Vienna Food Guide: Where to eat in Vienna

Neni am Naschmarkt

For Israeli and Middle Eastern food in Vienna

One of my favourite food stops in Vienna was Naschmarkt, a popular market in the city. Most people may know there’s a flea market section and a produce section, but there are also quite a few little restaurants sprinkled in.

After walking through the market and being tempted by all sorts of international cuisines, we chose Neni am Naschmarkt. This is an Israeli and Middle Eastern food restaurant with a handful of locations across Europe.

I ordered the Sabich, which was a mixed plate that came with fried eggplant, hummus, tomato-coriander salad, tahini, a poached egg, and amba (a tangy pickled mango sauce). I also added an order of falafel on top, and of course, there was plenty of pita to go around. I loved the variety and contrasting flavours in the dish and I really think this is one of the best items on the menu!

Aside from that, I also got to try the Oven Eggplant that Sam ordered. This came with a tomato-tahini salsa, an egg and pita bread.

And because this is Vienna, we ordered Hugos – I mean, you really can’t go wrong with an elderflower cordial, Prosecco, fresh mint and lime.

One thing I’ll mention is that this is a very popular restaurant in Naschmarkt, so if you’re planning to go at peak times or on a weekend, it might be a good idea to make a reservation.

Address: Naschmarkt 510

Wirr

For a cool brunch spot in Vienna

Wirr was one of our favourite breakfast spots in Vienna, so we went back a couple of times to sample a few different items on their menu.

On our first visit, we grabbed a table out on the sidewalk and ordered 2 different breakfasts.

The Austrian breakfast, or Wiener Frühstück, came with a bread roll, a croissant, homemade marmalade, butter, sliced cheese, sliced ham, and an egg. Perfect if you like a mix of sweet and savoury to start the day.

The farmer’s breakfast, or Bauernfrühstück, came with 2 pieces of brown bread, bacon, mountain cheese, tomatoes, pickles, cream cheese with grated carrots, and hardboiled eggs. A good choice if you woke up with a big appetite.

There was also lots of coffee to start the morning!

The second time we went back, we decided to try some of the more international items on the menu.

I ordered the Shakshuka, which consisted of 2 poached eggs on a bed of tomato sauce with fried coriander and toast, and meanwhile, Sam ordered the Oriental Plate, which came with hummus, falafel, grilled vegetables, chickpeas, and homemade pita bread.

It was all so good! Seriously, I could have eaten here every day of our stay, but there were other places left to sample.

As a tip, if you don’t make it here for breakfast, let me tell you that it’s also a bar, club and restaurant, so there’s basically something going on any time of day.

Address: Burggasse 70

Gastwirtschaft Wratschko

For a traditional Austrian restaurant in Vienna

Like most foodies who come to Vienna, we ate at Gastwirtschaft Wratschko because it had been recommended by the late Anthony Bourdain, and while I wouldn’t say it was one of the best culinary experiences in the world, it was definitely a cultural experience!

Gastwirtschaft Wratschko is a wood-panelled, dimly lit, smoky restaurant with a pub-like feel where the waitstaff come when they’re ready and serve you with a bit of sass – some will think that’s slightly rude, others will tell you, that’s just Austrian!

The restaurant specializes in traditional Austrian cuisine with a few strange items on the menu – pig’s stomach, anyone? – and the portions are large and hearty.

We got the steak with green peppercorn sauce and potatoes, which was very tasty and just what we needed on a cool autumn night.

We also decided to try one vegetarian dish, a cabbage, tomato, and cheese lasagna. I had never had a lasagna with cabbage before, but it worked and we devoured every last bite!

Address: Neustiftgasse 51

Ulrich

For a stylish patio restaurant in Vienna

While in Vienna, we also ate at Ulrich, a cosy restaurant with a bit of a hipster vibe, that offered both indoor and outdoor seating.

I decided to order the Chorizo with Herb Polenta, capers, and a tomato and bean ragout! It was wonderful – the chorizo was spicy and juicy, and the capers gave the whole dish a bit of a kick.

Meanwhile, Sam got the dish of the day which was a Mushroom Risotto – super creamy with cracked pepper and parmesan on top!

This place had a very relaxed feel and it was just a nice place to enjoy a leisurely meal.

Address: Sankt-Ulrichs-Platz 1

Café Sacher

For a fancy cafe in Vienna

I’ve already written about our experience eating at Cafe Sacher – a must when in Vienna! – so I’ll keep this mention brief.

We ordered the Original Sacher Torte mit Schlag, which is the famed chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam, covered in dark chocolate icing with whipped cream on the side. It did not disappoint!

To mix things up, we also got the Liliput Original Sacher Gewürzgugelhupf, which is a Viennese ring cake with sweet spices, ginger and candied oranges. It tasted very festive and it was a pleasant surprise – it’s the kind of cake I’d love to have around the holiday season.

