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d e z e m b e r 25 | 18. - 24.
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 editorial
"Heya Girls!"
When the garden is bathed in the warm glow of lights, the Klimt Villa opens its doors to Advent Magic 2025, revealing one of Vienna's most secluded Advent markets. Anyone who wants to enjoy the 4th Advent in a graceful atmosphere should head to Klimt's last studio house. A full programme awaits art-loving Christmas fans there. Get into the festive spirit with a guided tour of the house's history and the special exhibition “Klimt lost”. Afterwards, last-minute gift buyers can browse the fine art market in the salon, which offers jewellery, fashion, design and creative gift ideas. As so many new experiences can work up an appetite, punch, mulled wine and Christmas snacks are served on the historic open staircase in the garden. Live music will complete this stately Advent celebration!
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and good luck for 2026!
Your CitySpotterGirl
Klimt Villa, Feldmühlgasse 11, 1130 Vienna. 21 December 12:00 to 19:00. 10 €. Web
P.S. CitySpotterGirl’s next issue will be published on 15 January 2026!
Photo: Klimt Villa
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| THURSDAY |
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| ...concert |
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| Anna Anderluh |
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Anna Anderluh
“They say, leave me the birds and the bees, and I say, yes, but leave me the TV and some fat cheese, too.” Anna Anderluh sings about the necessity of the meaningless, the reckless and the stupid. With humour and sensitivity, the musician allows seemingly insignificant trifles to shine without any polish. Anna Anderluh's music bridges the gap between delicate poetry and harsh social criticism, between fragile songs and experimental vocal improvisation. Today, she performs live as a solo act, where she doesn't mince her words – but she might just mince a butterfly ;-)
Theater Nestroyhof Hamakom, Nestroyplatz 1, 1020 Vienna. 18 December 20:00. 24 €. Web |
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| ...original |
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| Wutai Vintage |
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International Xmas Baubles
Have you ever wondered how they decorate Christmas trees in Poland? And what did decorations used to look like in Czechoslovakia and East Germany in the past? Not bad at all, as you can currently discover at the vintage paradise Wutai! There you can find the most beautiful vintage Christmas tree decorations, such as the legendary Christmas pickle (plus its story, of course!) or astronaut figures from the Soviet space age – all cleaned and freed from old wires and threads. Definitely something different from tinsel and classic red, green and gold baubles!
Wutai Vintage, Zentagasse 43, 1050 Vienna. Tue-Thu 12:00 to 19:00, Fri from 14:00, Sat 12:00 to 16:00. Web |
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| ...nostalgic |
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| Gartenbaukino |
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Gartenbaukino Gala like in the past
When the doors of the Gartenbaukino opened for the very first time on 19 December 1960, a distinct whiff of Hollywood wafted through Parkring. Today, the cinema celebrates its 65th birthday with a reconstruction of this historic evening: vintage advertisements adorn the walls, a fashion show just like in the old days and a faithful reproduction of the weekly newsreel provide the best entertainment. The grand finale will be a screening of the epic film Spartacus. The dress code is cocktail dresses and tuxedos, of course. Tickets: available exclusively in analogue form at the cinema box office ;-)
Gartenbaukino, Parkring 12, 1010 Vienna. 18 December from 18:30. 19.60 €. Web |
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| FRIDAY |
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| ...anniversary |
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| Sappy Rauth |
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30 Years of Sappy Art
It's party time in Stumpergasse! Ceramicist and painter Sappy Rauth is celebrating her 30th anniversary in the world of ceramics this year and she will be celebrating her personal milestone with everyone who wants to join in the festivities. In her studio, Vote, she will be presenting a selection of her favourite pieces: new ones and those created over the years – from traditional ceramics to modern designs. You can also watch Sappy demonstrate her original art techniques. Small delicacies and drinks will make the party even more exciting – let's celebrate!
