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Questioning what to eat in Vienna? Use this first-timer’s information to the highest native meals and drinks to find within the Austrian capital..
For me, consuming and journey go hand in hand! There’s simply no higher method to delve into a rustic’s tradition than to style it.
So in fact, in between exploring all of Vienna’s lovely palaces with my journey pal Lisa from Flåm Journey Information, I made positive to eat as many native dishes as potential.
If you wish to attempt all probably the most iconic meals and drinks in Vienna, I’ve rounded up the highest 12 must-try dishes, together with one of the best mains, avenue meals snacks, and candy treats.
Vienna can also be the one capital metropolis which produces vital portions of wine throughout the metropolis limits. On the finish of this put up, I’ve additionally shared some Viennese wine varieties you need to attempt within the metropolis.
From decadent desserts to the enduring Wiener schnitzel, and from creamy coffees to crisp white wines, that is the whole lot you must eat and drink while you go to Vienna…
What’s Viennese Delicacies?
Do you know that Viennese delicacies is the one delicacies named after a metropolis and never a rustic?
Vienna has been the capital of Austria for over 1000 years. In consequence, Viennese delicacies has been influenced by the totally different areas that had been as soon as a part of the monarchy – particularly, the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918).
Conventional Viennese delicacies is usually fairly heavy and hearty. Anticipate a variety of meat, potatoes, and cheese! However that is additionally a metropolis with a legendary espresso home tradition and a world of scrumptious desserts to attempt.
One of many causes I cherished Viennese delicacies a lot is that the town is well-known for pastries and muffins! From the enduring strudel to the legendary sachertorte, there are such a lot of unbelievable candy treats to find in Vienna.
Pastries and desserts are typically eaten a with a espresso within the afternoons. It is a custom I used to be very happy to bask in whereas I explored Vienna – and I like to recommend you do too!
What to Eat in Vienna
1 – Wiener Schnitzel
Austria’s nationwide dish, and possibly one of many nation’s most well-known worldwide, Wiener Schnitzel was born within the Austrian capital. Therefore the title: Wiener=Vienna in Austrian.
Historically, Wiener Schnitzel is made utilizing veal, however nowadays pork and rooster are additionally fairly frequent. The dish is made utilizing a flattened piece of meat which is roofed in breadcrumbs, then fried (often in butter) till golden yellow.
Often, the crispy-coated cutlet is served with a slice of lemon and parsley to garnish. The most typical aspect dishes are potato salad or french fries.
You’ll discover Wiener Schnitzel at eating places everywhere in the metropolis, so it’s simple to do this tasty Austrian dish while you go to Vienna.
2 – Sachertorte
Anybody who follows me on social media has in all probability seen I’m a BIG fan of desserts! So once I visited Vienna there was actually just one meals that was high of my listing to attempt: sachertorte!
Sachertorte, or Sacher Torte, is a super-rich, decadent chocolate cake named after its inventor, Franz Sacher. In keeping with the story, he created the dessert in 1832 for Prince Metternich, particularly to be served at a dinner for high-ranking visitors in Vienna. Sacher’s son later opened the Resort Sacher in 1876, which grew to become well-known because the “dwelling” of the sachertorte.
So what’s sachertorte? It’s a chocolate cake with two layers of dense chocolate sponge, with a skinny layer of apricot jam in between. The entire thing is coated with thick chocolate icing, creating a superbly clean circle of wealthy chocolate deliciousness. A slice is often served with a giant dollop of whipped cream, and is finest eaten with a cup of espresso.
Though you’ll be able to attempt sachertorte at cafes and bakeries throughout Vienna, there’s actually nowhere higher to style this piece of chocolatey heaven than at its dwelling, Cafe Sacher Wien on the Resort Sacher. The cafe here’s a sumptuously glamourous area. Suppose crystal chandeliers and regal purple trappings – good after a morning exploring Vienna’s lovely palaces! Attempt to arrive early, as there’s typically a queue out the door for seats.
LEARN MORE: Candy Vienna Tour – Residence of Desserts and Cafe Tradition (from $30.32pp).
3 – Tafelspitz
One other Austrian nationwide dish and a staple of conventional Viennese delicacies is Tafelspitz. Supposedly, this was the favorite dish of Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, so it’s undoubtedly a meal you must attempt while you’re in Vienna.
It’s a hearty, wintery meal with boiled beef or veal and root greens, served in a skinny broth. The title comes from the meat lower used, which is what we name topside within the UK (or standing rump within the US).
Often, tafelspitz is served with thinly sliced roast potatoes, in addition to bitter cream with chives. There’s additionally a extremely tasty sauce made out of pureed apples blended with slices of contemporary horseradish. This fruity-but-hot sauce is the proper accompaniment, as in any other case the meal would really feel a bit bland.
