The best bars in Vienna, Austria...
For a city of its size, Vienna surprisingly falls a long way behind most European capitals for the quality of its cocktail bars, however with a little bit of research (like our tips below), you can still find some amazing mixologists alongside a whole host of historic cafes and "heuriger" wine taverns.
- Most Vienna bars usually remain busy until midnight during the week and 02:00 at weekends. Some bars and nightclubs close around 06:00
- Vienna is a relatively large city but it can still be explored easily by foot or bike if you plan your route ahead
- Most (but not all) Vienna bars accept payment by debit or credit card
- Staff in most Vienna bars speak good English
- Nearly all the bars in Vienna offer excellent local Austrian beers, together with Wiener Gemischter Satz and Grüne Veltliner wines from local vineyards
- Smoking is still permitted inside nearly all Vienna bars (although is set to be banned in 2018)
- Generally, the locals tip by just rounding up the bill, however 5%-10% is also acceptable. Tip by saying the amount you want to pay in total when actually paying (not after you've been given your change). And be careful saying "Danke" when you pay as it means "keep the change" in Vienna
- Bratislava is only 1 hour away by train or boat and should also be visited if you have time
Best Bars Vienna ~ Extrazimmer
1 ~ EXTRAZIMMER
"Extrazimmer" basically translates as "speakeasy" in English and there is simply no better definition of this authentic secret bar in Vienna. A tiny basement apartment and former artist's studio, which now belongs to one of Vienna's most legendary bartenders, has been converted into an invite-only tasting room and private party venue, inspired by the Marlene Dietrich song "The Boys In the Backroom". You can forget the "too cool for school" secret speakeasy concepts in Berlin, London and Rome, as this is the real deal. For that reason, we only think it's fair that we don't give away it's location. However, if you can find the bartender behind it (their cocktail bar is also somewhere on this list) then you might just be able to book yourself onto one of their tasting sessions or get a sneak preview.
Best Bars Vienna ~ Le Loft / Photo: sofitel.com
2 ~ LE LOFT
The beautiful bar on the top floor of the plush Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom offers some of the finest cocktails in Vienna with the best view in town. A painted mural ceiling - which looks amazing when viewed from the street outside - blends with the sky through the floor to ceiling wrap-around windows, whilst the large selection of fine wines from around the world, including a wine and Champagne flight, help make this one of our favourite bars in Vienna.
Cocktails €11+ Beer (0.5l) €5.50+ Wine €5.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ The Sign Lounge / Photo: The Sign Lounge Facebook
3 ~ THE SIGN LOUNGE
In a city where the cocktail culture trails many of the world's capitals, with a focus largely on classic American bars, this friendly neighbourhood lounge stands out above everything else, not only in Vienna but also over nearly everything else in Europe - especially when taking into account value for money. Kan Zuo and his team produce some of the most beautifully presented mixes you'll ever taste. Alongside their creative inventions, there's a vast menu which travels through the ages of cocktail making history, paying homage to the likes of Jerry Thomas, Harry Johnson, Louis Eppinger (The Grand Hotel Yokohama), Erik Lorincz (The American Bar at the Savoy London), Mike Meinke (Triobar Berlin) and Manabu Ohtake (Cerulean Tower Tokyo). Located in the North West area of the city, you'll probably find it difficult to leave once you step into this wizard's cauldron. As with all cocktail bars, it can get busy at weekends and the service obviously slower. For that reason, we recommend getting there early or even attending their Sunday night specials where a different spirit brand is showcased each week with a special discounted menu for the night.
Cocktails €7+ Beer (0.5l) €4.50+ Wine €3.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Naschmarkt
4 ~ NASCHMARKT
Vienna's largest market is a must-visit when in town, and alongside the 120+ stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, cheese and international delicacies, you'll find a large selection of bars, beer sellers, vinotheks and restaurants to choose from. The most hip of these seems to be the Naschmarkt Deli which offers a small selection of cocktails and boasts DJs at weekends. Other bars worth visiting in the market include the quaint and traditional pub, Zur Eisernen Zeit, the Landsknecht beer house and the more upmarket Do-An. The market itself opens at 6am every day except Sunday, and generally closes at 19:30 (17:00 on Saturdays) with the restaurants and bars staying open till around midnght, Monday - Saturday. Alongside the market, on the opposite side of the road is a selection of more traditional restaurants with longer opening hours, including the Sir Terence Conran designed Café Drechsler, a modern take on a traditional Viennese coffee house (see beow). You can literally spend an entire day eating, drinking and soaking up the atmosphere of Naschmarkt, especially on Saturdays when the colourful flea market is also open - a popular destination for Vienna's bar community seeking vintage glassware for their bars.
