Wondering what to eat in Vienna besides Wiener Schnitzel? That was the question I had before my first trip to Vienna. I wasn’t sure what Vienna food was all about besides the delicious fried veal.
But after spending almost two months in the city, I learned what food Vienna is famous for, including some of the best traditional Viennese food, street food and desserts.
And for someone who absolutely loves coffee, I completely indulged in the Viennese coffee culture. There is something just so special about sitting in a traditional Viennese coffee house with retro furniture and drinking a traditional Wiener Melange.
So if you love eating as much as I do and are excited to try some of the must-try food in Vienna, then get ready! I’ll show you all the best food in Vienna and where to find them.
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Tips for Eating Austrian Food in Vienna
Before trying some of the best Vienna food, check out my Vienna solo travel guide first. This guide is especially useful if this is your first time in the city.
Here are a few additional tips for eating in Vienna:
- Solo dining is quite common in Vienna. I saw many lone diners eating on patios and inside restaurants. Don’t be afraid to eat alone.
- Traditional Vienna food can be quite meat-heavy. Many main dishes have pork or beef as the main ingredient.
- There are a few vegetarian options as well. Some soups, sides and main dishes are made with vegetables only. Check the online menu before you go.
- Bring your credit card as many places accept credit cards and a convenient way to pay your bill.
- Bring cash as sausage stands and fast food places only accept cash.
- Tip about 10% of your bill or more at a cafe or restaurant if the service is good.
Summary: What to Eat in Vienna
See the summary of the best food to try in Vienna below. This is a quick guide for you when searching for what to eat in Vienna Austria.
And when you scroll down, I include a more detailed explanation and photo for each Viennese food and where to find the local specialty.
Here is a quick summary of the 24 best food in Vienna:
Vienna Street Food and Snacks
- Frankfurter Würstel – Frankfurter or Viennese sausage
- Käsekrainer – pork sausage with small chunks of cheese
- Leberkäse – meatloaf with a bread roll
- Trześniewski Brötchen – bite-sized open-faced sandwich
Vienna Traditional Food: Starters, Main and Side dishes
- Frittatensuppe – Austrian pancake soup
- Wiener Schnitzel and Erdäpfelsalat – deep-fried veal cutlet and Austrian-style potato salad
- Tafelspitz – traditional Viennese boiled beef in broth
- Austrian Beef Goulash and Knödel – Austrian beef stew with bread dumpling
- Wiener and Goulash – Frankfurter and beef stew
- Spargel – white asparagus
Viennese Desserts
- Sachertorte – Austrian chocolate cake
- Kaiserschmarren – shredded pancake in a pan
- Apfelstrudel – phyllo pastry stuffed with sweet apples
- Topfenstrudel – flakey pastry filled with soft quark cheese
- Maroniblüte – The Original Chestnut Blossom
- Powidltascherl – plum jam turnovers
- Buchteln – sweet yeast rolls filled with jam
- Palatschinken – Austrian pancake
Typical Viennese Drinks
- Almdudler – carbonated herbal lemonade
- Wiener Melange – Viennese coffee with steamed milk and milk froth
- Einspänner – Viennese coffee with whipped cream
- Austrian Beer – Ottakringer, Gösser, Stiegl and Zwettler
- Austrian Wine – Grüner Veltliner, Gemischter Satz, and Sturm
- Austrian Schnapps – distilled fruit brandy
Vienna Street Food and Snacks
1 & 2. Frankfurter Würstel and Käsekrainer
At a Würstelstand (sausage stand), you can find many types of Austrian sausages including Bratwurst (a type of German sausage), Debreziner (pork sausage spiced with paprika) and Currywurst (Bratwurst with curry ketchup sauce).
But if you only can try two, try Frankfurter Würstel and Käsekrainer.
What is Frankfurter Würstel: Frankfurter or Viennese sausage. The thin sausage is made with pork and beef and is parboiled. A serving comes with a pair of sausages, mustard, ketchup and bread.
What is Käsekrainer: grilled pork sausage with small chunks of cheese inside. Order it as a hot dog (sausage stuffed vertically into a white crusty bun with mustard and/or ketchup) or as a plate (sausage is cut into pieces and served with a side of condiments and bread).
Where to eat Frankfurter Würstel and Käsekrainer: Bitzinger Wurstelstand, Würstelstand Leo, and other sausage stand all over the city.
3. Leberkäse
What is Leberkäse: a slice of meatloaf typically made with beef or pork. When you order a Leberkäsesemmel, it comes with a slice of leberkäse in a standard bread roll with mustard. Besides the original leberkäse, some other types include cheese, red and green peppers and other ingredients as indicated.