Atelier VOTE, Stumpergasse 34, 1060 Vienna. 19 December 18:00 to 22:00. Web |
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| ...soulness |
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| Die Kräuterdrogerie |
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Incense Evening
Herbal witches and fragrance fairies, take note: Today, herbalist Zsuzsanna Tamas-Szora introduces visitors to the art of incense burning. You learn about different incense materials and how to use them for relaxation and well-being. Especially for the 12 nights after Christmas, you learn how to create your own personal incense ritual, which herbs and resins are suitable for incense burning, and what their effects and scents are. And you can try lots of things out – classics like frankincense and sage, but also more unusual ones like mastic and styrax!
Die Kräuterdrogerie, Kochgasse 34, 1080 Vienna. 19 December 19:00 to 20:30. 29 €. Please sign up. Web |
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| ...christmasy |
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| Christmas in Vienna |
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Christmas in Vienna
A star-studded Christmas atmosphere will descend on the Vienna Konzerthaus today when local and international stars take to the stage for the traditional gala concert. Sopranos Julie Fuchs and Angel Blue, tenor Bekhzod Davronov and baritone Ludovic Tezier, as well as the Vienna Boys' Choir, will perform festive orchestral pieces, traditional Christmas carols and popular Christmas songs. Mavie Hörbiger will read pre-Christmas and contemplative passages. And as a souvenir, the pretty cinnamon-scented hearts will once again be available to buy as Christmas tree decorations!
Wiener Konzerthaus, Lothringerstraße 20, 1030 Vienna. 19 December 19:30. From 72.50 €. Web |
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| SATURDAY |
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| ...shopping |
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| In love with paper |
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In love with paper
For Christmas cards, for journaling projects, for little notes, for gifts, for shopping lists, for paper aeroplanes... as you can see from this list, you can never have enough stationery. Especially when it's as special and beautiful as the products from In love with paper! Their beautiful notebooks, calendars and friendship books are made from environmentally friendly paper, and you can admire and purchase them today in an Advent atmosphere accompanied by fizzy drinks. It's not a bad idea to put your New Year's resolutions down on paper in style ;-)
In love with paper, Schönborngasse 9/5-7, 1080 Vienna. 20 December 15:00 to 18:00. Web |
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| ...popup |
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| Perle Pop-up |
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Perle Pop-up Winter Magic
The countdown is on – there are only four days left until Christmas! If your gift list is still incomplete, you can come shopping for last-minute gifts at the Perle Pop-up today. This sustainable indoor Christmas market not only offers highlights from 50 creative labels – from hand-crocheted handbags to jewellery and ceramics to scented candles and fair fashion – but also workshops, tattoo artists and a tooth gems station. And because all that shopping will make you hungry, there will be food trucks waiting with some treats, punch, coffee and matcha!
Ottakringer Brauerei, Ottakringer Platz 1, 1160 Vienna. 20+21 December Sat 11:00 to 18:00, Sun until 20:00. 5 €. Web |
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| ...singing |
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| TBC |
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Sing Sing Sing Pop-Up Choir
Instead of opening Advent calendar doors, it's time for district hopping again: As part of the musical Advent calendar, there will once again be a series of concerts and events across Vienna's districts – from 1 December in the 1st district to 23 December in the 23rd district. So today we're visiting the 20th district, where a pop-up choir will be singing at the Museum gas station at Nordwestbahnhof – and absolutely anyone can join in! You can also take a guided tour of the Museum Nordwestbahnhof and check out the “Tracing Spaces” exhibition.
Nordwestbahnstraße 16, 1200 Vienna. 20 December from 15:00. Free of charge. Please sign up. Web |
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| SUNDAY |
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| ...vintage |
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| Herr Klotz |
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Clothing Swap Unlimited – Gift Edition
“Bring what you want, take what you need!” – that's today's motto at the vintage-heaven Herr Klotz. The gift edition of the swapping event is all about bringing clothes and items that make great gifts. For space reasons, everyone should limit themselves to a maximum of four large bags of items – but you can take as much as you want ;-) The same applies to both those bringing items and those taking them: please register. A little info for those new to Herr Klotz: Even if you're not swapping, it's a great place to browse – the items are stylish!