Cocktails €7+ Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €2.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Weingut Mayer
5 ~ WEINGUT MAYER AM PFARRPLATZ
Vienna is the largest wine producing capital city in the world, and the best place to try these wines is in a Heuriger, a bar/restaurant in which the wine-growers serve their own wines, usually close to their vineyard. As they are often family ran, the opening times can vary so you need to look for a bunch of pine branches which hang over the entrance when it's open together with the words “Ausg’steckt” written on a board. For one of the most beautiful, if somewhat less rustic, heurigens, head to this stunning building in Heiligenstadt, which has been crafting the finest Viennese wines since 1683. Ludwig van Beethoven even lived in the romantic listed suburban home in 1817 and it was during his time there that he worked on Symphony No. 9, regarded to be his greatest creation. You can enjoy fine wines (including a six wine flight) in the rooms where he stayed and, after 19:00 each day, enjoy original Viennese Heuriger music. Whilst in the area, you should also check out the other heurigens to get a feel for true Viennese life. Well worth making the trip for.
Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine €2.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Atmosphere
6 ~ ATMOSPHERE ROOFTOP BAR & LOUNGE
Located on the 8th floor of the 5 Star Ritz-Carlton hotel this rooftop cocktail bar offers a spectacular view of the city. Open from April and throughout the pleasant summer months, the terrace is completely exposed to the sun making it the perfect place to soak up those rays over a summer cocktail a glass of Champagne or Austrian wine. With room for 110 people, the atmosphere is great and it's the only rooftop sundeck bar in the city. It's also home to a Christmas Market in November and December. The hotel's D-Bar on the ground floor, open all year round, is also worth checking out for some great creative cocktails.
Cocktails €13+ Beer (0.5l) €7.50+ Wine €4.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Door 7
7 ~ TÜR 7
Opened in December 2014 to much acclaim, this backstreet speakeasy comes from the cocktail dreamteam of Geri Kozbach-Tsai (co-founder of the Vienna Bar Community), Glenn Estrada (Lutz bar) and World Class 2014 finalist, Reinhard "Reini" Pohorec (The Sign Lounge and American Bar at the Savoy London). The result is stunning. A tiny yet expensively furnished bouteque bar for no more than 35 people. The main bar area is actually non-smoking meaning your senses are free to taste the amazing creations, which is a welcome relief in a city where even restaurants come complete with clouds of tobacco. Located on Buchfeldgasse 7, the menu comprises of seven suggested cocktails (or seven deadly sins) with, yes you've guessed it, seven varieties of each spirit on offer.
Cocktails €12+ Beer (0.5l) €6+ Wine €4+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Cafe Central
8 ~ CAFÉ CENTRAL
Vienna's coffee house culture is celebrated all over the world and this famous traditional cafe in the Palais Ferstel, which first opened in 1876, is perhaps the most beautiful example of the city's social scene. At the turn of the 20th century it was a popular meeting point for leading lights in the world of art, literature, politics and science, such as Arthur Schnitzler, Sigmund Freud, Peter Altenberg, Adolf Loos and Leo Trotzkis and, until 1938, was called Die Schachhochschule ("The Chess School") because of the presence of many chess players. An interesting statue of Viennese coffee house poet Peter Altenberg sits in the middle of the room. He wrote many of his poems whilst frequenting Cafe Central, even having his mail delivered there. The cafe was moved to a different part of the Palais Ferstel in 1975 and today the huge queue of tourists hoping to get a table mixes with politicians, royalty and Hollywood stars.
Beer (0.5l) €5+ Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Vulcanothek
9 ~ VULCANOTHEK
Even in a city with more beautiful fairytale buildings than you can possibly ever imagine, the Palais Ferstel (Ferstl Passage) still stands out as one of the most stunning buildings on earth. Dating back to 1900, the beautiful arcade offers many shops. galleries, restaurants, cafes and bars, however it's the relatively new wine and ham bar/shop that we love most, purely for its offering of the best Austrian pork and wines. With a small but good selection of various grapes, it's open until 22:00 every day and is one of those unique places where your drinking and tourism requirements are both met at the same time.
Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Josef / Photo: josef-bar.at
10 ~ Josef Cocktail Bar
Opened in March 2017, in the middle of the historic old town, this intimate cocktail bar embraces Vienna's rich cafe history. Named after the grandfathers of the owners, award-winning local bartenders Andrea Hörzer & Philipp M. Ernst, their innovative cocktails are amongst the best in own. The smoky room mixes opulent Baroque designs with 1980s influences, and is a must-visit for cocktail aficionados. Open from 18:00 until 03:00. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Cocktails €? Beer (0.5l) €? Wine €?
Best Bars Vienna ~ Blue Mustard / Photo: Benedikt Steinle http://bluemustard.at
11 ~ Blue Mustard
Opened in June 2016, this venue is certainly something different. The stylish bar complements the fantastic restaurant with an original 1950s camper van foodtruck in the lobby. The decor is incredibly impressive with the drinks equally as pleasing to the eye. Food and drink pairings add to the offering and the cocktails are amongst the best in Vienna.
