Vienna City Guide

Contributed By Kayla Douglas

Back in the 1970s, Billy Joel made the lyric, “When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?” famous; decades later, that sentiment has aged like a fine [Austrian] wine — your Vienna City Guide awaits.

Perhaps you’ve overlooked Vienna in favor of other European capitals like Paris, London, and Rome — you wouldn’t be alone. But discerning travelers are increasingly craving fresh destinations (or what some are calling ‘destination dupes’) that allow them to discover something beyond the expected; a visit to Austria’s capital is sure to do just that, promising to delight you not only with its artistic and intellectual legacy but by how today’s Vienna is so much more than Mozart.

In our exploration of the Austrian capital during a recent scouting trip, we were equally focused on seeing the classic sites and off-the-beaten-path districts beyond the city center. And no matter which neighborhood we found ourselves in, perhaps one of the most impressionable parts of our time on the ground was how half its footprint is covered by parks, including the wine-growing area of Grinzing. It’s no wonder that Vienna secured its position as the world’s most livable city for the third consecutive year, a ranking which shines through as visitors observe locals relishing in Viennese life.

Vienna City Guide Meets Itinerary

We incorporated our five-day research trip in Vienna into a more in-depth exploration of Austria and Germany including Salzburg, Lake Fuschl, and Munich. But thanks to Vienna’s central location within Europe, it also is easily combinable with visits to Prague, Budapest, and Bratislava. Though, ultimately, our biggest takeaway from this immersion into the country was that Austria should not be rushed — you could easily collaborate with a SmartFlyer travel advisor to create a dedicated itinerary working from Vienna to Salzburg and beyond.

When to Go to Vienna

Are you wondering, “What is the best time of year to visit Vienna?” Well, that depends on what you’re looking for! Our most recent scouting trip unfolded during peak summer months which allowed us to take advantage of lingering lunches along the Danube, summer nights at a Heuriger (a classic Austrian Wine tavern) post-wine-tasting, and the promise of outdoor cinema pop-ups. But, if you’re imagining Vienna’s Christmas markets, then you’ll want to plan a visit between mid-November and late December.

Where to Stay in Vienna

• Hotel Sacher Vienna: As the only privately owned and family-run luxury hotel in the city, the iconic Hotel Sacher Wien is a Viennese landmark, set opposite the Vienna State Opera. Its unique balance of maintained traditions and contemporary elements provide guests with a true sense of past meeting present in this historic city. Refurbished rooms and suites all feature individually collected antiques and original oil paintings, making it one of Austria’s landmarks and largest private art collections. Home of the Original Sacher-Torte, the famous Café Sacher invites guests to take part in this culinary history or opt for the no-calories version at the Sacher Boutique Spa when it is “Time to Chocolate.”

• Park Hyatt Vienna: Housed in a 100-year-old former bank overlooking Am Hof Square in the Goldenes Quartier, Park Hyatt Vienna retains many of the bank’s original features, including massive marble pillars and impressively high ceilings in its restaurant. Guests will find an inviting retreat at the Arany Spa, fitness center, and 15-meter lap pool, which is set in the old bank vault. The property’s 146 guest rooms feature modern interiors with Viennese touches. Book a Park Suite View and enjoy breathtaking views of the historic city center and Vienna’s exclusive shopping area.
• Rosewood Vienna: With its Art Nouveau décor and charming Old Town views, Rosewood Vienna — housed in a 19th-century bank in the heart of town — provides all the comforts you’ve come to know and love. Unwind from days of discovery in one of 100 spacious rooms and suites featuring period details like marble-and-walnut drink cabinets, oversized soaking tubs, and wrought-iron balconies. If you need a moment of rejuvenation, look at Asaya Spa. At night, savor signature cocktails overlooking St. Peter’s Church at the speakeasy-style rooftop bar.

Viennese Coffee Culture: Top Cafés

Café culture in Vienna will delight even the most discerning coffee drinker. We love this glossary to help break down some of the terminology to keep in mind while ordering; on our recent scouting trip, the “melange” was a crowd favorite. We tested out a handful of the top recommended cafés across the city to compile the below list of vetted spots. 

