Situated in one of Vienna’s many beautiful and remarkable Art Nouveau buildings (already 110 years old!) this place combines great coffee with a special nostalgic atmosphere. Once you’ve entered the place you’ll recognize the many things that are to explore inside, from the many medal coffee badges and old fashioned lamps promoting Fanta lemonade, to that one of a kind cushioned telephone booth (maybe not suitable for claustrophobics).

This place represents one of Vienna’s traditional coffee houses, which means that there were already many generations spending time in here having a chat about life, discussing the latest urban news or reading one or another tome. Besides coffee and tea they offer a selection of Viennese pastries and cakes. Around lunchtime there’s also the possibility to enjoy an easily-affordable menu, maybe one of the reasons many students come here.

And when it’s getting warm outside you should definitely explore the Café’s terrace from which one can enjoy a view on the Wienfluss flowing by. Last but not least one should mention that the Café is open until 02:00 which makes it a great place to either start your night or get a caffeinated energy boost in between two club visits.

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Café Rüdiger Hof | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Viennese) | Strudel € 3.00
Hamburgerstraße 20 | Inner districts | +4315863138
09:00 – 02:00 daily

Ever felt the wish to abandon fork, knife and spoon for one evening? I for my part wish this quite often, so when I came to eat here the first time I was amazed see that I finally was allowed to do so.

After a long time, when there were not a lot of authentic African restaurants to be found in the city, this place turned out to be a culinary hot spot within the last few years. Situated in a former classic Viennese coffee house, this restaurant surprises with a little weird but enchanting Caféhaus meets Africa atmosphere.

Let’s get straight to business, the food itself! Most dishes are a combination of various appetizers, served on a big round Ethiopian bread that looks a little bit like a huge pancake and tastes rather like classic Austrian rye bread. And the fun’s already about to begin! After some moments of cluelessness how to fit any of these pastes and salads into your piece of bread without messing up the table, your hands and even your outfit completely, you’ll figure out quickly how to get these delicacies into your mouth.

And if you’re still a little bit hungry (unlikely because these dishes come in great portions), there’s also a coffee and popcorn tradition processed as a treat of the house, served by waitresses wearing traditional wardrobes, rounding up this extraordinary food experience completely.

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Ethiopian restaurant | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Ethiopian) | Main meal € 7.50
Währingerstraße 15 | Inner districts | +4314020726
Tue – Thu 11:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 01:00, Sun 11:00 – 00:00

Feeling like having exquisite lunch or dinner in combination with a glass of fine wine these days? Flein’s situated right next to the beautiful Institut Francais building, Vienna’s French Cultural Institute, so there’s the great possibility to combine your meal with a little bit of rummaging around in French books, comics and music records or taking a walk in the spot’s beautiful garden.

Flein’s offering various dainties from all over, some endued with a little touch of French cuisine. So besides French classics such as Crème Brulée you should also give the international delicacies a chance, some of them will blow your mind.

One thing I really love about this spot is its cosy garden, hidden by many trees and offering a view direct into the Institute’s enchanting yard. Especially on a mild summer evening when crickets are chirping, the sun disappears slowly and the chains of lights hanging from tree to tree light this place up, it turns out to be a very nice place to spend your time at.

Of course, also in winter time Flein provides its guests with a cosy interior where you can warm yourself up with some tea or wine, watching snowflakes passing by outside the window panes…C’est si bon!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Flein | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (French/Intern.) | Main Meal € 8.50
Boltzmanngasse 2 | Inner districts | +4313197689
Mon – Fri 11:30 – 15:00 & 17:30 – 23:00

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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café Museum | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Viennese) | Piece of Cake € 4.00
Operngasse 7 | Inner districts | +43124100620
08:00 – 00:00 daily

Here’s your chance to discover a brand spanking new Bistro right in the middle of Vienna’s university area: Nascha’s.

