Inner districts Vienna – All our local tips

Have you ever dreamt of a place where you get a delicious breakfast for only 3 euros (coffee not included, but for half the price)? Yes? Then you should definitely head to this place!

The Tunnel is located in the 8th district, in a nice and quiet street. During the nice season there are even some places to sit outside on the sidewalk. Interiors are in dark wood, with some nice big sofas and all in all it is very cosy.

There are some very big tables, where you have to share the place with other people, and as well some smaller ones if you have to discuss something serious with your breakfast partner!

There is a difficult choice among 8 international yummy breakfast dishes:
*Muesli with yogurt and fruits 
*Spanish omelet
*Greek omelet 
*Ham omelet
*Continental
*Continental vegetarian
*Arabian breakfast (my favourite: with homos, eggplant salad, stuffed vine  leaves, feta cheese, olives and Syrian Bread)
*Italian breakfast

Breakfast from 09:00 to 11:00 (self-service!)

Lunch from 11:30 to 14:30

The lunch menu is 5 euros and there is always a meat and a vegetarian dish, or you can choose from “a la carte” menu which includes vegan and vegetarian dishes aswell!

At 21:00 the party starts with concerts, student gatherings, cheap beer and good atmosphere. Food is served until 01:00 am, and Pizza even until 01:30!

Oh and they also exhibit each month works of different artists!

PS: If you prefer to be served at your table for breakfast, the little brother Cafe Merkur (check the Café Merkur article) is offering the same breakfast from 10:00 to 12:00 with service for €3,50. It’s just around the corner!

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“Der Tunnel” | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Restaurants (Intern.) | Breakfast € 3.00
Florianigasse 39 | Inner districts | +4319475720
365 days from 09:00 to open end!

Ever tried hemp or chili beer? no? So you should definitely come here, this is the place for beer lovers in Vienna. Best is to start with some rustic typical Austrian food to fill your stomach up, so you don’t get drunk immediately!

They have quite strong “bock” beer which contains around 6,2% alcohol. Most of their beer is self brewed and wholly natural without preservatives (compared to industrial beers).

Food is also good and inexpensive, and they serve huge portions! So if you are a small eater, one dish will be enough for two people.

The place is usually very crowded in the evenings and it can happen that you don’t find space if you come in a bigger group, so reservation is recommended!

At lunch you can have a main dish for 4€ – 5€ and it is also less crowded than in the evening.

The main restaurant area is non smoking, but they also have smoking areas, which are usually more quieter as they are smaller. The atmosphere is in general very much like in a pub, so don’t expect anything too fancy!

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7Stern Bräu | Bars, Restaurants (Austrian) | 0.5l beer € 3.50
Siebensterngasse 19 A | Inner districts | +4315238697
10:00 – 00:00 daily (closed Dec 24th)

Alphaville is THE place to go when you are interested in movies aside the mainstream. Although they even offer the current blockbusters. The staff has an enormous expertise when it comes to film, film critics, film theory and enjoy sharing their knowledge. They respond nicely to every question one may have- be it administrative stuff like price range or detailed information on movies or a recommendation.

Even non-insiders will be treated nicely which is to be pointed out because Vienna is sometimes known for its -let’s put it that way-not so nice aka grumpy waiters and people in general.

Actually Norman from Alphaville wrote me an Email saying that the Banksy piece of art was not stolen but legally destroyed by the property management. The art theft story sounded way more exciting of course but actually this event points out that there is still a lot of ignorance to be dealt with when it comes to street art.

Another great and maybe comfier place is located in the 8th district – 8 1/2 – they even have a couch where you can be indecisive whether to take an arthouse movie or an independent documentary or maybe an asian slasher movie…

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Alphaville | Art & culture, Relaxing | DVD per night € 3.60
Schleifmühlgasse 5 | Inner districts | +4315851966
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 22:00, Sun 14:00 – 19:00

This cultural center, bar and restaurant is a hidden spot in the popular 7th district. Especially their green hidden inner court yard, which can be used all year long, is a rare place to find in the middle of the center. They serve from breakfast to dinner and cocktails, basically everything. Their Lunch menus are very popular as well. In busy lunch hours and evenings the service can be a bit slow, but is always very friendly!

The warm ambient inside and the cosy yard give space to colorful crowds from young to old, cultural interested people, intellectuals, students, activists and many more. The upper floor of the building is used for workshops (feminist, anti-racist), exhibitions and other events.

A yearly highlight for us: The Roma festival in September, with Roma music and exhibitions! Great atmosphere is guaranteed!

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Amerlingbeisl | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Restaurants (Austrian) | main € 7.00
Stiftgasse 8 | Inner districts | +4315261660
09:00 – 02:00 daily

All Vienna based locals and travelers who love North American and British food products will go crazy when grocery shopping at Bobby’s.

You’ll find all the usual suspects to calm down your inner voice crying for the next trip to the States, Canada, UK and other countries that sell those kind of products. Chat up the person sitting at the counter in English. Locals love to get the feeling of being abroad and this little shop satisfies their cravings .

I personally love the soda Mountain dew and only found it there. Aunt Jemima’s American pancakes baking item. My mouth waters by the thought of it. There is even a book exchange shelf to be found right at the entrance. Check it out yourselves and get lost in the fascinating world of foreign grocery shopping.

One of my best friends recently told me about a new international grocery store in town: it is always good to have more than one option, right?

BOTELLINI, 1050 Wien  Pilgramgasse 16

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Bobby’s foodstore | Shopping, Snacks
Schleifmühlgasse 8 | Inner districts | +4315867534
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 18:00

Upon entering one feels pitched it into some magical world like the wand shop in Diagon Alley (for all non Harry Potter-junkies- that is where all the students get their magic equipment supply).

A lady in her Sixties (hard to tell to be honest), Mrs Tengg is the owner of the old bookstore (already since 1993). Her night shift opening hours are a perfect opportunity for people who work late or students (technical university is close by) to check out the latest book releases or some old school literature. This is something special since Vienna hasn’t yet decided on a more customers-friendly regulation regarding shopping hours.

She calls her store a “Gemischtwarenladen” which translates to grocery’s store in a really traditional way. She focuses on Russian and French lyric (she is a great fan of lyric in general) and art books, but offers also a great variety of bestsellers and new releases (couple of them in English). And the best part about it is- she knows most of the books she sells.

Get your own customized book recommendation. If you are not into books check it out nevertheless – it will be your special Vienna experience. Something to tell your grandchildren. Take some time to get to know one of Vienna’s genuine “institutions”.

