Five Questions for… Chef Konstantin Filippou

Austrian-Greek chef Konstantin Filippou, the toque behind his eponymous, Michelin-starred formal restaurant and the more casual O Boufes, is an expert on all things gourmet. Here, we quiz him on his favorite local spots and travel habits.

How does your heritage influence your cooking? It is reflected in almost every dish I create; I intuitively combine ingredients from the Mediterranean with those from the land.

What are your favorite restaurants to visit on your nights off? My good friends run Mochi (Praterstrasse 15; 43-1-925-13-80), a great modern Japanese spot in Vienna’s second district and one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Léontine (Reisnerstrasse 39; 43-1-712-54-30), in the third district, is a great French bistro. And all visitors should have breakfast at Ströck Feierabend (Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 82; 43-1-204-39-99-93-057)—it’s a must.

What are some of your favorite places that visitors might not know about? Marco Simonis is an amazing deli and design store that is located just across the street from my restaurants (Dominikanerbastei 10; 43-1-512-20-10). For avant-garde fashion, I love Wolfensson (Habsburgergasse 1-1A; 43-1-532-22-00), and Kaffemik (Zollergasse 5; 43-650-515-15-35) serves the best coffee in town.

Related: Vienna 101

What are some of your favorite gastronomic destinations and why? Spain’s Basque Country always impresses me. The vast variety of restaurants, pintxos bars and incredible seafood is astonishing. And there is no compromising when it comes to food and quality, which is important to me.

In your opinion, what makes Vienna so magical? The combination of Vienna’s rich history with its innovative, creative present forms a dynamic atmosphere. Visitors can feel how we hold on to tradition while simultaneously pushing forward with modern interpretations of cuisine, music, arts, architecture and so much more.

Related: Favorite Finds: Vienna