Cocktails €12.50+ Beer (0.5l) €6+ Wine €5+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Palais Coburg
12 ~ PALAIS COBURG
What can we say about this beautiful Vienna palace, dating back to 1839 and now a luxury hotel and 2 Star Michelin / 3 Toques Gault Millau restaurant? The comfortable wine bar is accessible to non guests and boasts an incredible 60,000 bottles (worth over €30 million). If you're lucky, you might be able to persuade the barman to show you the six stunning cellars below, or you can also book one of their wine tasting tours. It's an experience worth taking as they boast one of the largest stocks of Mouton Rothschild, Dom Pérignon and Pétrus in the world - although pride of place is their Château Yquem collection - worth over €10 million with bottles dating back to 1893. There's over 13,000 bottles from Austria, 30,000 from France, 1,000 Champagnes, probably the world's largest Sassicaia collection, a 27 litre bottle of Spanish Rioja and, what was described by Christies Auction House as the "oldest drinkable wine in the world", the 1727 Rudesheimer Apostelwein. If you can't quite afford the €170,000 bottle of Latour 61 Imperial, you'll be glad to hear that the excellent house Grüner Veltliner starts at just €4,50 a glass.
Cocktails €8+ Beer (0.5l) €7+ Wine €4.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Bitzinger Wuerstelstand
13 ~ BITZINGER WÜRSTELSTAND
You're probably wondering how a takeaway bratwuerst stand makes it into our list of the best bars in Vienna. Well, this architectural masterpiece also serves beer, wine and even Champagne (from breakfast until 4am). When in Vienna, you should try the Käsekrainer (cheese sausage) or Bitzinger's famous Bosna, a spicy Austrian sandwich made with crisp fried Bratwurst. Located underneath the Albertina Palais Musuem, a famous viewing point featured in the Before Sunrise movie, Hotel Sacher is just across the road, where - unless you're visiting here in the early hours of the morning - you should also head for an original Sacher Torte chocolate cake.
Beer (0.5l) €3.50+ Wine €2+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Palmenhaus
14 ~ PALMENHAUS
In 1901 the architect Friedrich Ohman was comissioned to build the splendid Jugendstil palmhouse and butterfly house in the Hofburg Palace gardens. Sadly it fell into disrepair and was closed to the public in 1988. Ten years (and €17 million) later, the greenhouse was reopened as one of the most popular bars and restaurants in Vienna. The 12 metre long Marble Bar offers an amazing wine selection together with a good cocktail menu, the drinks garnished with beautiful fresh fruit. DJ's play on Friday nights and you can choose to sit on the comfortable leather sofas or outside on the garden terrace, overlooking the Hofburg Palace, enjoying warm summer nights until 2am.
Cocktails €8.50+ Beer (0.5l) €5+ Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Phil
15 ~ PHIL
They don't come much more unique than this very popular shop/bar concept opposite the famous Cafe Sperl (see below). Part bookshop, part cafe bar, it's the perfect place to unwind with a glass of Austrian wine and get lost in a good read. Comfortable seats and tables (which are also available to buy) sit amongst the bookshelves and boxes of vinyl whilst there's also a program of live music, lectures, film nights and DJs.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Fabios
16 ~ FABIOS
Even though this sleek bar is certainly Vienna's "place to be seen" with its glamorous clientele, prices are surprisingly in-line with the rest of the city. Whilst it speaks more New York or Milan than Vienna (the attached restaurant is Italian too), the cocktails are more creative than those found in many of the city's other cocktail bars, with the talented Jan Pavel devising an ever-changing seasonal menu.
Cocktails €8+ Beer (0.5l) €7+ Wine €4.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Meinls Wine Bar
17 ~ MEINLS WEINBAR
The Julius Meinl department store is a Viennese institution, and it's wines shop and cellar bar (open until 11pm Monday - Saturday) is a wine buff's wet dream. The extensive wine list offers a jaw-dropping selection of fine Austrian and international wines by the bottle, with over 30 wines to try by the glass. It's arguably the best place in Vienna to sample the local Gruner Veltliner and Rieslings, alongside many other world wines.
Wine €4.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Puff Bar
18 ~ PUFF BAR
"Puff" is actually German slang for "brothel", so it may come as a surprise to those who speak English slang, that this is not actually a gay bar or a cannabis cafe but, instead, one of the most beautiful chic designed bars in Vienna located in (you guessed it), a former bordello which dates back a hundred years. If you ask the bar staff nicely, they'll even show you the hidden pink painted rooms which are still decorated with beds and even a Jacuzzi. Although it's a different type of "cock" that the bar specialises in now (the innuendos extend to their cocktail menu). The liquor collection is impressive and the bar design is absolutely stunning, illuminated like a stage by the collection of recycled water bottles overhead.
Cocktails €6.50+ Beer (0.5l) €3.50+ Wine €3.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Rote Bar
19 ~ VOLKSTHEATER ROTE BAR
Describing itself as "the ideal meeting place for lovers and madmen, for clubbers and music aficionados, for joyful discussion and cabaret fans, for lovers of literature and oblique excesses" this stunning bar in the 125 year old Volkstheater plays host to regular poetry, tango, and live music shows on the tiny stage. It's also an incredibly elegant place to catch up over a wine or beer.