Since the owner is always there until past midnight it is almost like a 24 hours daily store. But please call to make sure it is open.

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Bücher Strass | Art & culture, Shopping | Bookmark from € 2.00
Operngasse 28 | Inner districts | +436649313041
Please call to make sure it is open

There is already a puff piece about Tunnel (check the Tunnel article) on this website, but for those who are a little scared by the crowds and the size of this students “most go”, there is an alternative: Café Merkur.

Merkur, which has been re-opened just recently, is actually the smaller brother of Tunnel and can be found literally around the corner from the other spot. It has the same motto as the bigger brother: International food for affordable prizes.

Moreover, it has the same menu (so for this, take a look at the Tunnel article) and promotes the acts/ music shows and art exhibitions of the Tunnel. But for me, according to food and good service, Merkur is the better option. An additional plus is that in Merkur breakfast is served until 17:00 on weekends – and you almost always get a table there.

So, just enjoy the variety of breakfasts known from Tunnel with one of the (international) newspapers. There is hardly any better start into the weekend…

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Café Merkur | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern. ) | Snacks à € 2.50
Lammgasse 1 | Inner districts | +4319905413
10:00 – 02:00 daily

One summer about 8 years ago, it was love at first sight; it felt like meeting someone I have already known all my life. Maybe I felt like that, because the Café Rüdigerhof represents Vienna as it is.

For more than 100 years, the coffeehouse has been situated in one of the famous Jugendstil-buildings of the Wienzeile/ Naschmarkt-area. The golden letters saying “Café Rüdigerhof” invite you to a more glamorous era, and inside it feels like time stood still: The menu still offers traditional Austrian dishes which are prepared in a way like my granny used to cook them.

If you want to be on the safe side, take the “Wiener Schnitzel” but for people who love to take risks I recommend the “glasierte Leber”. If you really want to know what it is, I am sure one of the friendly, relaxed and caring waiters tell you more about it. You get all that for reasonable prizes – especially the lunch menus, which attract a lot of students to Café Rüdigerhof.

But it is not only students whom you meet at the coffee shop, it is everyone – from old ladies to artists; from knitters to couples in love and even some of the high-society of Vienna. In summertime, the crowd is mostly in the beautiful shadowy garden; in wintertime the cosy rooms provide a refuge from the stressful world outside. So, choose a coffee or tea – and enjoy Vienna as it is.

And please: Even if you really want to indulge yourself with a coffee and some desert, do not forgot to take a close look at the building from the outside – especially on the side. The house with lots of blue and golden decors is just one of a kind.

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Café Rüdigerhof | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Restaurants (Viennese) | Main € 5.50
Hamburgerstraße 20 | Inner districts | +4315863138
09:00 – 02:00 daily

Do not expect tasty coffee or friendly and anxious service, do not expect clean and stylish atmosphere – typical Viennese coffee shops are not about these things. On the contrary, the harsher the service, the more worn out a place is, the better it is. So, what is the mystery behind the Viennese coffee shops then? Well, I guess it is all about experiencing those places and travelling back in time.

Café Sperl, built in 1880 and a listed monument now, is one of the oldest Viennese coffee shops and definitely a must-see and must-go in Wien. In former times the russian occupying forces used the Café Sperl as shelter for their horses. And students of the academy of arts used to trade their hand drawings for coffee – pieces of art, which are now shown in the famous Viennese Albertina.

Now, Café Sperl is often ranked high considering service and other qualities, even though I recently have experienced some really rude waiters. Moreover, I would not recommend having lunch or dinner there, but sticking to deserts like Strudel and cakes such as the Original Sperl Kaffeehaustorte.

Alternatively, just go inside, order a coffee (Attention: Cappuccino is with whipped cream, Melange with milk) or a glass of water, take one of the international newspaper and just suck in the atmosphere of many centuries of Viennese tradition.

NB: You might be interested in this article on Viennese coffee culture on our main website.

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Café Sperl | Coffee & tea | Deserts from € 5.00
Gumpendorfer Straße 11 | Inner districts | +4315864158
Mon – Sat 07:00 – 23:00, Sun 11:00 – 20:00 (15:30 – 17:30 piano music)

The first address after arriving in Vienna by train (if you arrive at the West-railway station) is this old traditional café.

Smoky atmosphere, dark furniture, comfortable benches, and perfectly dressed waiters, that’s the Westend. Don’t expect to be warmly welcomed. The waiters, most of them as old as the place itself, are unfriendly and moody.

But they have yummy cakes, good coffee and the warm atmosphere let you forget about them immediately. Actually these moody characters make this a typical café in Vienna.

The location of the café invites all kind of types of people stopping by for a coffee and makes it also interesting to watch people. Somehow you have the feeling that many people have this hobby here – having a coffee and observing the situation.

You can also find typical Austrian dishes at every hour (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Even if it is a real smokey place (like almost all the cafés in Vienna!) there is a non-smoking corner. At least you don’t have to inhale the smoke of your neighbor!

Read more about Viennese coffee culture here.

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Café Westend | Coffee & tea, Restaurants | Espresso € 2.20
Mariahilfer Straße 128 | Inner districts | +4315233183
07:00 – 00:00 daily

Austrian Gemütlichkeit, “coziness” describes this place perfectly. It is another traditional café, like so many in Vienna: International  newspaper, late breakfast, typical Austrian fare, comfortable sitting,  are the keywords for our beloved cafés.

The café Zartl was founded  in 1883, and didn’t change a lot since 1919 when a Monsieur called Zartl  took over this place. It has always been a meeting point for writers and  philosophers, especially during the years between the wars, writers such  as Robert Musil came here. Now a days you might come to write a blog entry, taking advantage of the Wi-Fi hotspot while drinking a Melange (Viennese coffee specialty with milk foam).

The waitstaff is not the most  attentive, neither the food has a super quality, but here you can spend hours relaxing, chatting and reading in a comfortable warm ambient. Have a walk at the nearby Prater before coming here!

Read more about Viennese coffee culture here!

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Café Zartl | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Austrian) | espresso € 1.70
Rasumofskygasse 7 | Inner districts | +4317125560
07:00 – 00:00 daily

The born and raised Viennese (actually pretty rare) owner and called to be cook and art host Christiane Weiss-Rohan fulfilled her dream in 2004 – to combine leisure time with business.

Her restaurant has got more of a Viennese living room accessible for everybody – single guests are as welcome as regular guests – than of a typical eatery. A melting pot of cultures, diverse individuals, artists, Viennese celebrities -a place where you can feel at home right away.

