But all my fears about
missing rice flew out of the window when we finally set foot in Vienna.
Right outside our hotel’s doorstep was a food market teeming with all the wonders of Viennese and European cuisine. There were sourdough breads, croissant, all kinds of cheese, sausages, cold cuts, pastries, hot wine… Just catching a whiff of their buttery and savory scents was enough to make me almost forget about rice (take note, ALMOST!).
Right outside our hotel’s doorstep was a food market teeming with all the wonders of Viennese and European cuisine. There were sourdough breads, croissant, all kinds of cheese, sausages, cold cuts, pastries, hot wine… Just catching a whiff of their buttery and savory scents was enough to make me almost forget about rice (take note, ALMOST!).
There’s a strong food
scene in Vienna that’s just hard to resist. It will make your belly grumble
even if you have just eaten minutes ago; the assortment of gastronomical
choices will make you salivate like a hound that has not been fed for weeks.
The city’s roads of pretty prefectures are punctuated by cafes, restaurants,
and outdoor food markets offering a wide array of cuisines.
Here are some of those we were able to try during our 2-day stay.
Here are some of those we were able to try during our 2-day stay.
1. Random Food Market in Freyung
We stayed at a lovely hotel set in a Benedictine monastery and we were quite lucky to have nearby
food markets. One was even right by the doorstep of our hotel. We had our first
legitimate meal in Europe in an outdoor food market just a block away from
Benediktushaus where we were staying.
 |
| Locals convene at a food market near Park Hyatt Vienna |
 |
| We tried the Gluhwein and loved it! |
 |
| Sourdough bread with cheesy Vienna sausage |
That meal was a total
hit! We shared a cup of hot Gluhwein wine (mulled wine with a mixture of red
wine, cinnamon sticks, sugar, oranges and cloves) (3 euros), a Frankfurter (2
euros), a Käsekrainer (sausage with cheese) (2.25 euros), and a few slices of
sourdough bread (free with the sausages).
What to order:
Hot red wine, Frankfurter, Burenwurst, Debreziner, Käsekrainer, sourdough bread, prosciutto
5 Euros (SAVE) | 8 Euros (SPLURGE)
Address:
Random squares in Vienna
Opening Hours:
Varies
Everything was delicious and satisfactory. This timeless establishment really did deliver. On top of that, its Art Nouveau-Art Deco transitional style made the experience even more lavish, without digging a hole in our pockets. And oh, the wait staff is impeccable in their black suits and bow tie!
There is also an available outdoor seating if you just want to relax and do people watching. For us though, we only had one agenda that night: schnitzel (breaded and pan fried veal cutlet)! Chatanooga’s schnitzel was filling and tasty. There are fries with everything so be ready to fill those tummies. Service was also friendly and fast.
What to order:
Hot red wine, Frankfurter, Burenwurst, Debreziner, Käsekrainer, sourdough bread, prosciutto
5 Euros (SAVE) | 8 Euros (SPLURGE)
Address:
Random squares in Vienna
Opening Hours:
Varies
 |
| Gastronomic finds at the food market |
 |
| Team #Europamore's first legit Viennese meal! |
2. Cafe Griendsteidl
For those who are coming
into Austria for an authentic Viennese Coffee House culture experience, Café
Griendsteidl is the perfect place to start. A truly historic establishment,
Café Griendsteidl is one of the pillars of the Viennesse Coffee House culture,
having been opened in 1847 and operated until 1897 by Heinrich Griensteidl, a
former pharmacist. Artists, writers, and intellectuals such as Hugo Wolf,
Stefan Zweig, Arthur Schnitzler, Arnold Schoenberg used to frequent the cafe in the beginning of the 20th
century. The original building and café were
demolished in 1897 to give way for a new building named Palais Herberstein
where the new Café Griendsteidl was reopened in 1990.
 |
| Love how cozy this cafe is! |
Today, Griendsteidl
enjoys a premium location at the MichaelerPlatz, fronting the Sisi Museum of the Hofburg Palace. It’s a truly classic Viennese Kaffeehaus in all sense—strong
coffee, relaxing ambiance, and a great selection of sweet and savory pastries
and dishes.
We went at around 3:00 PM
after touring the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament Building and the Rathaus. Upon
arrival, we were immediately seated and given the menu. We ordered their
sachertorte—a Viennese chocolate cake, the café’s famed apple strudel, coffee
mélange, and hot chocolate.
 |
| Apple strudel, coffee melange, sachertorte, and hot chocolate |
 |
| Cafe Griendsteidl's menu |
Everything was delicious and satisfactory. This timeless establishment really did deliver. On top of that, its Art Nouveau-Art Deco transitional style made the experience even more lavish, without digging a hole in our pockets. And oh, the wait staff is impeccable in their black suits and bow tie!