Cocktails €8.50+ Beer (0.5l) €4.50+ Wine €3+
20 ~ ONYX BAR
Located on the sixth floor of the Do & Co Hotel, this posh small bar offers an amazing close-up view of Stephansdom (St Stephens Cathedral). Surrounded by the designer stores, it's no surprise that it's a more showy and expensive affair but the cocktails are amongst the best in Vienna and it's certainly worth making the effort to visit for.
Cocktails €13+ Beer (0.5l) €10+ Wine €5+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Hundertwasser Village
21 ~ HUNDERTWASSER VILLAGE
Sneaking on to our list of the best bars in Vienna is this tourist trap located next to the famous Hundertwasserhouse. A former car tyre factory, it was built both inside and out using concepts from artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. He declared at it's opening in 1991 that he had realised another piece of a more human and nature orientated piece of architecture. "I have been working as a doctor for architecture so to say. We did not tear down and rebuild it but used existing building fabric and improved it by changing and adding to the building and inserting components with new shapes and colours. On the roof a forest sprouts much to the pleasure of the neighbours and, inside, something like a romantic, narrow, oriental bazar exists where you like to linger for a while." Although the choice of liquors, beers and wines is limited, and it's only open until 18:00, it is truely unique to Vienna and a great place to grab a drink whilst on your sightseeing tour.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €3.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Volksgarten Pavillon
22 ~ VOLKSGARTEN PAVILLON
Not to be mistaken for the famous Volksgarten disco next door (see below), this romantic garden pavillion is the ideal place to spend those warm summer nights. Open from April until September, you can sit under 1950s tea lamps and old chestnut trees, overlooking the flowers in the direction of the Hofburg Palace. Play petanque or table football whilst DJs mix everything from jazz and soul to disco and underground hip hop.
Beer (0.5l) €4.50+ Wine €2+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Schlumberger Kellerwelten
23 ~ SCHLUMBERGER KELLERWELTEN
The Schlumberger winery in Vienna has been making sparkling wines since 1842 and is now one of the biggest sekt brands in the world. Journey through 300 years of history with their cellar tour, learning about the "Méthode Traditionnelle", which came from the Champagne region in France. Each tour lasts for around 2 hours (with audio guide in German or English) and ends with a glass of Schlumberger sekt in the elegant cellar bar. Other packages available include tastings of five different Schlumberger varities, three different Rosés or a "Premium Tasting" with the Prestige Cuvée Schlumberger DOM (Classic and Rosé) and their flagship Sparkling Brut Vintage from the Premium magnum. Located opposite the Spittelau U-Bahn station, they are open from 11:00 until 21:30 on Wednesdays and until 18:00 Thursday - Saturday (last entrance 2 hours before).
Wine €6+ with tour
Best Bars Vienna ~ 7 Stern Brewery
24 ~ 7STERN BRÄU
Pronounced in German, "Siebensternbräu", the 7 Star brewery is a stunning micro brewery in the heart of Vienna offering a selection of seven fantastic, fresh, natural homebrews. One of six seasonal specialities complements the seven delicious regular ales which include a Wiener Helles, a traditional Viennese Märzen, a smoked Rauchbier, an India Pale Ale, a black and creamy Prager Dunkles, a very spicy Chili beer and even a herbal Hanf beer made from cannabis hemp leaves. The food is also delicious and the huge portions are ideal for soaking up the booze. The place is large and is especially popular with non-smokers, whilst a beautiful beer garden offers a chance to catch some sun or have a cigarette.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €2.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Motto Am Fluss
25 ~ MOTTO AM FLUSS
Located on the Danube inside the Vienna - Bratislava ferry terminal, this 1950s Venice inspired bar and restaurant is one of our favourite places in the city. A very classy venue set over two floors with a large sundeck overlooking the river, the cocktails are some of the best in Vienna and the ever-changing DJ line-up throws up soul, funk and jazz to add a fantastic atmosphere.
Cocktails €6.50+ Beer (0.5l) €4.50+ Wine €4.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Eberts Cocktail Bar
26 ~ EBERTS COCKTAIL BAR
In a city packed with old school American-style cocktail bars, with their onus on serving "male-orientated" classic cocktails, this delightful little bar and cocktail school, just along the road from the famous Cafe Sperl (below) and around the corner from the Naschmarkt (above) offers a welcome relief with some of the most creative drinks in town. The menu is beautiful, offering a large selection of their own exquisite creations, including 40 bottle aged variations, alongside vintage classics, a huge spirits list and a daily special, devised on the same day. If imaginative cocktails with a classic soul soundtrack is your thing - and why wouldn't it be? - then this should definitely be your first night stop in Vienna.
