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Balthasar Kaffee Bar
A diminutive but cheerful robin’s egg blue sign announces Balthasar’s place on the Praterstrasse in the Leopoldstadt (2nd district), but the happy groupings of locals—at the outdoor tables or by the cozy windows—gives this place away from a distance. The...
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Bitzinger
You won’t get locals to agree, as most have a favored spot in their respective neighborhoods, but Bitzinger is widely regarded as the city’s best wurst (sausage) purveyor. It is also the most convenient for travelers, as it is located...
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Café Halle
Like the Hansen, breakfast is the meal du jour at this fanciful café located above the Kunsthalle in the MuseumsQuartier. It is served from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., and includes everything from bagels to a typically Austrian spread of...
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China Bar An der Wein
When you grow tired of schnitzel and goulash, head to this trendy Chinese restaurant and bar, which has a simple, elegant interior and offers al fresco dining in warm weather. The menu specializes in Sichuan cuisine and is heavy on...
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Das Möbel
This funky café meets furniture store would be right at home in Brooklyn. Every piece of mismatched furniture, from twin-seat bar stools to sculpted low chaises, is on sale, though judging from the young, mostly local crowd of students and...
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Ella’s
For those craving a break from Austrian fare, Ella’s is an elegant and delicious Greek option in the city center. Located on a quiet street corner, the restaurant serves Mediterranean classics in a swanky, stark-white dining room. The menu consists...
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Figlmüller
Figlmüller, with two restaurants in Vienna, is the best place in the city for Wiener schnitzel. The ones served here, accompanied by a variety of salads, including potato and cucumber, have been pounded so thin that they lop over the...
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Gasthaus Pöschl
A five-minute walk from Stephansplatz, this gastro pub serves some of Vienna’s best Schnitzel and beer in its casual and intimate dining room.
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Glacis Beisl
Hidden at the back of the Museumsquartier up a daunting flight of cement stairs, Glacis Beisl is a secret find, featuring a romantic garden space complete with twinkling lights, a diverse crowd and a modern philosophy of dining. Traditional dishes...
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Kussmaul
Though it is both a patisserie and restaurant, Kussmaul feels like one big eatery, thanks to its open plan layout and kitchen sitting in the center of the space. The restaurant serves delicious modern cuisine, and the patisserie is open...
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Palmenhaus
A great spot for lunch or coffee after a visit to the nearby Albertina, this restaurant is located in a soaring glass-paneled conservatory in the middle of the Burggarten. While the lunch menu is Mediterranean-influenced Continental cuisine, with fresh fish...
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Skopik & Lohn
Locals adore this no-frills former Gasthaus (tavern) in the residential second district (a short taxi ride from the center of Vienna). Chefs Horst Scheuer and Alexander Mayer are drawing foodies to this quiet location, thanks to a daily changing, seasonally inspired...
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Tian Bistro am Spittelberg
An offshoot of the more formal Tian restaurant, this bistro in the trendy Spittelberg neighborhood offers delicious vegetarian dishes. Popular options include Tian’s take on “steak” tartare, burgers and goulash. Locals love the breakfast options here, particularly the homemade granola...
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Ulrich
This all-day eatery serves an excellent breakfast until mid-afternoon on weekends, and a regular set lunch service during the week. Creative dishes can include potato and string bean strudel served with dill sauce and pepper salad (Wednesday’s vegetarian lunch option)...
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Wrenkh
Austrian cuisine isn’t exactly known for its vegetarian options, so this minimalist-chic bistro that features veggies is a rare find. Chef Christian Wrenkh creates beautiful and sophisticated dishes with seasonal ingredients and many options on the often-changing menu are vegetarian (though...
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Zum Finsteren Stern
In a peaceful courtyard sits the adorable Zum Finsteren Stern (“to the dark star”) a restaurant that boasts a seasonal menu based upon the availability of ingredients. Charming and cozy, the eatery turns out wholesome, thoughtful dishes like roasted goat...
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Zur Herknerin
With a homey, relaxed atmosphere, Zur Herknerin is the ultimate cozy neighborhood spot for traditional Austrian cuisine. Many of the ingredients in dishes like homemade spinach dumplings and pumpkin lasagna come from chef/owner Stefanie Herkner’s family’s farm. Herkner is highly...
Vienna

As far as culinary capitals go, Vienna doesn’t have the cachet of London or Paris, but there are some young chefs making serious headway and slowly changing this reputation. In the more traditional restaurants, there is plenty Gemütlichkeit (cozyness) and creative dishes that balance tradition and innovation. Reservations to the top spots are essential, as Viennese love to go out and favorite spots book fast, especially on weekends. For an abbreviated list of restaurants, read Top Tables Vienna.