• Café Demel: Located in the heart of city center, this café dating back to 1786 is your destination for Kaiserschmarrn, in addition to any one of its gorgeous cakes. There is also an extensive array of beautifully packaged chocolates should you want to grab a gift to bring back home.
• Café Leopold Hawelka: A short walk from Rosewood Vienna, Café Hawelka is an old-school Viennese coffee house with excellent coffee from its own roastery that pairs perfectly with its apple and curd cheese strudel. The interior dates back to the 50s and authentically evokes the Viennese lifestyle like few other places.
• Café Museum: Popular amongst the Viennese, Café Museum is located on a sun-soaked corner tailormade for a caffeine break.
• Café Mozart: For more than two hundred years, Café Mozart has been one of the first addresses where Vienna coffee culture was born. Its location directly across from the ALBERTINA creates a lively atmosphere ripe for people-watching.
• Café Sacher: If you’ve heard of the Sacher torte, this is your destination to taste the original just beside Hotel Sacher. The chocolate cake is filled with apricot jam and makes for an ideal afternoon pick-me-up or post-dinner dessert.

Our Vienna Restaurant Picks

Like any major city, narrowing down a list of the “best restaurants in Vienna” presents an impossible task — there are simply too many delectable spots not to miss some gems!

Fine Dining in Vienna

• Restaurant Amador: The only three Michelin-starred restaurant in Vienna, this fine dining establishment is located in an old wine cellar outside of the city center. If you’re interested in trying Amador, be sure to coordinate with your SmartFlyer travel advisor well in advance to secure a reservation.
• Steirereck: Recently voted as the number twenty-two restaurant on the World’s 50 Best, this two Michelin-starred outlet is an absolute must when in Vienna. We loved it for its modern Austrian cuisine and the team’s passion for innovation — be sure to opt for the six or seven-course tasting experience, and don’t skip the cheese course. And when you’re done, be sure to tell us which of the twenty-eight types of bread you chose from the bread cart!
• Restaurant Vestibül: An upscale Austrian restaurant set in a decadent atmosphere, the cuisine here is in the style of the former imperial residence of Vienna. Here, traditional dishes are recreated to bring you back in time.

Casual Dining in Vienna

• Kikko Bā: A sister restaurant to Mochi, this more casual spot is located just a few minutes walk from the Karlplatz and Vienna State Opera, which serves delectable tapas, delightful mochi, and innovative fare with a Japanese influence.
• Motto am Fluss Café: We love this spot for an outdoor brunch ranging from international cuisine to Austrian dishes enjoyed while overlooking the Danube Canal. There’s also a bar and seating indoors for colder months.
• Mochi: For an afternoon or evening when you’re craving a crossover between European and Japanese cuisine, look no further than the buzzing Mochi. This is one you’ll definitely need a dinner reservation in advance, but we did have luck on a lunch walk-in. There’s outdoor seating beneath a beautiful alcove of trees for you to soak up the chill vibes of the 2nd district, just a short walk from the Danube Canal.
• Palmenhaus: Whether you go for breakfast or dinner, this brasserie set inside a greenhouse is an idyllic spot to see life unfold in the surrounding park. We recommend securing outdoor seating here if you’re keen to people-watch!

Traditional Austrian Dining in Vienna

• Salzamt: A favorite meal on our recent scouting trip, this local haunt is situated directly opposite Vienna’s oldest church. Here, you can expect handwritten menus (don’t expect an English translation!) filled with bistro classics like Vitello Tonnato, Goulash, and of course, Wiener Schnitzel. For summer visits, outdoor seating on the charming Ruprechtsplatz makes for a cinematic setting to enjoy your evening.
• Oswald & Kalb: If you’re looking for a classic spot in town, this one comes highly recommended for a traditional Austrian restaurant with what many locals consider to be the best Wiener Schnitzel in town!

