6 ways to eat your way through Vienna

Vienna is a beautiful city to visit and a delicious adventure. There is no shortage of food adventures to go on. Below I highlighted my top 6 and it starts with the two recommendations to plan in advance.

There are 2 food enthusiast activities I recommend you book before you arrive in Vienna.

1. Book a Food Tour in Vienna: 

There are various food tours on offer in Vienna but you can’t go wrong with one of the tours offered by Food Tours Vienna. Pick a themed tour that suits your taste and time frame. Our guide took us on a culinary adventure to secret gems and beautiful parts of the city that you will likely not stumble upon on your own.

I won’t get into the details because visiting the locations without the guide would definitely not have been as much fun or informative and you definitely won’t be able to take advantage of all of the tastings that the food tour organizes at every stop. The tour was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. The guide is knowledgable and will happily provide additional tips on places to eat for the duration of your trip based on your interests and budget.

2. Plan your Sunday

Sundays are a little slow in Vienna. Most stores and some restaurants are closed so plan your Sunday in advance. Museums are usually open on Sunday so it is a great day to plan a leisurely breakfast followed by a nice stroll through the sleepy city followed by a  museum visit. Breakfast or brunch is offered at many restaurants and coffee houses throughout the city but if you are looking for something very special, I can definitely recommend a reservation for breakfast at Meierei in Stadtpark. If you love cheese it is definitely a must as the restaurant includes a cheese bar with more than 140 types of cheese. If you don’t, they have many other delicious breakfast dishes on offer. You can find menus, photo impression and an online reservation tool on the Meierei in Stadtpark website. No matter where you intend to spend your Sunday morning, I recommend reserving in advance as going out for a meal on Sunday morning seems to be a national pastime.

Do not leave Vienna without eating Sacher Torte and Käsekrainer sausage.

The next two recommendations are opposite end of the experience spectrum but equally representative of an authentic Viennese experience.

3. Sacher Torte

The Sacher Torte is a famous Viennese cake that has been on various cooking and baking shows such as the Great British Bake Off and although you can try making this at home, the story goes that the exact recipe used by the Hotel Sacher is a well-kept secret. Sacher Torte is sold in various establishments and coffee houses but I wanted to try the only version that is allowed to be prefixed with the word “Original” so headed straight to the Sacher Eck Vienna located in the heart of the city center near the Opera House. On arriving you will be asked whether you want the full menu experience or coffee and pastry only and that will determine whether you are seated downstairs or upstairs. For a sneak peek at the interior and menus prior to your visit see the Sacher Eck website.
The Sacher Eck Vienna is open from 8 am to midnight most days so whenever your sugar craving kicks in you can head on over. If your time in Vienna is limited and you intend to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner it is possible to reserve a table for the Mezzanine via their website.

The Sacher Eck Vienna is open from 8 am to midnight most days so whenever your sugar craving kicks in you can head on over. If your time in Vienna is limited and you intend to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner it is possible to reserve a table for the Mezzanine via their website.

I was there for one thing, a taste of the “Original Sacher Torte.” While enjoying one of the best cups of coffee in Vienna and eating the delicious, chocolaty,  rich cake that delights your taste buds with the apricot jam filling, you can read the story of how the Sacher Torte was invented and how it became one of the most famous cakes in the world. There is also a gift shop where you can buy the Sacher Torte in various sizes to take home with you. If you can’t make it to Vienna to try this quintessential cake, you can order them online or you can try to make it yourself. It is included in Mary Berry’s Baking Bible by Mary Berry in the Special Cakes section. This book is also offered in Dutch and I assume it has the same recipes as the English version.

4. The Käsekrainer sausage

Do not leave Vienna without trying at least one sausage from a sausage stand. They are dotted around the city and there are endless opinions on which stall is the best. I found myself drawn to the Zum Goldenen Würstel which is strategically located where Graben meets Spiegelgasse in the main shopping district. The location offers great people watching opportunities and the stand is surrounded by heat lamps so you don’t feel the cold too much while enjoying this culinary delight.

And I definitely recommend going for the option on a paper plate with condiments of choice but don’t forget the horseradish. It is real, so use sparingly.

5. The Best Traditional Restaurant in Vienna:

There is a distinct awareness and pride throughout the city for local and sustainable food options. I first noticed it when visiting an amazing traditional Viennese restaurant called Zum weißen Rauchfangkehrer. Don’t let the small entry at Weihburggasse 4 fool you, it will be hard to find a restaurant that is this big but simultaneously this cozy, inviting, fun, delicious and welcoming. The interior is charming and authentic and there is a live pianist daily between 18:00 to 24:00.

We visited on a Thursday evening and it was filled with people both local and tourists. The cozy seating arrangements are conducive to a romantic meal for two or a fun outing with a group. The staff are wonderful, feel free to ask for recommendations for both food and wine. While your there, don’t forget to read the back of the menu which explores the restaurant’s history and how they support local sustainable farmers and fishermen. A definite must try when in Vienna and a great place to score a delicious Viennese schnitzel. If you want to make a reservation you can call or use there very convenient reservation page on Zum weißen Rauchfangkehrer website.

6. Embrace the coffee house culture

The Viennese coffee house is inherent to the historical and current Viennese culture.  There is an endless number of coffee houses to choose from depending on the vibe you are looking for. There are coffee houses that range from modern to traditional and everything in between. I don’t have any specific recommendations because you will truly understand coffee house culture by just popping into the coffee house throughout the city. Just find one near you, sit down, enjoy the variety on offer from modern to traditional and enjoy. Coffee houses serve more than coffee and also have an extensive tea, wine, pastry, and light meal menus. So a great place to stop at any time of the day.

A couple of regrets……

I did my best to eat my way through the city but Vienna has so much to offer. I am left with a couple of reasons to go back.

I did not have enough time to attend any Viennese and Austrian wines tastings. Next time I head in that direction I will definitely plan some time to visit the vineyards. Vienna boasts being the only city to have vineyards within the city limits. If a visit to the Danube Tower is on your to-do list, you will see the vineyards clearly on the hills surrounding the city. There are wine Tours and tastings on offer throughout the city which I will definitely be taking part in the next time I am in Vienna or as part of a more extensive Austrian Wine trip.

My last regret is that we didn’t have time to visit Schonbrunn Palace which in itself would have been interesting but the food enthusiast in me was intrigued by a visit to Cafe Residenz. Not just any coffee house but one that includes an Apple Strudel show and a taste of the iconic Apple Strudel.

I left the city with a great appreciation for the Viennese Food Culture

I will be compiling a list of things not to miss on my next trip. If you have recommendations please leave them in the comments below.