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j u l y 25 | best of restaurants
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 editorial
"Heya Girls!"
So, my dears, the time has finally come: The summer break is just around the corner! Not only the city needs its beauty sleep every now and then, your CitySpotterGirl needs it too ;-) And after sending you the best shopping tips last week instead of the weekly events, here are the best restaurant tips from the last few months. I'll also let you in on one of my favorite summer events: “Kino im Schloss” (cinema in the palace). Films are shown under the summer starry sky in the atmospheric courtyard of Schloss Neugebäude. April weather will soon be over (promise!), so cinema highlights and box office hits will be shown every Thursday through Saturday throughout August. Feel-good films like the fourth part of “Bridget Jones” are on the program, as is the Bob Dylan film “Like a Complete Unknown.” Saturdays are a little wilder, with current action blockbusters such as “Superman” on the program. So take care, dear ladies, and enjoy the summer!
Wishing you a wonderful summer,
Your CitySpotterGirl
Schloss Neugebäude, Otmar-Brix-Gasse 1, 1110 Vienna. July 31 to August 30, Thursday to Saturday. 12€. Web
P.S. We'll be back on August 28 with the experts' special newsletter – and from September 4 onwards as usual!
Photo: GoGoGorilla / Stefan Dwora
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| THURSDAY |
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| ...cool |
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| smaier |
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Salzi
Well, someone has really good taste here. The interior in crimson, bright blue and lots of light-coloured plywood panels looks damn good. And the kitchen also brings taste. The green hummus bowl with roasted veggies, nuts and pomegranate seeds tastes amazing. Salzi mainly serves vegetarian and vegan dishes, the breakfast menu is long and the coffee is of course very special. You can also buy it, as well as the plants that are all over the place. The bistro aims to be a meeting place for the neighbourhood – for breakfast, working or even listening to DJs. Prognosis: sooner or later, the whole of Vienna will be part of the hood.
Salzi, Hollandstraße 10, 1020 Vienna. Tue-Thu 7:30 to 18:00, Fri 7:30 to 23:00, Sat 9:00 to 23:00.
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| ...scene |
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Alice
A rose-coloured floor, a dark red ceiling and a lot of mid-century feeling – it's no surprise that this is popular with guests. Alice is such a popular snack bar that you should definitely make a reservation on the weekend. Because there aren't too many tables – and the mix on the menu is original: Scandinavia meets Italian brands. That’s no wonder since that's exactly where the owners come from. During the day, they serve focaccia with all kinds of fillings, and in the evening they serve a little more elaborate dishes such as puntarelle salad. Served with cherry wine from Denmark. And for dessert, Roman maritozzi with whipped cream filling! Worth every sin!
Alice, Krieglergasse 8, 1030 Vienna. Wed-Sat 10:00 to 22:00, Sun 10:00 to 16:00.
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| ...alwaysyummy |
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| Justine Lepoix |
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Nikkai Café & Restaurant
And here it is, Sissi Wu's latest coup! After her two go-to addresses Iko Kitchen & Bar and Little Koya, the gastronomic power-woman has opened her third restaurant in Vienna. This time with fusion cuisine, and so the menu includes miso salmon trout, sushi, sepia noodles with red prawns, pimientos de padron and cauliflower steaks. The Euro-Asian mix can be enjoyed for breakfast, as a light lunch or for dinner. The interior also fits in perfectly: Paravent-like partitions echo the Asian style, while the furniture is minimalist. Eye-catcher: the stunning golden XXL pendant lights!
Nikkai Café & Restaurant, Wipplingerstraße 34, 1010 Vienna. Mon-Fri 8:00 to 22:00, Sat 9:00 to 22:00. Web |
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| FRIDAY |
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| ...extrafresh |
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Erste Wiener Tofu Manufaktur
He wanted to recreate the flavour of his childhood in China. And so Liwei Sun – who has lived in Vienna for decades – decided to produce the tofu of his childhood himself. He converted a stall at Karmelitermarkt into Vienna's first tofu factory – and fresh tofu is now produced there every morning (using a specially imported machine). The quality is great, the soya beans come from near Baden. You can buy the tofu in all sorts of variations, but you can also eat it on the spot. Tofu salad with sesame dressing and tofu curry taste delicious. The seating area is still a little provisional, but the white, silver and black colour scheme of the manufactory would make any 1980s art director cheer.