Bars in Vienna

• Loos American Bar: While you might be thinking, “American Bar? I’m in Vienna!” just take our word for it that Loos serves up some of the best made negronis and martinis in town. As a bonus, if you’re there during the summer months, your cocktails will come with a glass of fresh strawberries.
• Neue Hobeit Bar: Located on the rooftop of Rosewood Vienna, this elegant cocktail bar offers an extensive menu of beverages complemented by view of St. Peter’s Church.
• R&BAR: Bright, beautifully mixed cocktails come together with delicious street-style food at R&Bar for a fusion of flavors and colors.

Vineyards in Vienna

Part of Vienna’s ability to surprise visitors lies in its viticulture. The city’s vineyards play a key role in preserving the green belt that envelopes Vienna. Visitors can reach the vineyards with a brief twenty-minute drive from the 1st District, revealing vines set against the cityscape as you weave your way through the hills. One of our favorite ways to organize a tasting is by booking a food safari with your SmartFlyer travel advisor; this unique experience matches you with a local epicurean who will introduce you to the families who own the wineries and pair their bottles with local cheeses, meats, and produce on a picnic table nestled in the vines. The best way to finish off a day of tastings is with a visit to the Heuriger, which are casual wine taverns where wine and Austrian fare continue to flow.

Museums in Vienna

With innumerable museums in Vienna, it can be difficult to narrow down which you’ll visit during your time in town. Entire days could be dedicated to museum hopping alone, but we’ve identified a few go-to’s below.

• ALBERTINA Museum: With a diverse exhibition of art including Albrecht Dürer’s Young Hare and pieces from Renaissance etchings to contemporary sculpture, the ALBERTINA is a must for art lovers. Permanent displays include works from Monet, Picasso, Cézanne, Chagall, and more.
• Kunsthistorisches Museum: Not only is the Fine Arts Museum the home of the former collection of the Habsburg family, but it’s also visually one of the most stunning buildings in Vienna. Here you can see world-class paintings, an Egyptian collection, and Greek and Roman antiquities.
• Museumsquartier: One of the largest Museum complexes in Europe. It is also a large outdoor living room for the Viennese, with great casual lunch options. Here you can visit Leopold Museum for an amazing Klimt collection and the world’s largest “Egon Schiele” collection.
• Sigmund Freud Museum: The very address where Sigmund Freud lived and worked for forty-seven years before he had to flee from the Nazis in 1938, this home to psychoanalysis allows you to walk through the very rooms where the Freud family lived.
• Upper Belvedere: The legendary palace where the state treaty of Austria was signed, Upper Belvedere is home to an extensive collection of Klimt’s, including his famous The Kiss. Talk to your SmartFlyer travel advisor about securing after-hours access to the museum so that you can walk the galleries with a curator in total privacy.
• The Wien Museum: This recently renovated museum acts as a home to the history of Vienna. We especially love the exhibit that outlines modern Vienna, including a commentary on immigration, housing, and the evolving cultural fabric of the capital city.

Jewish Vienna

Today, Vienna has twenty-three synagogues and an active Jewish community. The city can easily commodate travelers who keep kosher, and for those interested, provide a backdrop to explore Jewish history. With the help of a guide, pay tribute to the enduring quest for peace at the Memorial against War and Fascism before proceeding to the iconic Heroes Square. Delve deeper into the city’s complex history with a solemn visit to the Holocaust Memorial at Judenplatz, followed by the option to explore the profound exhibits within the Jewish Museum. Traverse through Seitenstettengasse, where the Temple stands as a testament to resilience, before confronting the haunting remnants of history at Morzinplatz, once the headquarters of the Gestapo. Conclude your enlightening tour in Leopoldstadt, where layers of history intertwine with the vibrant spirit of the present.

