It’s here! My Vienna guide. It’s been a long time coming, honestly, and I don’t know why I didn’t write this sooner, but alas here we are. A little background to this story: I’m originally from Vienna (sort of). My dad is from there and I lived there when I was a wee baby before moving to New York. Every other summer, I’d come here for one or two months at a time to intern, live, and have fun. Since I’ve gotten older I find it more difficult to visit my beloved city, but after three years of not returning, I made it back there this summer to check on my friends, relatives, and the beautiful scenery! While Tokyo is every-changing year after year, Vienna holds onto its historic culture strongly. I find it comforting to come home and find my favorite cafés, restaurants, and parks unchanged each year. Every time I go back, I practically go through the same list of places to hit up as they give me that satisfying Vienna feel each time, and today I’m sharing that list with you.

About The City

Vienna is a place where the streets are shockingly clean (I’m pretty sure they power-wash it every night), the breakfast is eaten slowly, and the coffee is always good (seriously, it’s got the best coffee in the world in my opinion). It’s voted the most livable city year after year, and that fact is reflected in how laid back the people are. They’re always down to have a good time, but work hard in the hours where they’re called to do so. Still, no one ever says no to an afternoon glass of wine, and there’s nothing they love more than gathering for dinner and chatting for hours. The waiters? They don’t kick you out, ever. Known for its arts, culture, music, and ballrooms, this city doesn’t lack beauty and entertainment. You never have to be bored here, and at the same time, you always feel relaxed to the bone.

The Historic Cafés

I started drinking coffee in Vienna. It’s not that I had never tried coffee before, but it’s Viennese coffee that made me go OH coffee is actually DELICIOUS (I was 17). Coffee in Vienna came through Turkey during the Austro-Turkish war. Learning from the best, coffee has been perfected over the last four centuries and it truly is something else here. You could get a coffee at a bar, petrol station, or café, and it will be consistently amazing. That’s why while everything else seems rather cheap compared to New York, coffee stands alone as a rather expensive enjoyment. In many places, the coffee is even more expensive than a glass of wine. Now there are a number of historic cafés that have been open since the 1800s, and they offer that traditional Viennese coffee culture aesthetic that just feels essential to Vienna. I’m listing them below, as well as a number of more modern coffee shops.

Kleines Café

Restaurants & Rooftop Bars

A city as beautiful as Vienna deserves to be seen from up high. I never miss a chance to dine out at a rooftop bar, and luckily Vienna has plenty. I’m also including a number of great restaurants as I’m sure you’re wondering where the best spot for Schnitzel is (I got you). Austrian cuisine isn’t as diverse as some other cultures, but there are certainly a few items you must try while here. I recommend getting marillenknödel, kaspressknödel kaiserschmarrn, apfel strudel, sacher torte, tiroler gröstl, käsespätzle, schweinebraten, and literally any kind of knödel.

Regular Restaurants

Palmenhaus Wien

Gasthaus Pöschl (<— best place for Schnitzel)

Figlmüller

Vollpension

Lugeck

Restaurant Wiener

Café Rüdigerhof

Rooftops Bars

Cayo Coco

Sky @ Steffl

Chez Bernard

25 Hours Hotel

Atmosphere Rooftop Bar

360 Ocean Sky

Aurora Rooftop Bar

Shopping

There are two main shopping streets in Vienna, and those are Kärtner Straße and Mariahilfer Straße. The first one is in the city center (first district), and holds many of your usual favorites (Mango, Zara home, H&M). Turn the corner onto Graben, and things become slightly bougier (Max Mara, Longchamp, Hermès). Continue on your left, and you’ll be met with Kohlmarkt street, where you’ll find your Louis Vuitton and Fendi. Vienna surprisingly has many of the designer brands, including Miu Miu and Bottega, which you’ll find in this district. Mariahilfer Straße has more of the everyday brands we love, and it’s one continuous street that goes from the Burggarten to Schloss Schönbrunn. Things are priced much cheaper here (I was doing a side by side comparison on the U.S. site versus what was displayed in store). Plus, for higher priced items you can get them tax free, saving you extra money.

Max Mara Weekender Trench

Fendi Slingback Kitten Heels

Max Mara Blazer

Museums

If anything, Vienna is known for its art and museums. We have a whole section of the city called “museumsquartier”. But there are plenty of museums even outside of this corner of the city that are 100% worth a visit. I’m not normally a museum kind of person, and yet I adore visiting the ones in Austria—there’s something so romantic about strolling through the grand buildings. I personally love the Belvedere Museum, which is a castle-turned-museum. It hosts a lot of Gustav Klimt’s artwork, and there is a beautiful garden to stroll through just outside. Oh, and of course, a lovely café where you can get both a glass of wine and a cup of coffee. Below, a list of museums you should check out to get a taste of Vienna’s love for the arts and history.

Belvedere Museum

Kunsthistorisches Museum

Naturhistorisches Museum

Albertina

Leopold Museum

Sightseeing

There are tons of beautiful spots in Vienna you don’t want to miss, like Schloss Schönbrunn and the garden around it. Seriously, after strolling through the castle, take your sweet time walking through the rose garden that comes right after the maze. Then walk up the hill to where the cafe is and look at the sweeping views of Vienna. I like to stop there and have a cup of coffee and cake just to relax. I also love going to the Stadtpark early in the morning—anyone who has seen the movie Before Sunrise will recognize the green bridges that stand there. Walking along the Donau Kanal is a must as well. Stop by one of the many restaurants (I recommend Neni am Wasser) and watch the sun go down. Find more below!