Image by Sabrina Grohsebner

Once you’ve entered the place you’ll be diving quickly into that lively and yet cosy hustle and bustle inside the place. Waiters suit up and tend to behave, just like in old times, a little bit snotty – not forgetting about spicing up that attitude with a hint of authentic “Wiener Schmäh” (Viennese Charm). So don’t be shy about talking to them when they’re not too busy .

For more than a 100 years now (!) Café Museum has been a part of Vienna’s Coffeehouse Culture. Local creative souls such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele or Otto Wagner came in here all through the years, so this Café distinguishes itself with a certain Viennese authenticity.

Café Museum is located nearby cultural hot spots such as the Vienna Secession and the Albertina, so, also the name is suggesting that, visiting the place goes along great with a museum visit.

There are comfy, red sofa-booths (offering a great opportunity to bounce up and down just like a child, by the way) right next to the window, so you can easily spend one rainy afternoon drinking tea, watching the busy city life passing by and indulge your sweet tooth with one of those many mouth-watering cakes.

Almost forgot about mentioning my favourite detail! If you’re visiting don’t miss looking up at the ceiling. There are some huge Christmas bauble-alike lamps hanging down, and I for my part love them!

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Café Museum | Art & culture, Coffee & tea | Piece of Cake € 4.00
Operngasse 7 | Inner districts | +43124100620
08:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Sabrina Grohsebner

Situated near the very core of Vienna’s inner city this cinema is easy to find and offers makes it easy to round up your visit with a leisurely evening walk through Burggarten, which is right next to it.

Burgkino has been enchanting me from the very beginning with its decent, authentic and a little bit old fashioned in- and exterior. The big red letters above the entry promoting tonight’s shows, the small theatre café and those real cosy armchairs inside the auditorium make it feel very special watching a movie there.

All movies are shown in their original version, sometimes including English subtitles, and even on Sundays ticket prices stay fair. There’s always one of their “special performances” such as an independent documentary or a rather unknown road-movie. And let’s not forget about its participation in movie festivals!

And here’s the cherry on the cake! Burgkino regularly shows “The Third Man” which is, as you’ll read in your travel guide in case you have one, one of the few popular movies being filmed completely in and..well…partly under Vienna. A real authentic Vienna experience, you see?

But just as a warning, after watching don’t bother getting the movie’s catchy soundtrack out of your mind for the rest of your visit, you won’t succeed.

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Burgkino | Art & culture, Cinemas | Ticket from € 5.00
Opernring 19 | Inner districts | +4315878406
16:00 – 22:55 daily (showtimes)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Diana Pereira

Quite unusual that the incinerator of the city can be a nice thing to look at, but in fact the incinerator building and tower are one of the city landmarks. When you first look at it you will probably think you are looking at an art gallery or a museum due to its colorful appearance but it is an operating incinerator and heating plant.

The building has a very funny outlook something like in between a building and a living sculpture with golden balls on every corner! It has some small windows encircled by bright colors. Irregularly you can see also some openings (kind of balconies) from where trees grow out of the building and the huge chimney tower which culminates with an enormous shiny golden ball. The explanation is that the architect and artist who designed the external facade was the famous painter and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The building reflects his concerns for life and his attempts for a waste-free society as well as for architecture in harmony with the nature.

It is located near the Danube channel (Donaukanal) and quite near the city centre. Just out of the Metro station Spittelau lines U4 and U6. You can also walk along the channel and do all way around the building, following one of the many bridges of this area. If you have interest in architecture you will also see the Zaha Hadid building about 100 meters away.

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Fernwärme | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Spittelauer Lände 45 | Danube Canal Area
24 hours daily (inside by appointment)

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Cristian Bortes

Vienna is the city of music. Once you are in Vienna a visit to the State Opera is mandatory!

When the State Opera (Staatsoper) was built, it was severely criticized by the people due to its simplicity for the mid-nineteenth century, it was said it was an ugly building to represent the so dignified art. Nowadays the Vienna State Opera is one of the symbols of the city and is one of the best addresses in the world where you can enjoy an opera or a ballet from great names such as Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss and others… performances are daily (except for the summer break).

The building is fabulous and the main room is simply unique. It is magical to watch a performance there. If you are traveling on a low budget it is no more an excuse to not go to the opera. The Vienna state Opera offers the possibility of buying tickets at a very low price (between 3 and 6 Euros) for the performance at a side entrance of the building. These are called “Stehplatz” and are sold about 2 hours before the beginning of the performance. Basically you get a ticket to attend the act standing. It’s a good deal as long as you don’t mind standing the whole time!

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Opera | Art & culture
Opernring 2 | Inner districts
Daily – depending on show

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Diana Pereira

Kandisky is an unusual kind of place suitable for bohemians, romantic and mystic people. It’s a small cozy artistic coffee place located in one of the very beautiful passages in the heart of the 8th district not far from the Museums Quartier. The waiter is a special character that will be happy to have a chat with you and tell you stories about Vienna or have a discussion about your home country. Don’t be in a hurry, because the service can be a little slow.

This place is connected with the art gallery besides it. You can expect a very relaxed and quiet atmosphere, nice homemade cakes, a large selection of good teas served with honey in colorful mugs and homemade soups and toasts. As well as an amazing choice of jams that you get in proper large jam jars. Breakfast is served all day long!