Cocktails €7.50+ Beer (0.5l) €6+ Wine €4+
Best Gay Bars in Vienna ~ Cafe Savoy
27 ~ CAFE SAVOY
Located opposite Naschmarkt (see above), this 18th Century building is home to one of the most beautiful cafés in Vienna. And one of the gayest ones, too. In fact, you'll struggle to find a more elegant gay bar in the whole of Europe. Originally built by a pupil of the gay architect August von Sicardsburg, who designed the Wiener Staatsoper, it was lovingly renovated in 2008. The two enormous mirrors are, apart from the mirrors in the Château de Versailles, the largest mirrors made of a single piece of glass in Europe. Straight-friendly.
Beer (0.5l) €3.50+ Wine €2+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Landstein
28 ~ LANDSTEIN
If you're looking to taste something new, then it's well worth taking the trip slightly out of town to this excellent bar and restaurant (just 3 minutes on the U-bahn from Wien Mitte station). Their liquor collection is said to the biggest in Austria, and with 6,000 wines (1,500 from Austria alone), 800 whiskies, 250 cold beers, 180 gins, 90 vodkas and 150 rums to choose from (including a Damoiseau Rhum Vieux 1953 and a Cutty Sark Queen Victoria 50 years), all available by the glass at very reasonable prices, it would take you many years to work your way through the menu.
Cocktails €7+ Beer (0.5l) €5+ Wine €3.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Bonbonniere
29 ~ BONBONNIERE
Although prices are almost double that of other bars in Vienna, this tiny piano bar still has to be visited for the experience. With capacity for little more than 30 people (31 if you include the pianist), the decor has not changed in 75 years and you can really get a feel of how the city was back in the day. There's a small classic cocktail list and the clientelle are noticebly older. Photos are not allowed and it is extremely smokey.
Cocktails €13+ Beer (0.5l) €11+ Wine €4.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Esterhasy Keller
30 ~ ESTERHÁSY-KELLER
During the time of the Turkish War in 1683, Prince Esterházy provided his soldiers with free wine before their fight to defend the city walls. As a result, they fought with great courage and good humour against the Turkish superiority. This was the beginning of the historic dining hall and wine vault in the romantic Haarhof side street, next to Herrengasse U-bahn station. Two stories deep, it's a huge handmade brick rabbit warren of tables in which the 15th century tale of legends meets wine aficionados and beer drinkers. There's a great choice of Austrian wines from the House of Esterházy vineyards and, in the attached Esterházystüberl, you'll also find a great selection of Austrian beers too.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €2+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Badeschiff Vienna
31 ~ BADESCHIFF WIEN
Head down to the Donaukanal towpath between Schwedenplatz and Urania for a bar with a difference. This permanently anchored ship boasts an outdoor swimming pool on the first deck, a bowling alley in the cargo hold, a sundeck up top and a fantastic craft ale bar and restaurant which uses beer as an ingredient in many of its dishes. In keeping with the cool graffiti that surrounds it, the ship is shabby chic and a real hipster hangout.
Beer (0.5l) €6+ Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ K.u.K. Hoflieferanten
32 ~ K.u.K hoflieferanten
Vienna is famous for its history, architecture, culture and music - but also for its sweet desserts and fine wines. So when Gerstner, the city's finest purveyors of desserts, teamed up with Schlumberger, the city's finest sekt producer, to open this joint venture in December 2014, you just knew that they would deliver Viennese culture to perfection. Indeed, this unique concept mix of shop and bar at Palais Todesco certainly has to be visited. Downstairs the beautiful shop offers sweet delights but climb the imperial staircase, and you will find yourself in a homely wine bar with a living room atmosphere, where you can also see the pastry chefs at work and admire the view over the Wiener Staatsoper.
Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ Loos American Bar
33 ~ AMERICAN BAR
Known locally as "Loo's American Bar", this tiny historic cocktail bar was designed by Adolf Loos in 1908. A controversial figure in his day, when buildings in Vienna were grand and ornate, Loos was famed for his minimalist stripped-down designs which have gone on to influence modern architecture to this day. His approach is apparent in the design of the Kärntner Bar, as it was known then, and has barely changed since. A beautiful mirror makes the wooden bar look much bigger than it is, although a terrace offers more space to enjoy the classic cocktail list.
Cocktails €9.50+ Beer (0.5l) €8+ Wine €5+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Botanical Garden
34 ~ BOTANICAL GARDEN
Opened in September 2015 under the famous Cafe Stein, opposite the University's Botanical Gardens at Sigmund-Freud-Park, this dark basement cocktail bar from celebrated barman Sammy Walfisch offers some of the best drinks in town. Minimalist in design the cocktails are more complex with homemade infusions and herbs and spices grown especially. Open until 03:00 Tues - Sat.
Cocktails €8.50+ Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ Hammond Bar
35 ~ HAMMOND BAR
This neighbourhood cocktail bar, close to Taborstraße U-Bahn station, is a great place for an intimate chat or romantic date. The dimmed lighting and retro decor add to the ambience, whilst the cocktails are simply fantastic with the Liquid Sacher Cake worthy of note from a tourists point of view. Opening until 03:00 every night (04:00 on Saturdays), many of Vienna's bar staff head here after work.