Nascha’s philosophy is simple: high quality food, student suitable prices, love for the extraordinary.

Being around university campus a lot of time I’m happy to have known this place right from the beginning and I can say: I am hooked.

When you enter the place you’ll first notice the spot’s sweet and enchanting style, beginning with the American diner alike wall paper and the colorful balloons hanging from the ceiling up to the original English school tables from the 60′s, 50 year old chewing gum beneath the table boards included.

Talking to the very welcoming shop owners I found out about the name’s meaning(s): Firstly it refers to the German expression “Naschen” which means “to nibble”, secondly it hints at the Russian expression for “Ours”. (Psst!..there actually is a 3rd meaning that the lovely staff will be happy to share with you if you ask them.)

And what’s most important, the food. There’s a regularly changing variety of luscious organic soups, bagels and quiches. I tried their soups a couple of times, so believe me when I say: they’re a real treat! Plus they have wide a range of sweet delights such as Fudge in a Cup, Ice cream filled fruits and a lot more of lovingly chosen appetizers.

Or to put it in the words of Theodor Fontane: “The magic lies within the detail.”

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Nascha’s | Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.) | Bowl of Soup € 3.90
Garnisongasse 7 | Inner districts | +4319255636
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 19:00

This little restaurant, well actually size wise it’s more of a snack bar, really needs to find a new, more capacious location. Since what started as an insiders’ tip now happens to be really packed, many stop by for taking away the Thai delights.

When I got back from Thailand I had a hard time finding genuine Thai food in Vienna. So going to Thai Isaan Kitchen, I ordered in Thai language. The fact they understood what I tried to order left me proud but mostly surprised. I had found a place that made me feel like being back to the land of smiles after all.

Isaan, or อีสาน, is what the northeast part of Thailand is called; important part of their cuisine is sticky rice & all sorts of meat. The variety of the menu here however has got quite a selection of typical Thai food. From 12:00 – 15:00 you get lunch (2 meals, usually 2 differing ones) for € 6.90. Also in their menu they mark the dishes with 1-3 chili’s to tell you how much spiciness you’ve got to expect.

The restaurant is conveniently located just right next to the bus station “Hirschengasse” of the line 57. For desert I’d suggest to go for some nearby chocolate candies (check out the Blühendes Konfekt article!).

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Thai Isaan Kitchen | Snacks, Restaurants (Thai Isaan) | Soup from € 3.90
Gumpendorfer Straße 91 | Inner districts | +4315952800
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 22:00, Sun 17:00 – 22:00

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 (mainly meat) (€4.90 – €5.90).

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

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gassner’s Wirtshaus | Restaurants (Viennese) | Main dish € 7.00
Erdbergstraße 48 | Inner districts
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 23:00

This small market stall at the Rochusmarket (metro U3 Rochusgasse) is the perfect stop over for a nice lunch. The owner Roman is preparing a choice of delicious homemade soups (veggie and non-veggie) to take away or to eat there.

Not only his soups are a delight he also offers a small selection of good wines and depending on the seasons salads or other typical Austrian dishes.

If you are looking for a cheap and healthy lunch try KochbaRoman!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
KochbaRoman | Bars, Snacks, Restaurants (Soups) | Soup (small) € 3.50
Rochusmarkt 39a | Inner districts | +436643563904
Tue – Fri 10:00 – 19:00

Have you ever dreamt of a place where you get a delicious breakfast for only 3,50 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. In summer 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 cozy.

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 hummus, eggplant salad, stuffed vine leaves, feta cheese, olives and Syrian Bread), or an Italian breakfast.

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

Lunch from 11:30 to 14:30

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

Check out their concerts, there is live music every night, many times with free entrance.

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!

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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!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
7Stern Bräu | Bars, Restaurants (Austrian) | 0.5L beer € 3.50
Siebensterngasse 19 A | Inner districts | +4315238697
10:00 – 00:00 daily (closed Dec 24th)