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Café Kandinsky | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks
Lerchenfelderstrasse 13 | Inner districts | +4319694001
Tue – Fri 09:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 16:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by WUK Vienna (by: Diana Pereira)

The WUK is an alternative space for culture and workshops, one of the biggest in Europe in the leftish/arty style. There you’ll find a cafe, restaurant, art rooms, concerts, workshops, even bike repairs, and more than anything a meeting point for everyone!

This space is in a former locomotive factory from the 19th century. It has a strong character and it is quite a unique place. Depending on the activities and on the weather, these can be organized in or outdoors, giving use to the wonderful courtyard. The outdoor space is fantastic. In the summer you can drink your coffee outside on the terrace or even have a full meal. Moreover there is wireless internet in the courtyard. The artistic atmosphere is very present with graffiti and paintings on some walls.

The list of events and activities organized there is quite extensive so the best way to be up to date is to check their website!

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WUK | Art & culture, Bars, Music
Währinger Straße 59 | Inner districts
08:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Diana Pereira

Due to the rich historical and contemporary architecture in Vienna a stopover in the Architecture center can be a good option to learn more about it. The Architekturzentrum Wien (Vienna Architecture Centre) is a center for architecture and building culture which includes an exhibition hall, a library and a cafe.

The small library is the dream of every person interested in architecture. The focus is on the architecture of the 20th and 21st centuries. It has very up to date content comprising of books, magazines and journals as well as exhibition catalogs, organized in several categories for monographs, architecture guides, history and theory. You can easily find all what you want through a computer database. The library/ public reading room is located in a beautiful historical octagon room filled with books until the ceiling. The entrance is open to public and is free of charge with an access just a little behind the main entrance of the AZW.

The centre also organizes regular walking tours through Vienna on Sundays (sorry just in German), covering various architectural themes. You need to book ahead and look at the website for dates and prices.

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Architekturzentrum Wien | Art & culture | Free
Museumsplatz 1 | Inner districts
Mon, Wed & Fri 10:00 – 17:30, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Sabrina Grohsebner

Last week I got introduced to the work of avant-garde musician John Cage, not being aware of the fact that there’s really potential for me to become an experimental music’s addict. How I happened to make this experience? I’ll tell you.

Just recently I got to meet somebody that is studying classic piano, so being asked if there was any concert or other possibility to listen to his music he kindly invited my friends and me to join one of his ‘Klassenabende’. And so should you.

The principle is simple: Groups of music students get to present their artistic and creative progress in public, on a regular basis. As, mostly, there are not too many people watching these shows, you’re welcome to enjoy their appearance in one of those many beautiful chambers of Vienna’s Music University.

Besides from Piano, Clarinet, Viola and Organ Klassenabende there’s a great variety of acoustic matinees, vocals soirees and music brunches (calorie- and greaseless, of course) being communicated over their website. And as Music University is situated right next to Belvedere you’re likely to have a great view from the show room as well.

Classic or contemporary music and Viennese architecture, a perfect combination. And the best thing about it: It doesn’t cost anything.

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MDW | Art & culture, Music | Free
Rennweg 8 (Entry) | Inner districts | +43171155
Check website for showtimes

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Sabrina Grohsebner

I just stumbled upon this place, not being aware of the possibility to find yet another cool shop in this area. Vienna taught me a lesson again, I should have known better.

If you ever are on the search for a record, a long-forgotten LP, a colourful gramophone or if you’re just in the mood for rummaging around in – as the name says- Old and New music treasures you should definitely pay this place a visit.

I have to admit, when I entered the shop I was quite overwhelmed by the loads of colours, discs and quirky stuff standing and hanging around all over the place. Or to say it with the words of my friend: “I’m not sure whether I should call this place dusty or cool”. There is a lot to explore actually! Besides evergreens, classic music and current hits, you’ll enjoy getting to know some special contains such as Viennese Lieder, Cabaret, Old Austrian student songs and a lot more..

And once you think you’re overseeing the place slowly one of the friendly shop owners may guide you to one of the two fully record-packed rooms that are hidden in the back of the shop…so make sure you’re not loosing track of time while exploring!

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Alt und Neu | Art & culture, Music | LP’s from € 4
Windmühlgasse 10 | Inner districts | +4315862133
Mon – Fri 13:00 – 18:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 12:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna

Image by Linda Nepicks

This little green oasis in the second district indeed offers a weird mixture. As you pass the old walls surrounding the pretty baroque park, you’ll soon notice one of the two so called “Flaktürme” – huge towering bunkers.

These towers were military defense towers in the 40′s and as they can’t be destroyed, they are still some bleak (but important) reminders of the second world war. Nowadays the park is used by joggers, couples, families and dog owners in need for a walk.

Everybody who wants to relax, do some exercise or get some fresh air, will be happy here. And this is already possible since 1775!! The garden is baroque, so there are plenty of cut bushes, trees and hedges which come along with carefully decorated flowerbeds. That’s the reason why there were times when it was neither for men or animals allowed to step on the lawn. But as you will notice: the need for green space and relaxation is stronger, so in summer time you see picnickers, hammocks strung up between the trees and football players.

There is even more to be found in the park: the boarding school of the famous Wiener Sängerknaben, the Porzellanmanufaktur, the art gallery Augarten Contemporary and also a nice cafe called Augarten Atelier. Check the Belvedere website for more info. 

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Augarten | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Obere Augartenstrasse | Danube Canal Area
06:30 – 17:30 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Vienna