Vienna calling
One thing is for sure: There is no city like Vienna! With both its cosmopolitan flair and its green oases, its elegant imperial palaces next to the ultimate party hotspots and its striking history paired with the latest trends, the Austrian capital simply has the best of all worlds.
Yes, opposites do attract – and this holds especially true for the Danube metropolis.
The city is luxurious and cool. Down-to-earth yet sophisticated. Traditional but always with an edgy twist. All these facets add up to the perfect mix that may not be found anywhere else and make Vienna super special.
So, where to start? Right, first things first …
Coffee … and tea!
(well, and spirits …)
It is no secret that the Viennese are true coffee aficionados. Indeed, coffee seems to be the fuel of the city (So much, that its coffee house culture was even included by the UNESCO in the national inventory of intangible cultural heritage!) and you definitely have to see it for yourself.
When visiting one of the classic Viennese cafés like Sacher (Do not forget to try the world-renowned Sachertorte!), Hawelka (The famous “Buchteln”, sweet rolls made of yeast dough and filled with jam, are a must!) or Demel (Already Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph loved to indulge in treats from the K.u.K Hofzuckerbäckerei!), always keep in mind: Never ever should you simply order “coffee”, but always go for one of the dozens of variations like “Melange”, “Einspänner”, “Verlängter” et cetera.
If you are more into tea culture, Vienna will make your heart sing as well and you should not miss Teehandlung Schönbichler. Established in 1870, Schönbichler offers high-quality teas in an extraordinary ambience. From fruity to herbal, from black to white, from hot to iced, you will find each and every tea composition you have dreamed of. Could it get any better than this? Well, yes: Aside from 300 different kinds of tea, you may furthermore shop approximately 1,000 of the finest spirits from all over the globe at Schönbichler!
Vienna, however, is not only heaven on earth for coffee and tea (and spirit) lovers, but also for all the foodies and connoisseurs out there.
Delicate taste – whether great or small …
No matter if you long for truffled cheese from Piedmont, Spanish pata negra or organic Highland beef, you will for sure find it at Meinl am Graben. With its broad range of premium products including more than 17,000 delicacies from around 100 countries, Meinl is the place to be for every gourmet. In addition to satisfying even the most extravagant demands on its three floors, this culinary piece of art also features a café (The menu offers 35 different ways to enjoy coffee – we told you, it is a thing!), a restaurant, a takeaway, a sushi bar and a wine bar.
Vinothek St. Stephan – located right next to the one and only St. Stephen’s Cathedral – may indeed be smaller, but definitely no less excellent. Dating back to 1976, the shop once used to be Vienna's first wine store and it still is the first address when it comes to local specialties as well as to delights from far away. Barbadian rum, Mexican tequila, Japanese gin, Italian pesto, Uruguayan caviar and Austrian wine are just some highlights of its extraordinary selection.
You see where we are going with this … Vienna offers more than Schnitzel – way more, to be exact, just like:
Urban vibes vs. Alpine lifestyle …
When it comes to a culinary experience, Heuer am Karlsplatz is among the best spots in town. First stop: its garden. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, you will find an urban paradise with a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains that are organically cultivated as well as pollinated by their own bees! Next up: its restaurant, the place where all your dinner dreams come true. And last but not least: its bar, which rounds off the ensemble perfectly. So, treat yourself to a sophisticated drink!
If you prefer taking a trip to the mountains? No problem at all, in Vienna everything is possible: Simply call your besties and hire a cozy wooden hut at the Feuerdorf in wintertime! You will feel like on a hut in the Alps while actually being in the middle of the city. After trying your hand at Bavarian curling, you will find yourself sitting around the fire barbecuing finest delights from local farmers. Too good to be true – we are in love with this venue!
Another must-do in winter is to visit the Christmas market at Spittelberg, a magical place just like straight out of a fairy tale – also in spring, summer and autumn!
Big city life … and small-town charm!
In fact, Spittelberg once used to be an independent district outside of Vienna and it still seems to be like a small town in the big city where time kind of stands still. You will find romantic lanes, charming Biedermeier buildings, small shops, galleries as well as ateliers and a variety of cool restaurants and bars.
