I just happened to stumble 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 colorful 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 colors, 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!

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!

A place to chat, for people from different countries. A colourful street market with fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese. A long alley with plenty of stalls with cheap clothes, shoes and fabrics. A stuffed alley with loads of groceries, turkish restaurants, shops, bakeries etc. An alley ending in a big market square, used both by bohemian society and local residents. A market with a shop for the best jam in the world (apart from home-made one) called Staud’s. A market square with cafe’s, restaurants and bars or just benches to sit and relax.

Check it out, I think it’s a very different part from Vienna, which most tourists will not see (who just know the Naschmarkt). And worth to see! Not to forget that fruits and veggies are way cheaper than on any other market in Vienna…

When I first came along this square, I really was surprised. Somehow I did not expect such a cosy and neat little square in a big city like Vienna.

Servitenplatz resembles the centre of a small Austrian village. So what do you need for such a square? An old church, some benches, huge trees which give shade, a café, a pub, nice stores in the surrounding streets and local people who enjoy it- both old and young. This is what you get here! And that’s why I like this spot.

There is the Servite church from 1677, there is a coffeeshop without a name (where you get homemade ice in summer!), there is a pub besides a hairdresser, and there are these nice simple benches where you can watch couples, the old folk chatting or children playing football.

In winter time it’s quiet here, but in summer it’s pretty much the center of that quarter. I think every time of the year it’s worth a visit. The sad history of the Servitengasse, leading to the square, is quite touching. Decades ago it used to be a street where many Jews were living (half of the population of the ninth district in 1938 were Jews, like Sigmund Freud who lived pretty much around the corner), but with the Nazi regime they had to leave their flats and homes. A little memorial with all symbolic keys shows the names of the displaced persons. Some sad history for a neat little square.

“In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play” (Friedrich Nietzsche)! That’s what comes across the mind when passing by the huge window, giving sight to a magical chocolate kitchen. And this saying does not count for men alone, you will note that women stop at the window too! You see them wondering if they can play as well, if they can take part in producing some of these little dreams, made of chocolate.

Yes, you can take part! Learn how to do chocolate desserts, produce your own fruit chocolate with the help of the confectioner or proudly put your self-made finest pralinés in a box after a workshop of around 4 hours.

Check out the website as these workshops are done regularly but often booked out in advance. Otherwise just have a look and a taste in the shop – and watch the confectioner play magic by producing those eatable goodies we have loved since our childhood days…