Where to eat Leberkäse: Bitzinger Wurstelstand, Leberkas-Pepi, some sausage stands, and the deli section at the supermarket
4. Trześniewski Brötchen
What is Trześniewski Brötchen: small open-faced sandwiches. Toppings like eggs and other savoury ingredients are placed on dark rye bread. Order a Pfiff Bier (small glass of beer) with your bite-sized snacks.
Where to eat Trześniewski Brötchen: Buffet Trzesniewski (many locations; Dorotheergasse is the original shop)
Traditional Vienna Food: Starter, Main and Side Dishes
1. Frittatensuppe
What is Frittatensuppe: Austrian pancake soup. A clear homemade beef broth topped with thinly sliced pancake. It is the perfect appetizer!
Where to eat Frittatensuppe: Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper, Kaffee Alt Wien, Gasthaus Rebhuhn, Figlmuller at Wollzeile, Lugeck, Meissl & Schadn Vienna, Salm Brau, Heindls Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl, Cafe Frauenhuber, Demel
2. Wiener Schnitzel and Erdäpfelsalat
What is Wiener Schnitzel: A premium veal cutlet, pounded thinly, breaded and deep fried in butter. It is served with a wedge of lemon and comes with a side dish (potato salad, cucumber salad or fries). This is one of the national dishes of Austria.
What is Wiener Erdäpfelsalat: Austrian-style potato salad flavoured with red onion, vinegar and mustard.
Where to eat Wiener Schnitzel and Erdäpfelsalat: Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper, Plachutta Wollzeile, Wiener Wiazhaus, Kaffee Alt Wien, Gasthaus Rebhuhn, Figlmuller at Wollzeile, Lugeck, Meissl & Schadn Vienna, Schnitzelwirt, Gasthaus Pöschl, Salm Brau, Heindls Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl, Cafe Sacher, Cafe Central, Cafe Landtmann, Cafe Frauenhuber, Cafe Sperl, Cafe Museum
3. Tafelspitz
What is Tafelspitz: traditional Viennese boiled beef in broth. The dish starts with premium cuts of beef cooked in a flavourful broth. Then, it is served with fried potato and horseradish-applesauce sauce.
Where to eat Tafelspitz: Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper, Plachutta Wollzeile, Wiener Wiazhaus, Gasthaus Rebhuhn, Figlmuller at Wollzeile, Lugeck, Meissl & Schadn Vienna, Gasthaus Pöschl, Salm Brau, Heindls Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl, Cafe Sacher
4. Austrian Beef Goulash and Knödel
What is Austrian Beef Goulash: stewed beef in a thick tomato-based sauce with sweet paprika and goulash spices. Typically, it comes with bread dumplings but it also tastes good with pasta like spätzle (similar to Hungarian cuisine).
What is Knödel: large bread dumpling made with white bread, milk and egg yolk.
Where to eat Austrian Beef Goulash and Knödel: Wiener Wiazhaus, Kaffee Alt Wien, Gasthaus Rebhuhn, Figlmuller at Wollzeile, Schnitzelwirt, Gasthaus Pöschl, Salm Brau, Heindls Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl, Demel, Cafe Hawelka
5. Wiener and Goulash
What is Wiener and Goulash: Frankfurter and beef goulash on the same plate. It also comes with a dinner roll to soak up all the gravy. This is typically a small dish at a coffeehouse.
Where to eat Wiener and Goulash: Kaffee Alt Wien, Gasthaus Rebhuhn
6. Spargel
What is Spargel: white asparagus is grown without sunlight, hence, the white colour. It is sweeter and more tender than green asparagus. And when it is in season (April to June), many restaurants in Vienna have a special asparagus menu.
Where to eat Spargel: Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper, Plachutta Wollzeile, Figlmuller at Wollzeile, Lugeck, Meissl & Schadn Vienna, Gasthaus Pöschl
Viennese Desserts
1. Sachertorte
What is Sachertorte: the most famous Austrian cake starts with layers of chocolate sponge cake, with thin layers of apricot jam inside and covered with dark chocolate icing. The original Sachertorte is served at Cafe Sacher, while other coffee houses also have their own version of Sachertorte.
Where to eat Sachertorte: Cafe Sacher, Cafe Central, Demel, Cafe Landtmann, Cafe Hawelka, Cafe Frauenhuber, Cafe Sperl, Cafe Museum
2. Kaiserschmarren
What is Kaiserschmarren: fluffy shredded pancake with raisins served in a pan with stewed plums and apple puree. Eat this as a dessert or a light lunch.