Close by here you may plunge into the buzzing city life again. Discover the vibrant neighborhood, visit Vienna’s best-known market, the Naschmarkt, and marvel at its colorful culinary offering ranging from Viennese to Indian to Vietnamese and Italian or feel the creative spirit at the Museumsquartier which is home to art museums, contemporary exhibition spaces, numerous festivals and the Vienna Fashion Week – which brings us to a very important topic:
Shopping! (… and we definitely have to go into some detail here!)
International top brands next to high-end Austrian manufacture …
Vienna’s city centre is a true shopping mecca: You will find each and every of the exclusive fashion houses at the top shopping streets Kohlmarkt, Graben, Kärntnerstraße as well as at the so-called “Goldenes Quartier” between Tuchlauben, Bognergasse and Am Hof.
The latter moreover is the perfect place in case you need a short break from your luxury shopping marathon. Simply head to the Park Hyatt Vienna right next to the flagship stores of Prada and Saint Laurent and catch your breath. Not only has a former bank headquarter been turned into one of the most sophisticated hotels in town (with an exceptional spa area located in the former bank vault), but the Park Hyatt furthermore is a true gourmet temple: You may enjoy finest brasserie classics and cocktails at The Bank, whiskey and cigars in the Living Room, an afternoon tea or aperitif at the Lounge, coffee specialties and homemade cake at its modern boutique café Am Hof or a drink at the outside terrace.
What more could one wish for? Well, getting dressed from head to toe the Alpine luxury way …
So, if you ever wanted to wear the same hat like Brad Pitt, Madonna or Yoko Ono, the Mühlbauer Hutmanufaktur is a must! For more than 100 years, the famous Mühlbauer hats have been manufactured in Austria’s capital and loved around the globe. Upscale stores from Paris to Tokyo and New York as well as celebrities all over the world are crazy about the brand. No matter if you go for a stylish straw hat or an Austrian classic, you will for sure cherish this unique souvenir from Vienna.
Another must-see in the heart of the city is the atelier of We are Flowergirls. Simply enter the narrow street between the CHANEL boutique and Meinl am Graben – et voilà: You are in flower heaven! We Are Flowergirls manufacture wonderful floral wreaths with that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’. Get ready for a variety of blooming beauties, just like edelweiss - the Alpine Flowercrown (which might be considered as some kind of a modern version of Empress Sisi’s iconic hair accessories …).
What to wear with these wonderful headpieces? The Austrians’ must-have par excellence: the national costume, of course! Some of the most amazing items are manufactured by Tostmann Trachten: You may find timeless everyday dirndls, extravagant festive costumes as well as an unparalleled selection for children and gentlemen in its impressive store.
And just around the corner, you will for sure find the perfect shoe, handbag and leather accessory. Where? At Ludwig Reiter, an extraordinary shoe manufactory founded in 1885. By combining old traditional craftsmanship with modern style, Ludwig Reiter has become an international fashion-pioneer and established collaborations with designers such as Helmut Lang and Werner Baldessarini as well as with renowned stages just like the Viennese Burgtheater over the past 134 years.
You may further indulge in the art of shoemaking at R. Scheer und Söhne, the oldest bespoke shoemaker in the world and the former imperial court purveyor of the Habsburg dynasty. Seven generations and more than 200 years of pioneering craftsmanship, passion and excellence have shaped the family’s tradition in producing custom-made shoes (which do not only perfectly match the feet of the owner but also their personality), high-end bags and accessories.
As you can see, we are really into this topic and could go on and on and on with even more recommendations. Indeed, these endless shopping possibilities may be one of the reasons why Vienna is consistently ranked as offering the highest quality of life in the world. Another one is for sure the fact that the city brims with history and is filled with green spaces …
Concrete jungle x pure nature …
(+ an island in the city!)
