nowhere better to grab a pre-dinner spritz than the large terrace overlooking the garden.
Another recommendation from Caroline McKay, Eden Bar is a night club among the last of its kind. Live music, well dressed patrons (mind the dress code, boys!), and considered cocktails and what keep people coming back to the dancefloor.
Readers who have a Letterboxd account might recognize this storefront from Vienna’s preeminent piece of cinema: Before Sunrise. Cold beer, Austrian wines, and cash only, this place is stuck in time in the best possible way…perhaps if you’re lucky a palm reader might pop by to read your fortune.
Along the famous “ring road” encircling central Vienna there are many cafes, but the oldest of them all is Café Scharzenberg. An 1860’s coffee house, stop in for an hour or so in the afternoon to caffeinate and play cards before hitting the streets again.
If you really need to recharge, head to the decidedly tropical Cayo Coco on the rooftop of The Hoxton Vienna. If you’re staying on the property not only will you be able to sip on delectable cocktails, but you’ll also be able to enjoy the rooftop pool!
Part confectioner, part traditional cafe, Demel is a standout in cafe culture for the sheer quality of the coffee and pastry offered. Coolstuff tip: skip the line for the upstairs cafe and instead opt to enjoy an einspänner (espresso with whipped cream) and apple strudel at the downstairs bar.
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Early each Saturday morning, vendors begin to set up shop along the southern edge of the Naschmarkt to pedal their wares. Here amidst bootleg soccer jerseys you can still find gems like antique Viennese ceramics, oil paintings, and vintage clothing.
We might be coming here to ogle at glassware we can’t afford, but it is important that you know Lobmeyr have been renown glassblowers for so long that they are credited with developing the very first electric chandeliers with Tomas Edison AND the beautiful 1960’s pendants dotted around NYC’s Metropolitan Opera House.
While carla has locations across this city, when it comes to donation-based vintage stores the universal rule holds true: find the wealthiest neighborhoods and hope for a gem.
Looking for a souvenir that doesn’t take up the entirety of your carry on? Bonbons and chocolates at Altman & Kuhne are your best friend…although decidedly expensive.
With a singular approach to fashion, Song is a store that straddles the line between clothing and art. All designed in the city, the shops womenswear is truly one-of-a-kind.
We always love to hit a local supermarket when visiting a new place and the Billa Corso right outside of the Hofburg Palace is truly fit for a king. Across two floors of a restored building, there is a clear and strong emphasis on stocking local and Austrian-made products, even Haribo!
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Amongst the many old and historic places on this list, the Spanish Riding School dating to 1565 is certainly the oldest. This activity on the grounds of the Hofburg certainly leans touristy, but it is a completely unique experience that you need to try while in the city.
This central park has something for everyone…from Donald Judd artworks to a skatepark to sprawling lawns and lakes. Head here in the mid afternoon to hear student musicians practice their pieces in the city that was once home to legendary composers like Mozart and Beethoven.
Speaking of Mozart, the Burggarten is home to his statue as well as a manicured English-style garden, lawns for picnicking and the Palmenhaus brasserie.
Spend a day at the Belvedere palace to get a taste of Austrian art - old and new. With quite a few Klimts in the permanent collection at the upper Belvedere and a rotating cadre of artists at the lower Belvedere, this is a museum that you can revisit over and over again.
In a town whose history is so intertwined with music, making time to see a show is very special. If you’re type B and waited until after you arrived to read this guide, fear not! Most music venues in the city, including the Musikverein offer same-day standing room only tickets for the low price of €20.
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