Mozart’s Vienna

Dive into the heart of the city with a visit to the magnificent St. Stephen’s Cathedral, followed by an exclusive exploration of the Mozarthaus Vienna‘s interiors. Immerse yourself in history at the The House of the Teutonic Order before indulging in a spot of luxury shopping along the renowned boulevard of Graben. Admire the grandeur of Palais Palffy and soak in the serene ambiance of Josefsplatz. Conclude your tour with a tranquil stroll through Burggarten, where you’ll encounter the solemn Mozart Memorial, reflecting the city’s rich cultural legacy.

Where to Shop for Handmade Goods in Vienna

• Jarosinski & Vaugoin: Like slipping through a portal back in time, Jarosinski & Vaugoin on Zieglergasse 24 will find you in the old-school showroom of the illustrious silversmiths. Jean-Paul Vaugoin, the sixth-generation owner, is sure to show visitors a look at his family’s workshop in the courtyard of the Biedermeier building which looks just like it would have a century ago. The business reveals how Vienna has always been a city of immigrants: the Vaugoin family came to Vienna at the time of Napoleon and never left, and the company’s master silversmith, Yakup Kurter, arrived from Syria 35 years ago. The silversmiths are huddled over worn wooden tables where they hammer, file and grind the silver before polishing it to a shine, all by hand. After many more stages in the process, some of the silverware eventually winds its way as far afield as the royal palaces of the Arabian Peninsula and Malaysia.
• Studio Comploj: The Glashütte of glassblower Robert Comploj presents itself as a modern gallery that is also a shop. The exhibited vases and bowls surprise guests with unusual colors and extraordinary structures. And it’s an even bigger surprise when Robert Comploj comes around the corner with his hipster glasses, black tee-shirt, and tousled hair – not exactly what people imagine a glassblower would look like. The friendly glassmaker manufactures the glass items himself in his shop in the 18th district. Robert Comploj learned his craft in Murano and combines old Venetian techniques with his own innovative methods. Comploj is in his element here: he blows and molds the delicate glass, although he likes to describe his approach to the medium as ‘punk’. He loves to shape the glass by hand, risking the odd burn or two in the process.
• SCHEER: The Scheer workshop – former purveyor of footwear to the imperial and royal court – is a multi-level store and active workshop. Upstairs, you’ll find skilled cobblers on traditional stools in front of low workbenches, intently focus on their craft of which it takes over a decade to learn. One of them is Markus Scheer, who now runs this 200-year-old family business, now in its seventh generation. His trademark is an orthopedic smock that he wears when working. It is a nod towards his training as a maker of orthopedic shoes, and symbolic of how important the perfect fit is for him when it comes to footwear. The timespan between the first measurement and the finished product can easily reach half a year at Scheer. It takes around 60 hours to complete each pair of bespoke shoes. Originally only a shoe­maker, Scheer now also makes bags, belts, and luggage. The exclusive shop exudes history, without coming across as old-fashioned. And the fine aroma of leather is everywhere.
• J.T. Kalmar: Designer Garth Roberts loves browsing the archives of traditional Viennese manufacturer J. T. Kalmar, whose light fixtures are in high demand the world over. Originals from the days of the Österreichischer Werkbund collective command high prices at auctions and antique stores, as their shapes dovetail beautifully with twenty-first-century design culture. Garth Roberts is also captivated by the Werkbund designs. As the creative boss of Kalmar Werkstätten, he is helping to give Austrian Modernism a new lease of life by putting a contemporary spin on the old Werkbund sketches. The finished products speak a contemporary design language: they are minimalistic, functional, and made from high-quality materials. The delicate feet of the Fliegenbein and Hase models are Kalmar to the core.
• Zur Schwäbischen Jungfrau: The store Zur Schwäbischen Jungfrau sells exclusive custom-tailored table linen, bedding, and toweling. The traditional Viennese company was founded in 1720 by a linen trader from Swabia and later became an important supplier to the Imperial and Royal Court. Today, Hanni Vanicek and her nephew Theodor Vanicek run the company. High-quality bespoke items, monograms and embroideries are produced in their own studio in the 8th district. Royal houses from around the world number amongst the customers; the King of Malaysia once even paid a personal visit to the Schwäbische Jungfrau on Graben while on a state visit.