The Vienna Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of Vienna’s best spots according to the ones who actually live there.
Keen to see more of Vienna through the eyes of an Intrepid local? Consider this a glimpse into our leaders' little black book of local favourites. Discover some of their number one stops to eat, relax, sip and explore in the place they call home.
Leader-curated recommendations
1. GmoaKeller, for old school taverns
2. Weinstube Josefsta, for handmade wine in a cosy courtyard
3. Gergely’s, for a steakhouse on a cobblestone side street
4. Schachtelwirt, for comfort food served in a takeaway box with a side of humour
5. Gasthaus Buchecker & Sohn, for authentic Viennese cuisine
1. Cafe Morgenstern, for alternative gothic vibes
2. Cafe Weidinger, for a basement bowling alley
3. Cafe in der Burggasse, for a vintage, hybrid cafe and store
4. Cafe Jelinek, for traditional coffeehouse culture
5. Caffe vom See, for a great cup of coffee off the beaten track
1. Kunsthistorisches Museum, for ancient antiquities and architecture
2. Belvedere, for the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings
3. Albertina, for old masters and a rotating exhibition
4. Leopold Museum, for Klimt and Kokschka contemporary art
5. Haus der Musik, for an interactive multimedia sound and music experience
1. B72, for underground indie live music performances
2. Chelsea (Music Place), for classic Gurtel club concerts
3. Jazzland, for Vienna’s oldest jazz club
4. Cafe Carina, for art and music in a former Stadt bahn
5. Flex, for alternative electronic music by the Danube Canal
1. Schonbrunn Palace Park, for a UNESCO World Heritage site with views over the city
2. Augarten, for Vienna's oldest baroque park and WWII towers
3. Stadtpark, for the golden Johann Strauss statue and Wien River
4. Turkenschanzpark, for a peaceful park in the 18th district
5. Kurpark Oberlaa, for the local’s favourite picnic spot with themed gardens
1. Jubilaums warte, for a weather station turned lookout tower
2. Setagaya Park, for a Japanese-style garden in Dobling
3. Vienna Peace Pagoda, for a Buddhist temple by the Danube canal
4. Lusthaus in the Prate, for a historic summer house on the edge of the Prater
5.Schonlaterngasse, for a replication of the legend lantern alleyway
A final slice of local advice
- Coffee in Vienna is more of a ritual, less of a caffeine fix.
- A 5 to 10 per cent tip is plenty. Austrians usually round up to the next euro or two, and they tell the waiter the total while paying, not after.
- Vienna’s public transport runs on trust, as there are no turnstiles.
- Embrace Gumetlichkeit (being comfortable, content and present). Austrians enjoy quality over quantity – whether it’s their wine, conversation or music.
- It’s not grumpiness – it's part of the local charm.
Where’s your next adventure?
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