There is no shortage of bars in the Austrian capital. The best places to go are in the former Jewish quarter (First District), in the area around the Ruprechtskirche, known as the Bermuda Dreieck (Bermuda Triangle).
Other, somewhat less festive districts include the Spittelbe’g area near Amerlinghaus (seventh district) and the fourth district, adjacent to Naschmarkt.
Many of the best places to go out in Vienna are not really accessible to tourists, they are rather reserved for locals and are not necessarily in the city center.
Many clubs sort their customers at the door and are very strict. If you want to get in, you’d better be good looking and well dressed… But there is no shortage of alternatives to the select clubs and bars: trendy Viennese still enjoy the more traditional party places, like the heurigen (beer taverns) and the many balls in the city.
For more information on the type of music and the audiences that frequent the different establishments on different nights of the week, check out DerFalzer(www.falter.at) or Szene (www.szenewien.com).
Tickets for cultural events in the Austrian capital are available at all major concert halls and theaters in the city. Reservations can also be made at the Bundestheaterkassen on Hanuschgasse 3 (tel: +43 1 5144 42960: www.bundestheater.at). To keep up with all the cultural events, check out the monthly magazine Programm, published by the Albertinaplatz tourist office. For even more information, read Wien Mogazin(www.wienmagazin.at), Wien Live(www.wienlive.at) and Falter(www.falter.at).
Table des matières
The best bars in Vienna
Amerlingbeisl
The Spittelbe’g area (the 7th district) is dotted with bars, including the popular Amerlingbeisl, with its beautiful green garden. This casual pub is a simply must-see in Vienna, especially at Christmas, when the Spittelberg comes alive with its famous Christmas market. In the evening, you can enjoy a delicious glass of ginger and apricot punch in the Amerlingbeisl atrium protected by the canopy and lit by the stars. The cobbled courtyard is a real delight and the place is perfect for a nightcap on one of Vienna’s most beautiful streets.
Address: Spittelberg, Stiftgasse 8, Vienna, 1070
Phone: +43 1 526 1660
Website: http: //www.amerlingbeisl.at
Le Cafe Central
The coffee houses (Koffeehduser) are an essential part of Viennese life. For the price of a coffee, many Viennese people spend hours there browsing the newspaper, working, reading a book, or simply watching the passers-by stroll through the streets – a tradition still very much alive today. The Cafe Central, located in the beautiful Ferstel Palace in the first district, was a favorite hangout for celebrities like Sigmund Freud and the poet and writer Peter Altenberg, with gothic ceilings, live music every day of the week, and a caring staff.
Address: Central, Herrengasse 14, Vienna, 1010 Telephone: +43 1 533 3763 :
Website: http: //www.palaisevents.at/cafecentral
Cafe Stein
Koffeehdusers are an important part of Viennese culture and new versions of these symbols of Viennese life are experiencing an unprecedented revival with new establishments that attract a young and trendy clientele. Cafe Stein is the emblem of this new wave. With its minimalist decor, its Internet facilities, its vegetarian dishes and its all-day breakfasts. Perks: a great view of Sigmund Freud Park – sit by the window and wonder what the father of modern psychology was thinking when he sat in Viennese cafés and pondered the human mind. A nice place to philosophize, no?
Address: Central, Wahringer Strasse 6-8, Vienna, 1090 Phone: +43 1 319 7241
Website: http: //www.cafe-stein.com
The best cocktail bar in Vienna: The Lutz Bar
The Lutz Bar is an elegant place that offers an excellent cocktail menu. The building, built at the turn of the last century, overlooks the Museums Quartier and the Museum of Fine Arts. Its bay windows are perfect for watching passersby while relaxing with a glass of fine wine. The basement of the historic building is now home to an absolutely beautiful club, which stays open late, and is therefore perfect for enjoying a cocktail (or four) with a very select clientele.
Address: Spittelberg, Mariahilfer Strasse 3, Vienna, 1060 Phone: +43 1 585 3646
Website: http: //www.lutz-bar.at
The most beautiful view in Vienna: Sky Bar
The Sky Bar in Vienna is absolutely irresistible, you won’t be able to stay still while contemplating the breathtaking panorama while enjoying a beautiful menu full of deliciously good cocktails – the menu has more than 350 of them! To spend a stylish and casual evening in the Austrian capital ordering the best drinks while enjoying a sublime panorama of the city, Sky Bar is the perfect destination to spend a memorable time, especially if you are a discerning traveler who likes to have a drink in quality bars before going out for dinner in the city. Located on the top floor of the Steffl department store in downtown Vienna, the establishment offers a breathtaking view of the Riesenrad, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Belvedere Palace.
