When hosting guests, I am faced with a stark choice between touristy local cuisine and more interesting (but less kitsch) fares. Luckily, Skopik und Lohn has taken a great stab at finding the middle ground. Situated near the scenic Augarten, and designed somewhere between a typical Austrian beisl and a modern continental bistro, Skopik & Lohn checks off a lot of boxes without overwhelming.

Known locally for its artistic ceiling composed of seemingly random white and black stripes so interesting that they are legitimate conversation pieces, Skopik & Lohn creates an atmosphere that is both chic and traditional. The restaurant has lately seen its credibility rise on the back of its excellent aperitifs (their in-house elderflower fizz is extraordinary) and extremely pleasant service (a rarity in Vienna). The menu is short and sweet and yet still varied enough to keep both the guest and the local intrigued.

Located in a tucked-away corner on the up-and-coming Leopoldgasse 5 minutes from Taborstrasse U-bahn, it is still somewhat a secret. The staff is apparently aware of this; they hand out a post card after meals ironically depicting their restaurant as the center of the world. I have sent one or two out myself. But for the time being, Skopik & Lohn should be the ace-up-the-sleeve that locals been looking for. And the guests will not be disappointed.