Yes, you may trust all the rankings: Vienna’s city center is among the most beautiful landmarks in the whole wide world and it will for sure take your breath away! Across three square kilometers, you may soak up the history at sights like the Imperial Palace and the Spanish Riding School, marvel at buildings like the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, visit one of the dozens of museums such as the Albertina, or discover the world capital of music at the Vienna State Opera (the venue of the annual glamorous ball) and the Musikverein (where the world-famous New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic takes place every year).
Apart from its impressive heritage sites and cultural monuments (and the extensive shopping possibilities), the city center also offers plenty of options to spend some time in style! We highly recommend enjoying a delicious aperitif at the Lamée Rooftop while having a spectacular view over Vienna’s inner city (Very instagrammable!), followed by an outstanding experience at ef16. What to expect? Creative dishes with a special emphasis on regional and seasonal products – or in other words:
culinary perfection!
Moreover, a lot of perfect spots for some time off from city life may be found in the historic center as well: Relax in the Burggarten, stop and smell the roses in the Volksgarten or have a picnic in the Stadtpark. Only within spitting distance of the heart of the city, you may furthermore discover the Danube Island, a recreational paradise with 21 km in length (How cool is that?), the impressive Schönbrunn Palace with its wonderful gardens and its magnificent zoo (BTW the oldest one around the globe!) or the Belvedere Palace with the world's biggest Klimt collection and the oldest Alpine garden in Europe, which – of course – also includes our forever favorite edelweiss flower.
Still not enough? Good for you, Vienna still has plenty to offer – just like the Wiener Prater, the city’s green lung. The Prater is not only home to the Giant Ferris Wheel, but also the place to be for outdoor and sports lovers. The lawns, wood and water areas stretch for six million square meters and are perfect for strolling, jogging, cycling, skating, even sledding in winter – and fine dining: Right next to the renowned horse racing track, you will find Das Glashaus. Surrounded by huge glass walls – true to its name – you may indulge in awesome Austrian cuisine with Mediterranean elements. And you know how they say: People in glass houses should not throw stones … but have a drink!
Speaking of drinks (once again) …
The only way is up … and down!
With 250 metres, the DC tower is both the tallest building in Vienna and in the whole of Austria. On top of that (quite literally …), it also boasts a top-notch restaurant and bar on the 57th floor, the 57 Restaurant & Lounge. Get there right before sunset, have an unforgettable dinner as well as a sundowner while overlooking Vienna and do not miss the chance to take some pictures – yeah, that is what we call #viewgoals!
Another highlight of Vienna’s nightlife scene may be found – quite ironically – underground: the Krypt. This bar is the epitome of cool, a true hidden gem (without any door sign and not even an Instagram account) and SO worth the hype! Located 8 meters below ground, the vaulted cellar is said to have been a semi-legal jazz club in the 50s and 60s – and the cocktails are just as sophisticated as the architecture. Oh, if these walls could talk …
Fancy evenings followed by artsy mornings … followed by fancy evenings again!
One of the best places to end your day (and spend your night) is the Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna. The 5-star superior hotel is located in a historic Palais on the beautiful boulevard Ringstraße and perfectly blends modern luxury with Viennese charm. Right after you have relaxed in its incredible spa and before you get between the sheets in one of its elegant suites, you have to visit its award-winning bar, the legendary 26°EAST. Behind this unusual name is an exceptional concept: Since its address is Schottenring 26, all the signature drinks are inspired by countries along the 26th degree of longitude. As if that was not already fancy enough, the menu also includes the most expensive cocktail of the city!
After nights like this, make sure to start your day right with a fantastic breakfast. Welcome to the Museum of Fine Arts – yes, you read that right! The museum is not only renowned for its collections and exhibitions, but also for its wonderful breakfast creations, not to mention the outstanding atmosphere in its magnificent dome. Well, and it actually would be no surprise if you returned later on in the day for dinner and drinks. Every Thursday evening, you may treat yourself to some fine food, including a guided tour. Moreover, better save the date for the next Kunstschatzi happening! On these evenings, the dome hall is transformed into an amazing cocktail bar, garnished with music by hip DJs and the painting gallery is open throughout the night. So much yes to that!
… and cheers to you, Vienna!
To be continued …