Herr Klotz, Herklotzgasse 30, 1150 Vienna. 21 December 15:00 to 19:00. 10 €. Please sign up. Web |
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| ...takeabreather |
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Punch on the Museum Roof
The Christmas stress is currently spreading like an epidemic around here, so how about enjoying a relaxing glass of punch in a magical place as an antidote? For that, we recommend you go on a wintery tour of the Natural History Museum. During this hour-long tour, you will learn a lot about the museum's history and architecture, be able to take a look behind the scenes, and even climb up to the top of the dome. The highlight is an evening drink on the roof – a cup of punch with a dreamy view over the romantically glittering city centre. Really beautiful!
Naturhistorisches Museum, Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna. 21 Dec., 16:00. 20 € + admission. Web |
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| ...guidedtour |
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| Österreichische Nationalbibliothek |
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Letter writing culture then and now
A quick WhatsApp message here, reacting with a simple heart on Instagram there, but letters? Nobody writes those anymore. However, during the Christmas mail season, a little insight into earlier letter-writing cultures can actually be quite interesting. What did Rainer Maria Rilke, Franz Kafka, Mela Hartwig, Ernest Hemingway and Ingeborg Bachmann write in their letters? Who did they write to? And what do such old pieces of mail reveal about the literary production process? You can explore all this on a themed tour at the Literature Museum today!
Literaturmuseum service desk, Johannesgasse 6, 1010 Vienna. 21 December, 13:30. 14 €. Web |
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| MONDAY |
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| ...lastminute |
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| Fortuna Galerie |
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World Art Christmas Bazaar
Who else knows people that are impossible to buy gifts for because they already have everything? Then this is the right Christmas market for you: at Galerie Fortuna, you can find unusual and unususally beautiful items from all over the world, all fairly traded. The selection reads like something out of a fairy tale: animals made of beads, dragonflies made from recycled electrical parts, crocheted dolls or plates made from telephone wire, and adorable angels made from various materials. The winter blues don't stand a chance here. Until 24 December!
Fortuna Galerie, Berggasse 21, 1090 Vienna. Until 24 December, Mon-Sat 11:00 to 18:00, 24 December 11:00 to 14:00. Web |
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| ...sweettreats |
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| Vienna Cookie Lab |
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Vienna Cookie Lab
Mhmm… When two Viennese gourmet establishments join forces, the result can only be sweet: Marco Simonis and Top.02 Patisserie have opened a pop-up shop on Herrengasse that is sure to make anyone with a sweet tooth purr with delight! They serve cookies in all their variations: from double chocolate hazelnut to white chocolate pistachio to dark chocolate walnut. There are also hot chocolate variations to slurp, and the bundles of three or five are perfect for gift-giving. With so much cookie coolness, the Levain Bakery in New York can pack it in ;-)
Vienna Cookie Lab, Herrengasse 6-8, 1010 Vienna. Until the end of January. Mon-Sun 10:00 to 19:00. Web |
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| ...exhibition |
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| Albertina Wien, Max Brucker |
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The Fascination of Paper
We all know that the Albertina is home to one of the world's largest collections of drawings, prints, and works of art on paper. But right now, there are some very special treats to be enjoyed there. The exhibition “The Fascination of Paper” showcases the versatility, diverse qualities and dimensions of paper in a dialogue spanning different eras. Great masters such as Rembrandt and Kiefer are juxtaposed with new discoveries. Ten chapters, laid out like a parcours, allow visitors to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of paper.
Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Vienna. Until 22 March 2026. Daily from 10:00 to 18:00, Wednesdays and Fridays until 21:00. 20 €. Web |
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| TUESDAY |
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| ...acapella |
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| Safer Six |
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Safer SiXmas
One Santa – boring... We'll take six Santas! And particularly musical ones at that. Today, the Safer Six demonstrate how to combine six distinctive individual voices into captivating ensemble harmony. Whether jazz, pop or swing, the boy group feels right at home in every genre and, with “Safer SiXmas”, will make even adults believe in Christkind again. The a cappella acrobats confidently manage the balancing act between new interpretations of great Christmas classics and wonderful original compositions. Earworms are guaranteed!
