My wife and I visited Vienna in August of 2005 and I thought I would share some information with the board. I will omit places to stay since there are many fine hotels in Vienna and it really depends on what you are looking for. First off, I will say that Vienna was my wifes least favorite stop on our trip. It was too urban for her. She likes quaint little towns and hotels. I enjoyed it for what it was- a center of culture and fine dining.
Where to Eat
Here are a few suggestions:
Zum Kuckuck- A small little restaurant with a well thought out wine list. The venison was excellent.
Weibels Wirsthaus- We went here for lunch. Fine and extensive winelist. Much more upscale than the name lets on.
Hedrich- This was recommended to us but we did not go.
Palais Cobourg #6- Another restaurant recommended to us but we did not have time.
Pfudl- Nice restaurant with typical dishes.
Coffee Houses
A visit to Vienna would not be complete with a stop in one of the many coffee houses. Here are 2 which stood out:
Central- Probably the most ornate of the coffee houses. Just down the street from the Hofburg complex and the Lippizaner stallions.
Hawelka- Quite different fom Central. A smokey late night eccentric spot. We stayed until 2am having drinks and it was still going.
Things to See
Stephansdom Cathedral
Hofburg Complex
Spanish Riding School- Home of the Lippizaner Stallions. Depending on the time of year, you can either catch a full show, a matinee or a morning practice (the latter can get tedious).
Belvedere Gardens- Very nice gardes and palace complex.
Schloss Schonbrunn
Musikverein- Attending a Mozart concert in this beautifully guilded concert hall was one of the highlights of our trip. Info on performances of the Vienna Mozart Orchestra and other perfomances at the Hall can be found at this link.
Where to Buy Wine
Vinotech St. Stephen- There are many shops but this centrally located shop had a nice selection. They were not very helpful though.
Heuriger
To get a true feel for Vienna you should visit a Heuriger. Vienna is the only major city in the world which is located in a designated viticultural area. Many local growers sell their own wine and food in local establishments on the North end of town. Instead of fine dining one night, head up to either the village of Grinzing or Neustift. Grinzing is more touristy and the wine is better in Neustift. I would recommend the latter. 2 Heurige in Neustift to visit are:
Zeiler am Hauerweg
Fuhrgassel-Huber
In addition, you might consider Wieninger which is in Stammersdorfer. They are probably the best winery in Vienna.
Wachau Valley
A day trip to the Wachau Valley is well worth the drive. World class wineries a little over 1 hour away. An hour drive in the other direction will take you to Burgenland and the Feiler-Artinger winery.
VM
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