The cherry on the cake is the restaurants own library is stashed in a dark wood shelf- which accentuates to the living room flair. A chat with the owner or the other guests will extend your horizon.

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Catedral | Relaxing, Restaurants (International ) | Day dish € 5.90
Schleifmühlgasse 6-8 | Inner districts | +436763114843
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 00:00, 17:00 – 00:00

Chelsea is THE place to go if you need Indie and Alternative music to keep your vitals stable. Although it may happen to you that you walk in on some electronic or metal music (if you don’t check the program first), it concentrates mainly on rock and its musical siblings.

Don’t be put off by the dirty looking exterior, inside it is a little bit better. But who wants to experience dirty Rock’n'Roll in a sterile environment anyway.

I am usually one of the first to take the dance floor there because, especially on the weekends, it gets really, really crowded. So after powering myself out, I usually go outside to catch my breath and enjoy my beer, because when it’s not too cold there are chairs and tables outside.

I like this place so much because the music is really good and danceable and it is one of the few places where you can get pear cider (which I love, by the way).

Besides whoever is in charge of the music selection there, shows real talent in picking live bands to play at the Chelsea. Those are mainly little known but from all around the world.

Therefore, if you need your weekly (or daily) dose of freaking-out-to-alternative-rock just try out the Chelsea.

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Chelsea | Bars, Music | Wieselburger beer € 3.50
Lerchenfeldergürtel 31 | Inner districts | +4314079309
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 04:00, Sun 16:00 – 03:00

Living room ambiente at a video rental store…it is located right off the busy shopping street- a calm habour for movie-lovers (maily oldschool and arthouse).

Every 1st Sunday/month – “Patschenkino” (translates to slipper cinema) meaning that you can behave like at home, you can smoke, drink, feel free to chill, be yourself and enjoy THE art of movie making. They have a great selection of  Arthouse, classics, insider tips, movies for children, rare stuff and tv-series – and TATATATATA – the usual suspects: BLOCKBUSTERS.

And even the “gourmets” get there money’s worth – Illy coffee (Italian), Lasko beer from Slovenia, Austrian wine, healty juices, Frucade (a BOBO drink, I used to drink it as a kind, the relaunched the brand), Fritz Cola (same) and various snacks. You can either have them for take away or enjoy your snacks and drinks there.

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Cinethek OZ | Art & culture, Cinemas, Relaxing | Per DVD per night € 3.60
Lindengasse 53 | Inner districts
Mon – Fri 14:00 – 23:00, Sat 12:00- 12:00, Sun 12:00 – 19:30

“This is the most urbane and sophisticated cocktail bar in town, frequented by journalists, actors, and politicians”, says not the owner but a review of the New York Times describing Club Barfly´s. And I fully agree.

It is the only cocktail bar I frequently visit, because of the great ambience and the amazing menu. With about 400 cocktails, 400 kind of rum and 1000 of whiskeys listed on the menu there is at least one to discover every single day of the year.

Leather chairs to sink in, cozy darkness, jazz or swing piano music in the background, Latin-American live performances from time to time, strong men behind the bar – and great mixed cocktails of course make Club Barfly´s into a place where time stands still.

So, stop and relax, take it easy and enjoy the silence as long as you want to.

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Club Barfly´s | Bars, Music | Cocktails from € 9.00
Esterhazygasse 33 | Inner districts | +4315860825
18:00 – 04:00 daily

Walking in, the inconsistency of the range of furniture will strike you. And every piece has a price tag attached. Right. They are all for sale. Young and striving designers leave their products in the Moebel, hoping to sell them. But don’t worry, you don’t have to stand while eating or drinking and you will not be charged for spilling.

Being a young and hip place it has to have healthy snacks and beverages like organic, ayurvedic and herbal teas and unfiltered juices. Besides, opening not until 10.00 and serving breakfast until 14.00 it becomes very clear what the targeted clientele is: students and artists.

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Das Moebel | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Beer € 3.20
Burggasse 10 | Inner districts | +4315249497
10:00 – 01:00 daily

A concept which stands out in the restaurant landscape of Vienna makes the Deewan such a popular place. Their motto: “All you can eat-pay as you wish” convinces many students from the nearby University, but it is also very popular among alternative crowds and Pakistanis.

The buffet offers a choice of Pakistani fare, such as lentils and lamb curry. Vegetarian and meat dishes are always well balanced, there is salad and rice. The desert is a delicious mango semolina pudding.

Smokers and No-smokers are separated, but both areas are always crowded. Occasional live music in  the downstairs smoking area invites also to come just for a beer if you are not hungry. By the way: drinks have a fixed price, while you pay as you wish for the food.

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Der Wiener Deewan | Restaurants (Pakistani) | Pay as you wish € 0.00
Liechtensteinstrasse 10 | Inner districts | +4319251185
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 23:00

Very well hidden in a backyard of busy Mariahilfer Straße, you can find not only one of the most stylish spots here in Vienna, but also one of the most creative Sushi and Asian restaurants in town.

Maki filled with chocolate, peanuts, curry-chicken, cream cheese – doesn´t sound like traditional Japanese dishes, right? Well, you can get those in Dots Experimental Sushi too. But as the name implies, the restaurant is mostly known for the very weird recipes and they are really worth a try.

A straight tip for Asian food lovers, Dots also provides great atmosphere for a night out: A huge cocktail-bar with all sorts of wine and drinks, DJ music (House, lounge, … – check out the monthly schedule on the website), so everything to enjoy your evening. And design fetishists are going to be fascinated by the modern, stylish interior full of glass, white furniture – and a lot of “dots” of course.

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Dots Experimental Sushi | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Asian) | Cocktails € 7.00
Mariahilfer Straße 103/G7 | Inner districts | +4319209980
18:00 – 02:00 daily

Starting 1996 with the no.1 Austrian Barkeeper school, the American Cocktail Bar machBar (now Eberts Cocktail Bar) was founded by Christian Ebert 10 years later. Situated on the ground floor of the school, the connection between those two places may not be visible – but tangible it is.

The bar in dark wood, the big couches, the beautiful lights, everything in red and beige colours, do not really give the impression of a classroom though. It is too warm, too cosy, too comfortable, too inviting for it. But take a look at the bar itself, at the menu offering more than 250 different cocktails and drinks or just ask the barkeeper to mix something for you – and you will know immediately: Here are professionals and connoisseurs doing their job!