Erste Wiener Tofu Manufaktur, Karmelitermarkt Stand 63, 1020 Vienna. Tue - Sat 11:00 to 18:00. Web |
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| ...wild |
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| Furore |
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Furore
A bar that attracts people magnetically, even though only thirty people can fit in it. A bar that is super-cozy, even though its centerpiece is a cold metal table. A bar that doesn't scream “here I am”, but still makes quite a splash. This is Yusuf Shaker's new baby. Pistachio croissants and coffee are served here during the day, while in the evening the place is transformed into an aperitivo bar, where cocktails, olives and stuffed focaccia are served to customers alongside natural wines. Old-school hip-hop is humming out of the speakers and the lighting has been limited to nothing but a negroni-orange neon sign. To say it with Yusuf's words: “Those who know what's good are here.”
Furore, Neustiftgasse 33, 1070 Vienna. Tue-Fri 16:00 to 24:00, Sat 10:00 to 24:00, Sun 10:00 to 16:00. Web |
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| ...sosweet |
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| Crème de la Crème |
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Crème de la crème – La petite
It's really small, but that doesn't matter – the main thing is that it's close to our editorial office! Julia Kilarski's wonderful patisserie in Lange Gasse has got a new sibling. The former sweets paradise of Eduard Fruth now serves the city's famous tarts and desserts. Tarte au citron, pistachio dacquoise and torta caprese: visual works of art, melt-in-your-mouth flavours. There's also breakfast and savoury quiches! Of course, “La petite” is also lovingly and stylishly decorated, the floral creations in particular look sensational. And the elegant crockery was produced by mum.
Creme de la Creme, Kettenbrückengasse 20, 1040 Vienna. Wed-Fri 9:00 to 18:00, Sat+Sun til 17:00. Web |
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| SATURDAY |
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| ...wonderful |
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| Tante Liesl |
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Tante Liesl
Even though CitySpotterGirl moved away from there many years ago, she is still a Servitenviertler at heart. And there in “Little Paris”, on the most beautiful square in Servitengasse right next to the church, the pub (where Harald Brunner used to work) has a new owner. The many wooden furnishings have been freshly refurbished and the menu was changed to classic pub cuisine. And all the Wiener Schnitzel, minced patties, Grammelknödel, runner beans and shoulder slices taste simply marvellous. Served by cheerful service, seven days a week. By the way: Sunday is always roast day. But you'd better be quick for that!
Tante Liesl, Servitengasse 7, 1090 Vienna. Mon-Sun 11:30 to 23:00. Web |
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| ...socialbusiness |
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Kuchenamt
What a nice name! And yes, there's plenty of cake here (tip: vegan apple pie and Esterhazy cake), but most of all breakfast all day long, conveniently! Organic porridge, vegetable sticks with organic hummus, but also a classic breakfast with soft egg, pastries and ham. The newly opened, spacious café is furnished in a cool-modern style in shades of pink, orange and grey, with plants to be added soon. The Kuchenamt is part of wienwork, where people with and without disabilities work together, from restaurant apprentices to trained service staff. So it can maybe take a little longer sometimes. But who cares :-)
Kuchenamt, Schäffergasse 10, 1040 Vienna. Mon-Fri 7:30 to 18:00. Web |
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| ...pastel |
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Chez Fritz
A pretty patisserie. And taking a second look and discovering the Candy Colours in unexpected places (be sure to look up at the wallpaper on the ceiling!), improves your mood even more. A highly likeable team serves delicacies from the sweet side of life here – on really beautiful crockery, of course. The young owners had actually studied something else, but then changed their minds. Fortunately, because the pistachio tarte, the almost a little tart croissants and the tarte au citron (the signature dish, so to speak) taste wonderful – and are all vegan!
Chez Fritz, Servitengasse 13, 1090 Vienna. Thu-Fri 10:00 to 18:00, Sat 9:00 to 17:00. Web |
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| SUNDAY |
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| ...sincere |
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Nabiel
Finally, another really good insider tip for you! There's not even a sign outside yet, and if you want to go in, you have to go through the kitchen first. But go ahead! Behind it, a simple room with set tables awaits you – and wonderful food. Nabiel Michael Elsissi actually runs a small cooking school here, specialising in American tourists. But since he spends most of the day in the kitchen anyway, he cooks Austrian classics based on his grandmother's recipes for lunch. Schinkenfleckerl, Paprikahenderl, Topfenknödel and a stunning beef soup. No Gigi and no design – just a cordial chef who really knows his stuff!
