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Vienna Style

While shopping will never be the focus of a trip to Vienna the way it is in Paris or London, a number of interesting fashion and design boutiques have opened in recent years. Many are owned and run by the designers themselves—in some cases, you’ll find them sitting behind their sewing machines at the back of the stores—so you should always call ahead to confirm opening hours. Here are some of the shopping neighborhoods and shops to know.

Kärntnerstrasse, Graben and Kohlmarkt

This is Vienna’s most centrally located shopping area, with established names and a sprinkling of independent high-end labels. The Kärntnerstrasse starts at the Sacher hotel and runs toward the Stephansdom. Along it you’ll find upscale stores like Lobmeyr mixed in with such brands as Mango and Benetton. The Graben and Kohlmarkt, two other popular shopping streets between the Stephansdom and the Hofburg complex, house international luxury brands like Chanel, Hermès and Loro Piana as well as local shops like Demel patisserie (below)

Mariahilf and Neubau Districts (6th & 7th)

When you need a short break from the overwhelming, spectacular art in Vienna’s 1st District, get lost wandering the streets of the 6th and 7th Districts. Use the main commercial shopping street of Mariahilferstrasse as a marker while you meander through the more interesting side streets. North of Mariahilferstrasse clustered on streets like Lindengasse and Zollgasse are edgier storefronts like Werkprunk, owned by sisters who make leather and skull-embossed jewelry, belts and accessories and Weltladen on Lerchenfelderstrasse, which offers fair trade and eco-friendly jewelry, cotton and fashion. These spaces are interspersed with boutiques like PARK, which showcases high-profile labels Martin Margiela and Raf Simons along with up-and-comers, and Lena Hoschek, offering unique prints, rockabilly styles and 1950’s silhouettes.

Venturing south past Mariahilferstrasse, wander along Theobaldgasse; where you can stop into Tongues, a concept store that is half-local delicatessen and half-record store, and We Bandits, a pop-up shop featuring young designers that has finally settled into its permanent home. Interior decorators should stop into Habari, also on Theobaldgasse, for out-of-the-box accessories, textiles and furniture from more than 28 African countries.

Serious interior aficionados shouldn’t miss the unconventional furniture at Das Mobel (below) on Gumpendorferstrasse. Stop by neighboring Phil, a hipster coffeeshop that also sells books and records, before continuing on to the unique art galleries on Schleifmühlgasse past the Naschmarkt. Enter the 4th district and wander down Schleifmulgasse past Flo Vintage – Nostalgische Mode to high-end fashion store Pregenzer with designer Jutta Pregenzer sitting behind the counter, and to the showroom of Garbarage Upcycling Design next door, which creates unique one-off furniture and other serial products out of recycled goods. Take a moment to hear their story and how they employ rehabilitated drug-users who are trying to re-enter the work force.