WHERE I ATE: VIENNA
In a traditional Viennese café–and they are everywhere–you order a melange, receive it on a silver tray with a glass of water, and no one rushes you for hours. Writers, thinkers, and artists once treated these places like second offices and that lingering spirit remains.
It’s quiet conversation, newspapers on wooden racks, marble tables, bentwood chairs, and the unspoken understanding that sitting still is productive. In Vienna, a café is a living room you don’t have to own.
A jewel of classic Viennese coffeehouse culture tucked just off Karlsplatz — wood and marble tables, gentle chatter, and that sense of time stretching warmly around you. Once a haunt of artists and thinkers since 1899, it’s the kind of place where even a bright, spicy warm ginger lemonade feels like an intentional pause: refreshment and reflection in equal measure.
We had a pastry as soft as a cloud filled with warm apple strudel inside.
Guesthouse Vienna / Brasserie & Bakery
We started every day here once we discovered it. Incredible creamy lattes, Bircher muesli and dozens of other tempting breakfast dishes all served with aplomb and surrounded by an elegant Viennese crowd.
Steps from the State Opera, it’s a sleek yet warm space where seasonality and craftsmanship rule — from contemporary sushi and sashimi to inventive multi‑course menus that marry Japanese technique with European influences. Founded by conductor‑turned‑restaurateur Joji Hattori, SHIKI champions “four seasons” in every dish.
A popular restaurant‑bar in the heart of Vienna’s historic centre, Innere Stadt. Fabulous cocktails. We adored our espresso martinis.
In the city’s 5th district, known for its vibrant scene and stylish, slightly industrial interior. A chic yet relaxed setting. Yummy food.
Casual yet highly creative vegetarian and vegan cuisine. It’s been part of the city’s growing plant-based dining scene for many years and I was especially delighted to have such a stylish alternative to the usual meat-focused signature fare of Wiener Schnitzel.
Hearty farm-to-table cuisine paired with biodynamic wines served with rustic farm charm paired with relaxed urban design.