And you are right: Every barman working in Eberts Cocktail Bar also has his daily job – which is teaching others how to become a barkeeper in school. Cocktail experts are fascinated by the detailed and professional explanations, others just love the delicious taste of the drinks.

You can also rent it for private parties (up to 100 people), I can only tell you from my experience: It is going to be a night you will always remember!

Just go there and enjoy your cocktail, especially during Happy Hour which is Monday till Thursday from 18:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00 and around midnight.

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Eberts Cocktail Bar | Bars, Music | Cocktails from € 5.50
Gumpendorfer Straße 51 | Inner districts | +4315865465
Sun – Thu 18:00 – 02:00, Fri – Sat 19:00 – 04:00

So this is a typical Viennese “restaurant”, nothing fancy for sure. It is not really in the most interesting area of Vienna, but neither far from the center.

Now what makes it worth to have lunch or dinner at Gassner’s?

Well, first of all the staff is friendly. Yes, finally a friendly waiter! Second, the food is really good, high in quality, big portions and the prices are really moderate.

Now if I tell you that this friendly waiter was once managing some very fancy and well know restaurants in the center of Vienna you will start understanding why you really should give it a try. Thomas Gassner, the owner really knows the business and leads his restaurant with passion.

Seasonal menus and a great choice of Viennese classics, such as the Schnitzel don’t make it difficult to choose a meal. My all time favorite is “Carinthian Ravioli” (vegetarian dish), accompanied by a good glass of white wine!

For lunch it is convenient to choose between the two daily menus (€4.90 – €5.90).

If you are planing to go for dinner I recommend to make a reservation.

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Gassner’s Wirtshaus | Restaurants (Viennese) | Main dish € 7.00
Erdbergstraße 48 | Inner districts
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 23:00

A super supermarket, the Turkish Güvenir market in the 3rd district is a nice example for how much the Turkish community is appreciated in Vienna.

They have nice and good food and this supermarket sells basically everything one needs to prepare some Turkish dishes: they sell a large variety of salty cheeses (feta kind of cheeses), Turkish pasta and bread, and super sweet and yummy desserts and sweets.

Another highlight is their Burek, a fried pastry filled with salty cheese, minced meat, or spinach, or their Kebab.  Fresh fish and meat, Turkish antipasti are also good in quality and taste.

That they are in the Austrian “Genuss Guide” – A printed Guide for good and high quality food is another proof!

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Güvenir | Shopping, Snacks | Burek € 1.50
Löweng 55 | Inner districts | +4317125632
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 20:00

Built in 1921 by the famous Austrian philosopher (and architect, gardener, primary school teacher!) Ludwig Wittgenstein for his sister in cooperation with the architect Paul Engelmann, this rational Bauhaus style white house was bought in 1977 by the Bulgarian government and today is home of their cultural institute.

For those interested in Eastern culture and architecture, go here! It’s quite hidden among other buildings in the 3rd district. Check their website for the monthly program full of events, such as movies, concerts and expositions.

The building itself can be visited for free from Monday to Thursday, or arrange an appointment  by phone for an individual tour.

Check their event program for the Jazzclub Wittgenstein which usually has free entrance!

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Haus Wittgenstein | Art & culture, Music | Free
Parkgasse 18 | Inner districts | +4317133164
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 12:00 & 15:00 – 16:30

Second Hand Shopping and creative Fashion design, that’s Ewa’s Fashion Lounge.

Most people know the basement shop for it’s cool second hand stuff, like 70s jackets and shirts. That Ewa is a great fashion designer is probably less known. But as soon as you start browsing you will discover funny and extraordinary clothing. She basically makes new things out of old ones.

My favorites: her Jackets for women, patchwork style with real cool cuts. And the best thing, she doesn’t sell it at the usual “designer price”! You can get a unique piece for around 30 euros and less, and you can also be sure that you are the only one wearing this, because not a single piece is similar to the other!

Ewa’s fashion lounge can be also rented for your personal fashion events! More info on that on her website.

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Hotkultur | Shopping
Schadekgasse 3 | Inner districts
Mon – Sat 10:30 – 18:00

The decent priced (not the cheapest in town but every cent of it is worth it – a justifiable investment leading to a high quality culinary experience) Kebab at the Kebab House is a not to be missed highlight in Vienna.

Either you go there after a night out at the club Roxy which is situated right across the street or for lunch, dinner – even if you only want to grab a snack to fight a sudden urge of gusto – this is the place to be.

The difference between a random Kebab kiosk and this place is that the staff and the owner guarantee that the meat is home-made and not from a wholesale (where often it’s not traceable if the cold chain was never disrupted).

It’s been more than 20 years (the restaurant was opened in 1987) and it is still THE place (even though this is -of course- my point of view and a matter of taste ). However I still believe this is one of the best places in town for a good Kebab- above all “mit allem, bitte!- meaning: with all ingredients please!” Bon appetite!

PS; Regarding the Kebabs – an advice by one of the locals: “mit scharf!” if you are into hot and spicy food “ohne scharf” if you are more into a slim version of the authentic Kebab.

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Kebab Haus | Snacks, Restaurants (Turkish) | Kebab € 3.00
Operngasse 26 | Inner districts | +4315875308
Mon – Thu & Sun 11:30 – 00:00, Fri – Sat 11.30 – 04:00

As soon as the first sun rays come out, there is one spot where people already sit in the sun, enjoying their café latte or their Aperol spritz – and this is Kunsthallencafé located on Karlsplatz.

It immediately gives you a holiday feeling when sitting either on the big terrace of the restaurant overlooking the Naschmarkt (see the Naschmarkt article) on one side or the Karlschurch at the other side. And when summertime is really here, there is also the chance – if you are fast – to grab one of the chairs in the grass and get the impression of chilling out on the beach.

Kunsthallencafé is the little sister of “Motto” (check the Motto article), it is the summer location of Bernd Schlacher, who is the owner of not only Motto and Kunsthallencafé but of another spot, “Halle” in Museumsquartier as well.

The system is basically the same in all three of them: Providing good atmosphere with chill out (and sometimes live) music, Asian-Austrian-Mediterranean kitchen for prices which are affordable but not too favorable, tempting the young, urban, stylish people to go there and have a good time. Well, and this is what you can expect from Kunsthallencafé for sure!

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Kunsthallencafé | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Relaxing, Snacks, Restaurants (International)
Treitlstraße 2 (Karlsplatz) | Inner districts | +4315870073
10:00 – 02:00 daily | DJ-Line Summer Wed – Sun, Winter Sat – Sun from 14:00

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Le moulin rose, as you might guess, is owned by a french designer. Delphine Leger makes new things out of old ones, collecting her materials mainly at flea-markets.