I attempted tafelspitz at Reinthaler’s Beisl, a really cosy and pleasant restaurant specialising in conventional Austrian meals in Vienna metropolis centre.
4 – Würstel
In the event you fancy a fast, scorching snack while exploring (or bar-hopping) in Vienna, you’ll be able to’t go unsuitable with a würstel!
Würstel simply means sausages, however these are an excellent in style avenue meals snack in Austria. Vienna is stuffed with Würstelstands, which serve up scorching grilled sausages both sliced, or in a crusty baguette (for a greater model of a scorching canine!).
Conventional Wiener Würstel is often made out of each beef and pork and wrapped in a sheep’s gut. However there are a selection of choices at most würstelstands, together with bratwurst, frankfurter, and currywurst. Don’t miss the favored Käsekraine, a cheese-filled sausage.
5 – Käsespätzle
Käsespätzle isn’t truly a Viennese meals however an Alpine dish which originated in Germany. Nevertheless, it’s a highly regarded dish all through Austria, and also you’ll see it on menus throughout Vienna.
I found käsespätzle on my journey to Vorarlberg a couple of years in the past and fell in love – so I used to be delighted to seek out its fairly in style in Vienna too.
Also referred to as kasspatzln in Tyrol, käsespätzle are comfortable egg noodles or dumplings (spätzle), that are coated in cheese and baked. Kind of like an Austrian model of mac n’ cheese!
This gooey, tacky pile of yumminess is topped with a sprinkling of fried onion. Easy, hearty, and undoubtedly a must-try while you go to Austria.
READ MORE: Uncover extra alpine Austrian dishes in my Tyrol Meals Information.
6 – Austrian Goulash
Goulash is historically a Hungarian dish, however Austria have their very own model of this hearty meat stew, generally additionally referred to as Wiener goulash.
Austrian goulash is historically made with beef and onions, in a tomato-based sauce flavoured with paprika. It’s usually fairly a thick, wealthy sauce, not like Hungarian goulash which is often a bit extra soup-y.
The opposite distinction between the 2 types is that Hungarian goulash typically comprises bell peppers and/or potatoes, whereas in Austria the dish solely comprises beef and onions.
7 – Apfelstrudel (Apple Strudel)
OK – time to get again to desserts! One Austrian dish that just about everybody is bound to have heard of is apfelstrudel – aka apple strudel.
Strudel is a dessert made out of a really skinny, delicate and flaky pastry rolled round a filling and baked. Often, the filling is fruit, and the best-known model is apple strudel.
Enjoyable reality; the title “strudel” comes from the German phrase for whirlpool or eddy, due to the swirled form of the dessert as soon as it’s lower open.
Though it’s very strongly related to Austrian delicacies, strudel is assumed to have been primarily based on the Turkish baklava pastry, which was launched into Austria in 1453. The oldest recognized strudel recipe was handwritten in 1696 – the unique nonetheless exists on the Viennese Metropolis Library.
8 – Topfenstrudel (Cream Cheese strudel)
One other nice strudel you must attempt in Vienna is topfenstrudel – cream cheese strudel.
This wealthy and creamy Austrian dessert is made with the identical delicate pastry as another strudel. However the filling is made utilizing sweetened curd cheese and raisins, creating an nearly cheesecake-like flavour with a texture just like the UK’s bread and butter pudding. Principally, it’s dense, creamy, and really, very tasty!
9 – Kaiserschmarrn
I found kaiserschmarrn on my journey to the Salzburgerland area of Austria final summer season and couldn’t get sufficient of it.
Primarily, it’s a light-weight, fluffy pancake made out of a candy batter (typically with rum-soaked raisins added, in keeping with the unique recipe) which is then served shredded and dusted with powdered sugar.
Historically, the pancake chunks are served with a scorching plum sauce. However you may as well discover it served with totally different fruit
This dessert is in style all through Austria, in addition to many elements of the previous Austro-Hungarian empire. However it’s named after the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I (kaiser = emperor), who lived in Vienna – so it’s a terrific dish to attempt after visiting his former residence on the Hoffburg Palace.
10 – Method Wafers
One other candy deal with you completely HAVE to attempt in Vienna is Method Wafers. However let me warn you, you in all probability gained’t wish to cease at only one!
I really like these little wafer biscuits, that are like a hazelnut model of the UK’s Pink Wafers (a 90s kids’s get together basic).
This basic Viennese deal with was invented within the Nineties by Viennese confectioner Josef Method. The Unique Neopolitan is the basic model: 5 layers of wafers stuffed with 4 layers of candy hazelnut cocoa cream.
There are many new flavours and totally different variations at present, however the basic continues to be the preferred – and a must-try meals in Vienna.
