Dining and Drinking

Some say coffee houses, Wienerschnitzel and wine taverns are defining characteristics of Vienna, and with good cause. Most coffee houses and wine taverns can give any reputable restaurant a good run for its money. The Beisl is a common Viennese name for a small tavern, restaurant or pub serving food. Should you be short of time, the omnipresent Würstelstand (sausage stands) are always worth a visit, serving typically Austrian sausage. The cheapest sit-down food is generally to be found in university restaurants, known as Mensa. Only opening on weekdays, they are terrific value for the money. There are also Austrian chains like Schnitzelhaus or Wienerwald. And, for those with a penchant for excellent food, Vienna offers plenty of fine restaurants, especially in the inner city (Inner Stadt). A word of advice: it might be wise to carry cash in Vienna, as many restaurants do not accept credit cards.

1st District: Innere Stadt

Restaurants serving Viennese cuisine abound in the 1st District. Plachutta is one of the city’s best known places to dine. At Korso, Viennese and international specialties are served with the guest’s choice of wine from their impressive wine cellar. Zu den drei Husaren is on the same exquisite level: formal, elegant, expensive, with live piano music. DO & CO boasts a unique location at the Haas-Haus, with a view of Stephansdom and superb food of gourmet quality. A more casual option is Einstein. Close to the university, it's a rather rustic-style place that serves good food. For those craving Asian cuisine, Yugetsu, a Japanese restaurant, comes highly recommended. Pizza lovers should head to Danieli, an upscale Italian restaurant. If you're a caffeine fiend, you'll be happy to know that the coffee house is an integral part of Viennese life. On just about every corner you will encounter one of these oases for an excellent cup of Austrian coffee, allegedly the best in the world. Cafe Central is amongst those classic places once frequented by famous turn-of-the-century literary personalities and intellectuals. In Cafe Landtmann, some of Austria's top politicians and journalists are known to congregate for a cup of coffee. Another classic is Cafe Hawelka where the whole gamut of Vienna's society meets, from students to celebrities. Or dine in the gorgeous glass-domed setting of Palmenhaus, amidst beautiful plants.

6th to 9th District

Another gorgeous coffeehouse that you should take a look at is Sperl, located in District 6. It's the oldest coffee house in Vienna (established in 1880), and it has some of the most beautiful old furnishings. The stylish Cafe Blaustern, however, boasts some of the best coffee in town and customers can watch the fresh coffee being roasted behind the counter. For something a little different, consider the Gastgarten (or Schanigarten). They belong to the Viennese gastronomic scene in the same way that the Alps belong to Austrian topography. The word "Schanigarten" is synonymous with sitting outside, breathing fresh air (rather than smoke) and enjoying a cool drink under the shade of a tree. Schanigarten are very often small calm areas in the midst of the city. Drop by the Amerlingbeisl in District 7 to see an unusual example in the inner courtyard of an old building. Or head to District 9 and pay a visit to Stomach, where customers can enjoy a wine list featuring specialties from Austria's federal region, Styria. Vienna is not all upscale, however. Thousands of students in Austria's capital frequent the many casual places to eat surrounding its main university, although there are plenty more scattered around the city. Cafe Stein is also a popular meeting point after lectures; this modern establishment is always busy and attracts a mixed crowd. Some of the best and cheapest places for students to go out to eat are in the 8th District, where you will find pubs and restaurants en masse.

Outskirts

Heurigen are wine taverns serving the year's local vintage (Heuriger) and offer simple but excellent buffets to accompany their home-grown wines. They are found all over Vienna, but the more traditional places are usually found near the vineyards on the outskirts of the city. Grinzing is an example of the typical small villages in which you’ll come across a great number of Heurigen.

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