Image by Linda Nepicks

Hidden in a bit of a rough and unknown part of the second district, you can dive deep into the bohemian cuisine. Nordpol – a quite unusual restaurant with a quite unusual address (the small alley is called “at the north pole”). Let alone the unusual paintings and the interior: kitsch, trash, hokum – you may call it as you like, but it definitely is a cosy place.

The best thing you can do is to keep yourself on a diet for the day, to arrive with an empty belly and a hunger like that of a bohemian woodcutter! Why, you may ask?! Because goulash, meat loaf and dumplings the size of Texas are really not light fare. Nevertheless, it’s worth the fight. And not only the meat lover will be in heaven!

Even as a vegetarian, as I am, you will love the home made gnocchi style dishes, the Russian blinis or the gorgeous desserts like pancakes and sweet plum dumplings. But be warned, this place is always crowded, so be early or you have to wait a long time to get a table (and at the north pole there is really nothing else close by).

Now in winter time this is just the right food to get warm!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nordpol | Restaurants (Bohemian/Austrian) | Goulash € 7.90
Nordpolstraße 3 | Danube Canal Area | +4313335854
Mon – Fri 17:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 00:00

Image by Daniela Lettner

The first question which came up when we discovered the place was: Why do they call it the “beautiful pearl”? The answer we found on their website! Apparently the place was a former Chinese restaurant called like that, and when they discovered what great minimalist architecture was hidden in this place, they simply decided to keep the name.

The Restaurant the “Beautiful Pearl”, is a good choice for those who pay attention to where their food comes from! Organic meat and mainly Austrian products are served, though their mussels are another favorite. Dishes are inspired from all around the world and the Karmeliter Market around the corner.

The place is quite simple, minimalist, but always full. Food is served from 11:00 until 23:00 by the friendly and warm staff. Also coffee and drinks are of good quality. As the location is quite spacious you might find family gatherings and young children playing around.

During weekdays (from 12:00 – 18:00) they offer two lunch menus for €6,90.

A favorite dish of Daniela: Ratatouille of Beans and Pumpkins with pita bread. A favorite of Giamba: Yummy deep-fried Brie with tartar sauce and cranberries!

Guten Appetit!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Schöne Perle | Restaurants (Austrian) | Main dish from € 6.00
Grosse Pfarrgasse | Danube Canal Area | +436642433593
Mon – Fri 12:00 – 00:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 00:00

Image by Giambattista Pace

Pizza Mari’ is a minimalist pizzeria, no kitsch on the walls, no Eros Ramazotti as background music, no Austrianised Italian dishes, just Pizza, the basic of the basics. If you are looking for a Pizza Fantasia or Pizza Hawaii you are definitely at the wrong place, there are Austrians, Arabs, Turks and many more selling this kind of Pizza on every corner, but not here!

They have plenty of space inside and if you are lucky you’ll find on a nice day even a free table outside. Watch out, as they pizza makers are Italians, they do ferragosto, which means they go to the beach in August, so no Pizza!

Best choice: a beer and a Pizza Margherita and you will be the happiest person… and please don’t order Cappuccino after dinner (as you wouldn’t be ordering cornflakes after dinner!)

Now repeat after me: “No more cappuccino after dinner, no more pizza Hawaii and please, for God’s sake, don’t ask for ketchup never ever!”

Buon appetito!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Pizza Mari’ | Restaurants (Pizza) | Margherita € 6.80
Leopoldsg 23a | Danube Canal Area | +436766874994
Tue – Sat 12:00 -14:30 & 18:00 – 00:00, Sun & Holidays 17:00 – 23:00

Image by Daniela Lettner

Welcome in a typical Austrian Gasthaus, where the waiters are friendly and the food is good.

They serve typical Austrian fare, also a choice of vegetarian dishes and some very good desserts. Prices are moderate and portions are big. The old fashioned parlors make you feel warm and cozy and the waiters treat you with a smile on their face (which is rare to find in Vienna).

This place might be a bit tricky to find, though it is worth to walk all the way down the Prater Hauptallee (4.4 km long pedestrian road) coming from Praterstern (metro: U2/U1).

If you don’t feel like having an one hour walk through the Prater park, take the bus 77A to the stop Gärtnerstraße (from one of this metro stops: U3 Kardinal-Nagl-Platz,U3 Schlachthausgasse, U2 Stadion und U2 Donaumarina).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gösser Bierinsel | Restaurants (Austrian) | Main dish from € 7
Freudenau 555 | Danube Canal Area | +4317289571
09:00 – 22:00 daily

Image by madiani.com

Madiani is a beautiful small market restaurant at the Karmelitermarkt (just around the corner from Pizza Mari, see the article, and Schöne Perle, check article here) which offers great Georgian food. Who would think that Georgian food can be sooo delicious. I have to admit it was my first time that I even have thought about having Georgian food and I was positive surprised.

The typical mixed Georgian starters with walnuts, beetroot, fresh herbs, beans, aubergines are simple great.

Followed by a variety of meat and vegetarian dishes, mouth-watering!

My favorite dish is the yummy Khachapouri, a sort of filled bread with cheese.

Give it a try and maybe you are lucky to catch one of the live-music evenings.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Madiani | Bars, Restaurants (Georgian) | Menu incl. soup € 9.50
Karmelitermarkt 21-24 | Danube Canal Area | +436644561217
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 22:00, Sat 08:00 – 14:00