This little shop full of colors is a heaven for all those who love unique pieces and retro interiors.

There is a great collection of funky jewelries, such as Barbie-shoes earrings, wallpapers, plates from the 60ies and 70ies, restored furniture, colorful coffee-grinders, lamps, flower pots, and many more things…

If you are curious you can check out her website to get an idea how these things look like: www.moulinrose.at

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Le moulin rose | Shopping | Colorful coffee grinder € 30
Pilgramgasse 3 | Inner districts | +4369912637252
Tue – Fri 12:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00

Thousands of cars pass by every day on the “Gürtel”; the red-light-district is only minutes away; the nearby shopping street is attracting crowds to spend money for little and big things. And in between all these noises, rackets and hectic atmosphere, you can take a deep breath and take a break at the city’s main library at Urban Loritz Square. Even the building, connected to the underground station, just stands out and promises something different.

The promise is kept: In the modern library not only book lovers and newspaper addicts find an impressive number of 288.000 books, but also 57.300 AV Media (DVDs, CDs, computer games,…), 130 PCs and 40 audio- and video-stations. The prices are also very modest: There is a yearly ticket for 18 Euros, but you can also get a daily pass for borrowing objects for the next 4 weeks.

Of course there is also a special children section in the library, a planet for kids named “Kirango”. which can be found online as well.

There are always lots of events taking place at Urban Loritz Square such as exhibitions, flea markets and – of course – readings; almost all of them for free! And if you are exhausted from browsing through all this or if you want to read immediately, take some more steps up to the Café restaurant Canetti, where there is a good view from the terrace and quite delicious food. Your journey to another world can start…

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Library at Urban Loritz Square | Art & culture, Cinemas, Music, Shopping, Festivals & events, Restaurants (Intern.)
Urban-Loritz-Platz 2a | Inner districts | +431400084500
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 19:00, Sat 11:00 – 17:00

At first glance Little Joe’s gang Shop is already more than only a random store. It’s got not only the charm of a second hand shop but also “the man in charge” is an establishment himself once you start a nice chat with him.

In front of the store is a table and two seats which makes even every by passer feel welcome to take a look inside or stop for a moment to talk to the people hanging out- you will most probably meet either the owner himself or his mom or friends or even all of them.

The wide range of offered goods is amazing – sunglasses, screen print t-shirts, second hand clothing and many more. Overall impression – not be missed if you are interested in artist-made clothes and a great insight on the local independent art scene.

A friend of mine is a big fan and friend of the owner and recently surprised me by wearing her own customized Little Joe’s Gang shirt. Can you ask for more?

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Little Joe’s Gang-Shop | Shopping | Tshirts from € 25.00
Operngasse 34/ V | Inner districts | +4319667534
Mon – Fri 14:00 – 18:00, Sat 12:00 – 17:00

Eat vegan and take care of our environment – that is the (inofficial) slogan of “Loving Hut”, an international chain of vegan (!) restaurants, which grows and grows and grows rapidly – and which has finally arrived in Vienna as well.

The main principle and the theory behind the concept is simple: A vegan dish made out of organic ingredients uses 200 times less water than a meat dish. Moreover it produces up to 94% less CO2-emission within a year. You can find this calculation on the website, and it is quite impressive and convincing, isn´t it? Not convinced yet? There are even more arguments for being vegan on the website.

The first Viennese Loving Hut on the Neubaugürtel is quite unspectacular outside and you can overlook it quite easily as it is surrounded by grey-in-grey-buildings. Inside it is a bit nicer: Very light interior, including radio and television radiating music and images from the company owned happyness channel, “Supreme TV”. Soon after the first restaurant, a second Viennese Loving Hut has opened its doors in Favoritenstraße 156.

What food can you expect at Loving Hut? Vegan AND fairtrade dishes are on the menue, some soye products replace meat dishes and lots of the ingredients are from local and organic productions. All the food is also available as take away.

So, I actually could imagine worst things than eating vegan: In the end it´s all about saving the planet while eating, isn´t it?

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Loving Hut | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Vegan)
Neubaugürtel 38/5 | Inner districts | +4312939182
Mon & Wed – Sat 11:00 – 21:00, Sun 12:00 – 21:00

Despite the sign “Hunde- und Katzenpflege” outside – which literally means “dog and cats care”, Mon Ami is a spot where humans are taken care of. Inside, the location is quite simple, rather plain: An ideal bar for private birthday parties and pre-drinking gatherings.

Soup and Snacks are served daily (€ 3,50 bis € 6,80),you can get a nice cocktails from €6,80 on and the home made sandwiches on Wednesdays are quite filling. There are DJ-Lines and Live music occasionally and you can access WLAN for free. Nothing spectacular, right?

Well, you definitely have to take a closer look: Mon Ami is not only a bar, but a fashion store. Inside the restaurant area hides a fashion shop – or rather a fashion studio of young Austrian designers. During the opening hours of the bar, you can take your drink and browse through the creative clothes, coloursful hats, knitted scarves and many, many other things. Or you can watch a designer creating and sewing a dress which can be found on the coat hooks the next day.

It does not surprise that from time to time, fashion design shows are taking place in Mon Ami too. Coffeeshop, bar, restaurant AND fashion – well, what more can you ask from your friend, mon ami?

News: On 30th of April, Mon Ami is celebrating in Gartenbau (21.30 start, entry: 7€, details on their website

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Mon Ami | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping, Snacks
Theobaldgasse 9 | Inner districts | +4315850134
Mon – Sat 16:00 – 01:00

“The world belongs to those, who know how to relish”: This quote by Giacomo Leopardi is the mission and the summary of “Motto”. There is hardly any other restaurant in Vienna which has been part of the insider scene for so many years now. Whenever you go there you can only be surprised how many beautiful and stylish people there are. But it is even more surprising how comfortable and well treated you feel in “Motto”.

Apart from elegant and stylish interior, amazingly friendly and service oriented waiters and good food which is a mixture of Austrian, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, there´s another important part of “Motto”: It´s all about music.

