Restaurants in Vienna
Austria's cuisine is a rich stew of historic, international
influences. Many local chefs combine traditional Viennese dishes
with the principles of nouvelle cuisine, creating Neue Wiener
Küche (New Viennese cuisine). Vienna is well known for its
pastries, and other famous dishes include Wiener Schnitzel, Gulasch
and
Tafelspitz (boiled beef with apple and horseradish
sauce). The best desserts to try are Sachertorte cake and
Apfelstrudel (apple strudel).
Café Central is one of the most famous cafés in
the world with its clientele having included luminaries such as
Lenin and Trotsky. The queen of Vienna's formal restaurant,
Altwienerhof, is fittingly situated near the Schönbrunn Palace
and serves some royally delectable dishes. Next door to St
Stephen's Cathedral, Figlmuller's is reputed to serve the best
schnitzel in Vienna. Do & Co, one of the city's favourite
venues, offers not only great views from the seventh floor of the
Haas Haus, but also serves superb Viennese, Asian and South
American cuisine.
| Hietzinger Bräu |
$$$$$ | Local |
This award-winning restaurant stays true to its traditional
values and is somewhat of an institution when it comes to Viennese
steak restaurants. The tasteful décor and impeccable cuisine
ensure that this eatery stays within the top ranks of Vienna's
dining scene. The
Tafelspitz (boiled beef) is without a
doubt the most famous choice of beef and is the flagship dish of
this restaurant. The beef is served in the traditional manner - in
beef soup, with apple and horseradish, roast potatoes and chive
sauce. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations
recommended.
Address: 1130 Wien, Auhofstraße 1
E-mail: hietzing@plachutta.at
Telephone: 877 70 870
| Café Central |
$$$$$ | Café |
Café Central is probably one of the most famous cafes in
the world due to its high profile clientele during the history of
Vienna, which included famous artists, writers and intellectuals
such as Lenin and Trotsky. The grand, cathedral-like setting with
its marble pillared hall and soaring ceiling is a fine setting for
the excellent coffee and Apfelstrudel that they serve up, along
with an assortment of other desserts and pastries for tea. Light
lunches are served and the menu includes a variety of provincial
dishes and Viennese specialties as well as salads, soups,
sandwiches and vegetarian dishes. Piano music plays daily from 5pm.
Open daily from 10am.
Address: Herrengasse 14
E-mail: cafe.central@palaisevents.at
Telephone: (0)1 533 3764
| Altwienerhof |
$$$$$ | French |
The queen of Vienna's formal restaurants is Altwienerhof,
fittingly to be found near the Schönbrunn Palace. The Kellner
family have run the establishment since 1928, and offer a
seasonally changing menu of French-based cuisine with delicate
flavours and highest-quality ingredients. Pride of the Altwienerhof
is its award-winning vast wine cellar, containing more than 20,000
bottles. Open daily, except Sundays, for lunch and dinner. Jacket
and tie essential.
Address: Herklotzgasse 6
E-mail: restaurant@altwienerhof.at
Telephone: (0)1 892 6000-36
| Wiener Rathauskeller |
$$$$$ | Local |
The venue may be Gothic, sunk into the cellars beneath the
historic town hall, but the style, atmosphere and cuisine are very
up to date. This spacious eatery features various rooms furnished
in different styles and can handle up to 1,100 people. The food can
be described as 'modern Viennese', offering fare such as goulash,
Wiener Schnitzel and apple strudel. Open daily for lunch and
dinner.
Address: Rathausplatz 1
E-mail: office@wiener-Rathauskeller.at
Telephone: (0)1 405 1210
Arguably the best of Vienna's 300-odd traditional coffee shops,
offering their legendary confections and pastries, is the
Café Demel. The café is best known for its original
Sachertorte (chocolate frosted cream cake), but the rest of the
range of sweet delights on offer is just as delectable. Demel also
serves a large range of sandwiches and, of course, really good
coffee. Open daily from 10am to 7pm. Vienna's other renowned coffee
shop is Café Central near the Hofburg Palace, where Lenin
and Totsky once met regularly.
Address: Kohlmarkt 14
E-mail: wien@demel.at
Telephone: (0)1 535 1717-0
| Restaurant Imperial |
$$$$$ | International |
The warm, cosy and classic style of the Restaurant Imperial
lends itself perfectly to a stylish dining affair. The décor
is tasteful and evokes a feeling of old-world charm while chef Hans
Juergen Schauer creates delectable dishes such as fillet of turbot
with goose liver and fillet of veal, or the old favourite, Wiener
Schnitzel. Open daily for dinner. Reservations essential.
Address: Kärntner Ring 16
E-mail: restaurant.imperial@luxurycollection.com
Telephone: 15 01 10356
This trendy eatery decked in beige colour schemes and crisp
white linen tablecloths is one of Vienna's hottest restaurants.
Serving tantalising and creative cuisine, Mörwald lays on the
charm with an extensive wine listing of over 1,000 wines and
classic Viennese food with inventive twists, such as the venison
with nuts, pureed celery and broccoli. Open daily for breakfast,
lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
Address: Kaerntner Strasse 22, Ambassador Hotel
Telephone: 961 6 1161
When in Vienna do as the Viennese do and indulge in Wiener
Schnitzel, the delicacy most associated with the romantic city.
Reputed to serve the biggest and best schnitzel is Figlmuller's,
next door to St Stephen's Cathedral, a wine tavern where the long
tables are always packed with hungry customers sampling the
golden-brown schnitzels, that overhang the plate. Open daily for
lunch and dinner. Figlmuller is closed during August.
Address: Wollzeile 5 (St Stephansplatz)
E-mail: wollzeile@figlmueller.at
Telephone: (0)1 512 6177
Meaning 'corner of Styria' (a state in south east Austria),
Steirereck is one of Austria's top restaurants featuring seasonal
Austrian cuisine with a Styrian emphasis. The menu is small and
changes regularly according to the freshest ingredients available,
but everything is superbly prepared. Meals begin with freshly baked
bread, and close with a selection of more than 60 cheeses from the
restaurant's own cellar. Seasonal offerings might include
gooseliver Steirereck, Styrian roast beef, lobster, lamb with
crepes, rabbit with risotto or smoked monkfish. Dress is smart and
reservations are recommended. Open Monday to Friday.
Address: Rasumofskygasse 2
E-mail: wien@steirereck.at
Telephone: (0)1 713 3168
| DO & CO |
$$$$$ | International |
Located on the seventh floor of the Haas Haus, Do & Co is
the flagship restaurant of Do & Co International Hotel and
offers the best views in town, situated opposite St Stephan's
Cathedral. The cuisine is international, featuring mainly modern
Viennese and Asian fare, but the extensive menu also covers South
America and wider Europe. The menu covers 'Tastes of the World',
'Beef & Co', 'Kebab, Wok and Curries', 'Catch of the Day',
'Austrian Classics', and different kinds of sushi. Reservations are
highly recommended, and dress is smart. Open daily from 12pm.
Address: Stephansplatz 12
E-mail: stephansplatz@doco.com
Telephone: (0)1 535 3969