Where to eat Kaiserschmarren: Cafe Central, Demel, Cafe Landtmann, Cafe Frauenhuber, Cafe Museum, Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper, Lugeck, Schnitzelwirt, Gasthaus Pöschl, Heindls Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl
3 & 4. Apfelstrudel and Topfenstrudel
What is Apfelstrudel: a phyllo pastry stuffed with sweet apples, cinnamon, breadcrumbs and raisins. Order this classic Viennese pastry with whipped cream or vanilla sauce.
What is Topfenstrudel: a flakey pastry filled with a generous serving of soft quark cheese made from cultured buttermilk. The cheese has a texture and flavour like yogurt and cottage cheese.
Where to eat Apfelstrudel and Topfenstrudel: Cafe Central, Cafe Landtmann, Cafe Hawelka, Cafe Museum, Kaffee Alt Wien, Meissl & Schadn Vienna, Salm Brau
5. Maroniblüte
What is Maroniblüte: the Original Chestnut Blossom has several key ingredients: a chocolate-covered waffle cup, preserved sour cherries, chestnut mousse and chestnut puree. Only a handful of coffee houses in Vienna serve this special treat.
Where to eat Maroniblüte: Cafe Landtmann, Cafe Museum
6. Powidltascherl
What is Powidltascherl: potato dumplings in crescent shape filled with plum jam boiled in salted water. Then they are rolled in breadcrumbs and sprinkled with confectioners sugar.
Where to eat Powidltascherl: Meissl & Schadn Vienna
7. Buchteln
What is Buchteln: sweet yeast rolls filled with plum jam or apricot jam. The small buns are baked together. Make sure to dunk the bread in the vanilla sauce – it tastes extra yummy.
Where to eat Buchteln: Demel, Cafe Hawelka, Cafe Museum
8. Palatschinken
What is Palatschinken: Austrian pancake. Thin crepe-like pancake with apricot jam filling. This is the same pancake is used for the Austrian pancake soup.
Where to eat Palatschinken: Cafe Frauenhuber, Cafe Museum
Typical Viennese Drinks
1. Almududler
What is Almdudler: Viennese soft drink. This carbonated drink with herbal extracts is the most popular beverage in Austria. Try the original herbal lemonade, mate & guayana, ginger & matcha or açai & lemongrass.
Where to drink Almdudler: most fast food restaurants, cafes and restaurants in Vienna and supermarkets like Spar, Lidl and Billa
2 & 3. Wiener Melange and Einspänner
There are many types of coffee that you can try in Vienna. These two are the most popular ones.
What is Wiener Melange: Viennese Melange is a typical Viennese coffee made with espresso, half steamed milk and topped with milk froth. This is a local favourite, and it is tastes very similar to a cappuccino.
What is Einspänner: Viennese coffee with a thick layer of whipped cream served in a tall glass.
Where to drink Wiener Melange and Einspänner: Cafe Sacher, Cafe Central, Demel, Cafe Landtmann, Cafe Hawelka, Cafe Frauenhuber, Cafe Sperl, Cafe Museum, Kaffee Alt Wien and other coffee houses.
4. Austrian Beer
What is Austrian beer: the most popular ones include Ottakringer from Vienna, Gösser from Leoben, Stiegl from Salzburg, and Zwettler from Zwettl.
Where to drink Austrian beer: everywhere! Find a variety of Austrian beers including craft beers at Naschmarkt, sausage stands, bars, cafes, restaurants and supermarkets
5. Austrian Wine
What is Austrian Wine: Vienna is the world’s largest wine-producing city. Try Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s signature dry white wine, Gemischter Satz, a wine made from at least three grape varieties in the wine region of Vienna, and Sturm, a partially fermented wine that is only made between September to October.
Where to drink Austrian Wine: cafes, restaurants, bars, food markets and supermarkets. If you can, visit a Heuriger in Grinzing, a wine tavern in the wine region of Vienna and try local wines.
6. Austrian Schnapps
What is Austrian Schnapps: distilled fruit brandy in Austria. There are several flavours including Zwetschgenschnapps (plum schnapps) and Marillenschnapps (apricot schnapps). It has a higher alcohol content but is surprisingly smooth.
Where to drink Austrian Schnapps: most bars, cafes and restaurants in Vienna
Where to Eat in Vienna Austria
I spent almost two months in Vienna and ate my way around the city. Along the way, I found many excellent places to eat for solo diners. They range from casual sausage stands to swanky traditional Viennese restaurants.
But I am not listing them all (because not all were amazing). I’m only including all the best restaurants and cafes that I believe are worth trying.
All the food mentioned above can be found at one of these food outlets and restaurants. To find the address for these Vienna restaurants, click on the restaurant name, which will bring you to the exact location on Google Maps.
24 Best Restaurants in Vienna Austria
Vienna Street Food: Sausage Stands, Specialty Shops and Food Market
For a casual lunch, quick snack or just because, these are some of the best casual local eateries in Vienna where you can try street food.