From Wednesday to Saturday there is life DJ playing all kinds of chill out and relaxing music, every day with another motto (from pure jazz to deep house, electro to soul). And on Thursday, there is the special line up called “girls play for the boys”: The fabulous night for gay people, who come to Motto not only this night of the week – no wonder, if you look at the waiters…

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Motto | Bars, Music, Restaurants (Intern.) | Dishes from € 8.00
Schönbrunner Straße 30 | Inner districts | +4315870672
Mon – Thu & Sun 18:00 – 02:00, Fri – Sat 18:00 – 04:00

There is no better meeting point in Vienna than MuseumsQuartier (for “insiders”: Muqua): Either you go to one of the many museums or you have breakfast at one of the various restaurants. Either you buy good and quite unique presents or just get some new ideas at the shop. Whatever you want to do, you can find it on this 60.000 m2 area.

As one of the ten biggest cultural spots in the world, MuseumsQuartier offers a huge variety of different art museums like Leopold Museum and MUMOK (Museum of modern art), modern exhibition halls such as Kunsthalle Wien or festivals like Wiener Festwochen or ImPulsTanz Festival. Moreover, you can also find the Tanzquartier (the location for modern dance, both training and shows), the Architekturzentrum (center for architecture), a museum for children (ZOOM), some smaller galleries and production studios. It is just all in one.

But even though Vienna is known for its cultural taste, locals more or less use MuseumsQuartier for another reason: To hang out and enjoy each other’s company. Whenever you walk through the area you always see a lot of mostly young people sitting around, having some drinks, reading and simply having a good time.

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MuseumsQuartier | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing, Snacks, Theaters
Museumsplatz 1/5 | Inner districts | +4315235881
Museums generally 10:00 – 18:00 daily

Need some spices for a traditional Thai dish – don´t worry, go to Naschmarkt. You want to buy fresh vegetables from farmers – well, go to Naschmarkt. You are craving for sushi – the answer is obvious: Go to Naschmarkt.

For more than 300 years now, the area on the Wienzeile between Karlsplatz and Kettenbrückengasse is used for markets – and it is getting bigger and bigger.

You will find a visit at Naschmarkt recommended in every tourist guide, and it is always quite a challenge to find your way through the crowds. But still the Naschmarkt is not only a place for foreigners, but also for Viennese locals who love the international atmosphere: Little stalls with fresh vegetables and fruits, wines, cheese and sausages; stand-up buffets offering Italian, Turkish, Greece, Egypt, Indian, Slovakian and of course Austrian food; highly motivated sales persons welcoming you in different languages to their house – that´s what Naschmarkt is all about.

For the last years, Naschmarkt has also become the place for Asian restaurants so do not be surprised to stumble over a Sushi or Thai or Chinese bar every two minutes.

As there is also the biggest Viennese fleamarket every Saturday, especially during summertime it seems like all of Vienna is on Naschmarkt. So, if you are more up to go shopping and relax, it might be better to visit the place during weekdays or in the morning. And do not forget to take a look at the surrounding: You will find some of the most beautiful buildings in this area!

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Naschmarkt | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks
Naschmarkt | Inner districts
Mon – Fri 06:00 – 18:30, Sat 06:00 – 17:00 | Fleamarket Sat 06.30 – 18:00

The Point of Sale is not a retail store but a comfy local hang-out , at brunch and tea time (if you will) packed to the rafters. When I was someone fresh of the boat by that I mean new to the 4th district scene and a fresh(wo)man at university this place was basically my living-room.

This place (and the people frequenting it) and I clicked immediately. In summer 2008 it was redone and has got a fancier look to it now. It is not only eye candy to the design aesthete but also a culinary delight. It has got the charme of a French bistro (or like franchise chains like Pret a manger or Le Pain Quotidien). See and be seen through the huge windows is the motto.

Local comedians, artists and actors use this place as meeting point, to work on their stuff or to just hang out and have a coffee.

Now that it is summertime, you can enjoy a cafe latte outside while observing the bobos passing by.

Italian, Greek, American, Indian bfast – you want it – they have it…

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P.O.S | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (International) | meal from € 7.00
Corner Schleifmühlgasse 12 | Inner districts | +4319669891
Sun – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00

French are known for their taste and fashion. And Vienna? Well, Vienna is not mentioned among the fashion capital cities in the world. But even though the industry is quite clear and rather unspectacular, there is still potential – and hope.

One of those who enrich the “scene” is … a French girl, what else! Camille Boyer opened her Boutique (”Petite boutique”) in the 7th district, the so called “fashion district”, a couple of years ago and convinced! Her exquisite and interesting selection of international designers and unique pieces are great, but even greater is the charm of the owner herself.

In search of the Austrian label Me-Shit I rather stumbled over Camille Boyer – and left the shop some hours (!) later with clothes I am still in love with. And with the knowledge: I have to come back!

Camille presents her products with affection and sincere interest. You can really tell that she selects every single shirt, every single jacket, every single scarf she offers in the shop – Camille is simply committed to the whole range and wears every single garment herself. It does not surprise me, that Camille Boyer is rather the place to go for fashion people than an insider tipp any more…

ATTENTION: The shop is closed due to renovations until 17th of April 2010.

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Petite boutique | Shopping
Lindengasse 25 | Inner districts
Mon – Sat 13:00 – 18:00

“By the way, the chair you are sitting on is for sale, oh and yes, the  book, which you just grabbed from the bookshelf as well. Of course we sell the record you are listening to.” That’s the phil, a colorful café-bar-bookshop-recordstore-interior shop-flea market and if you find something you can’t buy, then you are probably in the toilet, well actually I’m not even sure about that.

Actually the owner recently told us: “We don’t sell the toilet (except for the lamp maybe), we don’t sell the coffeemachine because she’s from the 60s and something special, we don’t sell the clothes we’re wearing, and we don’t sell the
artists (singers, writers, painters) when one of our from-time-to-time
events takes place.”

Students, young families, artists  and many more appreciate the easygoingness in the phil. The furniture are  mostly 70ies and as mentioned before, they can be bought. There is a  large corner with books, Dvds, records and posters which you can browse and sniff into while having a drink, and if you like it, you bring it home.

The place is non-smoking and food looks and tastes healthy. Bring your laptop to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and make sure to reserve a table if you plan to come in a larger group.

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phil | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping, Snacks
Gumpendorferstrasse 10 – 12 | Inner districts | +4315810489
Mon 17:00 – 01:00, Tue – Sun 09:00 – 01:00

I have been living in Vienna for more than 13 years now, and I am still happy like a child if I locate interesting spots: One of these findings is the “Pure living bakery”. When I accompanied a friend home from a walk in Schönbrunn, we literally stumbled over this tiny cafeteria – and knew: We have to come back!

