Vienna: 10 unmissable things to eat and drink
Friday, 4th June 2010
Cactus intern Miia Matinolli gives us her top culinary recommendations for Austria's capital
1. Wine at Heurigen
Wine culture plays an important role in Vienna. The city can boast about its 700 hectares of vineyards and around 630 wine producers. Maybe the best way to familiarize yourself with the local wine culture is to visit some of the numerous wine taverns (Heurigen). To enjoy both beautiful nature and Viennese wine head to Grinzing which is an area home to several wine taverns. Try Grüner Veltliner, the most common wine produced in Vienna.
2. Wiener Schnitzel
Wiener Schnitzel, a fried escalope of veal, is traditional Viennese cuisine. Give it a go for example in Figlmüller as this treat has been on their menu since 1905. A table reservation is recommended as Figlmüller is one of the most popular restaurants in town.
3. Sachertorte
Sachertorte is a world-famous chocolate cake named by its inventor Franz Sacher. The first Sachertorte was made in 1832 in Vienna; therefore it is the best place to treat yourself to this sweet delicacy. Sachertorte can be found in many cafés around the city but the Sachertorte served in Hotel Sacher is said to be the original. The recipe used by them is a closely-guarded secret.
4. Apfelstrudel
This sweet pastry with an apple filling is another traditional savoury of Austrian cuisine. Enjoy with coffee or tea in one of the famous Viennese coffee houses, for example in Café Central or Café Weimar that is only a stone’s throw away from the Opera house Volksoper.
5. Beer
Though Vienna is known mainly for its wine, let’s not forget the beer. In the 16th district you can find a large brewery of Ottakringer. The beer has actually been named after the district as the area is called Ottakring.
6. Kaiserschmarrn
Kaiserschmarrn is a dessert whose name means something like “Emperor Mishmash”. It is like a pancake but is torn into pieces and usually served with apple sauce or some other pureed fruit. It was first prepared for the Emperor Francis Joseph I in the 19th century.
7. Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt is a well-known market area in central Vienna. The walk from one end to another is around 1.5 kilometres long. The history of Naschmarkt dates back to the 16th century. Besides market stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, seafood and a lot more, you can find several restaurants and coffee shops there.
8. Almdudler
Almdudler is the name for an Austrian soft drink developed in the 1950s, and is sometimes referred to as the “national drink of Austria”. Almdudler is the second most popular soft drink in Austria after Coca-Cola. The original Almdudler is made of water, sugar and herbs.
9. Breakfast
Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day. For a nice start for a new day, head for example to Weltcafé where you will be pampered with choice. As the name of the café (‘World café’) implies, you can choose your breakfast from a list that represents many different corners of the world. Options include Oriental, Mexican, Sudanese, Nepalese and Turkish breakfast among others. Brunch is served on weekends. In Caffe Latte you will also find a large selection of breakfast menus and a brunch buffet on Saturdays and Sundays. Keep Café Merkur in mind if you tend to sleep late on weekends: on Saturdays and Sundays breakfast is served until 5 pm, and the prices are affordable.
10. Dinner in an old monk cellar
In Augustiner Keller and Piaristenkeller you will have your meal in very athmospheric, ancient settings. Both of these are old monastery cellars working as restaurants today. In Piaristenkeller you can also pay a visit to the wine cellar and the Emperor Franz Joseph Hat Museum which are located in the same premises.
Cactus runs a variety of German courses in Vienna for all levels and ages. In addition to group and private German courses, we offer music courses, teacher refresher courses, academic year courses, and summer activity courses for under 18s.
If you want to learn German before you go, why not consider an evening language course at home? Available in the UK and the US & Canada, these short-term courses are the ideal way to brush up your language skills before an overseas trip.
Posted by Sarah Watkins 2010-06 under Experience Cultures, Food and Drink,
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