10 Great Restaurants in Vienna

Plachutta is an Austrian restaurant with a diverse menu of Viennese treats, but the boiled beef-based dishes are its main draw. Standouts include kavalierspitz (shoulder), weisses scherzel (low-fat hind leg) and the Wienerschnitzel, one of Austria's national dishes. You can also order delicious vegetarian options, such as homemade dumplings.

We recommend trying Plachutta’s specialty dish, called tafelspitz. It consists of boiled lean beef in a vegetable broth, often served with roast potatos and horseradish sauce. Book a table in advance if you want to sit outside during the summer months.

Café Central has been delighting locals and visitors with Viennese pastries since 1876. Over the years, it has attracted the likes of Freud and Trotsky, making it as much of a historical attraction as a famous eatery. To try a local treat, order the apple strudel with vanilla custard. We recommend washing it down with a Wiener melange, Vienna’s take on the cappuccino.

Be prepared to wait in line to enter this popular hotspot. Once inside Café Central, you can expect a relaxed atmosphere with prompt service. If you want to avoid the crowds, visit before 10 am or after 7 pm.

Palmenhaus is an upscale restaurant that occupies a former botanical greenhouse, with views of the stately Burggarten gardens. It specializes in Austrian cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. On its menu, you’ll find dishes such as homemade polenta-gnocchi, vegan spelt risotto, and carp fillets with root vegetables, potatos, and horseradish.

Palmenhaus is right next to the Hietzing subway station, making it easy to reach from anywhere in Vienna. Nearby attractions include the House of Music, the Arthouse and the MuseumsQuartier, where you’ll see an abundance of museums and Baroque architecture.

Pramerl and the Wolf is a fine-dining restaurant that’s housed inside a former pub from the 1950s. Instead of an a la carte menu, you can find a tailored set menu, usually with 9 dishes to taste. It also scores top marks for its wine pairings.

Pramerl and the Wolf is within a 5-minute walk of the Roßauer Lände U-Bahn Station and Wettsteinpark. Due to its popularity, you’ll almost certainly need to reserve a table to dine at this exclusive establishment. Expect to pay more if you visit on a Friday or Saturday.

Motto is a cosmopolitan restaurant and nightclub that has achieved cult status with the locals of Vienna. Its plush green velvet seating and bare walls make for standout aesthetics. Looks aside, Motto’s internationally inspired dishes have drawn many A-listers and international DJs to its doors.

If you want to enjoy local delicacies, we recommend ordering Motto’s tafelspitz (boiled beef), followed by strawberry nougat dumplings for dessert. To wash your meal down, order a cocktail or 2 to enjoy in the jungle garden.

The Michelin-starred Restaurant Konstantin Filippou serves a fusion of Austrian and Greek cuisine. Signature menu items include such delights as bacalao brandade with char caviar, organic egg with cuttlefish and pork belly, and poached mackerel with horseradish. If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend the jabugo (ham) and sepia (cuttlefish) with smoked quail egg and snail.

Reservations are required at Restaurant Konstantin Filippou. Don’t be surprised if there’s a rather long waiting list for this highly sought-after restaurant. The nearest subway station is Schwedenplatz, which is less than 300 meters away.

The Tian Bistro am Spittelberg is an upscale diner that solely serves plant-based dishes, making it a great spot for vegetarian foodies in Vienna. Menu favorites include risotto and Spittelburger with seasoned fries. Bring your better half or a friend over the weekend to try the delicious sharing breakfast menu.

Tian Bistro am Spittelberg is in Vienna’s trendy Neubau district, just a short walk of the Leopold Museum, Hofburg Palace, and the Albertina. The nearest subway station is Volkstheater, which is 400 meters away.

Steirereck is a formal, Michelin-starred restaurant in the heart of Stadtpark (City Park). It boasts white-gloved wait staff serving the best of gourmet Austrian cuisine. Chef Heinz Reitbauer uses rare ingredients like purple Beta Sweet carrots to add a unique touch to dishes such as duck stew, broiled alpine ox, and fried lamb.

Despite being in such high demand, there’s usually no wait for a table at Steirereck. You can expect to stay at this restaurant for just over 3 hours. The easiest way to reach Steirereck is by train to the Stadtpark subway station.

Fischrestaurant Kornat is a seafood restaurant specializing in Croatian-Dalmatian cuisine with Croatian wine pairings. You can also order a variety of beef and vegetarian dishes. Menu favorites include octopus salad, truffle risotto, and the trio of fish pâté.

Fischrestaurant Kornat usually gets busiest around 7 pm. If you want to avoid jostling with hungry customers, we recommend heading to this restaurant for a late lunch on Monday or Wednesday. It’s within walking distance of various religious sites, including the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, St. Peter's Catholic Church, and Catholic Church Maria am Gestade.

Mezzanin7 is a private restaurant that occupies a refurbished townhouse apartment. Inside, you'll see parquet flooring, French doors and windows, and eclectic interior décor. You'll also hear jazz and soul tracks from the 1920s and 1930s.

Mezzanin7 serves Viennese cuisine to a maximum of 8 guests. Our favorite menu options include roast pork with sour cabbage, green chili and dumplings, and potato soup with mushrooms. Plus, the homemade cream cakes always go down a treat. The nearest subway stations are Schottentor and Schottenring. While you’re in the area, we recommend checking out the Sigmund Freud Museum.