Food in Vienna | A travel guide to Vienna

1. What you need to know before going to Vienna
2. How to get to Vienna
3. Accommodation in Vienna: the best options
4. What to see in Vienna
5. Transport in Vienna
6. Food in Vienna
7. Evenings out in Vienna
8. Vienna and its surroundings: which cities you should not miss

I already had the pleasure of discussing this flavourful topic. Have a look at this if you are particularly interested in Austria's culinary side: The top 10 Austrian dishes and The top 10 Austrian desserts. (both in German)

Still cult status in Vienna: the tavern

Above all, in Vienna, there are loads of delicacies to discover, be it sweet, meaty or vegetarian. As in every country, we also have our particular culinary habits. Obviously, anyone can have his or her own daily food habits as they wish. I am going to teach you about what plays out in the bars, restaurants, and coffeehouses in Vienna at different times of the day.

Breakfast

You will quickly notice that, in Vienna, we are very calm in the mornings. If you eat breakfast out, it means that, in most cases, you have a lot of time. Most premises (whether it be bars, cafés, or restaurants) where one can have breakfast offer diverse combos with names such as "Wiener Frühstück" (Viennese Breakfast), "Klassisches Frühstück" (Classic Breakfast), "Weltmeister Frühstück" (World Champion Breakfast), etc. To drink, there is either tea or coffee (cappucciono or Melange -black coffee with frothed milk- along with other possibble sorts). To eat, there are bread rolls with butter, marmelade, or honey, or, as a more savoury version, with sausage and cheese. The slightly lighter option is a croissant (normally plain), but obviously you may also order an egg dish (scrambled egg) or ham and eggs to go with it. Often, there is a freshly squeezed orange juice deal.

A classic Viennese breakfast with bread rolls, sausage, cheese, butter, marmelade, orange juice and tea.

Brunch has also become very popular in Vienna over the past few years and, throughout the whole city, there are many restaurants and cafés that offer a brunch buffet (roughly from 10am till 2pm), especially on a Sunday, when most Viennese like to go for brunch. Take a look at Groupon - every now and then they have great vouchers for a tasty brunch.

Here are some suggestions:

• Café Landtmann for when you are looking for something nobel (very nice, but very expensive)
• Konditorei Ströck for everyone (a chain throughout the whole of Austria and has acceptably priced breakfast)
• Meierei in Stadtpark (also expensive, but an unbelievable ambiance. One has to go here at least once)
• Brunch-Buffet in the Gloriette (for special events and only with a reservation)
• HalleImMQ for every late-riser (offers breakfast until late and is in the charming Museumsquartier)
• Freiraum on the Mariahilferstraße (ideal if you have to do a bit of shopping afterwards)

Lunch

Of course, if you work or study in Vienna, you can eat everything from Donner kebab, sushi, to McDonald's. But treat yourself every now and then to a meal in a classic Viennese tavern. Your lunch break could not be cozier! However, you may have difficulties afterwards, because, as you know, it is difficult to study on a full stomach! We have a wonderful tavern tradition in Vienna that, luckily, has been enforced over the past few years, despite the growing competition with edgy hipster shops.

The rustic Zwölf Apostelkeller near Schwedenplatz

You can find any imaginable dish in these taverns. There may be fewer options for vegetarians, but normally they can also find something everywhere. You need to decide between the classic Schnitzel, Eiernockerl, different roasts with dumplings and lots more. Don't forget to order a delicious soup as a starter. They perk you up, especially in winter!

The best example for this type of restaurant is the Apostelkeller in the 1st district, but it has unfortunately become very touristy in the past couple of years, meaning that the prices are not as cheap as they once were (but it is still reasonable for a restaurant in the inner city).

Other examples:

• Bettelstudent (very yummy and very cheap, espeically the lunch deals)
• Palatschinkenkuchl (a classic Viennese restaurant, which specialises in pancakes. A MUST! )
• Fabrik in the Gumpendorferstraße (rustic ambience and massive portions)
• Centimeter (multiple restaurants in Vienna, including on the Gürtel. The name comes from the bread that you can order to size)
• Tunnel: you will find this hip and, at the same time, rustic restaurant in the Florianigasse in the 9th district. It is especially visited by students and offers Austrian and exotic dishes

A cool alternative to taverns is Naschmarkt between the U4 stations Kettenbrückengasse and Karlsplatz. There are many different stalls at this market, where one can try typical Austrian delicacies, along with oriental dishes. Furthermore the atmosphere here is sensational. You definitely have to take a look!

Naschmarkt is one of the most popular places for a lunch break or a chat with friends.

Snacks

In Vienna, one likes to go for a small snack in the afternoon. This is normally a coffee and a piece of cake. Where else is better than a coffeehouse? The tradition surrounding this type of café is huge and, over 100 years ago, intellectuels, artists, authors, and actors sat in Vienna's coffeehouses in order to discuss, amuse themselves, and be seen. Today it is no longer like that, but it still has its allure and I, personally, could spend the whole day sitting in an elegant coffeehouse, reading something, meeting a friend, or simply people-watching.

The glamourous Café Central in the Viennese Inner City

Here are a few addresses that you should have visited:

• Café Central in the Herrengasse, one of the city's noblest coffeehouses
• Café Hawelka: typically Viennese in the 1st district, where Georg Danzer sang "Jö schau, so a Sau" in his famous song
• Café Westend: this, from the outside, plain but very charming coffeehouse is situated on the corner of the Mariahilfer Straße/Gürtel
• Café Mozart: famous for, above all, the scene from "The Third Man" with Orson Welles. You can find this café directly behind the Opera
• Café Goldegg: this wonderful art nouveau style coffeehouse is found in the Argentinierstraße in the 4th district. Here one can also play billiards

Dinner

If you are out and about in Vienna in the evening, then it is exactly the same as lunch time. However, I advise against going to a 'Gasthaus' (tavern) for both lunch and dinner, otherwise you will explode. Most restaurants are cheaper at lunchtime, as they have special meal deals or buffets. Eating out for dinner always means spending more money, and if you don't feel like this, regardless of whether you are a student or employed, buy something small (for example at a hot dog stand or in a bar where you can get toast, a salad, etc. ) and enjoy the evening with a cocktail, a beer or a good glass of wine afterwards.

Swing by the Tunnel in the Floriangasse in the evening. There are often cool live performances.

In my next article, I explain in detail what there is to experience once darkness falls and what you can do. Everything is included. From romantic walks, clubs, to rollercoasters in Prater!

Photo gallery