Yes, eating at Café Sacher may involve waiting in line, especially if it’s high season, but it’s one of those things we really wanted to experience in Vienna. And also, the setting was gorgeous! Imagine not getting to see this?

Address: Philharmoniker Strasse4

Erich

For all-day brunch or tacos in Vienna

Erich is the sister restaurant to Ulrich, which we previously ate at.

We had heard good things about the tacos here, so that’s exactly what we came for! You could either order them individually or get sliders of 3.

We sampled a few different ones including the Avocado Feta with refried beans, leeks, salsa, coriander and lime; the Mango Prawn with rocket, tomato, lime-mayo and basil; and Chilli con Carne with cream cheese, coriander and sesame. My absolute favourite was the Avocado Feta – I just can’t resist a lime and coriander combo!

For drinks, it was once again all about the Hugos. Elderflower, anyone?

And even though we went for the tacos, they also had lots of really cool items on their menu like Poke Bowls, Quinoa Bowls and Halloumi Bowls, and they’re vegan-friendly.

Address: Neustiftgasse 27

Schweizerhaus

For hearty Austrian cuisine in Vienna

The name of this restaurant translates to “Swiss House” but don’t let that confuse you, Schweizerhaus specializes in Austrian cuisine.

This restaurant is located in the middle of Prater Park and it was great food stop after exploring the area.

Sam ordered the Austrian Goulash with bread dumplings and pickles. We had recently tried 2 different types of Goulash in neighbouring Hungary – one that was more like a soup, and another that was more like a stew – and the Austrian version was thick and hearty.

The meat was super tender and you could just break the pieces apart with the use of your fork, and the sauce was rich in flavour, perfect for dipping the bread dumplings.

For my main dish, I got the Wiener Schnitzel vom Schwein, which means it was a pork cutlet as opposed to a veal cutlet. One thing we noticed when ordering Schnitzel in Austria is that the prices were much higher if it was veal as opposed to pork. To accompany the Schnitzel, we also ordered the Wiener Erdäpfelsalat, or Viennese potato salad.

And we couldn’t leave without dessert! We got the Wiener Apfelstrudel, or Viennese Apple Strudel, because when in Vienna!

Address: Prater 116

Aida

For elaborate coffees and pastries in Vienna

So I’ve already talked about getting cake at Cafe Sacher, but if you have a bit of a sweet tooth and you’re looking for something tasty and more affordable, there’s Aida.

This is a chain with multiple locations across the city and the cafes are easy to spot because they’re all pink. We went to their location in Neubau and feasted on cake!

I ordered a slice of their Mozart Cake and it was divine! It was basically a chocolate cake with a layer of pistachio marzipan and nougat filling, and it was all covered in a chocolate fondant. It was so good it rivalled the Sacher Torte – at least to my tastebuds!

And if you’re looking for a specialty Viennese coffee, you can’t go wrong with the Wiener Melange; one shot of espresso topped with steamed milk and foam.

Address: Multiple locations across Vienna

Würstelstand

For late-night street food in Vienna

I’ve mentioned some must-try dishes and must-try desserts in Vienna, but now let’s talk about street food!

One Austrian street food snack you have to try is Käsekrainer and you need to get it at a Würstelstand, a traditional Austrian food stand.

The Käsekrainer is a sausage filled with small pieces of cheese. When the sausage is cooked, the cheese warms up, and then when it’s sliced, it begins to ooze out! It’s because of this that it’s been nicknamed the “puss sausage”, but names aside, it’s actually very tasty.

You can ask for it served in a bun or sliced on a tray; mustard goes well with it.

Address: Multiple locations across Vienna

Der Dachboden

For cocktails with a view in Vienna

Last but not least, let’s talk about where you can get a cocktail with beautiful city views.

Der Dachboden is a bar set on the rooftop of the 25hours Hotel in Vienna’s Museum Quarter. They have a fun cocktail list with names like Smashing Pumpkin, Liquid Apple Pie and Darling Clementine, and inside the bar, there’s also a photo booth to remember the night by.

It’s a buzzing spot for nightlife in Vienna, and the city looks pretty magical from the balcony.

Address: Lerchenfelder Strasse 1-3

Vienna Guide For Foodies

And those are my suggestions for where to eat in Vienna! Hopefully, this will give you some ideas of new bars, restaurants and cafes to try when you visit the city.

As you can see there’s a little bit of everything from traditional Austrian cuisine to more international flavours, so all you have to do is bring your appetite!

And if your travels also bring you to Salzburg, here’s a list of places to eat in Salzburg.

Read More about Austria:

• Vienna Guide For Foodies
• 10 Food Tours in Vienna
• 5 Fun Bike Tours in Vienna
• Sip Your Way Across Vienna’s Vineyards
• 5 Vienna Boat Tours to Cruise the Danube
• Austria’s Almabtrieb Cow Parade
• Visiting Tyrol’s Alpbachtal Valley
• Visiting Werfen Castle
• Day Trip to Gaisberg

What are some of your favourite places to eat and drink in Vienna?