“Pure living bakery” is unique here in Vienna, it could rather be found in California: Rumours say that the owner, a former stewardess, collected not only recipes and ideas for the delicious cakes, muffins and waffles on her trips but also every little detail of the interior. Soaps, “furniture buttons”, candles, mirrors, mugs, gift wrap paper – it is amazing how much fits in the quite small shop-restaurant. And the good news is: You can buy almost everything you see to decorate your own kitchen or bathroom.

Apart from the cosy atmosphere, the kitchy interior you definitely have to mention the drinks and food: My friend found THE best coffee ever (according to her of course) here and I have to admit, that I am in love with cinnamon roll or the New York Cheese Cake. Moreover, Pure living bakery offers bagels breakfast till 15:00 and on weekends, American Pancakes with maple sirup, strawberry juice and whipped cream. I could go on like this forever and I definitely have to come back – especially in April, when they re-open their beautiful garden…

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Pure living bakery | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping
Altgasse 12 | Inner districts
Mon – Fri 09:30 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 13:00 – 18:00

Located around the corner of the Rochus Market, this fancy multi-function place is popular for all-day-long-breakfast, business-lunchs, afternoon-friends-meetings, evening-after-work-cocktails and many other occasions.

Stylish interiors, red armchairs, fancy toilets, a place to see and to be seen. A large variety of food, inspired from the market next door, is served a bit slow, though breakfast and lunch “boxes” are convenient in price and quality.

The loungy atmosphere in the evenings make it a popular gathering place to enjoy a cocktail or two!

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Rochus | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (International) | lunch box € 7.00
Landstraßer Hauptstraße 55-57 | Inner districts | +4317101060
08:00 – 02:00 daily

Rupp’s is not only the vegetarian/vegan answer if you want to try typical Austrian food, it is also a cozy Irish pub with a wide choice of hundreds of whiskeys.

Here you find vegan Gulasch, Wiener Schnitzel and Bratwürstel among typical veggie dishes such as sojaburger, salads, chili sin carne, and breads with various spreads.

If you want to know more about their whiskeys, you’d better go there and find out yourself…for those who are not into whiskey yet or those who want to get a nice overview, we recommend you to attend one of their whiskey tasting events.

Irish pubs are traditionally non-smoking, so is the Rupp’s! They have a smoking room, which also has a soccer table!

Rupp’s guests are always friendly and usually it’s easy to find a table soccer partner or drinking mate..oh by the way, they have a nice choice of beers (also organic ones!).

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Rupp’s | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Vegan) | Veg. Schnitzel € 8.50
Arbeitergasse 46 | Inner districts | +4315452284
Mon – Thu 18:00 – 02:00, Fri – Sat 19:00 – 04:00, Oct – Apr Sun 18:00 – 02:00

„Welcome at the summit of coziness” – the restaurant „Salzberg” in the 6th district of Vienna sets itself a high goal. But it´s not a promise it cannot keep. On the contrary…

Where else can you both go for lunch with your grandparents from the countryside and chill out with friends after a hard day of work? Where else can you feel comfortable both at a business meeting and at the first date with the special someone? Where else can you both have late night dinners and great relaxing brunches? The opportunities to go to “Salzberg” are various. It has become one of those special spots close to “Naschmarkt” (see this article) but in a non-touristic area here in Wien.

In April 2004, “Salzberg” has been re-opened after some years of vegetating away. The former pub was renovated, and three friends took over the steering wheel to make “Salzberg” into the place it is now. The love for details, the family atmosphere with the owners taking care of the guests, a mixture of modern restaurant, bar and feel-good-area called “living room” are the secrets of the spot.

The food is a mixture of traditional dishes like Eiernockerl (give it a try!) and trendy kitchen with Mediterranean touch. The English menu will give you hints what to get. Special recommendation is the cheese dumplings with Toblerone filling, a self-made creation of Regina, one of the owners. You could also try the brunch buffet every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 – 16:00 (Better book your table in advance!)

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Salzberg | Bars, Restaurants ((inter)national) | Normal dishes € 8.90
Magdalenenstr. 17 | Inner districts | +4315816226
Mon – Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri 11:00 – 02:00, Sat 10:00 – 02:00, Sun 10:00 – 00:00

Süssi derives from two words- the German expression for sweet and the name “Sissi”. Why would you combine these two? Only if you wanted to open up a bakery in the old Empress Sissi’s way.

When you enter, a whole new world uncloses itself. The greatest scents combined with a wonderful décor – a tiny little parlor that offers a great variety of delicious sweets and in summer even ice-cream. Two tables, four seats – as I pointed out – tiny- but really cosy because of the red plush. A portrait of Sissi hanging above the counter, painted by one of the owners himself in his teenage years.

Actually the young painter’s grand grandmother used to be the Empress’ lady’s companion. An original tissue of Sissi provided the logo for this wonderful parlor -a reminiscence to when Austrian was a great and important world player – a place and a time to remember.

Suessi  expanded their parlor recently- so it is not a tiny little tearoom anymore but that doesn’t mean that it lost its charme but it actually means that it is even more worth it to visit since you will have more room to enjoy this beautiful viennese cafe.

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Süssi | Coffee & tea | Ice-cream € 1.00
Operngasse 30 | Inner districts | +4369911294199
Tue – Sat 11:00 – 21:00, Sun 12:00 – 21:00

A hooker saloon in former times, Tanzcafé Jenseits with worn-out red Brocade and Plush everywhere, cosy booths, dimmed light, golden lusters, cannot deny its past. And it does not want to hide it.

Jenseits means “Afterlife” or “on the other side”: Entering the Tanzcafé really is transferring you to another side – of Vienna, as it was but also as it is nowadays. First, you will be shocked by the air filled with cigarette smoke and all the people in the relatively small club. But within some minutes, you are going to be infected by the relaxed atmosphere and talk to one of the other guests having the time of your life.

It is not surprising that Tanzcafé Jenseits is known as one of those spots you can go to whenever you want: If you feel like going out after midnight, like joining a party till the sun rises and meeting lots of different people – you are going to find it there for sure. For further information about the DJ line-up and special events look at their website, which is not updated regularly but at least gives you a broad overview of the place.

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Tanzcafé Jenseits | Bars, Music, Relaxing
Nelkengasse 3 | Inner districts | +4315871233
Mon – Sat 21:00 – 04:00

A small street, somewhere in the 3rd district in a quiet residential area… who would expect such an authentic Cretan cuisine here. The Taverna Lefteris might look like the typical Greek from around the corner, but the quality of the food is outstanding.