Nabiel, Margaretenstraße 10, 1040 Vienna. Tue-Sat 12:00 to 15:00. Web |
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| ...likeparis |
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Le petit Bazar
Once upon a time... there was a lovely French-style shop in Porzellangasse. It no longer exists, but owner Daniela has beamed her little bazaar onto Karmelitermarkt and turned it into a delightful bistro. With a beautiful tiled floor, Mediterranean blue shelves and lots of fine French delicacies. You can also eat here: a different quiche every day – and the crepes and galettes in particular are to die for. (Try the ones with sugar and butter!) As CitySpotterGirl is in France several times a year, this bistro is the perfect remedy for Paris homesickness. Oh and there's a small boutique with accessories and crockery in the side room.
Le petit Bazar, Karmelitermarkt 58-61, 1020 Vienna. Tue-Fri 10:00 to 18:30, Sat 8:30 to 13:30. Web |
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| MONDAY |
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| ...helpswomen |
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Mamas Cafe
An unusual project! A new coffee house has opened in the middle of the city centre and yet a bit hidden away. Single mothers, often with a migrant background, work here to get back into the job world. Located in the passageway between Stephansdom and Wollzeile, the large café is a social enterprise by the St Elisabeth Foundation. The service is exceptionally friendly, the decor is smart and the menu is small but delicious. Apart from cakes and pastries, the apple strudel porridge already has a fan base and creative sandwiches (with baba ganoush and vegetables, for example) satisfy larger appetites. Plus: All proceeds go back into the project.
Mamas Cafe, Stephansplatz 6, 1010 Vienna. Mon-Fri 9:30 to 17:30. Web |
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| ...soenglish |
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Fish & Chips Bistro
Just back from London and the Cotswolds, CitySpotterGirl is fond of British food again, especially the perfect fast food, fish'n'chips. As this is now available in a new mini restaurant in Vienna, too, it had to be tested straight away. The “Seeteufel” has so far been a hit at various locations with a food truck, now there is a permanent location. And it really does taste as good as in England: wild-caught cod in batter, with chips, tartar sauce and – truly British – malt vinegar. The crowds here are correspondingly large, with most taking the food to go. Fish burgers, fish soup and vegan vish are also available. Will be tried next time.
Fish & Chips Bistro, Schwarzspanierstraße 22 /1, 1090 Vienna. Mon-Fri 11:00 to 17:00. Web |
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Asia Pavillon
A dramatic change! For decades, the Asia Pavillon was a classic Chinese restaurant with the kind of furnishings and food you would expect. Then the daughter took over the restaurant and has thrown out all the furniture. Now it feels like you are sitting in a huge train station hall on blue plastic stools, the white tiled counter at the end of the hall is reminiscent of a milk bar at best. But on the tables there’s beautiful blue and white porcelain. A quirky look, but one that makes sense once you read the menu: mostly street food from all over of Asia. Tea-smoked duck, bao buns, pickled peanuts – delicious food in a fun-lively-noisy setting.
Asia Pavillon, Favoritenstraße 1, 1040 Vienna. Mon-Sat 11:30 to 22:30. Web |
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| TUESDAY |
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| ...oysters |
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| Justine Lepoix |
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Rinkhy Delikatessen Bar
A late summer in Spain, several litres of Cava and the desire to share that exhilarating holiday feeling with others – Alex and Andrew Rinkhy's restaurant idea was born. Rinkhy's nautical feel is not only created by the giant octopus on the ceiling, but also by the house speciality: oysters! Delivered fresh from France, they swim in the restaurant's own saltwater pool until being served. Apart from that, you can look forward to small bites (hot & cold) to share, many of which, like the sardine dishes or “mixed preserves”, come in a fancy nautical tin. Plus surprising cocktails – our favourite: “Sweet Bee” with honey and lavender smoke!
Rinkhy, Zieglergasse 29, 1070 Vienna. Mon-Fri from 17:00, Sat from 16:00. Web |
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| ...trendy |
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| Choi |
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Choi
Small, clean and delicious food. That's the short description of a mini restaurant near Kärtnerstraße that serves what is currently the trendiest street food in the city: Egg Drop Sandwich. Or as they say in Vienna: Korean toast. Choi cooks exactly 6 variations of it, using thick slices of brioche bread that are topped with scrambled eggs or Japanese omelette and various toppings. These can be cheese and ham, but also tofu, shrimps or some marvellous bulgogi. There are only a few seats available in the modern but minimalist restaurant. But you can simply take your food home in the handy packaging.
