Best restaurants in Vienna

Café Vollpension – for heartwarming, home-made food

Vollpension is a spot to warm your heart and your belly. It describes itself as ‘Granny’s public living room’ and that is exactly how it feels. The café is run not only to provide delicious meals, but to promote connection between the generations, help end old-age poverty and reduce loneliness. The café is staffed by the young and old, with the older staff all working after their retirement age. They also cook their own recipes for all the delicious treats on the counter, which you can watch as you order. Take your token to the cake counter and exchange it for a slice of sachertorte, strudel or apple tiramisu, to name a few, all served with a generous dollop of whipped cream. We loved the buchteln, a fluffy yeasted roll stuffed with plum jam, sat in a bowl of warm crème anglaise. Kitschy interiors with lots of cute frames of furry friends make the cosy vibe even nicer. vollpension.wien

Wiener Würstelstand – for the best hot dogs

Hot dogs are a big deal in Vienna, and nowhere does them better than Wiener Würstelstand. You can spot the bright orange font on stands across the city. A must order is a Käserkreiner, a lightly smoked sausage with chunks of cheese inside. Make sure you know your answer to the question ‘sweet or spicy?’ as they’re referring to the mustard you want with your dog. We think the answer is both! wien.info

Café Sperl – for coffee in historic surroundings

This spot is a Viennese institution, open since 1880, so is soaked in history. Waiters bustle about in traditional black and white uniform, serving classics such as Einspänner, a strong espresso topped with whipped cream, and fiaker, a strong coffee spiked with rum. Have a slice of cake with your coffee from the cake trolley, with all the Viennese offerings, such as strudel, sachertorte or marillenfleck (apricot cake). There's a strong savoury menu too, including rindsuppe mit frittaten, a style of beef soup with thinly sliced pancakes. There is a huge billiards table and live piano on Sundays from 3.30pm. You’ll come away feeling like you’ve sipped coffee in a historical landmark! cafesperl.at/en

&Flora – for veggie-forward cooking

&Flora offers veggie-forward plates in relaxing interiors. Located in the very chic Hotel Gilbert, the staff are attentive and friendly, making you feel like a guest even if you’re just stopping by. Start with the house-made focaccia and a pickle plate. Soft, salty and dripping with good-quality olive oil, this is the perfect start to the meal. The pickles are crunchy and fresh, the perfect acidic bite to get your mouth watering. The plates lean mainly veggie, with a few meatier options scattered throughout. Standouts include charred pointed cabbage with tahini and chilli crunch, X.O beef tartare with furikake and pickled cabbage and trout crudo with snow peas and pickled elderflower. undflora.at

Hans & Fritz – for picturesque Austrian vineyards

A short 30-minute car ride from central Vienna takes you to some of the most picturesque vineyards you could possibly see. With stunning views over Vienna, Hans & Fritz offers Austrian wine and seasonal plates with atmosphere to match. Sit in the vineyards overlooking the grapes growing while sampling the finished product. There's a whole host of wines to choose from, both by the bottle and the glass. Pair with great breads, charcuterie, pâté and cheeses to nibble alongside. This is the perfect spot to take a date, though do be warned – the hill to get there is very steep! hansundfritz.at

Mochi – for Austro-Japanese fusion

Start your meal at this Austro-Japanese izakaya, with a refreshing spritz (yuzu sake, frizzante and mint) or a hot sake. Then, perch at the wooden bar to watch bandana-clad chefs preparing sushi and small plates – “special rolls” include My Best Friend, a parcel of tempura leek, salmon sashimi and miso teriyaki sauce. Skewers from the grill include pork belly and chicken skin while Mochi’s small plates line-up features crispy karaage chicken and minced pork tan tan salad in chilli teriyaki. And don’t miss the tempura prawns on crunchy lettuce with chilli mayo and yuzu truffle dressing. mochi.at

