9 Best Vienna Restaurants

It would have been nearly impossible for me to get to all the best Vienna restaurants in the week that I spent there. However,

I am happy to share a few of my favorite Vienna restaurants. Here, you’ll find options ranging from where to find the best traditional Austrian food to fine dining, vegetarian options, and even the best schnitzel in Vienna.

While in Vienna, don’t miss out on activities that will help immerse yourself with the city (hurry while they’re hot!):

Visiting Vienna? Check out the 10 Fun Things To Do In Vienna, Austria!

Heuer am Karlsplatz

Treitlstr. 2 // +43 1 8900590

This restaurant came recommended by several locals, and it was actually our first meal in Vienna. We loved this gorgeous garden restaurant bar. We ate roasted veal flatbreads and sampled a couple of local beers.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Heuer am Karlsplatz - flatbread sandwich

Next time, I plan to return to try their impressive-looking dinner menu, which features craft cocktails and dishes with locally sourced ingredients.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Heuer am Karlsplatz - Roasted Duck

Aside from their impressive wine list, Heuer am Karlsplatz also serves several vegetarian options, roasted duck, fish, and Vienna-style fried chicken!

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Heuer am Karlsplatz - fish

Motto am fluss

Franz Josefs Kai 2 // +43 125 255 10

This restaurant bills itself as modern, international cuisine with an Austrian focus. And, after eating here for my birthday dinner, I’d have to say the description is spot on.

Located in the heart of Vienna, on the Danube Canal, Motto am fluss is a great place for a special occasion. The food was excellent, the views are gorgeous and the service was impeccable.

We were particularly impressed with their seafood and meat selections, which this octopus appetizer served over pureed peas.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Motto - Octopus Appetizer

We also discovered this perfectly roasted sheatfish fillet.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Motto - Fish

Be sure to save room for dessert, as the restaurant is well known for it. Check out this fresh berry sorbet and cookie crumble accompanying the homemade summer fruit pastry.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Motto - Berry Dessert

Fischer Brau

Billrothstrasse 17 // +43 1 3695949

I found Fischer Brau so nice that I actually visited twice during my stay in Vienna. This is a great place to try high-end versions of local recipes in a casual, fun setting.

They serve the best goulash I’ve ever had, even after trying the Hungarian version!

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Fischer Brau - Hungarian Goulash

Weather permitting, grab a seat on the outdoor patio and try a local beer while you wait for your meal to be served. Definitely one of the best Vienna restaurants.

Gasthaus Rebhuhn

Berggasse 24 // +43 1 319 50 58

If you want to experience an authentic Viennese pub diner with classic dishes, several locals suggested Gasthaus Rebhuhn.

The menu was not extensive, but all the food is well done at reasonable prices and with large portions in an authentic setting.

Be sure to try the roasted meat dishes or even the Viennese classic schnitzel. You can also find vegetarian selections here—not something common in Austria!

I recommend you make a reservation, as getting a table without one during peak hours may not prove possible.

Ulrich

Sankt-Ulrichs-Platz 1 // +43 1 9612782

Brunch doesn’t seem to be as big a deal in Austria as it is back home, but we did manage to find a great place for Sunday brunch during our stay.

Ulrich has chalked their menu full of both sweet and savory options, including croissants, pancakes, and omelets. Be sure to try one of their fresh lemonades, which are made in-house. And there’s always coffee if you need a caffeine fix.

The restaurant is known for its flat Caesar, one of its flatbread options.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Ulrich - Flatbread Chicken Caesar Salad

You’ll find vegan and vegetarian items on the menu as well.

Rinderwahn

Weihburggasse 3 // +43 1 5120996

With burger options ranging from beef and steak to chicken, pork, and veggie. Rinderwahn is guaranteed to have a burger for everyone! You can even choose a burger with two meat patties if you’re feeling particularly famished.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Rinderwahn - Classic Burgers & Fries

Side options include the classic fries and onion rings but also macaroni and cheese, Cajun onion rings, salad, and sweet potato fries.

IKO Dining

Wipplingerstraße 6 // +43 1 8904200

While not traditional Austrian cuisine, at IKO Dining, we happened upon a great place that bills itself as modern, healthy Asian cuisine. And I wholeheartedly agree with it.

Options include dishes like Massaman curry, braised pork don, fried rice, and five-spice crunchy chicken.

Be sure to try the beef bulgogi, which was my favorite dish.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Bulgogi

IKO Dining also features an impressive sushi menu with all of your favorite rolls and a few options I hadn’t seen before, including a vegan sushi roll.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - IKO Dining - Impressive Sushi Selection

1516 Brewing Company

Schwarzenbergstraße 2 // +43 1 9611516

Although it’s open all day, we enjoyed 1516 most for late-night eats and the infamous “one last drink” on the way home.

The menu is full of beer snacks, including their “habanero suicide hot wings” which my friend found to be spicy but not overly so.

You can also find classic sausages, salads, schnitzels, and even crepes.

We visited after a night out of drinking and opted for bacon burgers and fries, along with brews from their craft beer selection.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - 1516 Brewing Company - Bacon Burgers

Cafe Anzengruber

Schleifmühlgasse 19 // +43 1 5878297

Of course, you can’t come to Vienna without trying an authentic Viennese schnitzel.

Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants - Cafe Anzengruber - Schnitzel

When asked, multiple locals told us the best place in town was Cafe Anzengruber. I have to admit—it didn’t disappoint.

The portion is large, and even though it’s fried, it wasn’t as heavy as I expected. Be sure to try it with an ice-cold beer, and don’t forget to hit it with a squeeze of the lemon it’s served with.

If you want to be very traditional, make sure to have it with a side of potato salad!

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Which of these Vienna restaurants do you most want to try? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Where to Eat in Vienna Austria - Must Try Restaurants

Nathan

Travel writer and owner of the blog. My work has been featured on Fodors, Eater.com, International Living, and Great Escape Publishing, among many others. My story? Nearly six years ago, I left my job at an Oklahoma City law firm and embarked on a journey around the world. At the time, I thought I would only be gone for 6 months, but the more I traveled, the longer my bucket list became. Flashpacker describes how I travel. Rather than traveling as the normal world wise backpacker and staying in hostel dorms, I prefer a more comfortable experience, and typically stay in private rooms, take Ubers instead of taxis, and now use a suitcase instead of a backpack. Foodie, on the other hand, describes one of the key reasons why I travel. I love to pick a central “base camp” and then explore the surrounding area, really immersing myself in the culture and interacting with the people, and enjoying and exploring the food of an area is an essential part of this experience.