The best cocktails in Vienna: Loos American Bar
This incredible Viennese bar is also known as the Loos Bar. It is named after the famous Austrian architect (Adolf Loos, an advocate of complete stripping down in modern architecture) who designed it in 1908.
Marble, wood and mirrors add warmth to the atmosphere and give this cozy bar a private gentlemen’s club feel, which was once its primary function.
Today, a host of artists and young, chic & trendy people gather here to sip cocktails, discuss projects, or just see and be seen, while celebrities enjoy a cigar and a whiskey a little further away. Both the atmosphere and the cocktails are exceptional. Settle in for a few martinis and start your night off right.
Clubs and nightclubs in Vienna
Elektro Gonner
If you want to have a night out and experience memorable moments, try the Elektro Conner club, a party place where art is omnipresent with DJs and special events every weekend such as a film club or interactive installations. Vienna is one of the cities that count on the European techno and electro scene, and it is one of the key places to get into clubbing mode in a sleek atmosphere with bare brick walls. The club was set up in the former premises of an electrical store by some young Viennese architects.
Address: Mariahilf, Mariahilfer Strasse 101/1, Vienna, 1180 Phone: +43 1 208 6679
Website: http: //www.elektro-g.at
The trendy bar in Vienna: Le Fluc
If you are not yet convinced that Vienna is becoming the new Berlin, go to Fluc to change your mind. This ultra hip and trendy bar is the story of two places: a café-bar in a former pavilion overlooking the Praterau traffic circle on the first floor, and an incredible concert hall in the former underpass literally located under the four lanes of traffic of the road just above.
Address: Prater, Praterstern 5, Vienna, 1020 Phone: +43 1 218 2824
Website: http: //www.fluc.at
The biggest club to go out in Vienna: Pratersauna
In just a few years, the Pratersauna has become the most important club in Vienna – and you’ll soon see why this status is well deserved. An invigorating evening walk through the woods of Prater Park will bring you to this former sauna. The pool is still in use, and party-goers are even allowed to dive in for a refreshing dip between drinks; the club is even famous for its summer pool parties. The main room looks like an art gallery – minimal, chic with white walls. The world’s hottest DJs stop by this internationally renowned club, and it’s one of the main venues for the annual Waves festival held every October.
Address: Prater, Waldsteingarterstraße 135, Vienna, 1020 Phone: +43 1 729 1927
Website: http: //www.pratersauna.tv
The Flex
They say that the Flex has the best sound system of any club in Europe, don’t you believe us? Given the world-famous bands that have performed there since it opened in 1990, there is no doubt about the quality of this emblematic venue in the Austrian capital.
Located on the Donau Canal, you can walk along the waterfront and admire the boats as you leave in the evening, the dream.
Address: Central, Augartenbrucke 1, Vienna, 1010 Phone: +43 1 533 7525.
Website: http: //www.flex.at
The Jazzland
Open since 1972, the Jazzland is the oldest jazz club in Vienna. The place is relatively small but the atmosphere is cosy, with an unpretentious decor and friendly staff, but the most important thing is of course the music. The bands play traditional jazz, blues, boogie, swing, folk and sometimes even modern jazz. The good thing about Jazzland is that the place itself is already worth a visit – a vaulted brick cellar that already sets a very jazz atmosphere and allows you to enjoy the music in a perfect setting. The drinks and food are also known for their quality.
Address: Central, Franz-Josefs-Kai 23, Vienna, 1010 Phone: +43 1 533 2575
Website: http: //www.ja22land.at
The Porgy & Bess
The club, named after an opera composed by George Gershwin, is a former porn cinema transformed into what is simply one of the best jazz clubs in Vienna. You will find Porgy & Bess right next to the Stubentor subway stop. In addition to its ambitious program of world-class concerts by local and international musicians, the club also focuses on experimental and unconventional music. The venue was opened in 1993, but it pays homage to the rich jazz heritage that matured and flourished in Vienna during the previous decades. Regulars love its smoky atmosphere, which fits the club perfectly.