Café Ansari – for Georgian cuisine

A duck egg-blue counter, jade green walls and lace lampshades create a warm and welcoming vibe at Café Ansari. The owners’ Georgian/Lebanese heritage is reflected in brunch options such as khachapuri bread oozing with cheese and platters of hummus, labneh, cheese and sumac-sprinkled cherry tomatoes. Traditionalists are catered for, too, with homemade apricot jam to spread over fresh rolls and croissants. To go with your choice, order homemade lemon balm and lavender lemonade (served in vintage carafes) or pick from the café’s list of unusual Georgian wines. cafeansari.at

Kleines Café – for traditional Viennese vibes

Leave your smartphone at the pale green door here and chat with the artsy regulars inside. Living up to its name this tiny mirror-lined space, with its worn leather banquettes and wooden chairs, has long been a bohemian haunt. A charming waiter weaves his way around, taking orders for traditional Viennese coffees (try an Einspänner – espresso with cream top, a mélange – espresso with hot water and frothy milk, or a Kleiner Brauner – espresso with milk on the side) and Austrian house wine. Franziskanerplatz 3

Karmelitermarkt – for farmers market shopping

Seek out up-and-coming Karmelitermarkt, where Fridays and Saturdays see the cobbled square transformed into a farmer’s market and colourful kiosks contrast with the ancient buildings that surround them. Grab breakfast at one of the neighbouring cafés then shop for flowers, organic veg and Burgenland honey. Leopoldgasse

Felzl – for Austrian bakes

Whether you’re after a rustic loaf, a sandwich or a pastry, Felzl puts an Austrian stamp on its menu of Mediterranean bakes – crustily precise French baguettes, apple tarts made with North Austrian apples, and richly chocolated bundt cakes. There are even two bread-vending machines so, if you get a carb craving late at night, you can pick up a loaf after-hours. felzl.at

Bitzinger – for hot dogs

The city’s Bitzinger hot dog stand is equally popular among selfie-snapping tourists and tux-clad opera-goers. It’s a slick but friendly operation. Order snacks such as käsekreiner (cheese-studded hot dogs) and you’ll be served speedily, and with a smile. bitzinger-wien.at

Krypt – for cocktails

In-the-know locals cram into this subterranean speakeasy for killer cocktails. Prop up the walnut-topped, black marble bar and choose between a Mexican Massage (with plenty of tequila, lime and jalapeño) or rum-based Pineapple Express. Then, take your drink into a brick-lined alcove and challenge your companion to a game of shuffleboard, or peruse the surrounding art Krypt also sells itself as Vienna’s smallest gallery. krypt.bar

Weinschenke – for burgers

This burger joint has several locations across the city. Once you’ve finished shopping at the farmer’s market (see above) head to the Karmelitermarkt outpost and sip a glass of Austrian wine or a citrussy Austrian Amber Ale while you plough through a Wild Guy (beef patty, cheddar, bacon, egg, japapenos, red onions and smoky BBQ sauce) or a Vito (wild boar burger with sherry pepper sauce, herbs and red cabbage). The beef comes from a local butcher while the wild boar is hunted from the Waldviertel woods in northern Austria. weinschenke-wien.com

Phil – for lazy afternoons

This cool and quirky cafe, with its funky retro furniture, is the place to head to if you want to combine coffee culture and book culture. There’s no time pressure at this café-cum-bookstore, so order a mélange (espresso, hot water, frothy milk) and a slice of vegan carrot cake and take your time browsing the well-stocked bookshelves. phil.info

Jonas Reindl – for a hip coffee hangout

This speciality brewspot is one of the city’s most popular third-wave coffee shops. Coffee aficionados come to the pared-back space to gather over flat whites and cortados; the drinks are made using espresso from Barn in Berlin and a chocolate-y Nicaraguan house blend with nougat and almond notes. Apple cake, streusel and decadent chocolate cake sit temptingly under glass domes for those who fancy a sweet treat to accompany their coffee. jonasreindl.at

Naschmarkt

Doing a brisk trade in fruit and veg since 1793, the Naschmarkt’s stalls brim with everything from glossy olives and Asian spices to Alpine cheeses and Austrian wines. Go for a morning stroll before a bumper breakfast of omelette-topped bagels and fresh-pressed juice at Naschmarkt Deli. Pick up a bag of freshly roasted Alt Wiener Gold coffee, at Alt Wien. An unassuming-looking coffee shop nearbt, it does an expert line in fair-trade and organic blends. altwien.at

