Vienna City Guides
Discover the best places to visit, eat, and explore in Vienna
Vienna After Dark: Bars & Wine Caves
In the heart of Vienna, wander down the leafy avenues of the Naschmarkt or slip into the cobblestone paths of Spittelberg, and you'll find a world beyond the ordinary tourist trail. Dive into medieval wine cellars beneath the historic Ring or sip craft cocktails in shadowy alcoves. Here, Vienna breathes a different air. It's an adventure where jazz notes echo in centuries-old bars and the smoky scent of Würstel wafts through moonlit squares. Sip local wines at a Heuriger tavern or lose yourself in an electronic beat at a pulsating club. Most visitors miss the raw, authentic pulse of Vienna after dark; you’ll find it right here, if you know where to look.
Lena Vogt
Vienna Coffee Houses and Imperial
Walk down Herrengasse, and you'll find Café Central, where marble columns and vaulted ceilings once inspired literary greats like Freud and Trotsky. Nearby, Demel Vienna on Kohlmarkt has been crafting imperial confections since 1786. Vienna's grandeur is undeniable at Schönbrunn Palace, a Habsburg summer retreat, and the Hofburg, a sprawling imperial complex. Don't miss Belvedere Palace's Klimt collection. But beyond the tourist trail, Vienna rewards the curious. The wine taverns of Spittelberg, just behind the MuseumsQuartier, offer a slice of local life that most visitors overlook. Here, you can sip a glass of Grüner Veltliner and watch the world go by, unhurried and utterly Viennese.
Lena Vogt