Choi, Krugerstraße 9, 1010 Vienna. Mon-Sun 10:00 to 19:00. Web |
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| ...roasted |
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| Cottage Roasters |
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CottageRoasters
The “little” Cafe Diglas used to be a very nice Viennese café, just a bit old-fashioned. That's all over now. Elisabeth and Markus Schneider-Diglas have brought an urban café of the younger generation to the historic patina. Now, speciality coffees from their own roastery are being prepared in the modern surroundings. (The Diglas roastery is on Gersthofer Markt.) There are also pastries from the in-house bakery and snacks such as pastrami baguettes, which you can pick up directly at the bar, as is customary in an urban coffee shop. You can even watch the baristas as they work their magic.
CottageRoasters, Fleischmarkt 16, 1010 Vienna. Tue-Fri 8.30 to 16:30, Sat-Sun 9:30 to 16:30. Web |
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| WEDNESDAY |
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| ...tasty |
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Weimarck
The proximity to the Naschmarkt has its advantages, as do the close relationships with farmers: At Weimarck uses only the freshest (organic) ingredients fom the market. And you taste it! The mountain char with market veggies (chard and potatoes yesterday) was pure perfection, miso carrots are a vegetarian's dream and if you want unusual, try the asparagus börek. Dani and Chris offer a modern and loving cuisine in the place where the Amacord used to be for decades. At some point, when the soft opening phase is over, the Weimarck will also open for lunch. Great!
Weimarck, Rechte Wienzeile 14, 1040 Vienna. Currently Tue-Sat 17:30 to 00:00. Web |
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| ...atthehotel |
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| Der schöne Ernst |
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Der schöne Ernst
Yes, these porridges will win over even supporters of the “No baby food, I'm an adult already” faction. After all, they're served here with peanut butter and pickled plums, popped quinoa, or dark cocoa hazelnut cream. Der schöne Ernst is the new cafe-bar of the newly renovated Hotel Henriette. And Ernstl sure is handsome! Porridge is only on the menu until 11:00, though. After that, they have delicious Brötchen that are also a bit out of the ordinary—topped with blackpudding and orange marmalade or Tete de Moine. And plenty of Spritzer to drink. A really lovely place!
Der schöne Ernst, Praterstraße 44, 1020 Vienna. Tue – Sun 19:00 to 22:00. Web |
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| ...vintage |
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Kaffee Kunze
Gert Kunze actually runs Cafe Eiles, one of the oldest coffee houses in Vienna. But when an old pub just round the corner closed, Kunze went for it – and now Vienna has another small café with a hell of a lot of flair. There is a lot of vintage furniture in neo-baroque style here, as well as velvet and old pictures. And it's busy from early in the morning until late at night: Breakfast is served as well as a lunch menu, dinner and fine cocktails from late afternoon. It's reminiscent of the hip Berlin coffee-restaurant-bar places, with one big difference: The prices here are really moderate. You're not used to that in Vienna anymore...
Kaffee Kunze, Auerspergstraße 19, 1080 Vienna. Wed-Mon 10:00 to 2:00. Web |
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| TALK OF TOWN |
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| ...fusion |
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| Fabian Rettenbacher |
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Cà Phê Lalot
With so many restaurants to choose from in Vienna, it's kind of amazing when a restaurant manages to surprise you. Viola Aimée Waldeck and Lukas Anton Stein more than manage that with their little “Cà Phê Lalot'! The duo – already known on the scene as “Château Tingeling” – mix traditional Vietnamese and Austrian cuisine. The classic ham Semmel is reinterpreted with pickled radish, coriander and egg, the Kardinalschnitte is dusted with pandan and the coffee is made with green beans and condensed milk. The clean, bistro-style interior is also impressive – we like!
Cà Phê Lalot, Wipplingerstraße 25, 1010 Vienna. Tue-Sat 9:00 to 16:00. Web |
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| ...creamery |
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| Frosty Franz |
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Frosty Franz
Awww Franzbrötchen! CitySpotterGirl loves the cinnamon-sugar Danish pastry-thingy from Hamburg – and after all it even appears in Thomas Mann's “Buddenbrooks”. In other words, it's literary-approved soul food. Anyway: It's finally available in Vienna. Instead of having the pastries sent to Vienna all the time by her family, a young almost-Hamburg-lady has opened a fine “Creamery” in Otto-Bauer-Gasse. First of all, they serve tasty ice cream – that you can put together yourself with over 100 (!) toppings – and then, aside from coffee and shakes, Franzbrötchen. Marvellous!
Frosty Franz, Otto-Bauer-Gasse 4, 1060 Vienna. Tue-Sat 12:00 to 20:00, Sun 12:00 to 18:00. 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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