Native extra virgin olive oil is the base of most dishes. Fish specialties are always worth trying here, and the best choices are usually the current seasonal offers. Food is served with a smile by the Greek staff and if you are curious enough to spy, you will see women ruling the kitchen. Open your stomach with a plate of Mesédes (cold or warm entrees) accompanied with homemade bread (incredible good!) and a glass of wine.

For an authentic Cretan experience head here on Tuesdays when crowds gather for live Greek music and, of course, good food.

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Taverna Lefteris | Music, Restaurants (Greek) | Main from € 8.00
Hörnesgasse 17 | Inner districts | +4317137451
Mon – Sat 18:00 – 23:00

All movie cinemas offer popcorn, chips, softdrinks, chocolate while watching the newest Hollywood blockbuster? All?! No, not all! One rebellious fighter against mainstream cinema remains: Topkino.

Located close to Mariahilferstraße, Topkino – together with the affiliated Schikander one of the repertory art-house cinemas in Vienna – is known for showing independent movies and focusing on small-budget-pieces-of-art. Another speciality is the Sunday film brunch where you can watch a movie (starting at 12.30) and indulge yourself with a great brunch buffet before or after the film. For those who don´t call themselves “early birds”, there is a special Saturday night line in March and April. And if you want to enjoy a movie together with all your loved ones, you can also rent the movie for private occasions.

As I said though, showing movies is not enough: Topkino is also known as a great hang-out location, restaurant and bar. The menu is quite something and the bar promotes itself on the website as offering everything from “real Italian cappuccino from a venetian coffee roastery to flavourful Single Mal Whiskey from the Scottish Highlands”. All this you can enjoy while surfing on the internet (WLAN is for free if you consume something) or – if you happen to be in Vienna around summertime – in the outdoor area.

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Topkino | Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.)
Rahlgasse 1 | Inner districts | +432083000
Mon – Wed 15:00 – 02:00, Thu – Sat 15:00 – 04:00, Sun 10:30 – 00:00 (Jul – Sep Sun from 15:00)

Within the more or less stylish, modern restaurants in the area of the Naschmarkt (check the Naschmarkt article) and surrounded by Asian places, there is one haven of tradition: “Ubl”, named after the owners (read the history inside the restaurant), a very old and unique Beisl serving Viennese cuisine. But not only is the menu exceptional, “Ubls” furniture reminds you of former days and gives you a nostalgic feeling as well.

What can you get there? It is traditional Austrian dishes like Schinkenfleckerl (noodles mixed with chopped ham), Eiernockerl (egg dumplings) or also meat dishes like Tafelspitz (boiled beef) and Zwiebelrostbraten (roastbeef with onions).

Of course you can also get the Viennese Schnitzel there, but I would rather say to try one of the other more special dishes. This goes along with wine from the close by region and little slow but friendly waiters who try to impress you with quite an Austrian English.

After a while you do not feel like sitting in a restaurant but more like you are visiting your aunt and uncle on the countryside, where everything is more picturesque, calm and laid-back. Just enjoy and inhale this.

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Ubl | Restaurants (Austrian) | Dishes from € 9.00
Preßgasse 26 | Inner districts | +4315876437
12:00 – 14:00 & 18:00 – 00:00 daily

This little wine bar at the corner of the Rochus market in the 3rd district is a perfect place for aperitivo.

As we don’t really have the tradition for taking a pre-dinner drink in Austria, it can get a bit difficult to find a place like the Vinothek ROCHUS.

Their selection includes mainly Austrian and Italian Wines. They usually serve you a few little snacks to try for free, such as small plates of pasta and crostini. If you want to enjoy a good glass of wine with some antipasti you can order from the menu typical Italian snacks such as cheese, prosciutto, dried tomatos…

In tepid summer-nights it’s very pleasant to sit outside while enjoying a refreshing Spritz-Aperol (which you get here usually at the best price compared to all the bars around the market!). In winter the interior of the small bar offers a warm atmosphere.

You can buy of course all the wines by bottle and bring home.

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Vinothek ROCHUS | Bars, Shopping
Rochusmarkt 16-17 | Inner districts | +436643401789
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 23:00

Only fair traded and organic products are offered in Weltcafé, which is an important part of the student and alternative scene in Vienna. Located in the university district, it was the first coffee-shop mostly offering products from developing countries with focus on coffee, chocolate and tea in 2005.

But Weltcafé is not only a spot for getting extraordinary good coffee compositions or all kind of tea varieties, it is also known for international kitchen and exotic dishes for a fair price. Every day you get lunch menus including soup and main plate for €5,80 – and if you stay longer, you can enjoy the daily cocktail happy hour from 20:00 till 23:00, which is definitely worth a try as well. Moreover, there is a Sunday brunch starting at 10:00 and offering international breakfast from all over the world.

The relaxed and “living-room”-atmosphere of the place provides a good spot for music events, exhibitions, readings, discussions and much more. As part of the fair-trade scene Weltcafé´s intention is clear: They want to inform and teach people about fair trade, about developing countries, about political issues – it is about being aware. But it is also about entertaining, feeling good and having a great time!

In 2010, Weltcafé features one country every month – with special food, a movie evening, some discussions and exhibitions. In March it is all about Mosambik (e.g. a talk about development and tourism on the 24th of March) – and it´s worth the journey, you bet!

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Weltcafé | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing, Restaurants (Intern.) | Snacks from € 1.70
Schwarzspanierstraße 15 | Inner districts | +4314053741
09:00 – 02:00 daily (Jul – Aug 09:00 – 22:00)

Established only in 2001, this little exhibition center in the 7th district is home of some of the best photo expositions in Vienna. This is just something a photographer, an amateur or just a curious visitor can’t really miss.

Every 20 days or so a new thrilling event is there to be admired. In the past they’ve hosted the very cream of photography from Araki to Burri and Salgado. Every year the World Press Photo winning photos are showcased here.

Located in a minimalist former loft it is perfectly arranged to focus the visitor on photographs without distractions. The only one being the permanent collection of more then 800 historical cameras which won’t pass unnoticed.

From time to time they organize auctions of old-timer equipment and an old glorious Graflex could be yours for a little more then 300 Euro. The adjacent Westlicht all-Laica shop  is worth visiting even if you can’t afford buying one!

current exhibition:

9 February –  5 April 2010 Herbert LIST, Retrospektive

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Westlicht | Art & culture | Entry fee € 6.50
Westbahnstraße 40 | Inner districts | +4315226636
Tue – Wed & Fri 14:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 19:00