In Vienna, you’ll be able to go to the flagship Method retailer on Stephansplatz to find an unlimited vary of various wafer varieties, in addition to different confectionary and merch. However you may as well purchase Method Wafers everywhere in the metropolis at supermarkets and newsagents.
11 – Punschkrapfen
In the event you’re not carried out with candy treats by now, there’s yet one more Austrian dessert you need to attempt in Vienna. Punschkrapfen, or punch cake, is a Viennese basic that appears a bit bit like a fancier model of my favorite muffins, Fondant Fancies!
It’s made out of an excellent gentle sponge, stuffed with jam and soaked in rum. That is lower into small sq. cubes and coated with a brilliant pink punschglasur (punch glaze).
Nobody is aware of who invented the cake or the way it arrived in Vienna, however it could date proper again to the Center Ages! Yow will discover it at bakeries throughout Vienna, though Unique Wiener Punschkrapfen declare to make the OG model of this sticky, candy pink cake.
12 – Viennese Espresso – Melange and Extra
The Italians may be extra well-known for espresso, however in Vienna, espresso home tradition has been raised to an artwork type.
In Vienna, the must-try drink is Wiener Melange. Much like a cappuccino, however often made with a milder espresso, this can be a shot of espresso topped with scorching milk and milk foam.
There are fairly a couple of variants in espresso homes all through the town. One of the vital in style twists is to high the milk foam with whipped cream, generally referred to as a Franziskaner.
One other in style espresso drink is Kaffee Maria Theresia, named after the 18th-century Habsburg empress. It’s a double espresso shot, blended with orange liqueur and topped with whipped cream. This makes for a decadent deal with, nevertheless it was a bit too boozy for me!
LEARN MORE: Guided Viennese Espresso-Home Tour (from $62.67pp)
Austrian Wines to Drink in Vienna
With over 700 hectares (1,680 acres) of city vineyards, Vienna is the one capital on the earth to produce a lot wine throughout the metropolis limits. And Viennese wine is now counted among the many finest on the earth.
Lots of Vienna’s wineries and vineyards will be reached by tram, and even on foot, from the town centre. So remember to go to one for a tour and tasting to study a bit extra about Viennese wine.
LEARN MORE: Native Wine Tasting in a Historic Roman Wine Cellar, from $29.31pp.
Gruner Veltliner
The vineyards round Vienna primarily domesticate white grapes, and the native selection Grüner Veltliner is the commonest. It is a should attempt drink while you go to Vienna.
It is a dry white wine which is ideal paired with native dishes like Wiener Schnitzel. In keeping with Wine Folly, Grüner Veltliner is gentle and tangy when younger, however turns into richer when aged.
You’ll see Grüner Veltliner on the wine listing at nearly each restaurant and bar within the metropolis. My favorite was Vienna’s smallest wine bar, Vis a Vis, a pleasant and cosy little bar with a terrific ambiance. Take a look at this listing of one of the best wine bars in Vienna to seek out your excellent spot.
Welschriesling
The opposite major grape selection discovered round Vienna is Welschriesling. Unrelated to the higher recognized Rhine Riesling, Welschriesling is thought for being contemporary and impartial, which makes it a really easy-drinking dry white wine.
Welschriesling is much less frequent than the better-known Grüner Veltliner, however remember to hold an eye fixed out for it. We tried it at The Gloriette on the Schönbrunn Palace – value a go to for the views alone!
“Champagne” Tasting at Schlumberger
Vienna is on the identical latitude because the champagne area in France. So it’s no shock that glowing wine from this area is remarkably just like champagne.
Glowing wine followers ought to head to Schlumberger Kellerwelten in Vienna. Based in 1842, they make their glowing wine in keeping with the champagne technique. Solely the placement of the winery retains this scrumptious bubbly from being champagne!
Tour Vienna’s oldest champagne cellar (the vaults are round 300 years previous) and luxuriate in a tasting – with out having to go away the town centre! A tour with three glasses of champagne begins from simply 16 euros.
CLICK HERE to verify costs and availability in your go to.
Different Vienna Eating places
In the event you fancy a change from conventional Viennese delicacies, there are many fab eating places throughout Vienna providing all types of different meals. These had been a few my favorite finds:
Reserva Ibérica – for Spanish-inspired tapas, wine, and sangria.
Ristorante Fratelli – for scrumptious Italian meals and a terrific wine listing. Order the truffle pasta if it’s on the menu!
Vienna Meals Excursions
If you wish to study extra about Viennese delicacies, or attempt native meals with an knowledgeable information, these Vienna meals excursions are good…
So, this was my information to what to eat in Vienna! When you’ve got any extra nice suggestions for conventional Viennese dishes and drinks – or any must-visit eating places – tell us within the feedback beneath…