Cocktails €7+ Beer (0.5l) €6+ Wine €3.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Cafe Sperl
36 ~ CAFE SPERL
Another famous venue from "Before Sunrise". Whilst far from offering the best alcohol collection in Vienna - our waitress even advised us against trying either of their two wines - this historic establishment best sums up Vienna's cafe culture more than any of the other 550 in the city. Dating back to 1880, it became the regular hangout for artists, writers, high ranking officers and even royalty until the Nazis came to power in 1942; their distrust of Cafe Sperl's regular customers saw them stamp out any such gatherings. Today the cafe is perhaps most famous for the "telephone scene" in the Before Sunrise movie and it's not unusual to see tourists ignoring the "no phones" policy to take photos recreating the scene. A piano player provides a nice soundtrack to some of the best coffee in Vienna whilst there are also four pool tables and a nice courtyard to enjoy a nice cold beer in the hot summer months.
Beer (0.5l) €4.50+ Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Bar Halbestadt
37 ~ BAR HALBESTADT
This charming tiny cocktail bar, located in a railway arch underneath station, is ran by legendary Viennese barman Erick Wassicek, his wife Conny and their daughters. Recognised as Vienna's "barman's bar", there's a good selection of top quality liquor, especially single malt whiskies, and two summer terraces either side of the arch, which help boost the bar's normal 30 person capacity. The classic cocktails are arguably the best in the city and there's a fair few modern inventions on the menu inspired by famous bartenders across the globe. Of course, being a family affair, the hospitality is second to none and you'll probably find you end up staying here all night if you don't mind a smoky environment.
Cocktails €9.50+ Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ Sky Bar
38 ~ SKY
This plush cocktail bar, restaurant, cafe and terrace is located on the seventh floor of the upmarket Steffi department store. Accessed by a lift directly from the main Kärntner Straße shopping sreet below, the dark, modern interior and the glass front offer some of the best views of Vienna as well as the vineyards on the outskirts. With live piano jazz Monday to Friday and DJ's on Saturdays, it is the place to see and be seen.
Cocktails €12+ Beer (0.5l) €7+ Wine €5.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Spelunke / Photo: spelunke.at
39 ~ Spelunke
Opened in October 2017, this industrial chic "dive" bar and restaurant serves up a nautical theme ("Spelunke" translating as "Dive"). The walls are decorated with vinyl album covers whilst the large four sided bar in the centre of the room sits underneath eight copper beer barrels. Fantastic cocktails too. Open daily until 02:00
Cocktails €? Beer (0.5l) €? Wine €?
40 ~ 57 LOUNGE
Located on the 57th floor of the Hotel Melia, this is the highest hot spot in the whole of Austria at 220metres high. Connected to Stephensplatz by the U1 line, it is just across the Donau in the Vienna International City, home to the United Nations and the Donaupark. Signature cocktails, a 22 bottle gin collection and weekend DJs mixing funk, soul and disco add to the amazing views from the outdoor terrace.
Cocktails €9+ Beer (0.5l) €5.50+ Wine €7+
Best Bars Vienna ~ First Floor Bar
41 ~ FIRST FLOOR
This famous cocktail bar transports you straight back to the 1930s with its stunning rounded wooden ceiling, old leather bar stools and water plant aquarium, which were all transferred here from the old Mounier Bar across town. You can picture the glamour of days gone by and imagine Sean Connery as James Bond, sat at the bar, sipping on his Vesper Martini and smoking a cigarette whilst chatting up a local frauline. Open until 4am daily, the cocktail list boasts over 200 classics whilst the soundtrack is purely jazz and blues, with live musicians also appearing.
Cocktails €7+ Beer (0.5l) €8+ Wine €4+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Robertos Bar
42 ~ ROBERTO AMERICAN BAR
This tiny bar from legendary Loos bar manager Roberto Pavlovic opened in January 2014. It pays more than a nod to the 1920s with its choice of classic cocktails and a stunning art deco chandelier, made from 80,000 pearls, which dominates the room. The atmosphere is very friendly and it's open until 4am each night, but can get crowded and smokey during busy periods.
Cocktails €10+ Beer (0.5l) €4.50+ Wine €4.50+
Best Clubs Vienna ~ Arena
43 ~ ARENA WIEN
Austria's biggest alternative culture centre, this graffiti-covered not-for-profit concert venue and bar is famous for the scene in "Before Sunrise" where Jessie and Celine flirt over the pinball machine . However, it's fame doesn't end there. On the 27th June 1976, a beautiful old slaughterhouse was set to be demolished so a group of protestors calling themselves the "Arenauten" started to occupy it, offering a place for alternative youth culture, far removed from the high society culture Vienna could only offer at that time. More than 200,000 people are said to have visited the site during the occupation and Leonard Cohen even described it as being "the best place in Vienna, the best place in Europe and the best place in the world." Sadly, the Viennese politicians went ahead and demolished the building four months later but the tone had been set for future demands and the plan of the "Arenauten" to establish an independent cultural centre finally materialised on a smaller scale in an old neighbouring slaughterhouse. Today, the venue is split into five areas. The Dreiraum plays host to artistic ideas by three young organisers, Kleine Halle offers smaller concerts, parties and solidarity events, whilst Grosse Halle plays host to larger International acts, especially from the punk and metal scene. In the summer, the Open Air large meadow is one of the highlights of Vienna, attracting large International musicians and offering a "Gastro Meile" collection of bars and takeaways to the 3,000 customers. There's also an Open Air Kino in the courtyard with its alternative movies. Whilst in the area, you should also check out Gasometer. Four former gas tanks, used from 1899 to 1984, they have been converted to residential apartments, student dormitories, a cinema and large concert venue which attracts top names.
