Vienna's Gastronomy and Restaurant Scene

Beuschel, a tasty stew of veal casserole, or Tafelspitz, a perfectly cooked beef dish served with applesauce and horseradish, are just some of the rustic, culinary specialties of Vienna. Where do you start a Viennese gastronomy tour? Locals prefer Naschmarkt, a street market whose history dates back to the 16th century. A Beisl, a Viennese bistro, which serves a perfect beef goulash or the original Wiener Schnitzel, is ideal for an authentic Austrian dish. One of the oldest traditional restaurants is Figlmüller, known for its delicate, incredibly thin schnitzel that overlaps the plate on which it is served. The traditional addition is a potato salad with a creamy mustard dressing.

For the slightly spicier cuisine in winter, the Plachutta is there, which specializes in the popular Tafelspitz with hot horseradish. Not far from Schönbrunn Palace, hungry people often wait for a portion of Kaiser Franz Josef's favorite dish. But Viennese cuisine has some international news in its program. A popular restaurant offers Korean dishes. The Asian Diner uses only organic products for its dishes, which are influenced by the Austrian cuisine. Vienna is also proud of its Michelin stars. Restaurant Steirereck has two of the coveted gastro awards and has been voted one of the best in the world. Here, classic Austrian cuisine is reinterpreted with a modern twist.

An afternoon in Vienna has to be spent in a coffee house. These typically have high domed ceilings, atmospheric chandeliers and marble columns. The most famous today are Café Central, Café Prückel, Café Sperl and Café Landtmann. Coffee houses have been attracting philosophers, writers and thinkers for centuries. They also serve a lunchtime menu with many hearty dishes, but most guests are here for the cakes, desserts and the atmosphere. Both classic apple strudel and the world-famous Linzer Torte are served with seductive whipped cream. Guests enjoy the sweet temptation with a traditional cup of Viennese coffee or hot chocolate.