- Bitzinger Würstelstand – popular sausage stand outside of Albertina. Look for the giant rabbit on top.
- Würstelstand Leo – founded in 1928, is Vienna’s oldest sausage stand.
- Leberkas-Pepi – fast food restaurant serving many types of leberkäse.
- Buffet Trzesniewski – sandwich shop serving Trześniewski Brötchen and Pfiff Bier (small glass of beer). Many locations in Vienna.
- Naschmarkt – 100-year-old food market with rows of open stalls selling all types of Viennese food.
Must-Try Traditional Austrian Restaurants and Cafes in Vienna
There are three traditional Austrian food that you must try: Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz and Austrian Beef Goulash. These are some of the best food in Vienna that you can’t find anywhere else. And you can find one or all three dishes in these restaurants below.
- Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper – serving the original Wiener Schnitzel and other Viennese specialties.
- Plachutta Wollzeile – choose different cuts of beef for their world-famous Tafelspitz.
- Wiener Wiazhaus – one of the top-rated local restaurants on Tripadvisor.
- Gasthaus Rebhuhn – a local’s favourite near Sigmund Freud Museum.
- Figlmuller at Wollzeile – their Wiener Schnitzel is so big it spills over the plate.
- Lugeck – a modern restaurant serving classic Viennese dishes.
- Meissl & Schadn Vienna – one of the best Wiener Schnitzel I have ever had but a bit pricey.
- Schnitzelwirt – a local favourite with very reasonable prices.
- Salm Bräu – try a flight of beers and home-style dishes at this local brewery.
- Heindls Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl – serve many types of savoury and sweet pancakes and other Viennese dishes.
Kaffeehaus (Viennese Coffee House)
A Kaffeehaus is a traditional Austrian coffee house. But it is more than just coffee itself. The Viennese coffee house culture dates back a few hundred years. Today, it is a popular place of gathering; people at the coffee write, read newspaper, play games or simply relax.
It is a very social and relaxing activity for locals. And of course, delicious Viennese coffee and cake is part of the culture as well.
Because of the popularity of coffee culture, many old Viennese coffee houses are still around and some even have the original and traditional decor. When you’re in Vienna, go to at least one of these cafes:
- Cafe Sacher – famous for its original Sachertorte.
- Cafe Central – opened in 1876, it might be Vienna’s most beautiful coffee house.
- Demel – founded in 1786, is Vienna’s first confectionery for fine pastries.
- Cafe Landtmann – a dreamy Viennese coffee house since 1873 and Sigmund Freud’s go-to cafe.
- Cafe Hawelka – not as busy as the other popular coffee houses but the vibe is just as amazing.
- Cafe Frauenhuber – housed in a former medieval bathhouse where Mozart and Beethoven once entertained guests here.
- Cafe Sperl – love the traditional interior in this Viennese coffee house.
- Cafe Museum – small coffee house designed by Austrian architect Adolf Loos.
- Kaffee Alt Wien – classic Viennese cafe with vintage posters.
What and where are you going to eat in Vienna?
The list of savoury food isn’t very long, but I can assure you that everything tastes divine! Plus, the quality of the food is amazing! And if you have a sweet tooth, you are going to love all the desserts in Vienna!
So, if you are taking solo trip to Vienna, you can try most of these famous Vienna dishes in a few days. At the very least, you must try the Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz! Those are my favourite food in Vienna!
So the big question is – what and where are you going to eat? Which Vienna food are you interested in trying? Let me know in the comments.
Ready to plan your trip to Austria? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner
* Book accommodation: find the best accommodations in Austria on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Get Your Guide and Klook for the best tours around Austria.
Thank you for reading my Vienna Food Guide
For more travel inspiration, check out my Austria page for posts on solo travel in Austria. Here are some posts you might enjoy.
Vienna travel posts:
- Vienna solo travel guide for first time travellers
- Visit a Heuriger in Grinzing from Vienna: 1-day itinerary
- Bratislava day trip from Vienna
Food around the world:
- Budapest food guide: 26 Best Budapest Food
- Bucharest Food: What to eat in Bucharest
- Where and what to eat in Sofia Bulgaria
- Porto Food Guide: what and where to eat in Porto
- 21 must-eat food in Singapore
- Where to eat Michelin star street food in Singapore
- Traditional Hong Kong food: Where and What to Eat
- Okinawa food guide: 26 best food
- Tokyo Food Guide: 42 best places to eat in Tokyo
- 22 must-eat food in Taiwan
- Ximending food for foodies travelling to Taipei
- Taiwan 7-11 food: 10 must-eat
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Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!