Cocktails Not known Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ Kleines Cafe
44 ~ KLEINES CAFÉ
"Don't forget... you are stardust!" are the famous words said by the fortune teller to Jessie and Celine in Before Sunrise, as they drink in the beautiful square outside this tiny bar. You'll feel a lot bigger than stardust here though, as there's literally only room for a handful of people and the locals seem to know how to get there before the tourists who are reinacting the movie. There's a very smoky backroom, which offers some standing room but is less pretty, and the modern rock playlist kind of detracts from the charm of the front room or the outside seating in summer. The drinks list is basic but nonetheless, there's a reason it's so popular with locals and tourists alike.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €2.50+
Best Clubs Vienna ~ Volksgarten
45 ~ VOLKSGARTEN
This three-roomed nightclub in the historic Volksgarten is probably the most famous disco in Vienna. Open Thursday to Saturday, it is split into the Wintergarten bar with its 1950s furniture, the main Discothec area and, operated as a separate club, the Cortic Säulenhalle (Column Hall) with its outdoor gardens built around the neoclassical Theseus Temple, completed in 1821, where the party continues underneath the stars. The playlist covers everything from house to pop and rock, appealing to both a young and 30 something crowd, and varies in each of the rooms. Entrance is around €10 - €15 and the queues are normally long.
Cocktails Not known Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ Einstein
46 ~ CAFE BIERBEISL EINSTEIN
This beautiful pub, set over two floors, next to the Rathaus is one of the busiest drinking holes in Vienna. Choose to sit under the arcades outside or head for the the large beer keller area inside, with its enclaves and platforms. Alternatively, head upstairs to the 150 person balcony with its impressive ceiling and huge portrait of old Albert himself.
Cocktails €7+ Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €4+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Fischer Braeu
47 ~ FISCHER BRÄU
Vienna's first brewpub, this large brewery and beer garden has been producing their our own tasty beer since 1985. The refreshing, naturally cloudy Fischer Bright beer is joined every 4 to 6 weeks with a special brew, such as Easter, summer and Christmas ales, or the home-brewed wheat beer. Ornate tiles on the outside complement the copper bar and cosy interior whilst live jazz every Sunday lunchtime, make it the ideal place to head for a lazy boozy weekend afternoon.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €2+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Cafe Drechsler
48 ~ CAFE DRECHSLER
When Engelbert Drechsler's coffee house, which dated back to 1919, re-opened in 2007 following a redesign by Sir Terence Conran, nobody could have predicted how stylish it would be. Located opposite Naschmarkt (see above) this really is a 21st century take on the traditional Viennesse cafe culture complete with cocktails and DJs.
Cocktails €7.50+ Beer (0.5l) €4.50+ Wine €2+
Best Clubs Vienna ~ Albertina Passage
49 ~ ALBERTINA PASSAGE
Hidden underneath the gigantic pink rabbit next to the Wiener Staatsoper, you'll find Vienna's most stylish dinner club. A restaurant which becomes a discoteque with live singers and musicians joining the DJs who spin funk, classic 70s disco, house and soul, you could easily be forgiven that you were in New York or Tokyo rather than underneath the busy Opernring road.
Cocktails €10+ Beer (0.5l) €7+ Wine €5.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Torberg
50 ~ TORBERG
This charming looking bar on a pretty street may resemble nothing more than a British pub on the inside, however you should head here if gin is your tipple of choice. With over 550 varieties and 23 different tonics, it can easily claim to offer the biggest selection in Austria, with many local bottles too. In fact, if you visited here for a different combination of G&T every day, it would take you over 42 years before you'd work your way through the menu.
Beer (0.5l) €3.50+ Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Kleinod / Photo: kleinod.wien
51 ~ Kleinod
Opened in October 2015, this stunning art deco meets industrial chic cocktail bar from bartenders Oliver Horvath, Alexander Batik, David Schober, and Phillip Scheiber is, as it's name translates, a "Gem". Set in an 850-year-old house next to St Stephensdome, it's a tiny venue, with the focus being on quality homemade classics. Smoking is allowed and a 1970s cigarette machine takes pride of place, operated by Shillings available from the bar. Open until 04:00 daily (02:00 on Sundays).