As in most Viennese cafes
and restaurants, a tip is expected.
What to order:
Apple strudel, sachertorte, coffee mélange (coffee
with hot milk and milk foam), hot chocolate with whipped cream
Budget:
7 Euros (SAVE) | 16 Euros (SPLURGE)
Address:
Michaelerplatz 2, 1010 Wien, Austria (Google
Maps)
Contact:
+ 43 1 53526920
Opening Hours:
8:00 AM to 11:30 PM
 |
| What a lovely Viennese Coffee House experience! |
3. Chatanooga
Two words: underground
dining!
We are thankful to have found Chatanooga while we were roaming around
Graben and freezing in the dropping temperature. We found warmth and comfort in
one of their booths at the basement dining area.
 |
| Outdoor dining in Wiener Graben |
There is also an available outdoor seating if you just want to relax and do people watching. For us though, we only had one agenda that night: schnitzel (breaded and pan fried veal cutlet)! Chatanooga’s schnitzel was filling and tasty. There are fries with everything so be ready to fill those tummies. Service was also friendly and fast.
The restaurant is also
just a few steps from Stephenplatz. Bonus point!
What to order:
Wiener schnitzel, Vienna sausages, local Kaiser beer
Budget:
8.80 Euros (SAVE) | 25 Euros (SPLURGE)
Address:
Graben 29A, 1010 Wien, Austria (Google
Maps)
Contact:
+43 1 5335000
Opening Hours:
7:00 AM to 2:00 AM
 |
| Basement dining of Chatanooga |
 |
| While waiting for our meal from Chatanooga |
4. Cafe Gloriette at the Schonbrunn Palace
If you want to have a
meal fit for a king or a queen, or rather an emperor, Café Gloriette at the
Schonbrunn Palace can provide just that. Perched on top of a hill overlooking
Schönbrunn Palace, dining at Café Gloriette is a unique experience.
 |
| How royal. |
 |
| The large window panes give you a beautiful view even from the cafe's interiors |
When we visited
Schonbrunn Palace, dining at Café Gloriette served as our reward after completing the long, steep walk up the Gloriette. Built in 1775, the Gloriette
provides tourists, via its wide viewing terrace, with a sweeping vista of the
palace and Vienna’s northern district. The inscription in the middle part of
the building reads: "JOSEPHO II. AUGUSTO ET MARIA THERESIA IMPERANTIB.
MDCCLXXV" (Erected 1775 under the reign of Emperor Joseph and Empress
Maria Theresia).”
Emperor Franz Joseph I
used it as his breakfast room so it’s only appropriate that today, Café
Gloriette is housed in the same structure.
I ordered the
Frankfurter, which came with bread and shredded radish as a side dish. R
ordered some sort of pasta with salad and I can’t remember what B ordered but
we all had coffee to go with our lunch. Admittedly, the food is forgettable but
the view and the imperial architecture more than made up for it.
 |
| Cafe Gloriette's drinks menu |
 |
| Frankfurter with bread and radish |
 |
| Pasta and salad |
What to order:
Sisitorte, Kaffee Maria Theresia, Sisi Brunch (Viennese breakfast
classics)
Budget:
8 Euros (SAVE) | 20 Euros (SPLURGE)
Address:
+43 1 879 13 11
Opening Hours:
9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
 |
| Team #Europamore at Cafe Gloriette |
5. Benediktushaus
Benediktushaus was our
home of choice in Vienna and where we had our breakfast on our last day in the
city. And it truly felt like home for its generous breakfast spread and
selection.
The dining hall was quiet when we went down and we were immediately
assisted by the lovely dining staff that reminded me of my grandmother. There
were different kinds of sausages, cold cuts, cheese, prosciutto, and drinks.
For dessert, I sneaked in a handful of bite-size Ritter Sports.
 |
| The dining hall of Benediktushaus |
I didn’t want to leave
Benediktushaus after that meal but of course, we had to check out and move on
to our next destination: Prague, Czech Republic!
What to order:
Viennese breakfast classics: sausages, breads, cold cuts
Budget:
Free if you are staying!
Address:
Freyung 6A, 1010 Wien, Austria (Google Maps)
Contact:
+43
1 53498900
Opening Hours:
6:30 AM to 10:00 AM (breakfast)
It was late winter when I went to Vienna so I didn't get to see the Palace open up for tourists. Waah. Hope I can go back!
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