Kulisse Wien, Rosensteingasse 39, 1170 Vienna. 23 December, 20:00. 32 €. Web |
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| ...christmasmarket |
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| Francis |
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Advent at Francis
Julius-Tandler-Platz in front of Franz Josefs railway station was not exactly known as the place to be. But that is supposed to change with the new, stylish business district Francis. If you're curious to see how the project has turned out, take the opportunity to combine a quick tour of the area with a visit to the Christmas market there. Ten huts on the plaza offer winter delicacies, and inside there is a concept store with fashion, stationery, natural cosmetics and decorations from local manufacturers. Something different from the usual Advent markets!
Francis, Julius-Tandler-Platz 3, 1090 Vienna. Until 23 December. Daily from 15:30 to 21:00. Web |
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| WEDNESDAY |
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| ...gourmet |
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| Meissl & Schadn |
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Christmas Dinner at Meissl & Schadn
Cooking, going out for dinner or having food delivered? Same annual question before Christmas Eve. If you opt for the second option, we have a suggestion for you: at Meissl & Schadn, you can enjoy a classic Viennese Christmas Eve meal. The culinary delights start with house-marinated salmon and a traditional Viennese fish soup, followed by baked carp, the famous Meissl & Schadn beef platter or the Viennese schnitzel „with all the trimmings“. The sweet finale will consist of a Christmas baked apple with apricot compote. Merry Christmas!
Meissl & Schadn, Schubertring 10-12, 1010 Vienna. 24 December, 12:00 to 22:00. From 100 € per person. Reservations required. Web |
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| ...magnificent |
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| ÖBG |
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Poinsettias in the Palm House
Where can you stroll through a sea of flowers in winter? In the historic Palm House in Schönbrunn Palace Park (the largest glasshouse of its kind in Europe, btw)! The Federal Gardens' huge poinsettias collection is currently in bloom there, with decades-old specimens from the Schönbrunn reserve garden, plus brand-new breeds and exotic varieties in pink and purple. The spurge plants originally come from Mexico, where they were revered as a symbol of purity. Since 1950, they have also been worshipped here in Austria. They just glow so beautifully at Christmas time!
Großes Palmenhaus, Schlosspark Schönbrunn, 1130 Vienna. Until 6 January, daily from 10:00 to 16:30, 24 December until 15:00. 9€. Web |
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| TALK OF TOWN |
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| Shop of the Week |
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| Justine Lepoix |
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Paperholic
Only a few days left until Christmas! The wrapping paper, cards and bows are all ready and waiting in the DIY wrapping station. Or are they? Let's be honest, very few of us are that far ahead ;-) And that's exactly why it's worth visiting Birgit Horn's recently opened stationery paradise! There, you will find everything your decoration-heart leap for joy: tissue paper, funny Christmas cards, papery tags, garlands, boxes and lots of gifts. How about bag straps, velvety headbands and mobile phone chains? Because they sparkle all the way to the North Pole!
Paperholic, Westbahnstraße 4, 1070 Vienna. Wed-Fri 11:00 to 18:00, Sat 11:00 to 16:00. Web |
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| Restaurant of the Week |
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| smaier |
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XO Grill 1010
Following Kettenbrückengasse and Neubaugasse, Ben and Robert, two childhood friends whose lockdown pop-up has achieved cult status, have opened their third location. The focus here is, of course, on XO Beef: meat from old Austrian dairy cows, dry-aged and with an intense flavour. The smash burgers are as tasty as ever – but there are also new additions to the menu: steak frites made from sirloin, lemon harissa burgers and a beef tartare roll served in brioche. Guests dine in a renovated restaurant that now boasts industrial chic décor with art on the walls.
XO Grill, Riemergasse 1, 1010 Vienna. Mon-Sun 12:00 to 22:00. Web |
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ABOUT US
The StadtSpionin is an independent, weekly newsletter for women in the Vienna area.
It provides information on events, shops and restaurants, which the editorial staff singles out as recommend worthy.
Entries for payment are not possible. However, there is the possibility of placing an advertisement.
The StadtSpionin appears every Thursday and will be shipped for free.
More information can be found on www.diestadtspionin.at
Publisher and Editor in Chief:
Sabine Maier, Phorusgasse 7/1, 1040 Wien
Disclaimer: Despite careful editing and research, no liability can be retained for the accuracy of our content and its completeness.
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