Address: Central, Riemengasse 11, Vienna, 1010 Phone: +43 1 512 8811
Website: http: //www.porgy.at
The legendary club to go out in Vienna: U4
A legendary pillar of the Viennese club scene, the ever-popular U4 is the place to go if you feel like dancing and are ready to party all night. Particularly popular with celebrities, U4 is synonymous with energy and style. There’s something for everyone, with a different genre of music every night – from classic rock to 80s house. On some nights, live bands perform on the stage and the audience sets the dance floor alight until the morning.
Classical Music in Vienna
The Musikverein
The Vienna Boys’ Choir is a Viennese institution founded in 1498 by Emperor Maximilian, who wanted to hear young boys’ voices among the official court musicians. Together with members of the choir and orchestra of the Vienna State Opera (public opera and ballet company), they form the Hofmusikkapelle, which performs during mass in the chapel of the Imperial Palace throughout the year. The Vienna Boys Choir also sings in the Brahms-Saal (Brahms Hall), in the Musikverein dedicated to chamber music and in the Volksoper (People’s Opera). A smaller venue hosts operas, operettas, ballets and musicals. The famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra also play in this legendary hall.
Address: Central, Boserdorferstrasse 12, Vienna, 1010 Phone: +43 1 505 8190
Website: http: //www.musikverein-wien.at
The Wiener Konzerthaus
The Wiener Konzerthaus is the building where the Vienna Symphony Orchestra performs most of the year. The Konzerthaus also houses the Wiener Singakademie choir and hosts international orchestras. It is a superb concert hall – perhaps the largest imperial era hall in the entire Austrian capital and a must-see tourist attraction when visiting the city. Even if you don’t have the chance to attend a concert during your stay, you can still see the building where the most beautiful pieces of classical music are brought to life by the world’s best artists.
Address: Central, Lothringerstrasse 20, Vienna, 1030 Phone: +43 1 242 002
Website: http: //www.k0n2erthaus.at
Attend the best concerts and operas in Vienna: Vienna State Opera
No visit to Vienna is complete without attending an opera or a concert – because let’s remember that the city is also called the “capital of music” – and the Vienna State Opera is the best place to immerse yourself in its immense musical heritage – and the Vienna State Opera is the best place to immerse yourself in its immense musical heritage.
One of the world’s busiest and most famous opera houses, the Staatsoper has everything you could wish for: a breathtaking space, an immensely talented opera company that regularly performs the world’s best opera pieces and the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra that accompanies the performances.
In this city synonymous with music, opera and symphony orchestras, you can enjoy performances in the open-air squares, but nothing beats a performance at the Staatsoper, where you can soak up the most beautiful music ever written in a unique setting worthy of the legendary beauty of classical Vienna.
Theaters in Vienna
The Gross
The Brut is a truly unique theater and event space on the beautiful Karlsplatz with its old Art Nouveau S Bahn station. At the Brut, you will see plays, experimental theater, but there are also lectures and special events, and even live music concerts. In addition, its small, trendy bar is especially popular with culture lovers for a drink in good company even if you haven’t come to see a show. The space itself is modern, minimal and a real treat for the eyes.
Address: Central, Karlsplatz, Vienna, 1010 Phone: +43 1 587 8774
Website: http://www.brut-wien.at
The Burgtheater
The Burgtheater has a long history and is part of the tradition in Vienna, the imperial court having contributed greatly to its development. The Austrian capital has more than 50 theaters, but the Burgtheater (Palace Theatre), which stands on the Ring (the city’s main circular boulevard), is a source of pride for the Viennese. This impressive building is the oldest and one of the most important in the German-speaking world. Built in the 19th century, the Burgtheater stages classical and contemporary works with an extremely demanding production. Other major theaters in Vienna include the Volkstheater, the Theater in der Josefstadt and the Schauspielhaus.
Address: Central, Dr. Karl Lueger Ring 2, Vienna, 1010 Telephone: +43 1 5144 44140
Website: http: //www.burgtheater.at
For an upscale evening in Vienna: Aux Gazelles
Hammam, beauty salon, caviar and oyster bar, club and restaurant… All this in one place. What more could you ask for? Aux Gazelles is a unique oasis of pleasure in the heart of Vienna, a pleasure for the eyes, the taste buds and the soul. In addition to music and delicious drinks, visitors can rid their bodies of toxins while rejuvenating themselves and indulging in the pleasures of champagne, caviar, oysters and hookah.
I especially recommend that you head to Les Gazelles for a special evening – the sumptuous Bedouin-inspired surroundings, the bar and the irresistible Middle Eastern rhythms will convince you to hit the dance floor for an intimate and glamorous evening with friends or lovers.
Leave a reply