Cocktails €?+ Beer (0.5l) €?+ Wine €?+
Best Cocktail Bars Vienna ~ Dinos
52 ~ DINO'S AMERICAN BAR
One of the most celebrated cocktail bars in Vienna, this American-style bar offers a huge cocktail list which includes some of their own International award winning creations. In a city which boasts more than its fair share of nostalgic Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong era "American bars", this is arguably the best and claims to have the largest bourbon collection in Austria.
Cocktails €8+ Beer (0.5l) €7+ Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ Barflys
53 ~ CLUB BARFLY'S
This classic American bar in the basement of the Hotel Fürst Metternich has been a Vienna institution since Dominican Republic barman Mario Castillo opened it in 1990. With over 500 cocktails, 1000 whiskies and hundreds of rums, the collection is one of the most impressive in Europe. Rat Pack music adds to the atmosphere and a Cuban cigar humidor complements the malt selection.
Cocktails Not known Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ IF Dogs Run Free
54 ~ IF DOGS RUN FREE
This artistically stunning cocktail bar was the brainchild of architects Gregorio Lubroth and Chieh-shu Tzo, with the result apparent via an eye-catching cubist display in a black box theatre minimalist designed room. The cocktail list is short but creative and its late opening hours make it one of the busiest bars in Vienna. Open until 02:00 Monday - Thursday, 04:00 Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Cocktails €9+ Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €2.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Kix Bar
55 ~ KIX
This industrial chic, 1980s-style, multi-coloured gin and tonic bar next to the famous Figlmueller restaurant is the perfect place to go to try one of more than 35 different G&T combinations, each served with its own unique garnish. There's a good selection of Austrian gins and 20 craft beers to choose from too. Visit before 20:00 every day (including weekends) to take advantage of the popular Happy Hour offers.
Cocktails €5.50+ Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €3.50+
Best Bars Vienna ~ 1516 Brewing Company
56 ~ 1516 BREWING COMPANY
Enjoy a selection of home brewed beer specialities made in the heart of Vienna. Whilst you could easily mistake this very popular brewpub and burger joint for just being a large American theme bar (even the young staff are more likely to speak English than German), it actually offers a range of delicious beers made on the premises, including a distinctively hoppy lager, a Black & Tan, a cascade hopped Weissebier and their best-selling Victory Hop Devil IPA. The seasonal beers and barrel aged special editions are also excellent and you could spend hours in here trying each on - fortunately they come in four different sizes, ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 litres.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Heuer
57 ~ HEUER AM KARLSPLATZ
With its pretty garden terrace, this bar and restaurant occupies one of the most central spots in Vienna, located opposite the Secession art gallery at Karlsplatz. Split into two rooms, as well as the terrace, the cocktails are amongst the best in town and a display of jars on the wall contain chef Peter Fallnbügl's pickled fruit and vegetables.
Cocktails Not known Beer (0.5l) Not known Wine Not known
Best Bars Vienna ~ Radlager
58 ~ RADLAGER
This vintage cycle shop doubles up as a fantastic bar and coffee house (or vice versa) and is certainly a cool place for cyclists to hang out. Decorated by the 1980's steel framed Italian racebikes on sale, there's plenty of booze on offer, organic apricot nectar from 70 year old trees and, it's also said, they serve the best espressos in Vienna, made using an original old Faema coffee machine. Whilst there's no cocktails, their long drinks are named after famous cyclists like Eddy Merckx, Alfonsina Strada and Alex Moulton.
Beer (0.5l) €4+ Wine €3+
Best Bars Vienna ~ Porgy & Bess / Photo: Facebook Porgy-Bess-535475709813990
59 ~ Porgy & Bess
Opened in 1998 in a 19th Century building which boasted a history of staging wartime theatre shows and was once "Vienna's first smoker's cinema" as well as the "first, best and only" porn cinema, this non-profit jazz club acts as a meeting point for the local creative scene. A daily program serves up music, readings, exhibitions and discussion forums.
Cocktails €? Beer (0.5l) €? Wine €?
Best Clubs Vienna ~ X
60 ~ X
If it wasn't for the fact we're supposed to be sworn to secrecy about this bar, it would appear a lot higher up our list of best bars in Vienna. Not to be mistaken with the X-Bar gay cafe across town, "Xtrazimmer" basically translates as "speakeasy" in English and they don't come much more exclusive than this huge basement cocktail bar, restaurant, club and gallery. Located on the historic Wollzeile street, it belongs to the stunning Yoshi‘s Corner art gallery next door and is the playground for the owners of the Dots sushi restaurant chain. The clientelle is made up of friends and family - you need a key to access the premises and there's only 1,000 given out - with the likes of the Stereo MCs and Wu-Tang Clan performing DJ sets here. There's no menu. Instead the talented mixologists and chefs work around your preferred ingredients with the steaks and prawns just as celebrated as the fantastic cocktails (by those in the know). This is one exclusive party you should try and get an invite to.
Cocktails €10+ Beer (0.5l) €6+ Wine €5+
Last updated 26 Nov 2017