Henzls Ernte

Stop by Henzls Ernte for deli goods made with fruit, herbs and spices grown or foraged by the owners. Their pepped-up sugars and salts and nettle and wild garlic pesto are especially worth seeking out. henzls.at

Café Central

Freud and Trotsky famously enjoyed the marble splendour of Café Central. Black-vested waiters have been serving a slice of old-world Viennese decadence to visitors in this palatial coffee house since 1876. Try the linger over apple strudel, which flakes just so, and speciality coffees such as Maria Theresia, an orange liqueur-laced double espresso topped with whipped cream.

Trzesniewski

This small chain has the open sandwich down to a fine art. Try toppings such as crab and egg, pickled herring and onions and wild paprika, all on a choice of different breads. A couple of bites and they're gone, so order a few. trzesniewski.at

Best hotels for foodies in Vienna

Hotel Gilbert

A stone’s throw from the trendy MuseumsQuartier, Hotel Gilbert is a fantastic base for a city break. The hotel is chicly decorated with comfortable rooms and cosy beds. There is sustainability at the forefront of thinking, with refillable toiletry bottles in the rooms and air-con that only runs from 27c. If you’re a food lover, this is the hotel for you. &Flora is the restaurant within the hotel, offering veggie-centric small plates with middle Eastern influences. The breakfast buffet is a huge spread of pickles, hot items, cereals, breads, dips, fruits and vegetables. There's a gym and sauna plus bike rentals for exploring the city. And when you’re done, you can head to the bar for ‘wine time’ with a complimentary glass of wine each evening.

Rooms start at £126 a night, check availability at hotel-gilbert.at/en or booking.com

Grand Ferdinand Hotel

Enter this plush hotel via its statement lobby (go easy past the life-size horse statue) and check into one of its moodily minimal bedrooms. Then, follow your stomach and either swing up to the Grand Etage restaurant, with its panoramic views over the city, or swerve into the hotel’s dedicated schnitzel joint, Meissel & Schadn.

The top-floor Grand Etage sits beside a large terrace and lap pool but we recommend heading up at breakfast and loading your plate with Austrian sausages, pickled fish and typical bakes and eating them from the comfort of a floral-patterned armchair looking out across gilded rooftops, intricate domes and palaces.

At Meissel & Schadn, on the other hand, peer past the ‘Schnitzel Love’ sign in the window and watch, mesmerized, white apron-clad chefs prepare traditional Viennese schnitzel beneath an extravagant chandelier. Veal is bashed, dipped in breadcrumbs and fried in your choice of lard, pork dripping or vegetable oil to create a frilly, golden crumb. For the full experience, book-end your main course with a shrimp cocktail to start and an apple strudel to finish.

Check availability at grandferdinand.com or booking.com

The Guesthouse

With the help of Terence Conran this former youth hostel, on the same square as the Vienna Opera House, is now a sleek, design hotel. One of its best features is an award-winning wood-stove bakery so expect the very best Viennese pastries for breakfast. Glittering palaces, classical music and exceptional art (from Klimt’s Kiss at the Belvedere to Wes Anderson’s curatorial debut at the Kunsthistorisches Museum) make Vienna ideal for a grown-up weekend away.

Foodies can sign up to a cooking class with Bianca, a locally-run workshop that takes you straight into the world of Austrian cuisine; shop at the market before returning to the kitchen to learn how to prepare paprika chicken stew, spaetzli (dumplings) with salad and proper apple strudel before sitting down to enjoy the feast.

Check availability at theguesthouse.at or booking.com

First written by Kerry Christiani in 2013, updated by Alex Crossley in 2019 and by Helena Busiakiewicz in 2025

Photographs: Meierei, Sandra Raccanello /SIME/4Corners, Reinhard Schmid/4Corners, Helen Cathcart/Lonely Planet Traveller Magazine